Ricky watched as Sandy nodded solemnly before climbing up into the chair the Alpha had sat in earlier. Apparently this was the pack doctor. Shame flared briefly as Ricky realized he’d been wrong about his previous assumptions. He wanted to believe things would be better here and so far it looked like they might be, but then things had started out good in Willow Creek too.
“You have to eat, Ricky.” His brother’s voice pulled him out of his musings. The doctor had obviously left the room, which he appreciated. Maybe his brother could give him some information on what had happened. He took a sip of the broth and almost moaned at how good it tasted. It had been so long since he’d had a decent meal. “That’s good. Doc Houston, that’s the pack doctor, said you will get better if you do what he says.” Sandy swung his legs as he continued to watch Ricky.
“You seem to know a lot about this pack. How long have I been here? Better yet, how did I even get here little brother?” Ricky sat back and watched his brother squirm for a moment before solemn blue eyes looked up at him.
“A couple of days. You scared me, Ricky. I brought back water and you wouldn’t wake up to drink it. I touched you and your skin was on fire. So I followed the scent of one of the pack members and asked the Alpha to help you. He’s a nice man, but a little scary. His brothers are nice, too, even if they tried to eat me when I first came here. But the Alpha stopped them and now they are my uncles, I guess, so they can’t eat me even if I get bigger.” Sandy took a breath and continued before Ricky could even open his mouth. “I got my own bedroom and it don’t have no lock on it like the old one. The Alpha told me none of the doors have locks here and I can decorate my room any way I want. He said he’s gonna buy me new clothes and I can go to school here. Did you know they have schools? I wonder why I didn’t get to go in the other pack. Oh and Sparky, he’s a guy but he has purple hair and claims he’s the bomb when it comes to fashion, although, I’m not sure what that means but he does look cool. He says he’ll help me pick out my clothes so I’m as stylin’ as he is. I’m not sure I want purple hair, though.” Sandy touched his white hair. “But maybe green would be nice. What do you think, Ricky?”
Ricky couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped as he watched his little brother come to life right before his eyes. It had been years since he’d seen his brother this excited about anything. For the first time he allowed himself to relax just a little. The fact they had a school and were already talking as if his little brother at least was welcome made him think maybe his friend Jake had been right.
“It sounds to me like you’ve been busy little brother.” Ricky yawned and smiled when his sibling walked over and took the now empty soup mug from his hand. He felt the small hand on his arm as his brother smiled up at him.
“This is a good place, Ricky. I can feel it,” Sandy said softly, before he went back to his post in the chair.
“I hope you’re right, short fry, I hope you’re right.” The exhausted man sighed as he settled back down and turned on his side. As he closed his eyes, his mind wandered back to the Alpha who had sat in the chair earlier. He had to admit his brother was right. The man was scary and yet even though the wolf looked like he could eat you for breakfast, Ricky had felt safe for the first time in a long time. Funny, he never thought he would find a larger man attractive, especially after the past five years. But there was just something that drew him to the imposing Alpha.
At least if serving the Alpha was part of the deal for their safety, he wouldn’t be as repulsed as he had been in his last pack. In fact he could imagine he might find Alpha Grant someone he might even enjoy having sex with. Unfortunately, that was all he probably would have since there was no way the Alpha could want someone as damaged as him. At least in his dreams, he could imagine how it would be if he were worth being loved by a man like Alpha Grant.
CHAPTER FIVE
GRANT GROANED AS THE HOT WATER CASCADED OVER HIS sore muscles. He thought about the man who was currently sleeping in his bed. The brief look he’d gotten set his blood on fire in a way he’d never felt with anyone else. Sure, he’d had a few one-night stands here and there but he’d always been discreet and upfront with his lovers. There would be no future for them with him. He’d bedded both men and women, but he had to admit he did enjoy a firm muscular body under his to the softer curves of a woman.
His hand trailed lower over his rock hard abs towards his heavy cock. Ever since he’d scented his Semme’ he seemed to be in a constant state of arousal. He closed his eyes and imagined his hands holding onto a strawberry blonde head, the plump lips he’d seen on his mate wrapped around the head of his cock as he pushed gently into the warm cavern. His hips pistoned forward, seeking the release only his mate could give him. As the Alpha continued to thrust into his hand, he kept seeing his mate until with a loud cry he painted the wall with his seed.
The shifter sighed as he leaned against the shower wall. One thing he knew for certain. There would be no other lovers from this point on. Even if Richard never let him touch him, he’d never feel like this with anyone else. He knew he had to have patience, but his wolf was howling with the need to claim what fate had decreed was his. If only Gaia had protected his mate better, things might be different. Grabbing a towel, he quickly dried himself off and got dressed. Mate or not, he still needed to get some answers from Richard Landon.
Grant slowly made his way to his bedroom with a tray of food for his mate. He’d spent the last couple of nights in one of the spare rooms to give Richard space. Unfortunately, as much as he wanted to let the man fully recover, time wasn’t on their side. David, Jason and Sparky had returned with bad news. The Sentries from Willow Creek had escaped and had probably reported back to Alpha Clifton. He was surprised that his phone hadn’t rung with a demand to return the two. Of course, that wasn’t going to happen. Even if Richard hadn’t been his mate, there was the issue regarding his little brother’s future. If what Sandy told him was true, there was no way he could let the Omega return to Alpha Clifton.
He had spent the afternoon yesterday with his brothers and friends working out the best way to keep the Landon brothers safe while avoiding an all out war with the Willow Creek Pack. Sandy had told them some of what had happened to his older brother over the past five years. Luckily the boy hadn’t been exposed to the most horrendous acts. Yet for the Alpha to allow the young pup to witness the public beatings of his older brother told him more than he needed to know about how the pack was run.
He and his father before him had run Windy River Pack with a firm hand, but they had always tempered it with fairness. He couldn’t remember any member of the pack being publicly whipped; instead they had used the threat of being banned from the pack and in severe cases had administered the ultimate shifter justice, death. Grant wanted to think he was fair and he knew that his reputation as a warrior meant there weren’t many who would challenge him. After almost fifty years of peaceful existence, he wondered if his reputation would be enough to dissuade the Alpha of Willow Creek from taking this matter further.
Grant paused outside the door and took a deep breath. The scent of his mate filled him with a desire that for now at least, he knew he couldn’t fulfill. Closing his eyes he pulled his wolf back until he felt he had control. He opened the door quietly and walked inside. His eyes immediately fell to the slight swell of pale globes. Richard was lying on his stomach with the covers tossed to the side. He had a full view of his naked mate along with the damage that had been done.
Angry red lines still covered the man’s back, ass and thighs. A closer look showed scarring from previous beatings marring the pale marble skin. Yet the Alpha never saw anyone so beautiful. The scars would fade in time and being a wolf and a warrior he only saw them as a badge of courage to be worn with pride. He placed the food tray on the dresser before he moved closer and gently pulled the covers over the exposed flesh. He didn’t want the man to be embarrassed when he woke. As he pulled the blanket higher, he couldn’t resist running his hand thro
ugh the shoulder length hair. The soft waves of reddish-gold rings shimmered against the dark skin of his hand. He smiled as the man moved into his touch even though he slept. At least his mate’s body wanted him, now if he could just convince the man.
Grant stepped back as a soft groan floated up from the bed. He watched as his mate struggled to turn, his back obviously making the move difficult. Without thinking the Alpha reached forward and began to help. “Take it easy, Richard. If you break any of those stitches the Doc won’t be happy with either one of us.”
He felt the man stiffen for a moment, before, with a sigh, he allowed him to help him sit up. He quickly pushed some pillows behind the injured man. “I brought you some breakfast. Doc Houston said you need to start eating more to get your strength up.” He noticed Richard swallow before looking down at his hands. “Do you need something?”
“Ah, well…” Richard glanced toward the doorway, which lead to the ensuite bathroom. From the way the man squirmed, it didn’t take much to figure out the problem. Without saying a word, he helped his mate to the bathroom and stood outside the door while he did his business. A short time later, he had Richard back in bed with the tray of food sitting on his lap. Grant took a seat in the chair and continued to watch his mate. After a few bites the man put down the fork and looked at him with stormy hazel eyes.
“What do you want to know?” Richard asked, as he took a sip from the orange juice on his tray.
The Alpha leaned forward. “I need to know it all, Richard. But first, why don’t we start out with the easy stuff. Are you or your brother related to or…” Grant paused and took a breath, “…involved with Alpha Clifton?”
Richard choked for a moment before he sat back and glared at Grant. “We are not related to that bastard other than through bad judgment on my part. He offered us a home and a place in his pack, which I accepted without reading the fine print. As to the rest,” the man looked down and pushed the tray aside. “I didn’t ask for any of it but I had no choice. As long as I did what the Alpha wanted, Sandy was safe.” Grant watched as the fire that had blazed in the hazel eyes quickly faded just before Richard dropped his eyes.
“Our parents died when I was eighteen and I thought,” the human chewed on his lower lip for a moment before he continued, “Maria seemed so sure that Alpha Clifton would help.” Angry hazel eyes looked up. “I thank God she found my father because Alpha Clifton would have destroyed her.”
“So Maria was your step-mother and she was a shifter. How much did she know about Alpha Clifton and his pack?” Grant prodded. He wondered why she hadn’t just made Alpha Clifton Sandy’s guardian. A soft sigh caused him to look at his mate. Richard’s lower lip was slightly swollen. The tip of tongue peaked out briefly only to dart back inside. Grant bit back a groan as he crossed his legs to hide his cock straining against his zipper. The dream he had in the shower surged forward and made it difficult for him to focus on what the young man was saying.
Richard sighed softly and plucked at a piece of lint on the blanket in front of him. “I don’t think Maria really knew Alpha Clifton that well. From what she told me about him, they had dated a few times. There had been talk between the Alpha of her old pack and Alpha Clifton about allowing her to join Willow Creek and become the Alpha’s mate. She was on her way to meet with Alpha Clifton to eat when she bumped into my father at the diner.” A soft smile formed on the man’s face. “She told me she knew that my dad was her true mate, the light in her soul. But I always thought it was the opposite. When she entered the room, the sun seemed to shine. Sandy is a lot like that, too. I just wish.” Grant watched as Richard swallowed before he shook his head. “Well, it doesn’t really matter since she’s gone.”
“Did you ever see her wolf? Was she the same color as Sandy?” Grant leaned forward.
Richard tensed immediately. The man’s lips formed a straight line as he remained silent. Even the fingers that had been busy a moment before curled inward until only fists remained on the human’s lap. Grant waited and watched but it appeared that Richard wasn’t gong to answer the question.
“Look, if you want my help you need to answer my questions and answer them honestly. It isn’t just you and your brother that I have to consider here but over three hundred members of my pack. Do you realize what your presence here means?” Grant growled as he stood and moved towards the bed. Before he could take a step, Richard rolled to the opposite side and scrambled out of the bed. The scent of fear was so thick; Grant thought he might choke on it. He watched as the man staggered for a moment before he fell to his knees, his arms curled over his head as he hunched in on himself.
The door opened and a snarl filled the air. A white wolf raced across the floor and stood between Grant and Richard. Realizing this was getting out of control, the Alpha turned on his heals and strode from the room. He walked down the hallway and knocked on the door where the doctor was staying. When it opened, he ordered Doc Houston to check on his mate and then continued down towards his office. The wolf in him was screaming at him to go back, to comfort his mate and yet the human part of him knew he was the last person Richard needed right now.
Grant had just managed to down his first glass of scotch when he heard someone approach the door. He turned his chair and reached for the bottle he kept on the sideboard behind him. The door opened and closed but the Alpha continued to refill his glass and fill a second.
“Was he injured?” Grant asked as he turned to greet the doctor and hand him his own glass. He watched as the pack doctor accepted the drink before he sat down in the chair and gazed down into the amber depths. “Well?” The Alpha prompted.
“If I hadn’t known you since you were a pup and if I didn’t know that your father raised you to be a fair and good Alpha, I would be taking that man and the boy and leaving here.” Doc Houston looked up and shook his head. “I had to give him something to make him sleep. What in the hell happened, Alpha?”
Grant sucked in a breath as he thought back over the way he approached the conversation. He hadn’t been threatening his mate but he had pressed him for answers that Richard obviously didn’t want to provide.
“He wouldn’t confide in me about Sandy being an Omega. I could tell he was holding back and I needed answers, damn it! How can I keep him—” The Alpha stood and held his arms wide, “—all of them safe if I don’t know what I’m facing?” He dropped his arms and walked towards the window. “He’s my mate but even not knowing that, he was part of a pack and should know when an Alpha gives his word, it is kept.”
“Unless you are Alpha Clifton from the Willow Creek Pack,” Doc Houston said softly. He took a sip from the glass, considering his words before he continued. “According to what Sandy told me and the little I’ve gleaned from your mate, the same promise was made before they joined the Willow Creek Pack. Not all Alphas uphold the old values in the way you do Alpha Grant.” The doctor leaned forward, “You have never been challenged by anyone except maybe your family and even they bend to your will. You see Richard’s fear to speak as a failure to submit to your position.”
Grant huffed as he turned to look at the doctor. “You sound like David. I’m not a King and I don’t rule as one. Everyone here has a choice to stay or leave as they see fit. But a strong Alpha has to set the rules and enforce them or the pack will flounder. My father never bowed to anyone and he expected his orders to be followed without question.” Grant walked back to his desk and took his seat. “All I ask is that he tell me the truth so I can protect them all, is that being unfair or cruel?”
Doc Houston looked at Grant for a few moments before he sighed and sat back in the chair. He finished the rest of the Scotch and placed the empty glass on the corner of the Alpha’s desk.
“What you ask isn’t being unfair or cruel, Alpha Grant. However, what you fail to take into account is the manner in which your mate came to you. Put yourself in his place. He was abused and tortured by the same Alpha who promised safety. I’m not sure how much Sandy actuall
y saw, but from the little he told me your mate suffered greatly at the hands of that pack. He is a human who was thrown into pack life without a life preserver. He didn’t understand all the nuances of pack politics. Hell, he didn’t even know that he could tell the Alpha no or that he could leave and take his brother with him by simply notifying Alpha Clifton of his intent,” Doc Houston growled. “He was declared rogue without so much as a hearing or a chance to plead his case before his Alpha. To be honest, Alpha Grant, I’m surprised your mate is still able to challenge you at all but if he were my mate, I’d be proud that he still can.”
Grant sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. “I need answers but you’re right Doc, I should have been more patient. I’m just not used to—”
“—having your authority challenged. Even if it’s by a badly abused human and his whelp,” Doc Houston finished for him. He stood and winked at Grant, “Actually, given time I think you’ll be able to get your mate to believe you and accept your word but Sandy? Well, you may have to do a bit of groveling with him. When I left he was laying at the foot of his brother’s bed, growling at anyone who approached.”
The Alpha chuckled. “Well I do have to admit, the pup has the makings of a fierce warrior even before he becomes a full fledged Omega. I’ll go up and begin groveling with a plate of those sugar cookies he’s so fond of.”
The doctor nodded and smiled as he rose and turned to leave the room.
“Richard, should sleep for a few hours. Maybe you should have Jason bring him lunch and try to talk to him?” The doctor suggested as he clapped Grant on the shoulder. “Remember, you really don’t have to do it all.”
The Alpha's Promise Page 6