Page 45 of Lost Mate

We all did, Dylan pointed out. We’ll work on that.

Ross’s cheeks flamed at the faux pas, but he still thought it was funny.

Chapter Thirteen

Joe threw open the door and the pack stormed in, Zeke behind Joe and Cal, Ross and Dylan at the back. Ross just had time to see the sheer relief on Owen’s face before Zeke swept him into his arms, nearly taking down Peter as he did so.

“The meeting isn’t over.” A shifter, it was funny how Ross could always recognize them now, scowled at Joe. He looked like an older version of Cal. He had to be one of his brothers.

Joe gave him a cool look. “The meeting is over. You’re disrespecting my pack and my authority. You need to leave now.”

“This is shifter business, human.”

“No, this is pack business, wolf. You’re on my territory and Owen is part of my pack, not yours.” Joe turned to Owen. “Next time you listen to me and Zeke. You need your alpha pair and your mate.”

To Ross’s shock, Owen bowed his head. “Yes, Alpha Joe.”

Ross exchanged a glance with Dylan. Owen never responded to an order. There was a story here which Ross was sure they would hear later.

The wolf snarled at him. “Owen is part of Wild Creek.”

“He was your pack, Pope. You exiled him. Now he’s a valued member of our pack.”

Owen looked as if he wanted to cry. Valued member. Our pack. Words he hadn’t heard in a decade when he was rogue.

Ours.

Ross wasn’t sure who said it, maybe Cal, but it went across the pack and everyone from Sapphire Ranch nodded, even Peter and Joe Senior. Owen pressed into Zeke who held him tight and whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was, Owen nodded furiously.

“We’ll wipe you out. All of you. I’ll challenge you here,” Pope snarled, his fangs lengthening.

Tension rolled across the room, the wolves bristling, ready to shift.

“I’ll defend our pack,” Joe said stoically.

The shifter curled his lip. “You’re a human. You can’t beat me in a challenge.”

Unfortunately, Pope was correct. There was no way a human could take down even a weaker wolf. Cal was an omega wolf and stronger than Zeke who was at least three times his size. The fact it wasn’t in Cal’s nature to challenge anyone wasn’t relevant. If push came to shove, he could.

“No, but I can,” Peter said, “with my alpha’s permission. You want to challenge me, beta?”

Pope blanched. He may be older, but Peter was a superwolf. There was no way the beta could beat him in a challenge.

Joe leaned forward in the shifter’s space, seemingly ignoring the sharp fangs close to his neck. “Go back to the Wild Creek pack, Mac Pope, and tell your alpha that none of you and your kind are welcome at Sapphire Ranch again. And until you back the fuck off, you’re on your own. The Cavalry will withdraw their protection. You deal with the hunters on your own.”

The shifter went pale. “You don’t have that authority.”

“Try me.”

“I can’t tell my alpha that. The hunters will wipe us out again.”

Joe folded his arms across his chest. “That’s your problem, not mine. Sapphire Ranch pack is my problem. And Owen is under my protection.”

“You should be led by the true alpha.” Pope pointed at Peter.

“We are, Mac,” Cal said. It was the first time he’d spoken to his brother. “We’re led by an alpha who values each member of his pack, who listens to us. Not one that tries to bully and dominate and crush the weaker members of the pack.”

Joe held up his hand as Cal’s brother went to speak. “If you say one derogatory word about my mate, I will allow Peter to challenge you.”

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