Page 30 of Omega's Breed

Finn hurried up to them. “Is Kyle all right?”

“Yes!” the omega answered. “Put me down, Lorcan.”

The alpha did as his mate demanded, settling him and the pup on one end of the long couch. “You were going too slowly for my blood pressure,” Lorcan huffed.

Finn guided Will and Annie next to Kyle and Hope. “Stay here until we give the all-clear sign.”

He glanced out of the large windows and saw that Craig and Liam were already positioned to defend the back of the longhouse and its occupants. Although not fighters, some of the larger sigma males had shifted and prowled inside. For such a small pack, they did what they could to protect themselves from harm, but if this was some full-on assault by the Haldon Pack, it was going to get seriously bad.

Finn didn’t have time to dwell on that or to let the fear and doubt stoking low in his belly to catch hold and cripple him. He would defend his new family, and this time, he would keep them safe.

Chapter Eleven

Finn stood on the porch next to Lorcan watching two SUVs drive up. Neither of them had shifted yet, waiting to see what their visitors wanted. It didn’t appear to be an attack, given that only these vehicles had been spotted. No wolves had been seen or scented on the lands. By the tree line, Deirdre prowled in her wolf form, while Caleb stood nearby as a nearly naked human. Finn and Lorcan had also stripped down to unsnapped jeans. It would take no time for the three of them to shift unencumbered.

“Maybe it’s just a social call,” Finn observed, although he didn’t believe it.

The alpha snorted. “Yeah, that would be a first, and no matter what, I don’t trust a single member of Haldon’s pack.” He craned his neck. “I think the first vehicle is theirs, but that second one looks too beat up and muddy.”

Finn focused his gaze on the second SUV and had to agree with his boss. It appeared as if it had been on the road way too long to be from the local area. And, when it came closer, he saw that it had Canadian plates. His heart skipped a beat, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. His wolf growled in response.

Caleb broke his position to race up to the porch. “Alpha, that second vehicle is from my old pack. I recognize the gamma at the wheel and Magnus’ most senior beta, Henry, is sitting beside him. The female in the back seat is Henry’s mate.”

“What the fuck,” Lorcan said under his breath just as the visitors pulled up.

Neither vehicle got very close, and only the second one shut off its engine. The driver of the first SUV rolled down his window and stuck his head out. Finn recognized him as one of Haldon’s betas.

“I’m just giving an escort, Rogue Pack,” the sneering beta called out. “They came to us by mistake. Haldon sends his regards,” he added before turning his vehicle around and taking off again.

By that time, the males from Will’s old pack had gotten out and started to approach. Caleb stepped in their path, all hulking menace, and that gesture alone told Finn that the gamma had truly changed allegiance.

The strange beta, Henry, stopped and held up his hands. “We mean no harm to your alpha, Caleb. We’re here to talk and take back something that belongs to Magnus.”

With a growl, Finn leaped off the porch and partially shifted. It took every ounce of control he had not to fully change and rip into Henry. “Will is my mate. Try to take him and there will be nothing left of you to ship back to Canada.” His chest heaved with agitation.

To his credit, the beta didn’t back off, and the strange gamma moved to put himself between Finn and Henry. Which led, of course, to Caleb taking another step forward. If it all came to blows, the gammas would draw first blood. That was the way it worked in packs. This time, though, it was personal and Finn’s wolf itched for the chance to defend his mate.

Henry stepped forward with his hands still held up. “We’re not looking for trouble, and I didn’t mean we wanted the omega. You can have that little slut.” The beta took a half-step back when Finn growled over the insult to his mate. “We’re here for the pup. Magnus’ pup.”

What? Finn’s mind grappled with the statement until a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

“Ease back a notch,” Lorcan commanded with enough authority in his tone that Finn shifted back to fully human in the space of a heartbeat.

He swallowed hard past his anger and fear. “What the fuck are you talking about? Magnus said that no one claimed to be Annie’s sire, that she was the product of multiple mountings. Now, you’re saying he bred Will? What a crock of shit!”

Lorcan kept his hand in place and squeezed in warning. “I have to agree with my beta. Henry, is it?” When the male nodded, Lorcan continued, his tone perfectly affable. “Magnus insisted that I accept both Caleb and Will, and Will came with a pup. Finn, here, mated with Will and has accepted Annie as his own. We’re not inclined to give her back.” He flashed the guy a smile that was all canine teeth.

Henry stood his ground, being either brave, or more afraid of Magnus than he was of Lorcan. “I understand, sir, but the thing is, Magnus recently lost his new mate during whelping along with the pup she carried. As you can imagine, he’s suffering and wants to ease his loss by reclaiming the pup he thought he couldn’t keep. His deceased mate didn’t want his stray in her family. Magnus reluctantly gave up claiming the pup.” He gave a rueful smile. “Nothing like an aging shifter in love to make decisions he later regrets.”

Finn snarled at the way something so devastating to his mate was being treated almost like a joke. “And, now that his mate’s gone, he thinks he can steal Annie back? He must have sired others.” Finn still didn’t fully believe this part of the tale, although the beta sounded sincere. He, at least, believed what he said.

Henry shook his head. “All dead. That’s why he took another mate at this late stage in his life.” Gesturing back toward his beat-up SUV, he added, “Look, I brought my mate to care for the pup on the journey home. You say you’ve mated with the omega? I bet if he’s not breeding already, he will be soon. You’ll have your own pup to raise. Surely you don’t care about keeping Magnus’ get.”

Finn lurched forward, driven by his wolf’s sudden need for blood. Lorcan caught him before he got anywhere. “Stand down, Finn! We’re going to talk this over. You stay here,” he added to Henry. “I’m sorry, but I’m not inclined to offer you hospitality under the circumstances. Caleb, come with me.”

Lorcan had to practically drag Finn inside with Caleb acting as a blocker in case Finn escaped his alpha’s grasp and did what his wolf demanded. He pulled it and the human part of him under control for Will’s sake so that by the time they reached the great room, he was more or less under control. He hated the frightened look in his mate’s eyes as he approached. It was nothing compared to the reaction Will was going to have when he heard why an emissary from Magnus had arrived.

Finn tugged Annie gently from Will’s arm. “Joey, would you please take her?” He asked for the favor without taking his gaze off Will. That meant he saw the transformation from fear to panic in those beautiful blue eyes.

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