Ben grabbed his arm before he left. “Be careful.” His eyes darted to a point past Daniel’s shoulder. “Both of you.”
“We will, little one,” Carr said from behind.
There was no time for more than that. No time to speak what was on his mind and in his heart. Things like I’m sorry I can’t be the mate you deserve.
The alpha strode in, naked as they were, and ready to go to battle. He deposited his mate and daughter on the other side of Joey and after giving them a quick kiss good-bye, joined Daniel and Carr.
Daniel asked the pertinent questions. “From what direction are they coming, sir, and do we know how many?”
A look of fierceness entered Lorcan’s eyes. “Deidre says there are at least two dozen coming at us head-on from the forest.”
“Bold of them,” Carr observed. “And those odds suck.”
“It can’t be their full complement, either,” Daniel chimed in. If he were Haldon, he’d leave a few fighters in reserve.
Lorcan nodded. “I agree on both points. That’s why I want you two in the back of the compound. We can’t leave our backside unprotected. If an attack comes from that direction, the sigmas wouldn’t be able to hold the line.”
Clasping the alpha on the shoulder, Daniel said, “You can count on us, sir.”
“Thank you. See you on the other side of this.” The alpha glanced once more at his family before shifting into his huge wolf and bounding away.
“Come on.” Despite having left pack life, Daniel found it easy to slip back into his beta role. Carr might be bigger, maybe stronger and more aggressive, but Daniel’s job was to lead. He did so now, feeling the pressure of making his ancestors proud. He existed because they’d kept their pack safe. Although he couldn’t claim to be a member of the Rogue Pack, Ben’s safety, and that of all of these shifters that he’d already become fond of, mattered more than his life. That was for certain.
Carr followed without a murmur, shifting into his magnificent white wolf even before they passed through the open sliding glass doors leading to the back yard. He stopped and sniffed the air before running the tight perimeter.
Daniel did one more thing before joining him. He turned and looked at the head sigma, a male who was pretty damn scary in his wolf form. “Keep the doors shut and the curtains open. We’ll need to be able to see inside in case they find another way in.”
The sigma woofed his understanding, so Daniel wasted no time in shifting and joining Carr on his patrol. It was the worst possible time of day for an attack. That is if you were on the defense and trying to see with the haze of dawn making everything muted. His nose and ears weren’t at any kind of disadvantage, however. The scents of the intruders filled the air and the sounds of the fight began almost immediately. Their enemies had gotten that close that fast. The instinct to howl was strong, but he held it in check. His best defense for the pack was to stay unnoticed if possible and on high alert.
It was Carr who caught wind of them first, backing up to get closer to the house and away from the dense foliage. The gamma crouched and growled. Trusting his friend—yes, friend was the right word—Daniel did the same. He saw the eyes gleaming through the bushes. Thank the Gods that the alpha had left them behind. Here were Haldon’s other boys, or at least some of them. He counted six as they slunk out from their cover. One was the beta and the rest gammas. They were a motley-looking group, testament to how Haldon had brought in ferals to boost his numbers.
As Carr had observed, the odds sucked.
Daniel snapped and snarled out a warning. He didn’t howl, however, because he didn’t want to distract the others from their fight. This was his and Carr’s job. They could handle it. They would protect Ben and the others with their lives, if necessary. He’d never been attacked, nor killed another wolf. He wasn’t afraid, though. His death wouldn’t matter. Only Ben’s life and that of his pup and the other vulnerable pack members counted. And, Daniel knew the tactics, had been taught them by his sire. Once learned, they remained inside a shifter for the rest of his life.
So, he didn’t make the first move, and Carr took his cues from his beta. The enemy taunted them with teeth and vocalizations that were meant to draw them into their circle and away from the house. No way he was falling for that nonsense. He and Carr kept a V formation, moving from side-to-side as the others pranced closer, then retreated.
It was a young gamma who made the first mistake. He wasn’t so well trained as to wait for his beta’s signal. And, he stupidly thought Daniel was the easier target. Easier he might have been, yet not easy. When the guy leaped at him, Daniel crouched low and rose into his belly when he hit the apex of his jump. Daniel sank his jaws into the soft spot and ripped a chunk out. With a shriek, the gamma dropped to the ground, spreading blood and gore from his fatal wound. Spitting out his mouthful, Daniel took up a new defensive stance.
Carr allowed himself only a second to appreciate how fierce a fighter his beta was before he blocked out the sounds of Daniel continuing to fight. He needed to focus all of his attention on the three enemy wolves slinking toward him. The Rogues were overwhelmed by a wider margin than he’d thought, or at least he was. Daniel had drawn first blood early, giving him more hope. Carr still had to deal with more adversaries than he could easily manage.
He was bred for this, however. Fighting was the whole reason for being a gamma. Luck had been with him up ‘til now, having never known any battles in his old pack. And he’d only faced the occasional skirmish for food and temporary territory while he’d been following Destin. Still, he’d never gone soft, was at the peak of his strength, and had the best reason of all for winning—he was all that really stood between these three killer shifters and the vulnerable pack members behind him. Like a breeding Ben. The omega had been through so much misery and pain already. He wouldn’t suffer more. Not while Carr breathed.
He could take these mangy mutts circling him. They were obviously feral and for good reason. Their eyes had turned a sickly yellow and there wasn’t much meat on their bones. Haldon had dredged the bottom of the barrel for new recruits and had wisely sent probably the worst of the lot to deal with those unlikely to put up much of a fight. Stupid fucker hadn’t counted on Daniel and him being left to guard the rear. Well, that was a mistake that would cost them.
As had happened with Daniel, the youngest of the lot made the first move. Gammas weren’t known for their brains, but strategy could be learned. These guys had neither. When the shifter with mud-brown and matted fur launched at him, Carr did the opposite of what Daniel had done. He went high, easily clearing the scraggly beast, so that he rammed his snout into the ground where Carr had recently stood. Carr landed on top of him and clamped onto the back of his neck. He sank his teeth in deeply, tasting the foulness of a poorly-kept shifter. Ignoring that, he clenched tightly to pierce through the skin. Warm, salty blood spurted down his throat. He jerked his head back and forth until he heard the satisfying snap of his adversary’s spine.
There was no time for feelings of victory. Unlike Daniel’s opponents, the two others who’d been circling him didn’t hold back to see what happened to the first. One bit Carr’s flank before he’d even dropped the carcass, the pain a blinding distraction for a second. The other snapped perilously close to his neck as he danced away. He could hear his attacker’s teeth ripping his hide. There was no time to wallow in it, however, he immediately turned, leaped and drove the other gamma to the ground.
This one was clean, yet also scrawny. They formed a snarling, biting ball. By the time they parted again, he was winded and blood seeped into one eye. But, his most recent opponent limped and backed away while the other made his next move. That was the problem, he vaguely thought before being tackled. They could rest and he could not.
The outcome of this fight was not in his favor.
“They’re outnumbered.” The alpha mate stated the obvious as those huddled on the couch watched the fight beyond the window.
Ben didn’t want
to watch. Those two amazingly brave shifters were his. His beta. His gamma. Pressing his hand against his abdomen, he was sick with worry that instead of having two sires, his pup would have none. And Daniel, at least, was only in the position of putting his life on the line because of him. He’d come to the Rogue Pack to keep Ben safe. Now, he might pay for that selfless act with his life.
Astoundingly, Daniel and Carr had taken down two of the attackers already. Those that were left, though, appeared to be smarter and better fighters. Even through the haze of twisting bodies, he could tell they were both hurt. Carr’s magnificent white fur showed blood all too easily. His two opponents seemed bigger and more adept at fighting than the two Daniel was tackling. That was probably all to the good considering that as a gamma, Carr should be better at battling. And yet, Ben couldn’t keep his stomach from roiling and tears pricking at his eyes each time he saw the guy go down.
“Please don’t die.” He issued the panicked plea in a whisper. Not that anyone could hear his fear over the fussing pups.
A few of the sigmas were also crying. Those hefty males who’d shifted and stood guard kept pacing around the room. Every once in a while, one would make a move to join the fight outside only to pull of short and stay put. The alpha had ordered them to stand guard inside, and they were sticking to their duty. As much as Ben wished they’d help Daniel and Carr, he understood why they weren’t. If those vile shifters outside made it past Daniel and Carr, these sigmas were the only thing left to stop them—the last line of defense for the pups.
No. Not the only thing. Ben pressed his palm in more tightly. If the longhouse was breached, he would shift and fight to save the others. He might be small, but life with Kurt had taught him that he was stronger than he thought. Stronger than his sire or anyone else had ever believed. Except for the two who were fighting to the death. Daniel and Carr had always believed in him.
“Yes!” He jumped up as Daniel dispatched another of his attackers.
But the beta was flagging. The last one facing him had the advantage of not being as wounded and tired. When Ben dared to focus on Carr again, he saw that the gamma hadn’t eliminated either of his remaining opponents. Even as he watched, the white gamma went down again, rolling away just in time to avoid a killing bite to his neck.
“They’re going to lose.” He heard the panic in his voice, yet couldn’t stop it.
“Fuck this!” Kyle stood and shoved a crying Hope at Ben. “Take her. Please.”
Ben caught the pup and instinctively held her close and rubbed her back. He didn’t understand what the alpha mate had in mind until he started stripping off his clothes. Thrusting Little Craig at Will, Joey did the same.
Ben stared at them wide-eyed. “What are you doing?”
“Leveling the playing field a bit by joining the battle,” Kyle replied.
“But, you don’t know how to fight.” He looked at the other omegas for support. He found none. Instead, Will and Seth were nodding at Kyle and Joey in approval. And Mabel had already passed her twins over to Seth and a nearby sigma. “Not you, too?” he cried out.
She grimaced. “Why, because I’m female? Tell that to Deirdre.” She tossed down her shoes. “We three aren’t breeding, but we have mates out there. Maybe we can’t help them, but we can for damn sure help yours.”
Ben didn’t even bother to correct the statement that either or both of Daniel and Carr were his mates. He only repeated what he’d said before. “You can’t fight.”
“We don’t have to be able to,” Joey replied. “We just have to distract the enemy to give Carr and Daniel a better chance out there.”
Kyle nodded. “Right.” He moved to the sliding doors, Joey and Mabel at his heels.
“I hope they get into the biggest trouble ever with their mates,” Seth said as he watched them go. He switched his gaze over to first Will, then Ben. “Because that would mean they all survive.”
Ben barked out an hysterical little laugh and hugged Hope closer. “Right.”
The head sigma tried to bar their way, going to far as to breach protocol by growling and attempting to herd them back with bared teeth. Kyle stared him down as a human and yipped in warning once he’d shifted. The small omega showed some serious balls, shoving his alpha-mate weight around like he was born to it. Joey and Mabel were no less impressive, joining him in a united front that couldn’t be overcome. It only took a few seconds for the stand-off to end in the omegas’ favor. A brave sigma female slid the doors open for them, and then they were out.
Once again, Ben couldn’t look away. Bouncing Hope against his chest and murmuring nonsense words, he watched the omegas join the fray. Compared to the betas and gammas out there, they were small and vulnerable. There was no chance they could successfully attack any of the intruders. Thank the Gods, they understood that.
Kyle and Joey raced over to harry the gammas tag-teaming Carr. What they lacked in size and strength, they made up for in being quick and nimble. They also worked in concert to distract one of the enemy. The skinny gamma snapped and snarled as they yipped at him and danced away again. Their strategy worked, giving Carr room to concentrate on the other one. Even injured he moved with more sense and grace than his opponent. It gave Ben heart that he would come out the victor.
Not to be outdone by the boys, Mabel headed for the spot where Daniel lay on his back, paws in the air, keeping his enemy away from his belly. The omega picked up speed and launched herself high into the air. Ben’s heart lodged in his throat as he watched her sail over the foreign attacker. Her movement distracted him just enough for Daniel to take advantage. When the guy turned his head to track Mabel, Daniel reared up and clamped his snout around his neck. Ben had to look away, the sight of the blood spurting making him queasy.
But, the odds were better now, and Daniel was free to help Carr.
Putting his paw down on his opponent’s chest, Daniel ripped his throat out and spat. His mind reeled at the turn of events. He’d been sure he was looking at his own death before that streak of black fur had vaulted over his attacker. He shook his head to flick more blood and gore off his muzzle and to clear his head. Maybe it had been a mirage like the one he’d seen in the western desert. Except nope, there was Mabel, panting a few feet away.
How the fuck did an omega get out here? A high-pitched whine followed by a yip caught his attention. He turned around and once more his brain shorted out a half a second. Make that three omegas.
There was no time for him to ponder the fact, however. Carr was battling for his own life, and Kyle and Joey were in danger of being torn to shreds. Without wasting another second, he ran and threw himself past the omegas and right into the gamma they’d been taunting and keeping at bay. The mangy mutt was distracted enough that Daniel had no trouble knocking him down and clamping onto the back of his neck. He snapped and tore and tossed the asshole until he hung limp from his mouth. And then, he dug his hind claws into the guy’s belly and tore some more for good measure. That’s what he got for menacing omegas.
Letting go of the carcass, he raced to help Carr. He needn’t have bothered. The gamma had brought down his opponent, as well. He stood with blood dripping down his muzzle and along his shoulders and flanks. His white fur delineated his wounds, and he looked the way Daniel felt—beat-up. But, they’d won. And, the omegas were already back by the door to the longhouse, no worse for the experience. What their mates would say about their efforts was another story. He only hoped that those males had prevailed in their own battle.
He was about to order them to shift and go back inside when a shadow caught his attention. Out of the tree line, a grizzled gamma came bounding over. Daniel barked out a warning to Carr. Too late. The older gamma leaped onto Carr and rolled him onto his belly. Vicious yellowed teeth sank into the white wolf’s underbelly. Carr let out a howl of pain that was like a knife to Daniel’s heart. A scream, muffled yet terrible, came from the house.
An overwhelming fury burst inside him. He flew the dista
nce between him and the combatants, his paws barely touching the ground in his haste. Dropping on top of the enemy shifter, he clamped down on the back of his neck and twisted his own body to bring the guy off Carr and onto the ground. He rolled around with teeth firmly sunken into fur and skin and even bone. He wrapped his legs around the larger body to prevent any escape. He ripped at any spot he could get a grip on, not stopping until a dead weight laid on top of him.
Chapter Ten
“No!”
The scream jolted Daniel out of his daze. He tossed the dead shifter off and sprang to all fours. Ben had come running out of the longhouse and now slid down to his knees beside Carr. The gamma’s wide chest heaved with labored breath and blood ran out of a gaping hole in his stomach.
“No!” Ben screamed again before pressing his hands on the wound. He was trying to close the flaps of lacerated skin together. “Please, Carr, don’t die.” The begging was accompanied by tears streaming down the boy’s face.
Exhausted and in pain, Daniel limped over to do what, he didn’t know. He wanted to shift into human form, yet dared not in case others waited in the dark to spring forward. Ben turned a pleading face at his approach.
“Do something, Daniel.”
He whined in frustration, feeling helpless in the face of something he had no control over. The look on the omega’s face broke his heart because it was obvious the boy expected him to have the answers. He didn’t, but thank the Gods, Andrea came running out of the longhouse. The omegas hadn’t shifted back to human form, and while they watched with fretful eyes, they also stayed alert for trouble.
Daniel thought his worst fears had been realized when a rustling sound preceded a large shifter running into the backyard. Relief coursed through him when he saw that it was Craig. He hoped the news was good. He had his answer a second later when the gamma shifted to stand stupefied, taking in the scene before him.
Omega in the Middle (The Rogue Pack Book 5) Page 16