An Alpha for Me [Santiago Pack 1] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove)

by Toby Aden

  Gavin stopped then stared straight ahead at Gregory, as though challenging him. “I don’t regret doing it either. He broke the law. Will was seventeen. He broke into our house, he broke the law, but Colin would not have believed us had we stayed. He loved his son more than anything. We had no choice but to run,” Gavin said unapologetically.

  Gregory nodded, his face grim, his lips pressed together in a thin line, and his face a hard mask of hatred and the desire to seek retribution of his own. “You will not come to harm here. We accepted you as pack members, and we protect our pack.” He turned to his enforcers and betas. “It’s time we dealt with the Yenassi pack.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Victor shook his head. “I did not really come here for retribution. I already knew what happened and why Dirk died. Father favored him too much, but I was not blind to his faults.”

  Gregory had demanded Victor Yenassi’s presence, sending his enforcers to ensure that the man made an appearance to his home the day after he’d heard the Mendez brothers’ side of the story. Gregory had had to go for a run after hearing what Gavin had to say, too angry and keyed up to remain in his human form without anything to direct his anger on. He’d run for hours before returning to the compound and his sleeping mate.

  He could not believe all that Will had had to go through, and even though he’d heard the report his beta had given him on the issue before, this was a whole new side to the story. He had not known all of this, had barely scratched the surface. But the whole picture had been ugly and sick, and it made Gregory rage all over again the more he thought of it. He’d had no idea the main reason why the brothers had been running, thinking it was only because of the murder charges. No idea what had almost happened to Will.

  His Will, the love of his life, and he wanted someone to pay. Except the deadbeat, disgusting piece of scum had already been killed. If he could, he’d bring the man back to life just so he could kill him all over again with his own bare hands. Now here he was a day later, seated across from the scum’s brother, and he restrained himself from jumping at the man and hurting him for what his brother had done.

  “Then why are you here?” Gregory asked.

  “I needed an excuse to get Father out of the pack. He will not come alone. He will bring his enforcers to ensure his safety. His betas, my people and I can handle. I am afraid my father has slowly lost his mind over the last five years. Things are much worse than before the Mendez brothers left. I plan to take over from him and forcibly remove him if necessary, but I prefer it done with the least amount of bloodshed,” Victor said, his voice hard

  Gavin shook his head. “I don’t understand. If you hated your father that much, why did you never do anything?”

  Victor gave him a hard stare. “I do not hate my family or my father. I just do not agree with them.”

  “And what is it exactly that do you not agree with?” Kelly demanded. “I never noticed you shying away from indulging as much as the rest of your family.”

  Victor gave him a droll stare. “I must keep up appearances, Kelly. Otherwise, I might as well sign my death warrant.”

  Everyone gasped.

  “Look, I’m sorry for what my brother almost did to yours, but I did my best to make amends.”

  Jason squeezed Victor’s shoulder. “That’s enough. You don’t have to say anything more.”

  More gasps filled the room, this time from Gavin and Kelly as they stared from Jason to Victor then back again. Jason quickly removed his hand from Victor’s shoulder, but he could see the wheels spinning and turning in his brothers’ gaze. He knew they were not stupid, and if he was not careful, they would put two and two together and come up with a correct four.

  “No…”

  “Don’t tell me…”

  The brothers shook their heads, staring wide-eyed at the two males in front of them.

  Victor nodded, though it was grim. He took Jason’s hand in his and gave it a squeeze when Jason made to pull away from him. “That’s right. Jason is my true mate.”

  “You…” Kelly turned to face Jason. “This is why you never told us who helped us escape? You’re…you’re…”

  Jason nodded slowly. “Yes. He’s my mate.”

  “But he…those…” Kelly said, unable to continue.

  Jason shook his head emphatically. “No. He never abused all those sent to the Alpha compound. He wouldn’t. It was all pretend, keeping up appearances. I’m his only lover, and he did his best to help them. Colin and Dirk were the only two who…”

  “You don’t have to defend me, Jason. It’s fine,” Victor said, smiling at his mate. He then turned to face their audience. “I told you I did not agree with what they did. After what Dirk almost did to your brother, I made sure you were able to get out and remained out of reach. I made sure Jason knew when it was time to move on whenever the pack was closing in on you, but not this time.”

  “Why not this time?” Gavin asked, speaking for the first time since Jason and Victor had dropped their news.

  “Will’s mated now, for one. I finally have enough people to ensure that, the moment my father steps foot out of the pack, his followers are rounded up and executed, and I cannot afford to have my father be the least bit suspicious of me,” Victor explained.

  “And if he already is?” Gregory asked.

  Eyes hard, Victor said, “He isn’t.”

  “He might not want to leave pack territory,” Gregory pointed out.

  “He will. If the omega summons him here. Besides, he will want to be present to see Will punished. It is a matter of pride and revenge for him.”

  “You want to use my mate as bait?” Gregory asked, his voice deadly, hard.

  “Would you rather he sends in assassins?” Victor countered.

  The two involved in a staring contest, both not giving an inch until Jason shook Victor’s shoulder and Gregory give a curt nod.

  “You want the omega to summon him here?” Kelly asked.

  “Yes. My father must see for himself that Dirk was not all he made him up to be. If he will not back down, then I will leave it up to you to decide what to do with him,” Victor said.

  “You would sell out your own father?” Gavin asked, aghast.

  “He’s rabid. He kills anyone who opposes him on the spot. He’s reduced the age to twelve for every family to bring in the pups for him to whore out. He uses them to sweeten deals with other unsavory packs. He oppresses the pack. He’s despicable. I cannot allow him to keep going, but I cannot outright kill him on pack territory or his staunched followers who enjoy his ways would ensure my death. He is strongest in the territory, and so I need him out of there before the pack can begin to heal,” Victor said, staring into their eyes as he revealed what had been going on in the pack.

  When he saw that they were sufficiently horrified, he nodded then turned his attention back to Gregory. “I know the rumors. It says you are related to the omega. The one mated to the Vampire King. I ask for this favor with full knowledge that I will owe you a favor in return.”

  Gregory was silent for a while, contemplating. He stroked his chin as he deliberated on what to do. Dorian had just woken up from his coma not long ago, and he knew that the vampires were also facing problems of their own. Yet he knew, without doubt, that Kevyan would never agree for Dorian to leave his town without him by his side, and Kevyan could not drop everything to come on such short notice either.

  “I will discuss this with Dorian. It’s the best I can do. I will do my best to convince them to the urgency of the issue. However, you must know that their decision will be final. Dorian is mated to the vampire king, and should they agree to come, your pack must adhere to the peace treaty. One wrong move against the vampires and I will personally deal with you, dismantle your pack, and do with it as I please. Do I make myself clear?” Gregory asked, his voice icy and brooking no disobedience.

  “Crystal,” Victor said then stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave of you.”

&nb
sp; Gregory nodded and watched as Victor and Jason walked out of his study.

  * * * *

  Gregory waited for everyone to walk out of his study before grabbing the phone and dialing the direct number he’d been given once Kevyan had come to realize Dorian needed to keep in touch with his biological family. After a few rings, the phone was finally connected and Kevyan’s voice came clear across the line.

  “Kevyan here.”

  “Hey, Kevyan. It’s Gregory. How’s Dorian doing?”

  “Oh hey. He’s good.” He heard the humor and joy at having his mate come back to him in Kevyan’s voice and smiled. Seriously, it was no wonder the man was feared by his enemies what with his emotions regarding Dorian bare and noticeable to anyone who took the time to look for it. “He’s back to his unbelievable self. You’d never notice that it’s only been a week since he woke up.” Kevyan chuckled then Gregory heard a muffled, “Baby, you up yet?” from Kevyan.

  The man must have covered the mouthpiece of the phone, but Gregory still caught the word and the sloppy kiss that followed, causing him to take the phone away from his ears and roll his eyes. “Let me put Dorian on for you.”

  “Ah, no need. I wanted to talk to the both of you actually,” Gregory said, clearing his throat.

  “Oh? Anything the matter?” Kevyan asked.

  “That depends. How do you feel about Dorian coming down here to mediate an issue?”

  “What! No! I’m not having my mate leave here right now. He’s still on bed rest and recovering. Whatever issue needs mediating, I suggest you handle it yourself,” Kevyan said, his voice frosty and hard.

  “Kevyan love. It’s fine,” Gregory heard Dorian telling his mate.

  “No. It is not fine. I almost lost you, and I just got you back. There is nothing that would make me agree to allow you anywhere but this bed and seeing our son and daughter.”

  “Oh my God, Kev. You need to calm down, and besides, there’s no reason why you can’t come along if you want.”

  “You’re not leaving, Dorian, and I’m not changing my mind,” Kevyan retorted.

  “Oh? You’re sure about that?” Dorian asked, his voice going low and doing what Gregory imagined to be something to turn his mate on.

  Gregory pulled the phone away from his ears once more and set it on the table, chuckling and shaking his head. Having a mate of his own, he knew just how wrapped around their mate’s fingers they were. He would just wait for Dorian to perform his magic and convince Kevyan to come around.

  After a while, Gregory heard static coming from the phone and raised it back to his ears to hear Kevyan say, “You still there, Gregory?”

  “Sure. I just don’t have to listen to you and my brother getting it on you know,” He said, disgruntled.

  He heard Dorian’s laughter float over the line and smiled to himself.

  Kevyan cleared his throat but did not deign to respond to his words. “What does he need to mediate, and what are the dangers involved?”

  “It’s a quick in-and-out situation. We just need Dorian to summon the current Alpha of the Yenassi pack to my pack and to replay a situation that took place five years ago with my mate. I would not call if it were not important.”

  “Tell me everything and leave nothing out,” Kevyan demanded.

  And Gregory did just that, repeating everything to both men without leaving anything out. When they finally hung up, it was to Kevyan agreeing to come down with Dorian, but with a time limit. They would be there two days and no more. Knowing it was the best he would get, Gregory thanked them and cut the call short.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Gregory shook hands with Kevyan, king of the vampires, and Dorian, his omega mate. “Thank you for coming. Everyone is waiting in the study,” he said before turning on his heels and leading them to the massive study in the house.

  Gregory settled himself into a chair facing the door and surrounded by the Yenassi Alpha, Colin, and his enforcers who were already seated, along with Victor and a few of his own men having arrived just a few hours earlier. He motioned for Kevyan and Dorian to get settled in before taking his time to introduce everyone in the room and turned to Colin, a man with scars on his face and white peppering his dark hair.

  “I assume you all know why you’re here today.”

  “The only thing that will satisfy me today is having my son’s murderers punished,” Colin said in a gravelly, deep voice, his gaze cold and unimpressed.

  Gregory pinned him with a hard look of his own. “I assure you, we will all ensure justice is seen today. That’s what the omega is here for today.”

  “And the accused? I don’t see Will here,” Colin said, eyes narrowed.

  “I’m afraid my mate won’t be joining us as he’s under strict orders from the doctor. Now, if you please, we’ll get this misunderstanding under control,” Gregory said, the words tearing from his lips reluctantly.

  “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Dorian called from where he was perched beside Kevyan on a couch, expertly diverting all their attention toward him. “You will forgive me if I do not stand to continue this. Now, gentlemen, if you please, take my hand and let’s proceed.” He held out a hand to Gavin.

  When Gavin hesitated, Dorian frown. “It’s not necessary for me to really touch you to access your memories, but I would like to display the memories of each of your brothers of what happened that day to the room. It makes it easier for everyone to know whose memory they’re having a glimpse at. It is completely harmless. I just need you to focus on the memory of what happened the night of Dirk’s death,” he said, holding his hand out once more for Gavin to take.

  With a nod, Gavin stepped forward, toward the omega, and grabbed hold of the man’s hand. A transparent screen wall hovered over them, making Gavin memories visible for everyone in the room to see. Dorian tapped directly to the night of the incident and replayed everything for them all to see. Everyone watched with hushed breaths, one brother after the other, watching the different variations from different perspective of the same event playing out before them.

  They all watched as the brothers returned back to their house in the Yenassi pack to find the door to their house unlocked, something that made them suspicious, and their hurried rush into the house as they went in search of their youngest brother. The rage that crossed their faces and their long-legged strides as they rushed Dirk, who had Will cowered in one part of the kitchen, his clothes shredded around his body, yelling and pleading to stop.

  They saw the brothers drag Dirk away from their brother and proceed to beat Dirk into a pulp before the two alphas changed into their wolf form and attacked the other. The fight was brutal, with both getting digs in at the other until Gavin finally got the upper hand and finished off Dirk. They saw Gavin change into his human form, spitting on the dead wolf carcass, then rushing toward his brothers, and their long journey out of the Yenassi pack.

  Then Dorian broke off the connection with the Mendez brothers and turned to face the Yenassi Alpha. “As you all can see, Dirk’s death was justified. A punishment for his crimes. Had he not died then, he would most definitely have been facing the same punishment for breaking your laws, not to mention his despicable acts. I suggest you move past this.” He then turned to face Gregory. “We need to talk.”

  “Dorian…” Kevyan said, his voice low, and Dorian squeezed his arm, letting Kevyan know silently that he was okay and not going above his limits.

  “I’ll come with you,” Kevyan said on a sigh then led his mate out of the study, Gregory followed after them.

  As they moved out of the study, they heard the loud voices of the men they’d left behind arguing and yelling at each other, Colin still demanding satisfaction for losing his son but turning a deaf ear to it all.

  When they were in a secluded spot, Dorian turned to face Gregory. “I don’t think it’s wise to trust Colin at all, and I’m sure by now you must have an inkling of what’s happening over at the Yenassi pack?”

  Gregory nodded,
running a hand wearily down his face. “Yes. Victor mentioned something about it.”

  “The situation is much worse than that, Gregory. It’s much dire than what’s simply on the surface, and when I read over his actions and thoughts…” Dorian shook his head, his lips pinched. “He’s selling pups on the black market. And after all Colin has done to the pack, their people are so consumed by fear that it would be a miracle to be able to get them back on track of what a pack is supposed to be,” Dorian said with a shake of his head.

  “This is bad. Victor is trying to overthrow his father, but hearing this right now, I’m not sure if I can even trust him. How long before the son gets much worse than the father?” Gregory asked.

  “I think it’s best to give Victor the benefit of the doubt. For now,” Kevyan suggested.

  “We’ll see how it plays out. Let’s go back in and deal with this issue once and for all,” Gregory said, nodding toward the omega and vampire king before turning on his heels and walking back into the study.

  The three entered the study just as they heard Gavin ask, “Where is Colin?”

  The question made Gregory snap his head around. He swept a glance over everyone present then froze completely. His thoughts rushed about, and the only conclusion he could reach made his heart thud heavily in his chest. “Enforcers, search the grounds. Betas, to me,” he ordered just before rushing out of the room toward his bedroom, where he’d left his unconscious mate, Will, attached to an IV.