Page 47 of Lost Mate

“Abominations,” Pope hissed. The guy clearly didn’t know when to shut his mouth.

Cal rolled his eyes. “Why are you being such a hypocrite? You had human lovers. I know you did.”

The wolf looked horrified. “I didn’t,” he spluttered.

But Cal stared at him implacably. “You want me to give you names? Because I can. You think I’m weak? Just remember I have the dirt on all of you. Take that back to your pack and smoke it.”

Ross blinked. This was the first time he’d heard Cal talk like this. The omega of their pack wanted to please everyone, and they wanted to make him happy.

Wolves always underestimate the omegas. Dylan pointed out. They are around the packhouse more than anyone else. The alphas and betas and gammas ignore the omegas at their peril.

Ross gave a slight nod to show he’d picked this up. Cal’s former pack was all about the hierarchy. And they were Cal’s father and brothers, so they picked on Cal constantly.

They were bullies.

That was Owen’s hissed contribution. Ross had obviously been projecting again.

I didn’t know what a true pack was until I came here. Now Cal joined in.

Someone sniffled. Ross had no idea who it was although he suspected Joe Senior from the way he wiped his eyes.

There is more than one way to run a pack. Peter smiled at Joe and Cal. You have a lot to teach shifters.

I can’t wait to see it. Now Owen sounded gleeful.

Zeke tugged his mate back against him. You have a lot to teach me.

Owen rested against his mate. The Wild Creek shifter glared at them, clearly never going to change his mind about anything.

The doc scowled at his pack mate. At least he seemed more open-minded. “I came here to examine Dylan. Not get into a fight about pack grievances.”

Joe gave a curt nod. “Ross, take Dylan and the doctor into the kitchen. Eli, can you arrange a guard for Mr. Pope? I don’t want him anywhere near the rest of the pack, especially Owen or Cal.”

“Done,” Eli growled.

The shifter sneered. “Humans can’t stop me.”

Eli fixed him with a pointed stare. “They aren’t human, wolf.”

Cal gave his brother a wickedly evil grin. “The mistake you always made was thinking wolves were the top of the food chain.”

The Cavalry had been building a multi-species shifter detachment, just for circumstances like this. Especially for circumstances like this. There was a reason the shifters were known in the Cavalry as ‘Owens’. Ross wondered if Owen knew. Then he saw the smug look on Owen’s face. Of course he knew. Ross had a feeling this was probably his concept.

They filed back into the kitchen, leaving the huge grizzly bears with the wolf. Ross took a deep breath. There had been too many people inside the small room. He felt as if he could breathe now.

Dylan stepped into his space and reached for a kiss. “Stay with me?” he asked when he pulled back.

“I’m not moving from your side,” Ross promised, pushing a bang away from Dylan’s cheek. No handsome wolf was laying hands on his mate without Ross watching his every move.

Dylan smirked at him, but he didn’t step away as Ross held him gently. Now you’re being ridiculous. You’re more handsome than anyone else in the room.

Ross made a growly noise, but his jealous hackles were soothed by Dylan’s immediate compliment. He looked around and saw Eli deep in conversation with Niles and the doc.

Dylan followed his gaze. “That’s not suspicious at all.”

“Can’t you listen in?” Ross knew shifters had exceptional hearing.

“I can and I think I did when I was working.” Dylan tapped his head. “I kind of remember that. It’s rude to listen in without being invited. I know how to switch my hearing on and off. Living in a pack makes you do that. No one wants to have the whole pack listening into every conversation they have. Especially the alphas.”

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