Page 13 of Claiming the Omega
“No, Benjy.” Shane took a step to the side, moving away from Benjy as Victor turned and indicated for one of his men to remove Daniel from the room. “No!” Shane shouted, desperate to stop them from taking Daniel away. He walked straight and purposefully towards the large and muscled Beta with a grieved expression. "Don't make him leave." He walked right up to stand in front of Daniel. They locked gazes, and Shane stated clearly, "He’s my mate.”
Daniel stared down into the beautiful eyes and sweetest face of his predestined mate. Fate knew how to make you pay for your mistakes, misjudgments, and prejudices. His harsh, hurtful words of a few minutes ago were coming right back to stab him fatally in the heart.
“I’m a sorry excuse for a decent man, but I would be honored if you would find it in your heart to give me a chance," Daniel spoke slowly and with desperation showing clearly in his eyes. He looked nothing like the cocky asshole he was a few minutes ago. His eyes were filled with sadness and panic as he stared at the young man who was his true mate. “I can be a better man, Shane. I can be a good mate.” He implored.
"They're mates, Benjy, we have to allow them time." Victor looked at his little mate, hoping he understood. He watched Benjy press his lips together and narrow his eyes at the two people standing on the other side of the room. Victor waited for him to speak.
"Okay, I get it, but I don't like it. I hate it." Benjy was rambling now, clearly distressed by this horrible outcome. Shane turned and glared at him long enough to make him knuckle under. Shane's stare was deadly, and Benjy understood, sort of, but he didn't trust this man, and he was afraid for his brother. "He can stay; I don't want him... gone, but can there be a supervisor? I really am not comfortable with having that guy near my brother."
Benjy hoped for a compromise that would be agreeable. He didn’t want to interfere if Daniel was truly his brother’s mate, but deep down, well, maybe not so deep, he hoped that Shane was wrong.
"Edgar will supervise the couple. Good enough?" Victor asked. Benjy looked at his brother, who was giving him a look that would have killed most people. Benjy nodded.
Benjy appeared relieved when Shane did not protest the arrangement. Shane failed to realize just how long the supervision phase would go on. Shane neglected to account for Benjy refusing to accept his mate.
CHAPTER ONE
It wasn’t long before their lives took on more of a settled permanence at the Sparrow Ridge Pack. There was the incident at the rental house with Victor killing Greg, their tormentor from their old Pack. The man was the son of their old Alpha, and he had followed Benjy and attempted to assault him before Victor killed him.
Shane breathed a sigh of relief that finally, maybe, they were free and safe. Perhaps they could get on with their lives now that they were no longer being hunted and were members of the Sparrow Ridge Pack. Well, Benjy was a member, and Shane hadn't yet accepted membership. He wasn't certain of his place in this Pack, and he feared it might be somewhere right under Benjy's thumb, and he would never accept that.
He hoped Arlen, their old Alpha, would let it drop and get on with life with his new mate. Shane believed they had nothing more to fear from their old Pack. They would never do anything so stupid as to start a war with Sparrow Ridge. The Concord Pack was basically cowards, and they were a lot smaller than Sparrow Ridge. They wouldn't win if they started anything. They had to know they would be crushed if they made so much as a threatening move.
…
As Shane walked from the college library to his car, he instantly noticed Daniel waiting by the door to escort him. Edgar Rios, the Alpha’s brother, was still supervising them for the time being. Shane attended the community college full-time, studying library science, and worked part-time as a library aide.
Daniel was always there throughout the day. He didn't interfere with Shane's classes or work schedule, but Shane often caught glimpses of him on the edges, always watching. Edgar only showed up when it was time to leave; otherwise, Shane never saw him, but he knew he was there. It was his job to supervise and constantly follow.
Shane wasn't afraid of Daniel and was irritated with his brother's unfounded concern, and couldn't understand Benjy's need for added security. He felt a lot more like Benjy's property than his brother at the moment, and it was becoming unbearable.
Shane was in awe of Daniel, but he didn't know him that well. Being always kept apart or trailed by a chaperone didn't make for any close or tender moments. Daniel was amazing to look at, and Shane was very impressed and grateful to Fate for her choice. His first impression of Daniel was one of awe, and his second was a subtle distrust brought on by Benjy's reaction. He longed for some time alone to get to know his new mate.
Daniel seemed eager to prove himself, and Shane was more than willing to give him a chance. They were mates and, given the opportunity, they would find common ground on which to build their lives. But that would be difficult, if not impossible, if Benjy didn't let up and let them live their lives.Shane was just about at his limit with Benjy treating him like a child.
“Did you have a good day?” Daniel asked as he slipped his hand into Shane’s and held fast. Shane looked up at the big man and smiled.
“Yeah, it was good," Shane said and marveled at the man next to him. Daniel was dedicated and reliable, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. He was the solid, in-charge sort of guy that made you feel safe just having them near you.
Shane never in a million years had ever considered that such a handsome and powerful man could be interested in him. But they were mates, Fate had given Daniel to Shane, and he wasn't about to ever turn his back on such a glorious gift. Daniel belonged to him. Daniel O'Hare was his mate. That thought spread warmth through his chest, as if his heart were coming to life and growing larger.
They walked together to the car where Edgar was waiting. Daniel could feel his mate’s annoyance at their unfortunate circumstances, and he had no one to blame but himself. If he could turn back time, he would do it in a heartbeat, but that was not possible. He had to bear the outcome of his idiocy and work through it. Shane was his mate, and Daniel would never give up on his mate. Daniel had never given up on anything in his life.
…
Shane and Benjy had been residing in the Pack House of the Sparrow Ridge wolf pack for a while now. Benjy fit in almost immediately, considering his mate was the Alpha, but it had been an awkward time for Shane.
He wanted his mate, and the draw to be near him grew each day, each hour, and so was his anger at being kept away from him. He didn't know what would happen to them or if they would ever be granted the right to bond. All these things made it impossible for Shane to feel anything but awkward and out of place in what was supposed to be his new home.
Daniel, as Beta of the Pack, was also living in the Pack House but had been banished to the back section of the building where no one else lived. He was cut off socially from everyone else because Benjy didn't like him. The Alpha preferred his Beta to reside at the Pack House, so that was the only reason Daniel was still allowed in the building. If Benjy had his way, Daniel probably would have been banished to the next city.
Shane had tried to go to Daniel's room on multiple occasions but was always intercepted by Edgar or one of the other Betas. It was infuriating to be treated as if he didn't know his own mind and heart. He was being kept from the one person his heart and body craved. Life in the Sparrow Ridge Pack House was making Shane wonder if he truly wanted to stay.
…
Benjy was now Alpha Mate of the Sparrow Ridge Pack. His brother had come a long way from where they'd both begun their lives, and Shane was truly happy for him. They had been born into the Concord Pack, a pack that showed respect to only Alpha, Beta, and Gamma wolves. Everyone else was considered less than, and in their case, even less than that.
Shane and Benjy had the unfortunate luck of having a human mother, which made them abominations in the eyes of their Pack. Benjy was an Omega wolf, and Shane was unable toshift. Their father had been a Beta wolf, a very strong Beta wolf, and until his death had kept them safe from the hatred of their Pack.
