Page 29 of Saving His Omega
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.”
