Under Sean’s Protection by Lisa Oliver

Prologue

From the Epilogue of Cam’s Promise

Sean stood frowning at the gate of a small house. The structure showed evidence of repairs, but it was in dire need of a paint job. The lawn was freshly mowed and the small gardens edging the footpath was weed free. But it wasn’t the state of the house causing Sean’s frown. It was the shouting he could hear going on inside. He looked at the address on the piece of paper he was holding and then back towards the house.

“Did you whore yourself out for that business, boy?” The harsh voice could clearly be heard from where Sean was standing. “Suck the alpha’s dick, did you?” His second question was punctuated with the sound of a slap.

“Dad, no.” The younger voice sounded really upset. “I told you. The second liked the job me and Michael did. I told him what happened to you….”

“You had no right spreading my business with them’s that’ll take it out on me. You made me look bad.”

Sean could barely hear a quiet, female murmur, but he could hear the response. “You shut up, woman. As if I don’t know what you do to put food on this table every week. I’d rather starve than take charity….”

A small, pleasant faced woman scuttled past the cottage, holding her basket close. “Excuse me, ma’am,” Sean asked politely. “Is this the Hyam household?” He pointed to the house which now held sounds of a woman crying.

“Yeah, that’d be Old Man Hyam yelling.” The woman shook her head. “He used to be a good man, but he’s not been the same since the accident. Spends half his time yelling at his wife and kids and the other half down the boozer getting sloshed any time he can get someone to take him. Poor Marie, she does what she can, and I’ve never seen two boys work as hard to please him as his two do. Surprised all of us, those boys didn’t leave the day they came of age. The old man might be in a chair, but he’s mean with his belt.”

“I don’t want to intrude, but the new alpha sent me over to help Kyle, the older boy. Cam signed over the papers for Northern Construction to him today and made sure his father got the enforcer retirement package he was entitled to. I thought they’d be celebrating.”

“The old man wouldn’t have seen that as good news. Something happened to him when he had his fall. I reckon he broke his head as well as his back. He spouts outlandish theories, always claiming his wife is out screwing around behind his back for money. What kind of a man would say something like that about his mate?”

“One who needs medical attention,” Sean agreed.

“The boys have put up with it for years. You said you’re from the alpha, didn’t you? One of the inner circle?”

Sean nodded.

“Get them out of there,” the woman said quietly, indicating the house with her head. The shouting had started up again. “Me and some of the other women around here have helped as much as we could. A couple of our mates have intervened a time or two as well when things got really bad. But Marie and those boys deserve better. She’s working herself to the bone trying to keep a roof over their heads and the boys are just the same. Never put a foot wrong, any of them, but that old man treats them like shit and from the looks of things, he’s never going to stop. He’s getting worse.” She winced as another loud crack filled the air and someone cried out. “Get them out.”

“Leave it to me.” Sean pulled out his phone as she hurried into the house next door. He hit the second quick dial number. “Marcus. Are you and Shadow busy?”

“Just lazing around thinking about pizza. What do you need?”

“There’s some problems at the Hyam’s house. Cam’s new friend. I need a large SUV and some muscle.” He rattled off the address.

“See you in ten.” Marcus hung up.

Sean dithered just a moment. His wolf was pacing, eager to get inside the house and he couldn’t work out why. In theory, he should wait for back up. For all his criminal background, Shadow was a master negotiator, and this wasn’t the get in and kill someone job Sean was used to. But the sound of another yell and a woman’s sobbing pleas was enough to make him change his mind. No decent wolf treated his family in such a way.

Leaping over the gate, he landed softly and crept up to the house. The wooden door held traces of a heavenly scent; a cock hardening scent, and Sean’s eyes glowed.

“You will sign over that company to me right now, or I’ll put you in a chair just like mine. You hear me?”

Sean’s boot crashed through the door. “I hear you and the answer is no!” he roared. His eyes quickly took in the scene. The room was small, but it was clear someone worked hard to keep it clean. A woman sat shivering in the corner of the kitchen, her eyes red with tears and a stark bruise ringed one of them. Old man Hyam had trapped a young man with his chair, his hand raised. Another younger man was peering down the stairs, his face white with fear.

“Get out of my house.” Hyam’s face was red and blotchy. His beefy arms were barely contained by his ripped t-shirt and his dark hair looked as though it hadn’t been brushed in a month. The scent Sean had caught a hint of seconds earlier was stronger now – coming from the young man held against the wall.

“I am here on behalf of Alpha Chalmers.” Sean rose to his full height and the boy against the wall whimpered. Good. He’d caught Sean’s scent. “You do not want to mess with me.”

“I heard about you tattooed freaks living in the pack house,” Hyam sneered. “You all think your shit don’t stink. Well, this is my house and I’m telling you to get the fuck out. I might not be able to take you, but I know my rights.”

“And I know his,” Sean pointed at the boy who was watching him with wide eyes. Boy was a relative term. His mate might look young but the helpful woman at the gate said both boys were legally adults. “And hers,” the woman was crying in earnest now, her hand covering her mouth. “And his.” He pointed to the young man who was creeping down the stairs. “No one has the right to abuse their family in this territory. I don’t care if this is your house or that you’re in a chair. No one gets to treat their family like that!” His roar had barely echoed around the room when Sean had pulled the boy from Hyam’s grip. “I’m Sean. You are?” This close, the boy’s scent had sent his wolf into overdrive.

“Kyle Hyam.” The boy leaned on him for a moment and then straightened. Sean’s wolf howled.

“We have much to talk about later. For now, can you help your mother? You boy, what’s your name?” He pointed at the young man on the stairs.

“That’s Michael, he doesn’t talk much, but he can hear fine,” Kyle said as he crossed over to his mother.

Hearing the implied rebuke, Sean lowered his voice. “Michael can you please go back upstairs and pack clothes for the three of you? Just get enough for a few days. We can get the rest later.” Michael nodded and disappeared up the stairs.

“Where are we going?” The woman cried looking at her mate. “Who’s going to look after George?”

“Mr. Hyam should have thought of things like that before he started knocking you around.” Sean kept his voice low as he carefully approached the woman and his mate. “My name is Sean. As you can see, I’m a former assassin.” He pointed to the tattoo on his face. “My friends will be arriving in a few minutes. They are going to take you back to the pack house where you will be safe and cared for. Something your mate should have been doing.”

“I can’t fucking walk,” George yelled, spittle landing on his unshaven chin. “What am I expected to do?”

“You don’t need working legs to treat your mate with respect.” Sean stalked the man in a chair and loomed over him. The man stank and Sean’s wolf recoiled. “You don’t use your legs to say please and thank you. Your legs have got nothing to do with having self-respect and caring for the people who care for you.”

The man’s mouth flapped open, much to Sean’s disgust and he quickly continued. “The measure of a man, or wolf for that matter, has nothing to do with what you look like or if you have the use of your arms and legs; it’s got everything to do with how you act towards the people around you.”

He prodded Hyam on the chest. “I could hear you from outside. So could the neighbors. I heard you call your wife and son whores. For your information, your wife works two jobs. I knew that before I knew who you were, so heaven knows why you act ignorant of the fact. Your son was gifted Northern Construction earlier today because our pack second saw the work your son did on the challenge circle and after hearing about you and the state of business in this town, decided he was man enough, strong enough, and had enough honor to make some serious changes with that company and the way they do business. When you insulted your son, you also insulted our second, Cam. Another good man, mated to another assassin. You need to stop bleating about your legs and start working out ways to help your family instead of being their biggest problem.”

“You don’t know me. You don’t know what it’s been like,” Hyam said bitterly. “My so-called mate runs around all day, never tells me where she’s going. And as for this Cam giving my son a company to run. What a joke. A gift for services rendered I call it. That boy has got nothing but a pretty face going for him.”

Sean felt his wolf surge forward and his claws scratched the handles of Hyam’s chair. “That man you insult as just a pretty face is my mate. The next word that comes out of your mouth had better be sorry.”

“Mate?” Mrs. Hyam gasped.

“True mate. Now, about that apology.” Sean was so caught up in making sure Hyam knew he was serious he didn’t hear his friends arrive.

“Now, now, Sean. Is that the way to introduce yourself to your new in-laws?” Shadow could find the joke in any situation.

“Help me get these guys back to the pack house. He’s staying here.” Sean pushed himself away from the chair.

“Domestic violence?” The look Marcus gave Hyam could strip bark from a tree. But his smile for Mrs. Hyam was genuine. “Let me help you, ma’am. Is there anything in particular you need to bring with you to ensure your comfort? The alpha told me you can bring anything you need.”

“The alpha told you to do that personally?” Mrs. Hyam seemed surprised.

“Our alpha is nothing like his father, ma’am.” Marcus threw Hyam another pointed glare. “I’d like to think the same could be said for the sons in this family.”

Marcus and Shadow gathered up Mrs. Hyam and the bags Michael had brought downstairs. Michael never said a word, but he happily followed his mother out to the waiting vehicle.

“Would you like to come with me, or would you be happier traveling with your mom and brother?” Sean’s gaze finally rested on his future. Kyle was tall, but lean, with a mop of blond hair and the cutest button nose Sean had ever seen. As much as he longed to hold the man close and live out a few of the fantasies running through his head, he wasn’t going to push his young mate, especially after what he had just been through.

But it seems his patience wasn’t needed. Within seconds Kyle had run over and Sean felt thin strong arms wrap around his waist. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Kyle whispered into his chest, hanging on tight. “You have no idea what it’s been like.”

“No. I clearly don’t.” But Sean wasn’t going to force his mate to talk about it when his abuser was still glowering at them from the corner of the room. Picking Kyle up, he strode from the house, stopping only long enough to ensure Mrs. Hyam and Michael were comfortable with his friends before taking Kyle over to his bike. As he started up the bike, he heard the house door slam shut. Hoping that meant a window would open for him and his mate, he opened up the throttle and headed for the pack house; his wolf howling at the way Kyle clung to his back.