Chapter Fifteen
Michael huddled in the back of the truck, shielded by Max’s bear. Outside, he could hear voices. Parker’s and two others. They were talking about him. The strangers weren’t Griffin or Andrew, he was sure of that. Which meant they had to be more of the people who’d been chasing him, the people trying to capture him. They threatened Parker and even went further, threatening his pack.
Michael took a step forward, Max’s head whipping around to stare at him.
“I can’t, Max,” he pleaded. “I can’t let anyone else get hurt because of me.”
The alpha just growled softly and turned his attention to the door. It swung slowly open a moment later, Parker coming into view.
“As I told you, gentlemen,” the alpha said calmly, “Michael isn’t mine to hand over. I couldn’t give him up even if I wanted to.”
Michael could see there were men behind Parker but he couldn’t get a clear view.
“I suggest you return to your employer and make it clear you couldn’t retrieve what you came for.”
There was a sudden burst of movement and a bang as the door slammed shut before swinging slowly open again. Michael jumped and huddled closer to Max. The bear growled again, his attention fixed on the door.
“I’m sorry,” Parker was saying, his tone one of polite coldness. “Was that a tranquilizer gun and not a firearm? What a pity. If I’d realized, I’d never have destroyed it like that.”
“Quit fooling around,” one of the shifters said. “And give us the omega.”
“The omega, as you so eloquently put it, has a name. It’s Michael. And unfortunately, as I don’t have any claim over him, I can’t give him to you. In fact, if you care to glance again into the back of this truck, you’ll see that I couldn’t, in fact, get to him even if I wanted to.”
As if to demonstrate, Parker took a step closer to the truck doors. Max growled louder, and Parker eased back.
“He’s an unbonded omega in the vicinity of a compatible alpha. The only one with any claim to him right now is that bear. You’re welcome to negotiate with him.”
Max’s next growl was angrier as if goading the men to try something.
“We want to talk to the omega,” the stranger insisted.
“Be my guest,” Parker said. “He’s back there somewhere. Try shouting.”
The shifter took a step closer to the door, backpedaling hurriedly when Max didn’t take kindly to that.
“Michael,” the man called. “You’re causing a lot of people a whole heap of trouble with all this carry-on. Your rightful owners are keen to take possession of you, and they won’t stand for any further delays.”
Michael frowned. Was that supposed to convince him?
“You should know, they have Ryan and Eliot. The boys are safe, for now, and will be returned to their parents’ custody once you’re returned to ours. But the longer you delay, the more out of pocket my employers get, the angrier they’ll be and the more they’ll be looking for someone to take that anger out on. How much pain do you think little Ryan can take?”
Michael tried to push forward but Max blocked him. Frantic, he shifted and slipped past, tumbling out of the truck and shifting back to his human form. Max lunged forward but one of the strangers shoved the truck door shut, blocking him, while the other grabbed Michael by the arm and dragged him toward their waiting vehicle.
“Please don’t hurt them, they’re just babies,” he begged. “I’ll come with you, I’ll do whatever you want.”
They shoved him into the car, one of them getting in with him while the other climbed into the driver’s seat. Max burst free and launched himself behind the car, the vehicle rocking from the impact. He was effectively blocking them in.
“Fucking bears,” one of the strangers muttered. “Why did it have to be a bear?”
He rolled down the window.
“Talk to him,” he told Michael. “Convince him to back off unless you want Ryan’s fingers broken, one by one.”
Michael choked back a sob and leaned over.
“Max, please. You have to let me go. They’re my babies. I have to.”
“They could be lying,” Parker called, moving into view, keeping one eye on Max.
“I can’t take that chance,” he said. “Please, Max.”
Another car pulled up ahead of them.
“What now?” their driver growled.
“Max, please,” Michael tried again, sensing the men’s growing frustration. “If you care about me at all, you’ll let me go.”
That seemed to get through, finally, the bear shifting back to a man. Still, he didn’t move, his arms folded.
“Drive over him if you have to,” the shifter beside him said to the driver, “just get us out of here.”
They drove around him instead only to find the newly arrived car moving to block their path. The doors were thrown open and four shifters spilled out.
Michael let out a cry when he recognized Drew. And, right behind him, Griffin. His brothers were so close. They were right there, and yet Michael couldn’t. He had to save his babies.
Parker reached the new arrivals, talking to them quickly. As one, they turned to look at the car. No, to look at Michael.
It was Griffin who approached, wary, cautious.
“Michael, I need you to listen to me. These men are lying. Ryan and Eliot are safe. They’re in their nursery, fast asleep.”
“You can’t know that.”
“Knowledge is what I do,” Griffin told him, crouching so they were eye to eye. “I’ve been watching that pack for months, ever since I learned you were there. If the alpha’s children had been taken, the whole place would be up in arms. No one would be sleeping tonight. But I have someone there right now, keeping watch, and he says they’re all bedded down for the night. He saw Ryan and Eliot just this morning, out in the garden with the cook and the new nanny. They’re safe. You don’t have to go with these men.”
The stranger’s grip tightened on him. “We’re not letting him go.”
A hand reached through the window, grabbing the stranger, and dragging him bodily from the car, tossing him to the ground. Max. The alpha reached in again, opened the door, and held out a hand. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Drew had moved to stand behind Griffin, and there were others there too, unfamiliar faces. Everyone waited, no one tried to force him, no one hurried him. The driver of the car was gripping the steering wheel, silent.
Griffin gave Michael an encouraging smile. “Sometimes, the smallest steps are the hardest.”
He’d said that before, back when they were kids and Michael was struggling to do stuff the other kids found easy. A certainty washed over him. Griffin was telling the truth, and these men were playing on his fears just like the others had. Taking Max’s hand, he let the alpha pull him out.
Max guided him right over to where Griffin and Andrew were standing, before letting go of his hand. Michael just stood there, choking back tears.
“I’ve missed you,” he said.
Griffin’s face crumpled, and he pulled Michael into a hug. A second later, Drew’s arms surrounded them both, holding on tightly.
“I never thought this day would come,” the alpha said, his voice rough with emotion.
All Michael’s fears; that he wouldn’t recognize them, that he wouldn’t know their voices, that he wouldn’t trust them, vanished in an instant. They were his brothers. He’d know them anywhere. Always.