Saving His Omega (The Green Mountain Pack #1)

Chapter Eleven

Graham didn’t have the power of the gammas racing by his side, but he’d always had great stamina. He tore through the woods, leading the way throughout the night with his full focus on his destination. They stopped only once for a water break, then as they neared the campsite where Draco waited for them, he allowed the two gammas and himself to fortify their energy with a quick squirrel snack. The meat would give them added strength without weighing them down like a heavy meal. He was desperate to confront the foreign shifters, itching for a fight. There was nothing he could do to punish Victor, but these gammas were a good substitute—or so his wolf thought. His human brain fought for control. With Tripp safely back in the packlands, he could afford to take the time to level himself. Negotiation was the best way out of this mess. Fighting had to be a last resort. If it came to that, though, he was ready to win. And it would mean killing the Low Country gammas so they couldn’t report back to their alpha where to find Tripp and Blake. War between the packs was to be avoided at all costs, and with the gammas’ disappearance, their pack would have a mystery, but no answers. Hopefully, they’d leave it at that.

The uncertainty of it all wouldn’t be ideal to say the least. Graham wanted his mate free of worry and that meant coming to an agreement instead of a fight. He approached his encamped quarry downwind to give himself the element of surprise. When he was mere feet from them, he shifted into his human skin and assessed the situation. The Low Country gammas were sitting around a fire, drinking and grumbling among themselves. The SUV stood idle to one side, its hood up. Blake was leaning over it while Draco stood with his legs braced and his arms crossed, keeping an eye on the others.

“I thought you said the sigma could fix it,” one of the gamma’s snarled in what he obviously thought was an intimidating tone.

Draco didn’t blink. “Human machines are complicated.” The gamma’s gaze refocused on the tree line. He broke into a broad smile when Graham made his presence known. “Hey, there. Graham. Glad you and boys could join us.”

Leo and Chuck positioned themselves on either side of Draco, a wall of muscle standing guard over the sigma. If things went to shit, they understood that protecting a servient came first.

Garth jumped to his feet. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Graham met the hostility with calm. “I’ve come to explain to you that a mistake has been made and we’re retrieving the sigma.”

Garth’s expression turned to fury and he took a step toward him. The tension ratcheted up to an eleven, as the humans liked to say.

Graham raised his hands, palms out, although he held his ground. “We’re not here to fight. I found out last night from my mate that it was he, not his brother, who killed Victor. The asshole had it coming, as far as I’m concerned, but I’m not here to argue that point.”

“That’s a lie!” Blake tried to lunge past Draco.

The gamma blocked him easily with one arm. “ Hush .”

“It’s the truth. The sigma is trying to protect his brother. He doesn’t need to, though, because that’s my job.” He emphasized his words with a matching glare.

Garth’s gamma brain worked to absorb the information. The others started talking to him, and each other with obvious confusion. “Shut up!”

In the silence, Garth stared at Graham with narrowed eyes. “Omegas don’t kill dominants.”

“They do if they’re pushed far enough.” The squirrel sat uneasily in his stomach as he recalled what had driven his mate to such an unheard of act. “He didn’t mean to kill Victor but desperation made him stronger than he expected.” He shrugged. “All cornered animals are dangerous.”

Garth was stymied for only a few seconds more. “Then we have to take them both back with us.”

“Not. Going. To. Happen.” He waited for his words to sink in.

“The omega killed his mate and the sigma stole him from the pack. The alpha gets to punish them.” The gamma nodded at his own logic.

“Only I can punish my mate now. He belongs to me and his brother has my gratitude for keeping my mate safe under the extreme circumstances. I will fight to keep them.” He issued the challenge with as little emotion as he could manage.

Garth looked at him, then at Draco, Leo and Chuck, undoubtedly sizing them up.

Graham could see the worry in the fucker’s eyes and was glad Elijah had insisted on his bringing the two gammas.

“We can’t return empty-handed.”

Ah, this was the break he’d been looking for. Garth had admitted the root of the problem. His orders were to return with the runaways, Victor’s killer in particular. He wasn’t equipped any more than he had been back at the Green Mountain packlands to strike a deal.

Graham had to try to make it easier all around. “I understand your frustration.” Stupid asshole. But you won’t be returning with nothing.” He gestured toward the laden SUV. “Of course,” he continued before Garth could muster a reply. “I understand that your alpha wants recompense for his loss of a dominant. That’s really more useful to him than merely having the pleasure of punishing his wayward sons.”

The words tasted like ash on his tongue. He really hated having to negotiate when all he really wanted to do was rip Garth’s throat out, then go do the same to the Low Country alpha. But he was a beta and had to act like one for the sake of his pack. And he had thought of a plan to get Garth moving without a fight.

“So, I have a new proposal. In addition to the gifts and the offer of my alpha to continue to trade with your pack, as the omega’s mate, I have the right to promise Victor’s pup as payment for the transgression.”

He ignored Blake’s outraged scream. Without having to be told, Draco clamped his hand over the sigma’s mouth and dragged him farther away from the camp.

“If,” Graham continued, “the pup is a dominant. Which I suspect it will be, given Victor was the sire.”

He put his hands on his hips, giving Garth time to mull over the offer. He also dared to glance in the direction of Draco and Blake. The sigma had stopped struggling against the gamma’s hold. The guy wasn’t stupid. Now he understood what Graham was really doing.

Garth grimaced. “You expect us to wait here until the pup is whelped?”

Graham hid his growing sense of relief. “No, of course not. Your alpha gets the pup after his first shift. That way my mate has time with his pup and your pack gets a new dominant ready for training. Being a grandsire at a time when the pup is useful is surely more appealing to your alpha than getting his hands on a dangerous and ungrateful son of any kind.”

Once again, he gave Garth the space to think. Patience was required to force any gamma to think beyond their nature, especially this particular gamma. As an additional aid to the effort, Graham wandered toward his boys to remind the others that he had enough back up to fight if that’s what they chose to do. The foreign shifters had been living rough for months, traveling way outside of their known territory. They were bedraggled for sure, while the Green Mountain shifters were well-fed and ready to mix it up with them.

He could tell by the way the guy looked at his packmates that Garth wanted to talk it over with them. But he was the leader and couldn’t look weak. At least, that’s how Graham read the situation.

Finally, Garth let out a huff. “Fine. We accept the deal but how will we know if you keep the bargain?”

Graham hid is delight. “Come back whenever you want. The Green Mountain Pack is still willing to trade and you can see for yourself. Your alpha is welcome, as well, so long as he understands that we will never give up Tripp and Blake. We fight to the death to protect our own.”

Garth nodded once, grimly and with obvious reluctance.

It was critical to get these fuckers moving along. Graham turned to Draco. “Fix the SUV.”

The gamma looked at him as if he had two heads. “I don’t know anything about engines. I just pulled out the first wires I found.” He shot the Low Country gammas a grin.

Blake liberated himself from Draco’s now-slack hold. “I fixed it already, sir. I was just buying time because Draco said we had to keep them here.” His eyes widened as he realized what he’d admitted.

He put his hand on the sigma’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Garth is more than happy with the bargain however it came about. Right?” he added, looking over his shoulder.

The gamma wasn’t even paying attention to them anymore. He huddled with his packmates, discussing whatever they needed to.

Blake’s breath hitched. “Thank you, but is Tripp all right?”

“He’s fine. And I’m glad he finally told me the truth.”

“He wanted to. It was me who made him stay silent.”

“Yeah, I know, and I’m not happy about that. There’s no point in discussing it now, though. We get these guys on their way, then we go home.”

Gods, he was suddenly exhausted. There was no time for him to indulge himself. Once Garth and the others were back on the road, he could return home, take his mate in his arms, and sleep without worry.

****

“How long has he been having contractions?”

“I don’t know because he didn’t say anything until they got bad enough for him to cry out.”

Carol and the healer were talking over his head, literally. Tripp reclined on the birthing bed while they stood beside it, watching him writhe in agony. There was no comfort to be had from them because he wouldn’t allow anyone to touch him. All he wanted was his mate’s arms around him as their pup insisted on coming into the world at this horribly inconvenient time. If he couldn’t have Graham, he didn’t want anyone.

The healer sat down next to him. “When did the contractions start, dear?”

Tripp took in a few deep, steadying breaths while he had the chance. “Right after Graham left.” That was mostly true. “Just as”, “right after”, it was a matter of minutes, so who cared about the accuracy?

Graham would. Yes, he had to face that fact. If his mate had known he was starting labor, he wouldn’t have left. Tripp was sure of it. Graham’s sense of duty was too strong and…well, the man he’d come to know and love was so caring, it was impossible to imagine his doing anything else. And that was something that Tripp couldn’t afford to have happen. Blake’s life was at stake. Finding him and bringing him back before their sire got to him was more important that having the comfort of his mate at this time.

He flicked his gaze at Cora. “The pup is coming early. Will she be okay?” The thought of losing his daughter filled him with an indescribable fear. She might have been conceived with a horrible sire, but she was also his. He wanted her more than he had anything before, and better yet, Graham wanted her. They would be a family, a happy one. It was almost too good to be true, so he couldn’t help expecting something terrible to happen.

Cora patted his hand and pulled out her listening device. “She’s only a little early. Don’t worry, she’s developed enough to be fine. Here, let’s check how she’s doing.”

The whooshing sound of the pup’s heart eased his worry.

“See? She’s strong.”

Tripp nodded and fought the urge to keep the device pressed against his belly when the healer moved away. It was his one source of comfort, especially as the next contraction rose. He pressed against the mound of pillows behind him and gritted his teeth to keep from crying out. It was his reaction to the pain that made the others think he was whelping soon. He had to hold it all back until Graham returned. Likewise, his wolf knew to keep quiet. There was no point in calling out to his mate if he weren’t able to help. And he didn’t need a distraction. Saving Blake was the primary consideration at the moment.

The vice-like crush of the contraction made it impossible for him to remain quiet. He let out a long, keening cry that hurt his own ears, while he gripped the sheet beneath him as if it were the only thing keeping him from flying off the bed. His wolf whined, although he was protected from the burden of the birthing pain so long as Tripp remained human. He’d thought to shift in the hopes that it would help or slow the process down. Cora had advised against it. His body needed to conserve energy and whelping as a human was the safest way. The pup, after all, would come out in her human skin and not fur. He just had to suck it all up.

The crest of the pain came, then eased back. He groaned and flopped into the pillows, hoping for a longer respite even though he knew that wasn’t how this whole thing worked.

Cora and Carol peered down at him once more.

The healer nodded once. “They’re coming quicker and lasting longer. The pup will be greeting the world soon.”

“No! She has to wait for her sire to come back.” He knew he was being ridiculous, but he desperately wanted his mate.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think he’s going to make it in time.” Wren delivered the hard news as he walked in. He came over to sit on the side of the bed. “Draco texted and the good news is that they’re all coming home.”

Tripp bolted upright. “Blake too?”

Wren grinned. “Yup. I don’t know what Graham said to your former pack members, but they let your brother go and there was no fight.”

Tripp collapsed against the pillows. “Thank the Gods. Everything is going to be all right now.”

Wren clasped his hand. “Yes, it is, but as fast as they’re hurrying back, I don’t think they’ll make it in time for the whelping.”

Tripp blinked back tears. “You don’t know that.” He ran his free hand over his belly. “It could be hours yet.”

Cora joined them, a sympathetic look on her face. “I don’t think so, dear. Let’s at least get you prepared by taking your clothes off and laying down some towels.” She hesitated. “I can give you something for the pain, as well.”

“No, thanks.”

He tried not to sound petulant. It wasn’t anyone’s fault that he was whelping without his mate. If he’d told the truth from the start, Graham would be there. Besides, the idea of his mate helping him through this was something he only thought possible because Wren had told him Elijah had been with him every step of the way. Certainly Victor wouldn’t have bothered himself with such a servient event. There was little point in missing something he shouldn’t have expected anyway.

He squeezed Wren’s hand. “You’ll stay with me?” Having another omega with him would make him feel better.

“Of course. I’ll be here every second and try to just picture showing her off to your mate and brother when they arrive.”

Tripp nodded with enthusiasm because it would be a wonderful moment. He couldn’t help wishing, however, that his mate sped up while the pup slowed down. It was a fantasy, but as the next contraction rose, he held onto the hope.