Baby and the Wolf by Victoria Sue

Chapter Sixteen

Forty-eight hours later,Ryker worried Emmett was going to make himself sick. He wasn’t eating nearly enough, and all he seemed to want to do was sleep. He’d also headed to their old cabin and refused to sleep in the pack house. Marco didn’t seem to be able to help. He’d offered him a scan, but that had just set him off again. Kai had gone as planned but had made sure Ryker had his phone number and email. They’d tried to contact the pack in Tennessee to find out how Calvin was, but there was no way to make contact other than through the shifter council, and they just said no laws had been broken, so they couldn’t interfere. Ryker knew Emmett wouldn’t even start to settle until he knew Calvin was adjusting. He didn’t want his last memory of him to be a screaming child practically ripped from his arms.

Ryker was at least happy with his new pack members, including the teacher, whose wife immediately pitched in to help Dinah, and his three sons, one of whom—Nema admitted—was an omega and the reason he had been wanting to leave his old pack. Neither Nema nor his wife trusted their old alpha around their youngest, Teo. He had kept his hands off the male omegas born to mated couples, but Nema hadn’t trusted the alpha, and Isabelle, his wife, had been frantic. The new alpha might be better but they wanted a change.

Their new cabin was ready, but when he’d mentioned it to Emmett, Emmett had burst into tears, and he knew why. The cabin had three bedrooms with room for more to be added if he needed, but the fact there was just the two of them at the moment weighed heavily on them both. It was just to the side of the pack house. They were there in case they were needed, but it gave them the small amount of privacy he’d originally wanted.

It wouldn’t have been as bad if they could have at least gotten ahold of someone at Michael’s pack, and after another day with a tearful Emmett, Ryker grabbed Red, and they got in the truck. It would take them nearly two hours to get to Mills River. The alpha might not know anything about the Catoosa pack in Tennessee, but he was desperate. Marco was going to keep an eye on Emmett, and Darriel was planning on keeping him company. He hoped talking about their pregnancies might cheer Emmett up even a little bit. He wasn’t eating properly, and while he spent every night in Ryker’s arms, it seemed like he wasn’t really there. Marco said it was grief. For all intents and purposes, they’d lost a child. He’d even asked Ryker how he was, but he couldn’t think about himself when he was too worried about Emmett.

And he couldn’t let it go any longer.

Gammas met them at the boundary, and after saying who they were and requesting to see the alpha, they were waved through. Two enforcers met them at the pack house, and they were escorted inside. Ryker shot a look at Red. This pack clearly had money. The pack house itself was like a five-star hotel.

They were shown into an office, and Ryker was surprised to see the young man that greeted them. “Alpha?”

“Jered,” he confirmed.

“Ryker, and this is my beta, Red.”

“What can I do for you? How’s Darriel?”

“Much better. Thanks for letting him stay until we could move him.”

Jered nodded. “It’s fine. Makes me feel like less of a shit for them having to leave.”

Ryker eyed him carefully. “I get the impression you’re between a rock and a hard place.”

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Jered said with feeling. “Can I offer you coffee?”

Ryker shook his head. “We’re hoping you might be able to help us with the omega Michael that came to us from the pack in Tennessee.”

Jered crossed his arms and leaned against the desk. “In what way?”

Ryker told him about Emmett, Calvin, and the cave rescue.

Jered paled. “Shit. I wish I had been able to get my hands on that bastard Riggs, but one fight was enough.”

“Fight?”

“I challenged my father.”

Shit. Ryker hadn’t known that and couldn’t imagine what he was going through. He knew the challenge would have been bloody. To fight his father to the death was unimaginable. At least he hadn’t had to do that. Jered seemed matter of fact, but Ryker knew he would be anything but. “I’m desperate, quite frankly. Three of us confirmed the scent.”

“You do know that can also be an indication of close family?”

Ryker turned at the voice and looked at the man who was standing at the door.

The wolf put out his hand. “Morgan. I’m the alpha’s beta commander.”

“It’s unlikely though,” Red pointed out after shaking hands. “I mean, what are the chances they even found out about Calvin after seven years? Surely with the omega houses being the mess they were, only Calvin’s omega would know who he was.”

“Very slim.”

Jered turned to Morgan. “Do we have any records on this Michael?”

“I looked earlier when they arrived here asking about the pup.” He walked to the new-looking computer on the desk. “You know I’ve been wading through what records we have, which isn’t many, but a Michael and Steven Brand were born—twins—nineteen years ago. They were both omegas according to the records. Very unusual.”

A cold chill ran up and down Ryker’s spine. “And Steven isn’t here now?”

Morgan shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. Neive might know though?” He glanced at Jered.

“Possibly. I don’t remember twins, but if they were omegas, even my uncle tended to keep those families separate, and he had over two thousand wolves.”

“Neive?” Ryker prodded.

“One of the older pack mothers back when I was a pup,” Jered explained. He nodded to Morgan, and Morgan left the room. He rubbed his face. “The whole thing’s a mess. My uncle was very traditional, but he wasn’t the monster my father was.”

Ryker didn’t respond. There was a world of pain in that one word “monster.”

“He wouldn’t have treated the male omegas like my father did, but he also wouldn’t have allowed someone like your human partner to land a helicopter on his land.” Jered smiled, and for the first time, Ryker grinned ruefully.

“Zeke is a force of nature. He’s also my mate’s father.”

Jered’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t have to worry about security, then.”

Ryker shook his head. “He’s kept our secrets for a long time.”

The door opened, and Morgan came back in with an older female. She looked about seventy in human years, but that could mean she was easily thirty years older or more.

“Pack mother,” Jered greeted her respectfully.

“Alpha,” she returned, smiling, and allowed Morgan to help her to the seat by the desk. She inhaled and fixed a stare on Ryker, then turned to Jered. “What is it you need of me?”

Jared spoke. “We’re trying to find out about twins. One called Michael. According to the records, he was born—”

“On the eve of the pink supermoon eighteen, no, nineteen years ago,” Neive interrupted. “His brother, Steven, was born seven minutes later. They were a new family just arrived, so I never got the chance to examine the mother before she labored.”

Ryker knew that some pack mothers were said to be able to recall the details of every pup they had helped to birth, but it was more a legend. He’d never actually met one that could. “Do you know if they are still here?”

Morgan glanced at Ryker. “We have at least two hundred undocumented wolves, and the records we have are hopelessly out of date.”

“No,” Neive said. “There was a fight. Michael killed Steven when they were fifteen.”

Red shot a stunned look at Ryker. “An omega killed another wolf?”

“I’ve never heard of an omega involved in a fight to the death,” Jered agreed.

“No, he was the one killed. Steven,” Neive confirmed.

Morgan frowned. “But Michael was an omega—”

Neive scoffed. “No, he wasn’t, or not technically. He exhibited all the omega tendencies exactly like his brother except maybe a few inches of extra height, but he didn’t have the necessary biology to get pregnant and carry a pup even though he never shifted. He was what in the olden days would be termed a mar-wolf—those wolves that through mixed breeding can never shift and aren’t omegas either. Of course, we didn’t have anything like the modern equipment the humans have, but every pack mother can recognize an omega shortly after birth. Steven was an omega, and he’d already caught the attention of one of the gammas. He’d even had a few pre-heats by the time he was in his teens. Michael was jealous. His father was disappointed because once he didn’t have the excuse of being an omega, he was expected to toughen up, especially as his father was one of the alpha’s enforcers, but when he reached fifteen and never shifted…” She shrugged. “In a traditional pack, it is considered a sign of weakness, as you know. That, plus his mother fussed over Steven because after the birth, she was damaged and could have no more pups. Steven was her one chance of getting grandbabies, which led to resentment.”

“And they fought?” Ryker prodded.

Neive nodded. “Like I said, Steven drew the attention of one of the gammas. Michael was jealous, and they got into an argument. I don’t think Michael was trying to kill his brother. They were tussling and fell off the ledge that ran around the woods. Steven hit his head on a rock and died instantly. As an omega, he was unable to shift, of course.”

“And what happened?” Ryker asked.

“The alpha banished Michael after two of his gammas meted out punishment. His mother—Chevanne—was heartbroken. She killed herself a month later. His father became a gamma and then a beta. I understand he’s not a pack member now.”

“It still makes no sense though,” Ryker said in frustration. “Why would Michael claim Calvin? He passed three scent tests.”

Neive shook her head. “If he did, then he has to have very close familial ties. Where did he say he was from?”

“Catoosa pack, Tennessee.”

“Catoosa pack have had their own problems recently,” Morgan said. “In danger of losing some of their land.”

“You know them? We can’t get in touch at all,” Red commented.

“None of which explains why Michael would claim a pup when he isn’t even his omega,” Ryker said in frustration. “You said his father isn’t here any longer?”

“And good riddance,” Neive said dryly. “Disgusting how he treated Chevanne, but what he did with those omegas was revolting. I felt sorry for him when he lost his mate, but I soon changed my opinion.”

Ryker froze, his pulse beating loudly in his ears. “What was his father’s name? The beta?”

“Riggs,” Neive said.

“Fuck,” Ryker spat out.

“My father let some of his enforcers have the omegas as a reward,” Jered said. “He used to insist on it only after he had already gotten them pregnant, but it’s not impossible to think he made a mistake and Riggs got one of them pregnant.”

Pregnant.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Riggs was the father half the time,” Jered added.

That was the connection. Everything in Ryker screamed it was. “No wonder Calvin and Michael share a scent. He’s Calvin’s half-brother.” And he’s fuck knows where with Calvin. Ryker’s heart was pounding so loudly he missed the next thing Jered said.

“And the omegas were drugged. It was likely they didn’t know,” Morgan agreed.

They all thanked Neive when the old pack mother got up to leave.

Ryker was still reeling from finding out Riggs was Calvin’s father.

“There’s something else,” Jered said quietly after Neive had gone, and he shared a look with Morgan.

Ryker raised his eyebrows. “Something else?”

“There are a lot of omegas missing, and we were approached yesterday by an alpha in Kentucky to ask if we had any omegas for sale. He was surprised to discover we don’t do that anymore.”

Ryker closed his eyes as nausea threatened him.

“And I know for a fact that my father would never get rid of an omega,” Jered said.

“You think Riggs is behind this?” But he knew. Riggs had been doing this for a long time. Maybe this was even the scheme Riggs and his father were involved with. As a pack alpha, his father would want to keep the omegas, but once it was no longer his pack, it would have been all about the money. He’d thought it was guns or drugs, but the more he learned, he realized he’d been wrong.

“It sounds like it,” Jered admitted. “And my father definitely wouldn’t sell an omega, he would consider them too valuable, as I said. I could see Riggs doing it though. He was a greedy bastard.”

Ryker’s knees nearly gave way. He’d thought this was about revenge, but it wasn’t. Riggs didn’t give a shit about Ryker. This was about money, pure and simple. They were going to sell omegas. They’d been selling omegas for years. “We need to get back,” Ryker croaked out.

“But how would Riggs even know you had Calvin?” Morgan asked. “He could be anywhere.”

Not if he had been responsible for putting them in the cave in the first place. Riggs knew exactly where they were.

“If Riggs is behind this, I am more than happy to provide you all the enforcers you need to get the pup back.” Jered shrugged. “I’m happy to help either way. I’m sick of packs being in competition, and I hear you do good work.”

Ryker nodded. He wanted to set off to Tennessee now, but they needed a team, and they needed the pack to be protected while they were away. “I’m going back to arrange my team. I’ll call you, but I intend to leave tonight.”

Jered nodded.

“Good luck,” Morgan and Jered said almost simultaneously.

He was definitely going to need it.

Emmett openedhis eyes and nearly closed them again as hurt tore through him at the silence. There was no puff of warm air at his neck, no heavy arm slung so protectively over him. No sound of little snores or even childish giggles as Ryker put his cadet through his paces outside. How a seven-year-old was supposed to stalk a rabbit in human form was beyond him, but that was the sight that had greeted him one day last week when he’d taken his tea outside. Ryker was born to be a dad. The huge grumpy alpha turned into a marshmallow around Calvin, and as Emmett had rested his hand on his growing bump, he knew Ryker would have lots of love and care to give their baby. He’d wanted a family for so long, and for a moment, life had been perfect.

He didn’t begrudge Michael. He’d just seemed so stiff and cold, and Calvin had been terrified. Had a quick, ripping-the-Band-Aid-off approach been the right thing to do? Calvin was young, and as much as Emmett hated to admit it, he would forget Emmett when he got settled with his new family. Emmett pulled a pillow over his head to muffle a sob in case Ryker was nearby. He didn’t know how he would bear it, but then he put his hand protectively over his belly and stilled at the fluttering inside him. More tears leaked, but it was the nudge he needed.

He threw back the covers. He’d neglected everyone, especially Darriel. He’d seen Darriel twice, but his dad seemed to be spending a lot of time with him, so that was good. He guessed anyway, although it made things awkward, and he hoped when Darriel had recovered, he wasn’t going to break his dad’s heart.

He knew Ryker had to leave to go somewhere with Red. He couldn’t even remember where he said he was going, and that was awful. He was supposed to be the alpha-mate and have responsibilities, but he’d just left getting the new omegas settled to Chrissy and Dinah. He was due to have a baby in seven weeks, and he’d given it hardly any thought. He knew Ryker wanted them to move to the new cabin, but he’d taken one look and dissolved into tears.

Calvin was where he should be, and Emmett needed to get his act together. He was going to get showered, force himself to eat something because he didn’t want to go back to passing out, and then he was going to take a walk around the front of the pack house and go see his new cabin.

A half hour later, after managing half a bagel, some cheese, and ham, Emmett opened the cabin door to see a different wolf on guard. He smiled. “I’m going to the pack house.” He walked there, entering the kitchen and seeing it was empty. Then suddenly he was angry. Angry with himself and angry with the whole world almost. He yanked the door back open, glad that the wolf had gone, and ran almost breathless to the trees, tears streaming down his face. Damien and he had been thinking of taking the kids to the creek at the bottom of the hill. He was determined Calvin would learn to swim. Emmett covered his face with his hands. It was over. He had to stop thinking of Calvin. He just didn’t know how.

With zero warning, he was nearly yanked off his feet. A hand clamped over his mouth to stop any cry, and he was dragged into the trees. He felt something sharp press into his belly, and his heart just about stopped.

“You move or make one noise and I will push this knife in. I don’t think I’ll miss what you’ve got in there, huh?” He pressed the knife into his skin harder, and Emmett shook his head frantically. Who was it? The man kept the bruising grip on his arm and turned Emmett around.

“Who are you?” Emmett took in the barely dressed man.

The laugh was unexpected. “An old pal of Ryker’s. I know your alpha’s not here. Think I would have got within twenty feet of you if he had been?”

Emmett swallowed. The man was huge. He’d guess he was a shifter, but either way, personal hygiene wasn’t high on his list of priorities. “The enforcers will miss me when I don’t get to the pack house.”

The man grinned a mouthful of sharp teeth. “I think they’ll be a while yet. Human hunters were spotted trying to get onto your land. It’ll keep them busy for a while.”

Emmett was sick of being played. “What do you want?” Maybe if he could keep him talking, Chrissy would come looking for him.

“I think it might be more a case of what you want.”

Emmett’s pulse picked up. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I might have taken something about so high”—he raised his hand until it was just over three feet off the ground—“whines like a bitch. Doesn’t seem to be happy with dear old dad.”

By force of will, Emmett remained on his feet. “Who are you?”

“Call me Riggs.”

Emmett really wished he hadn’t eaten that bagel. He so didn’t want it to make a reappearance. “But Michael…”

Riggs snorted his derision. “It’s about time that useless pup of mine did something useful. He’s been a waste of space for nearly twenty years.”

Emmett couldn’t process what was happening. Somehow this monster had his boy, and Ryker wasn’t anywhere near to help.

“You come quietly now or the kid dies. You make any fuss, and the next time you see him, he won’t be whining at anything because he won’t have a throat to whine with.”