His side hit a log hard enough that he felt his ribs crack. For a moment, he closed his eyes against the pain and exhaustion. It would be so easy to just give up, to let the goddess take him.
A pair of golden-brown eyes appeared in his mind, and he swore he heard Sammy’s voice yelling at him to get up. He blinked as he pushed himself back up. It wouldn’t be just him that died if he gave up now. With a groan, he managed to get his legs to move, albeit it slower but at least he could still run. With luck, he’d make it to the Windy River Pack by morning.
Chapter 4
Sparky sighed, as he parked his truck in front of the alpha’s house. He’d spent the last couple of days talking to some of the parents, and while they appeared to acknowledge that the extra security being put in place really didn’t have anything to do with Ricky and his brother; he could tell they weren’t totally sold on the fact that their kids wouldn’t be in danger if they hung around with Sandy. Why he thought he could fix the pup’s problem was beyond him.
If the alpha’s talk during the pack meeting didn’t convince them, then who was he to think they would listen to him. Dealing with stupid, narrow-minded people had never been his expertise. All he could do now was hope that time would show them the error of their ways.
He glanced over and saw Ricky working out with Tank. He had to admit, the time the man had spent working out in the gym was showing. The human was fighting shirtless, and while the scars from his abuse still showed, his muscles were much more defined. The alpha mate even sported a slight six-pack.
Tank was about the same height and build as Ricky, although his muscles were definitely more defined. His long, dark hair and slightly slanted eyes gave the shifter an oriental look. Suddenly, Tank made his move, which Ricky countered effortlessly. Sparky glanced up toward the window outside of the alpha’s office. He couldn’t hide his grin as he saw the wolf standing in the window watching.
Sparky still remembered the fall-out when Grant had told Ricky he couldn’t learn how to fight. Of course, everyone understood it was because the alpha thought his mate needed time to heal, but Ricky had seen it differently. For over a week after the incident, Ricky had refused to leave the bedroom, not even to take meals. He stopped speaking to anyone, including his mate. It was clear Grant’s edict had only proven to Ricky that his role in the pack was to simply warm the alpha’s bed.
Vicky had been furious with her son and never missed a moment to let him know without directly challenging him. Grant tried to explain to everyone, including Ricky, that he didn’t want his mate in danger. It was his job to protect his mate, just as it was his job to protect the rest of the pack. Besides, he argued, his mate needed time to heal; both physically and mentally. The alpha saw no reason to allow Ricky to train with Tank.
It took Artemus to remind Grant that not only was Ricky his mate, but he was also a bellatorum, the guardian warrior for the omega, appointed by Gaia no less. He was meant to be a fighter. To deny him the ability to be trained, was as good as signing his death warrant. Not to mention, the alpha would be going against the will of Gaia.
Grant had finally agreed to allow Ricky to work with Tank, but it was clear to everyone, including Ricky, that the alpha was not happy about it. If Sparky was honest, the only time Ricky seemed to be happy lately was while he was with his little brother, working out with Tank, or sitting in the library listening to Artemus.
The human didn’t spend much time with anyone else either, which made Sparky feel a little guilty. But then his friend Artemus would probably be more help than he would. After all, his one and only relationship hadn’t ended well.
The magi had agreed to teach both Ricky and Sandy what to expect. While Sandy was still too young to understand what it meant to be an omega, Artemus was shocked that Ricky had so little knowledge of the role of the bellatorum.
His friend had surprised him when he not only agreed to swear loyalty to the pack but to also take an oath to protect the bellatorum and the omega with his life. Then again, the magi had always been willing to help those who needed it. If it hadn’t been for him; well Sparky refused to even think about what his life would have been like.
The sound of a body hitting the ground hard caused Sparky to look back at the two fighters. He grinned when he saw Ricky begin to dance around pumping his fist in the air. “I did it! I can’t believe I finally did it—umph!” The human’s victory dance was cut short when Tank swept his feet out from under him, rolled the man over onto his stomach and pinned him to the ground.
“And that is how many warriors lose their life. You must always be focused, even when the battle appears to have been won. If I had wanted it, you would be dead and then who would have the final victory?” Tank spoke quietly, while he continued to pin the helpless human. Ricky continued to struggle for a few moments, but it was clear he wouldn’t be going anywhere.
“Let him up, Tank,” Alpha Grant ordered. Sparky jumped. He hadn’t heard the alpha walk up behind him.
Tank glanced up at Grant, “Will you be there to tell the enemy to let him up in the future, Alpha?”
A low growl sounded behind Sparky before Grant stalked towards Tank. He grabbed the man by the shoulder and knocked him to the side. Tank rolled gracefully and stood on his feet. He swiped the loose grass from his pants before he spoke to Ricky, “We will continue tomorrow, that is if the alpha wishes me to.”
Ricky turned and sat on the ground. His head was bowed, but from the rapid rise and fall of the human’s chest, Sparky could tell he was upset. He heard another set of footsteps behind him as David, Alpha Grant’s beta and brother joined them. “What’s going on, Sparky?”
“Well unless I’m mistaken, your brother is about to get his ass handed to him,” Sparky whispered. He nodded toward Ricky, who slowly stood before facing his mate. The human took a deep breath before he raised his head and glared at Grant.
“Answer the question, Alpha,” Ricky said deceptively soft, “will you always be there to tell the enemy to let me up? Because if that’s true, then who will be protecting the rest of the pack? If you want to make sure I never have to fight, then you will have to become my personal bodyguard; a job that will require you to be beside me twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.”
Grant started to speak, but Ricky held his hand up. “I don’t want to hear that it’s your job as my mate to take care of me. I’m the freakin’ guardian warrior who has been given the job of protecting what may be the last omega on the planet. So, you tell me, do I need to make a choice, because if I do let me know now so Sandy and I can find someplace else to live.”
“You can’t leave the pack! I forbid it!” Grant growled.
Ricky drew in a breath, “So it’s true then, nothing has changed.” The human turned toward Tank and dipped his head, “Thank you for trying to help me Tank, but apparently, since I have no rights other than those given by my Master, I won’t bother you any longer.”
Sparky saw Tank’s lips tighten, but the shifter kept silent and simply tilted his head in acknowledgement. Before anyone could say anything else, Ricky squared his shoulders. He spoke in a monotone voice, “I’ll be waiting in your room for your next instructions, Master.” The human turned and walked stiffly into the pack house.
“Well, I think that went well, don’t you?” David asked as he shook his head.
“I think our alpha will need someone to put a bandage on that big chunk of his ass that just got chewed and spit out,” Sparky replied, as he folded his arms across his chest. Honestly, how could Grant be so clueless? The mechanic had always known the alpha was strict, but in the past, he’d always dealt fairly with everyone. However, with Ricky, he acted as if his mate was some kind of fragile flower.
Grant held his arms wide, “He is impossible! Why is it a bad thing that I want to keep him safe? I never said he couldn’t train. Why is it so hard for him to understand he is my mate, the other half of my soul and I’d do anything to keep him safe? I’m not trying to make him unha
ppy, and he certainly is not a prisoner or my sex slave!”
The alpha paced back and forth for a moment before he stopped and ran a hand through his hair. “One minute he wants me to be in total control, and the next he acts like I’m trying to dominate him.” The sadness in Grant’s voice almost made Sparky sorry for him, but the shifter had to know actions always spoke louder than words.
The mechanic should know since it was the smooth-talking bastard of an ex that had used similar words to convince him what he was doing was fine. Without thinking the mechanic voiced his opinion, “No, you just basically humiliated him in front of everyone. You know Alpha, my ex was a controlling bastard. You and he must be cut from the same cloth. Actions matter, Alpha.” Sparky ground out, as his wolf rose close to the surface. The scene between Grant and Ricky brought back too many unpleasant memories.
“Watch it, wolf!” Grant’s voice was garbled by the fangs that had begun to lower. Sparky could tell the alpha’s wolf was rising to the challenge in his tone. He took a deep breath and pulled in his own wolf. But damn; the voice of his ex-boyfriend Winston barking orders at him had sounded a lot like what his alpha had said to his mate. Shaking his head sadly, Sparky tilted his head to the side while David stepped in front of him.
“Knock it off, Grant! Everyone thinks you’re acting like a complete ass. If you keep this up, you’re going to lose your mate—the alpha mate. But then, maybe he’s not as important to you as you led us to believe,” the beta growled.
David crossed his arms across his chest and glared at his brother. For a moment, Sparky thought the two siblings would end up fighting, but at the last moment, Grant managed to get his wolf under control.
The alpha took a step back and ran his hand over his face. He glanced toward the house but didn’t make a move to follow his mate. Sparky knew he should keep his mouth shut, but in the past that hadn’t stopped his ex-boyfriend Winston from abusing him.
He truly believed that Grant wasn’t anything like his former lover. Hopefully, he was right, or he’d be looking for a new pack. He swore when he escaped from Winston he’d never allow anyone else to control him against his will again.
He took a deep breath and tried to keep the anger from his voice. “Alpha Grant, you can banish me from the pack for speaking my mind, but if you want to save your mating, you’re going to have to loosen the tight leash you’re keeping Ricky on. Seriously, the poor human doesn’t have a submissive bone in his body, and yet you treat him like he is and worse, you diminish his standing in the pack. The alpha mate is supposed to stand with the alpha, not lay at his feet. Believe me, by using force, you’ll only drive him away and eventually, even if he doesn’t physically leave you; he will do so emotionally. I should know,” Sparky finished quietly.
To Sparky’s surprise, Grant nodded his head, “You are right. I know you are all right, but the thought of losing him tears me apart. I don’t ever want to feel the way I did when he was taken by Alpha Clifton.”
“Then let him train and become the warrior he was meant to be Alpha,” Tank said quietly. “If you want him to live, then he must take the risk of losing; as must you. It is the way of life and you know this. If he were a wolf, would you treat him in the same manner?”
Grant started to object but then stopped. Sparky saw the look of shame appear briefly on the alpha’s face. “No, no I wouldn’t,” the alpha said softly. He gazed once more toward the bedroom he shared with his mate. It was hard to miss the longing in the man’s eyes.
“Do you doubt the wisdom of the goddess to make Ricky a warrior?” Tank continued.
The alpha shook his head and sighed before he turned back to look at the enforcer. “Of course not, but he is still only human. Even with your training, he will still be at a disadvantage,” Grant paused and looked up as Artemus walked calmly down the steps.
“Technically, Ricky is not only human,” the magi stated, as he continued to walk forward until he stood beside Tank.
“What do you mean?” Sparky couldn’t help but ask. God, he hoped magic wasn’t involved. It was the one thing he couldn’t tolerate ever again. He still had nightmares about the time he’d spent under the control of Winston.
The man had been a powerful magi who not only used mind control to keep the mechanic in line, but had been creative in using magic to inflict pain and humiliation. It was the reason he understood so well what Ricky had experienced when he had been compelled to obey by Artemus’ magic. He couldn’t help the shiver of fear that ran up his spine at the thought that the alpha’s mate might be able to control magic.
“I mean he is more than human. All of the bellatorum that protect the omegas, regardless of their origin, are much more. They are blessed by the goddess and as such, they are given extra power that allows them to meet most challenges.” The magi looked toward the house before he continued, “Just as the omega will come into his abilities in time, so will Ricky. In fact, you’ve already seen some of them manifest here.”
“He certainly heals fast,” David remarked.
“And he was able to throw me across the room when he thought I was going to attack Sandy. You mean he has magic?” Sparky asked softly.
Everyone was now looking at Artemus who calmly shrugged, “In a sense, although his power does not require an incantation or spell—it is a part of him.”
“Does Ricky know of this?” Grant asked quietly.
“Not yet. So far, I have just talked to Ricky about what an omega is so that he can understand the challenges ahead for his brother. It is one of the reasons that I believe your mate is so focused on training to become a warrior. He knows when Sandy’s true powers begin to surface, he will not only have to be there for emotional support and a moral guide, but he will have to be the final shield to keep the omega safe.”
Artemus placed his hand on Grant’s shoulder, “And you, my friend, will be the first shield. The fates have decreed that you and Ricky are not only Semme’, but you are both bellatorum. It’s not a coincidence that the only known omega has been put under your care, and that his guardian is your mate. You will be tested as we all will when the time comes.”
Grant sighed as he glanced up toward the window of the bedroom he shared with his mate. Everyone waited as the man seemed to be having some kind of internal battle. After a few moments, he turned to Tank.
“Ricky will be here tomorrow as scheduled for his training, as will I. If we are to fight together, then we will need to understand our limitations and learn to fight as a team.” The alpha then turned to Artemus, “I will be sitting in while you have your discussions with Ricky. In fact, I believe my inner circle should also join us.”
David’s eyebrow rose, “We have an inner circle now? Since when?”
Sparky wondered the same thing. The alpha had mentioned it before the pack meeting, but until now, his two brothers had been the only ones who Grant had named as his betas. Sure Dakota, Sparky, and now Blaze had been there for support, but an official inner circle had not been announced.
Grant smiled, “Since right now. Actually, I’ve been thinking about it ever since we discovered the problem with Alpha Clifton. After father left, his inner circle decided to retire as well. Since we were at peace, I just never saw the need,” Grant shrugged. “However, it is clear now that I am going to need an inner circle to help, especially if there is another war brewing.”
“Who will be in the inner circle, Grant?” David asked.
The alpha shrugged as if it was an easy answer, “My brothers, Ricky and Dakota of course. I’ve already spoken to Blaze, and I’d like Artemus to also consider becoming part of my inner circle.” Sparky saw Artemus nod his head in agreement.
As the alpha’s gaze fell on Sparky, his stomach jumped. Surely the alpha didn’t want him to be part of this exclusive group. While he knew he was a scrappy fighter, he didn’t see what else he could bring to the party; except for maybe a little color. There could never be too much color in his opinion. The mechanic was pulled from his j
umbled thoughts when a hand clasped his shoulder.
“I asked you if you would join the inner circle, Sparky, what do you say?” Alpha Grant demanded.
“Crap, really?” Sparky squeaked. His cheeks blazed crimson as he saw the others chuckle. For a moment, his old insecurities threatened to overwhelm him. He was just an ordinary shifter, a mechanic no less.
Winston never failed to remind him of his lowly status, and for a long time, he’d believed it. Then there was the whole magic thing, he just knew if he agreed there would be magic involved.
“You’re stronger than you know my friend,” Artemus said softly, as he placed his hand on Sparky’s other shoulder.
The reluctant shifter gazed at the others standing around him. They all nodded silently at him. Sparky took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “Inner circle huh? So do we get a uniform—‘cause if we do, then I’ve got some suggestions.”
David laughed, “I bet you do and before you go there, I’m not wearing tights.”
“I don’t know brother; maybe Sparky has a good idea. I bet there are quite a few wolves that would pay to see your ass in tights. In fact, I may just have to make it an order,” Grant said as he rubbed his chin.
Sparky watched as David’s mouth opened for a moment before a grin spread over his face. When was the alpha going to learn that his brother didn’t have a bashful bone in his body. He watched in amusement as David struck a pose. His shoulders were back, and his chest was expanded while he placed his hands on his hips.
“I can leap tall buildings in a single bound, and while I’m at it, I may just grab a Lewis Lane to take to my fortress of solitude. After all, I’m Superwolf!’ David grinned, as he slapped his ass. “You’re right, Grant; no one can resist this fine ass encased in spandex.”
Sparky watched as the alpha rolled his eyes before he started to laugh at his brother’s antics. While they all joined in, he couldn’t help but notice Grant’s eyes stray up toward his window, the moment of happiness in his eyes slowly bled into a haunted sadness.
Battle for a Mates Heart Page 4