“Jay wouldn’t hurt me. Besides, he’s not even waking up. What did you do to him?”
“Just a mild sedative. It’ll wear off quickly and, by the time he wakes up, it will all be over. I’ll have subdued the wild wolf but too late to save you and we’ll carry your mangled body from the room. Of course, if Eagle Creek had held up their end of the bargain, this could all have been avoided.”
Felix sounded unhinged. What was he talking about?
“Don’t worry about the Omega. I won’t let them kill him. He’s far too valuable. I’ll keep him locked up and mate with him when he goes into heat. We should get a few pups from him. But we’d best get started.”
And he crouched and started to change, the transformation shredding his clothes.
“Felix, this is madness. They’ll know it was you.”
But would they? If Felix was the only one left to tell the story, with both him and Jay covered in Byron’s blood? Who would the Pack believe, their Alpha’s youngest son or the practically mute stray they’d found days before?
Felix was standing between him and the door. Where the hell was Odin?
There was nothing for it. Byron couldn’t protect Jay or himself against Felix while in human form. Shifting quickly, his body protesting the rush, he found Felix already on him, claws tearing at him, jaws trying to close around his neck. Byron tucked in his head and shoved, sending them both over onto their sides and loosening Felix’s grip. He got up and they circled each other, growling.
He heard Jay whine behind him followed by a loud banging on the door. It distracted him for a second and that was all it took, Felix slamming into him, teeth clamping down on his flank and tearing at his flesh. He howled and launched himself at Felix, grabbing his hind leg in his mouth. The door burst open, slamming against the wall and Odin stood there, a gun in his hand.
“Felix, back off. Don’t make me shoot you,” he said. Felix backed away towards Jay and before they could stop him, had his jaws around the Omega’s exposed throat.
Byron shifted back to human form, kneeling two feet from them. He raised both hands up, arms outstretched.
“Felix, please, stop this. He’s innocent, he’s done you no wrong. Let this madness go. We can put it behind us. You're my brother.”
Jay was waking up, the sedative wearing off. He whined pitifully and it tugged at something inside Byron. Tensing his legs beneath him, he dived onto Felix, knocking him off Jay and onto the floor. It was a fatal mistake, leaving his neck vulnerable and his brother bit down as the retort of a gun sounded.
They took Byron and the other wolf away and they wouldn’t let Jay go with the Alpha. Instead, Scott sat with him, the shifter staring pensively at the door. Jay sat next to him doing likewise. A long time passed where nothing happened and then Odin came in carrying a bundle of clothes in his arms.
He knelt down in front of Jay so they were eye to eye.
“Here’s the deal. If you want to see Byron, you have to be human and you have to be dressed. Otherwise, you’re staying here.”
Scott stood and he and Odin spoke in whispers near the door, giving him some space. He decided, on balance, that he needed to see the Alpha. Byron had saved him. He could brave human form for that. Changing, he eyed the clothes with uncertainty, rescued by Scott who came over and helped him into them. He drew the line at the shoes, shaking his head when Scott held them out. Scott exchanged a look with Odin who shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
“That’ll have to do. Come on then.”
He followed them out, managing the corridor okay but having trouble with the stairs. Odin steadied him as they climbed down. “Remind me to take the elevator next time.”
They got into a car, Scott sitting in the back with him while Odin drove. Byron’s scent was in the car, as was the scent of blood. When he’d woken, things had been crazy, everyone shouting, blood everywhere. Especially on Byron. At first, he’d been afraid he’d done that, hurt the Alpha, only his fur had been clean.
They arrived, entering a strange building. It was very white and warm with an odd smell he didn’t like. He wrinkled his nose.
“Yeah, hospitals, you never get used to that scent. Even if it is just for shifters.”
This was a hospital?
They walked through corridors, following signs Odin kept pointing to and then they were directed to a room by a woman dressed in odd blue clothes.
Inside was a bed and, lying on it, Byron.
Something inside him relaxed when he caught the Alpha’s scent and the rise and fall of his chest. Byron was here. He was okay.
The Alpha’s eyes opened, seeking his.
“Jay?” His voice sounded wrong, like he was talking from far away. There were white bandages covering his neck. He reached a hand for Jay and Jay stepped forward eagerly to take it.
The Alpha drew him closer, letting go of his hand to caress his cheek.
“I’m really glad you’re okay. I’m sorry for what Felix did, what he tried to do.”
Scott and Odin had explained a little in the car but Jay didn’t care much beyond knowing Byron was okay.
“Saved me,” he said.
“I guess now we’re even,” Byron said then coughed painfully.
“Enough talking, your throat won’t heal if you keep yapping,” Odin groused.
Jay climbed onto the bed next to Byron.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Odin muttered.
Jay ignored him, lying down next to the Alpha, and closing his eyes. Byron’s hand stroked his cheek.
When Byron woke again, Jay was gone, the room empty. He sat up, stretching his neck gently. The pain was much better. Jay’s scent lingered on the bed, and he let his hand drift across the blanket where he’d lain. He was very glad the young Omega was safe. But where was he now?
Reaching for his phone on the locker next to his bed, he rang Odin.
A sleep tousled voice answered. “Hello?”
“Odin, it’s Byron.”
“Byron. It’s the middle of the night.”
Glancing at the window, Byron realized he’d missed the obvious.
“Sorry Odin, my internal clock is out of sync. Where’s Jay? How is he?”
There was a pause long enough to let him know he wasn’t going to like what he heard next.
“He’s fine. Your father made arrangements for him.”
“What kind of arrangements?”
“I didn’t ask specifics. He did what he felt was best.”
“Where is Jay now?”
Another pause.
“Odin.”
“He’s at the Pack House. I think some of your father’s security people are with him.”
The words had him sitting up and throwing off the covers.
“How soon can you pick me up?”
“You’re not in any fit state to…”
“Don’t argue with me, Odin. My father’s not good with this kind of stuff. His security have no experience handling wolves like Jay.”
“No one has that kind of experience,” Odin argued, but Byron could hear the sound of clothes being pulled on in the background.
“Yeah, but the only security Father has to spare at the moment are all brawn and no brain. They’re not you or Scott.”
“Flattery will get you anywhere,” Odin answered with a yawn. “I’ll be there in ten.”
Chapter Twenty-One
He was standing by the door when Odin pulled up outside. The nurse standing next to him with her arms folded glared pointedly at Odin as he got out.
Odin held his hands up. “He’s the Alpha. I’m just following orders.”
“It didn’t work in Nuremberg,” the nurse said, before throwing up her hands and stomping back inside.
“Get in before you fall down,” Odin said, opening the passenger door. Byron sat in with a wince. “Your father is not going to be pleased that you’re leaving the hospital. Or that I’m helping you.”
“If there’s any fallout, it’ll be on me, not
you.”
They drove in silence to the house. Raventree was a little different to most Packs. His father didn’t live in the Pack House, looking after the day to day Pack concerns. Instead, he delegated that to his younger brother and his nephews, leaving him to focus on the bigger picture of interpack relations and trade. Byron hoped to continue the arrangement once he took power and his uncle hadn’t voiced any objections.
The house was unusually quiet when they got there. His uncle and most of his cousins were attending the trade talks.
When they got inside, a shifter named Gordon stuck his head out a door. Byron had never had many dealings with him, but he’d heard stories.
“Alpha, we were not expecting to see you. Heard from Todd you were in the clinic.”
“I’m here to collect Jay.”
The other shifter paused, a look of confusion crossing his face. “Jay? I don’t think I know a Jay.”
“The shifter my father had sent here.” Byron would bet on it that his father was just as keen as Byron to keep quiet the knowledge that they’d found an Omega.
“Oh, the feral kid. I didn’t realize he had a name. Yeah, he’s here.”
“Where?”
“Your father didn’t say anything about you coming to pick him up.”
“Where is he?” Byron said, taking a slow step forward. Odin stood shoulder to shoulder with him and looking from one to the other, Gordon balked.
“In the basement.” On seeing the look on Byron’s face, he went pale. “Look, we had no choice, the guy was out of control, tried to escape, bit Todd on the ankle.”
“Get out.”
“Alpha…”
“You heard the man, clear off, we’ll take it from here.”
Gordon couldn’t get out of there fast enough, yelling for Todd to join him.
Byron and Odin shared a look before they made their way to the basement entrance. Byron pulled back the bolt and opened the door. Darkness greeted them.
“Damn it.” He took a step forward and Odin’s hand landed on his arm. “Maybe we should call the doc, get him to give Jay a sedative. He'll wake up back in your place, in familiar surroundings.”
“I’m not going to leave him down there a minute more if we don’t have to. You saw where those traffickers were keeping him. He’s probably terrified.”
“You’re taking a risk going down there.”
“Yeah, I am. But you don’t have to. It’s safer if I go down alone.”
Odin shook his head. “Not a chance in hell. If something happens to you, your father will exile me.”
“Fine. But stay back, behind me. He doesn’t know you as well.”
“He knows me fine, he just likes you better,” Odin grumbled, as Byron flicked on the light and they made their way down the stairs.
Byron was surprised to find Jay in human form, still wearing the clothes he’d had on at the hospital, though they were torn and in disarray. He was curled up in the far corner, his head hidden from view.
“Jay, it’s me,” he called softly, watching the Omega tense at his words. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know that they'd taken you here until a few minutes ago, and I came straight here to get you. You can come with me now and we’ll get out of here.”
Still Jay didn’t raise his head. But he was definitely aware they were there, his body scrunching up as they stepped closer.
“Jay, please,” he tried.
That got a reaction, the Omega lifting his head, wary eyes peeking up at him. Byron winced at what he saw; new swelling on his cheek and a bloody lip.
“Damn it,” he whispered, crouching down so he was closer to Jay’s level.
Jay growled as he neared, raising his shoulders. In response, Byron sank closer to the ground, trying to look harmless. It didn’t seem to work, the Omega’s growl increasing in volume as he bared his teeth.
Odin spoke from behind him in a harsh undertone.
“He doesn’t need a friend right now, Byron, he needs an Alpha.”
Would that work? Byron had his doubts. Surely it would just reinforce his fear? But Jay was an Omega and his responses to Byron so far had been atypical of his responses to everyone else.
So Byron stood up from his crouch, making his body larger, more intimidating and growled low under his breath. Jay became still and silent. Byron held out a hand, ignoring how Jay jumped at the sudden movement.
“Come on. Take my hand. We’re leaving, right now.” He put as much authority into his voice as he could muster and it worked, Jay climbing to his feet and placing his hand into Byron’s. It was clear he was frightened, his shoulders hunched, body tense but his fear was of the situation, not of Byron. Byron drew him closer, tipping his head up with his free hand, eyeing the freshly bruised skin.
“We’ll grab some ice on the way out, it’ll take down some of that swelling.”
He didn’t give Jay time to dwell on his words, guiding the wolf ahead of him up the stairs. The Omega tensed when they came to the door and Byron wrapped a strong hand around his bicep in case he decided to run. Jay relaxed under his touch.
He led him out to the car, Odin following them a few minutes later, handing Byron ice wrapped in a cloth. When he turned back to Jay, the Omega was watching him.
“Here,” he leaned over, using one hand to steady Jay’s head as he placed the ice over the worst of the swelling. Jay made a face.
“I know it hurts.”
“Cold.”
“Yeah, that too, but it’ll help the pain.”
“Where to? The hotel?” Odin asked, starting the engine.
“No, my house, at least until this injury isn’t so visible.” He gestured to his neck and the white bandage still covering it.
Jay was frowning next to him, fingers brushing across the bandage. Byron caught his hand.
“It’s alright. It’ll be healed up in a day or two.”
Seemingly satisfied with his answer, Jay closed his eyes, leaning back against the seat.
Chapter Twenty-Two
They were back to the house Byron had brought him to before. His face ached and as they got out of the car, his stomach growled.
“Breakfast time,” Odin announced. “I’ll go pick something up. You two settle in. There’s a double guard watching the house.”
Jay followed Byron inside. He could see the Alpha was tired, pain etched on his face.
He wanted to get away into the woods, hide away from the world, but he couldn’t leave Byron alone. He was injured. What if something happened? What if someone tried to hurt him again?
Instead, he forced himself to keep pace with the Alpha as they entered the house. And when Byron flopped down gracefully onto a couch, he sat down right next to him, body curling up tightly as a shiver ran through him.
“You alright over there?” Byron asked.
He nodded slowly.
The Alpha huffed with frustration, beckoning him with one hand. “Come here.”
He didn’t move.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Jay. Come on. I’m tired and in pain and I’m not about to sit here watching you shivering from the cold.”
He inched closer, until he was side by side with Byron, who wrapped his arm around him and let out a hum. “There. That’s better. Isn’t that better?”
The Alpha’s skin radiated warmth and Jay surrendered to it, turning his head into the curve of the Alpha’s neck and shoulder, brushing against his bandage. He didn’t plan to fall asleep but he’d been awake and on alert for hours, ready for whatever was coming for him.
A snort of laughter had him jerking awake, heart racing, eyes searching out the danger.
Odin stood there, a bag of food dangling from his wrist, folding his arms and shaking his head.
“Shut up,” Byron said, without opening an eye.
“Is that any way to treat the wolf who brought you breakfast?”
“Yes,” Byron replied, one hand stroking soothing lines along Jay’s arm.
“You’re going to m
ake your father’s day,” Odin added. “He’s wanted an Omega for you since the moment he heard Glenoak had Robert.”
The words sent a thrill of fear through Jay. Byron couldn’t be like the Alphas Brett and Mike had told him about, could he? He’d thought so at first, but then the Alpha had been kind and hadn’t hurt him. He’d thought that meant he didn’t want an Omega. Not like that.
He squirmed out of Byron’s grip, hitting the floor. Both Odin and the Alpha reached for him as he tried to scramble out of reach.
“Hey.” Byron’s clear voice called to him. “It’s okay, Jay. Remember what I told you? You’re safe here and under my protection.”
Odin’s hands slipped under his shoulders and bodily lifted him back onto the couch next to Byron. The Alpha’s arms wrapped around him.
“What was that about?” Odin asked.
“Ro said the traffickers told Jay they were going to sell him to an Alpha and that it would be much worse than how things were with them.
Odin cursed under his breath. “Worse than that torture chamber we found him in? No wonder he’s terrified.” He knelt down next to the couch, trying to catch Jay’s eye.
“Most Alphas aren’t like that. And you’ve lucked out with Byron here. I haven’t met a more honorable shifter, besides his father. If he’s given you his word, you can trust that.”
Jay turned his gaze to Byron, the Alpha nodding encouragingly at him.
“Good. Now that’s sorted, let’s eat,” Odin said, picking up a table as if it weighed nothing and sitting it down in front of them.
He opened the bag he’d brought. Jay didn’t know what it was but the smell reminded him he was ravenous.
His stomach rumbled loudly, drawing the eyes of both men.
“Someone’s hungry,” Byron murmured, then pulled the food closer to them. “Here, try some of this.”
The Alpha broke off a piece of something and handed it to him. He sniffed it cautiously and took a bite. It was buttery and filled with a sweet cream.
“Almond croissant. Pretty good, huh?”
The Alpha's Love: Lost Omegas Book Four: A M/M Shifter Romance Page 12