His Dominant Omega (11 page)

Josef followed Devon up the back lot of the property. It was thick with trees and wild growth of shrubbery. He could see the glow in the distance of where the house sat. The closer they got, Josef expected to see wolves patrolling the area, but there weren’t any. Josef had to assume this alpha was overconfident, which was crazy. From the actions this alpha had taken, one would think he would be preparing for an attack, but the fact that he wasn’t was a good thing for Josef and his pack. They’d be able to take the other men by surprise.

They shifted into their wolf form as soon as Cole took off toward the house. He followed close behind Devon and kept his ears open for even the slightest of sounds. Letting his mate go off on his own took all the control he had. The danger of the situation screamed not to let Cole go, but they had to see what they were up against with this alpha, Drake.

Devon shifted back to human and waved his hands over his head. Josef looked toward his friend, and Devon pointed toward the gap in the trees. He held up three fingers, signaled for Josef and the others to stay put, then shifted again and took off toward the other side of the property with Viktor.

Josef edged closer, but still keeping a good amount of distance between him and the house. He couldn’t allow for the other wolves to catch his scent. He settled down into a spot and watched as his mate walked up toward the house. The look on Cole’s face disguised the turmoil Josef knew was eating at the man.

The front door slammed shut, and Josef tore his eyes away from Cole. Drake came walking out of the house with a cocky swagger like he didn’t have a fucking fear in the world. Well, Josef would soon show the man that his confidence wasn’t a good thing.

The sound of grass crunching under foot drew Josef’s attention away from the display in the front yard. Devon had come back, and he shifted to human form once he was within distance.

“I only counted eight wolves on the outside of the house. Not sure how many are in the house, but we’re going to have to take the chance and hope that there aren’t any.” Josef looked back to the house then back to him. “If we can take out Drake, the other wolves will come to heel. We just need to get to the man first.”

Josef nodded his head but didn’t make a sound. The plan they came up with was dangerous, but this had to be dealt with. Drake attacking their pack next was a very real possibility.

He heard Cole shout, and Josef snapped to attention. Drake had his mate’s arms pinned behind his back. Another door slammed, and he watched as Cole’s dad was being dragged out of the house. Once the man lay at the alpha’s feet, the man kicked Cole’s father. Cole cried out, but then his cries were drowned out when Drake kissed him. Josef’s lips curled back into a snarl, and Devon gave one sharp yelp, and they all took off.

When they came into view, Drake pushed Cole to the ground and shifted. A brown-and-black-colored wolf stood where the man once had. Josef didn’t stop until he tackled the other wolf square in the chest.

Drake snarled and used his legs to propel Josef off of him. Before Josef could stand up, Drake was all over him. The sharp sting of teeth in his neck caused him to howl out in pain. The alpha shook his head with Josef still clamped between his jaws. He clawed and pushed, trying to dislodge the man from his neck, but it was useless. The warm trickle of blood matted down his fur, and he snapped his teeth together trying to catch any part of the other wolf.

Just as the fight started to seep out his body, Drake let go. Josef fell to the side and watched as Cole grappled with the other wolf. He tried to move. He had to protect his mate, but his body wouldn’t cooperate.

When the wolves attacked, Cole fell to his father’s side. The man’s eyes were swollen, but he was able to crack open the left one just a bit. A small smile started to work its way across his face, and his lips cracked open, and blood dripped from the gash.

“Cole.” His father’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Father, we’re going to get you out of here,” Cole promised. His dad and he may have had their differences, but what Drake had done to him was cruel and uncalled for.
“Thank you, Son, for coming for me.” His father started to cough again, and Cole cradled his father’s head in his lap.
“You’re my father, of course I’d come for you.” Cole brushed the blood-matted hair from his face. “Josh and Jake are here, too. They saw Drake and his men drag you off, but they were too far away to react in time,” Cole confessed in a rush.
“It’s okay, Cole. They fooled me, too. I guess all my pack members weren’t as loyal as I thought.” His father tried to laugh, but all that came out were wheezing coughs.
Cole opened his mouth to comment on what his father had said when a howl ripped through the night. The sound so very familiar to him. Cole turned around to see Josef being shaken from side to side by Drake. Drake had a hard grip on Josef’s neck with his large canines. The alpha was trying to wrench the life from his mate.
“Father, stay put.” Cole laid his father’s head back on the ground. He pulled off his shirt and laid it under his head. “I need to help my mate.” Cole didn’t wait for his father to comment before shifting into his wolf and charging the alpha.
Drake yelped and released Josef from his meaty jaws when Cole hit his side. The alpha tried to turn around and catch Cole with his teeth, but Cole was faster. He bit down into Drake’s back leg right around the thigh and pulled. Skin and muscle ripped from the alpha’s body, and the man howled in pain, but Cole didn’t stop. He spat out the chunk he tore from the man’s body and went back for seconds, being sure to stay clear of the alpha’s mouth.
He struck again and again going around in circles with Drake. The alpha faked left and went right and spun on Cole quicker than Cole would have imagined with all the bite wounds. Drake bared his teeth and growled. The man walked slowly toward the left, and Cole countered his movement, going right. They walked in a circle, snarling and snapping at one another.
Cole knew the instant the alpha was about to break free and charge. His right paw scratched at the ground as if he were getting a running start. Cole’s body tensed for a split second before he charged forward, beating Drake to the punch. The distance between them grew shorter, and he was just about to be nose to nose with Drake when shots rang out.
“No!” his father shouted as he knocked Cole to the ground. He lay trapped under his father’s heavy weight.
“Caleb, hold your fire.”
Cole could hear shouting and more gunfire, but he couldn’t follow along. He managed to wiggle out from under his father and shifted.
“Oh, God no. Dad!” Cole cried as he pushed his hands to the sopping-wet wound in his chest.
His father’s eyes blinked open. “I can’t remember the last time you called me dad.”
Cole let out a short laugh. “It’s been awhile.” Tears burned his eyes, and he couldn’t stop them from running down his cheeks.
“Well, I’d venture to say that was due more to my fault than your own.” His dad coughed, and it sounded wet, as if he were fighting for every breath. “Did I hear you say
mate
earlier? When did this happen?”
Cole smiled through his tears. “Yeah, Josef, we met when he hired me for a job.”
His father struggled for his next breath, but Cole could see the old man grinning up at him. “Congratulations, Son.”
“Thanks,” Cole whispered. His throat ached from holding back his sobs.
“Father.” Josh’s voice broke through the quiet bubble Cole felt like he was sitting in. His brother rushed toward them, and Josh slid in on his knees, getting to their father. Jake followed suit and knelt next to Josh. “It’s going to be okay, Father,” Josh said as he clamped his hands over Cole’s where they rested on their father’s chest.
“Son, it’s okay.” His father reached up to rest a hand on Josh’s arm. “I want you boys to know…” His words trailed off as a bout of coughing took over. Blood dribbled out the corner of his mouth, and Cole knew it was bad. “I want you to know that I love you all. I won’t lie. I’ve made some mistakes along the way, but my love never faltered.”
“We love you, too, Dad,” Cole said.
His father turned to look at him. “Don’t make the mistakes I did. Loss is a part of life, but you can’t let it consume you. I want you boys to be happy.”
“We are, Father, we are,” Jake said through his tears.
“Did you boys know your brother has a mate? A man named Josef.”
“Yes, Father, we know. Josef and his pack are the ones who came to help rescue you,” Josh offered. “He’s a good man, Father. You’d be proud.”
“I am proud of all three of you. Don’t ever forget that.” His father’s voice started to falter, and his skin became pale. “I love you.”
Cole watched as his father’s eyes fell shut and his chest ceased to move up and down. He shook his father’s shoulder. “Dad.” He shook again. “Dad!” he screamed. “No, no, no.” It wasn’t fair to lose his father now. This could have been their new beginning, but it was gone and for what?
“Cole.” Someone pulled at his shoulders. “Cole!”
“What?” He looked over his shoulder to see Josef. His skin was ashy, and he had a hand held to his neck. Cole could see the drying blood on his skin.
“He’s gone, baby,” Josef said softly and with compassion in his eyes.
Cole looked back down to his father, and he lost his grip on his emotions. He cried and cried. Tremors raked through his body for a man he barely knew but still was one of the most important people in his life.
He could faintly hear his brothers’ sobs over his own, and time seemed to stop. His eyes were open, but he wasn’t seeing. He couldn’t feel anything. It was as if his body didn’t belong to him anymore. He was beyond thankful his mate was okay, but it didn’t replace the pain of losing his only living parent.

Viktor went back for their SUV and drove it up the driveway of Alpha Drake’s house. Josef, with the help of Viktor and Shane, got Cole and his brothers into the backseat. They all looked to be in shock. Once he had Cole in the back seat, he kissed him gently on the lips then shut the door.

Josef spun on his heel and marched toward where Devon stood arguing with Aiden’s father, Phillip.
“What the fuck happened?” he demanded.
The men stopped talking and looked at him. Behind Phillip was a man who had his head dropped down to his chest.
“It was an accident, Josef,” Devon answered. “Aiden was worried for our safety and called his dad to come help. He made him promise to not bring council backup, and he didn’t. He just brought Brandon and a new recruit, Caleb.” Devon shook his head. “He didn’t mean to, Josef, he didn’t mean to.”
Josef walked forward and didn’t stop until he was toe to toe with the other man. Devon and Phillip moved to stand between them, but Josef glared down at the man over their combined shoulders.
“Man, I’m sorry. It was an accident.” The newcomer, Caleb, pleaded. “I swear I was aiming for the alpha.”
“You’re sorry?” Josef narrowed his eyes at the man. “It was an accident? That doesn’t cut it.” He spat the words out. “You took an innocent man’s life tonight. But I guess it doesn’t matter to you hunters. One dead wolf is as good as the next.”
“Hey!” Phillip shouted then pushed at Josef’s shoulder. “You know I no longer see it that way, and you know for damn sure neither does Brandon. Do you really think I’d bring just anybody in on this? My son is the most important person in my life. I would never allow a hunter in our inner circle if I couldn’t trust him.”
Josef’s anger started to subside, and he felt like a shit for saying what he did. Phillip had done nothing but help them, and he had to agree that Phillip wouldn’t just let anyone in on their arrangement. But it didn’t take away the fact that this man just killed his mate’s father.
“I know that, Phillip.” Josef ran a hand through his hair. “But what do I tell my mate and his brothers?” He really wanted Phillip to answer him. Aiden’s father was the only man he could look up to like a father figure, and he needed some advice.
“You tell them their father died a hero.” Phillip rested a hand on his shoulder. “Caleb was aiming for Drake, but Cole got in the way. His father took the bullet that was whirling toward your mate. He sacrificed his life to save his son. It’s something any father would have done.”
“Nothing I can say will change what happened, but I’m so sorry,” Caleb said. “I would never hurt a wolf.”
Josef nodded his head. His throat had gone raw with emotion, and he couldn’t form any words to speak. It was an accident, and Josef could see that, but would it be enough for Cole and his brothers?
An hour later they were driving back toward Nehalem. His body ached from the earlier fight and from the sadness he could sense coming off of his mate.
Aiden’s dad and his men helped dispose of the dead wolves. There were only eleven in total who were on Drake’s property, and the ones that didn’t run away in fear when the fight broke out died in the battle including Drake.
Devon made arrangements to have Cole’s father’s body driven back to their house. They didn’t have the heart to ask the brothers what they wanted to do with his remains. It was still too soon.
When they got back to the house Josef carried a sleeping Cole up to their room. He tucked his mate in and headed back down stairs.
“Where’s Jensen?” he asked when he walked back into the living room.
“He left,” Aiden answered. “When he woke up he seemed calmer and I explained everything to him. He took it all really well. The only odd thing was that he said he needed to leave before Josh came back.”
“That’s weird.” Josef plopped down on the couch letting his head rest on the back cushion.
“Josef.” Aiden sat next to him. “Devon told me what happened.” The younger man nibbled on his lower lip. “I had no idea that would happen, but I was so worried about you guys. And Devon is my mate. I’d do anything to keep him safe.”
Josef could relate to what Aiden had done. He was just trying to help his mate and keep him from getting killed. And there was no way Aiden could have known Cole’s father would be killed. It was an accident.
“It’s okay, Aiden.” Josef patted Aiden on the knee. “I’m just glad Cole and his brothers got the chance to say good-bye. That makes a big difference.”
“I’m sure it does, but it will never take away their pain.” Aiden hung his head down. “I hope Cole can forgive me.”
“He will. If not right now, he will in time. You didn’t pull the trigger, Aiden. And Cole’s father died protecting his son. It was a noble sacrifice.”
The sound of the front door opening and closing had Josef looking up. Devon, looking worn and ragged, came walking into the room. His handsome features looked pinched, and he looked ten years older than his thirty years.
“Everything okay?” Josef asked.
Devon looked up as if he just noticed him and Aiden in the room. “Yeah. Mr. Weathers’s body just arrived. I had them store him in the barn for now.” Devon sat down on the couch next to his mate. “We’ll need to know soon what the brothers want to do with their father’s body. It’s summer, and the body will decompose fast.”
“I know.” Josef swiped his hand over his mouth. He felt so helpless, and yet he couldn’t make these decisions for his mate and his brothers.
“I don’t want to pressure them, but we need to know soon.” Devon cursed under his breath. “This is a shitty situation.”
Aiden hiccupped, and Josef looked to see tears streaming down his reddened cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Devon. I never meant for any of this to happen.”
“Baby.” Devon pulled Aiden close and hugged him to his chest. “No one blames you. In fact your father, Brandon, and even Caleb helped us out majorly. We were outnumbered, and things weren’t going in our favor. You did good, baby.”
Josef had been so wrapped up in trying to kill Drake he wasn’t aware of the danger all around them. His friends fought and fought, but Drake had numbers on his side, and those wolves fought dirty. Devon told him afterward that if it hadn’t been for Phillip’s help Skyler and Shane would have died.
He sat for a bit longer and talked to his friends and tried to make the arrangements they could for Cole and his brothers. Devon also tried to call Jensen, but it went straight to voice mail. Josef had to guess the poor man had enough shocks for one night and needed some space.
Josef went up to his room. He turned the knob softly and stepped inside. Darkness surrounded him with only a small amount of light spilling down from the moon and stars in the sky. A dark figure stood blocking the view out the window and Josef wasn’t surprised to see that Cole had woken up.
“Cole.” Josef slowly made his way toward his mate. Cole turned to look at him. His face looked indifferent, but his body tensed and posed to attack.
Before he could say anything else, Cole pounced, tackling him to the bed. Josef didn’t fight his mate. The faraway, lost look in his eyes told Josef his mate didn’t know what he was doing. The stress of the night had taken its toll, and his mate needed to release his anger.
Cole used his claws to shred Josef’s shorts from his body then shoved his thighs apart and moved in between them. His thick cockhead probed for entrance at Josef’s back door. Cole grabbed Josef by his wrists and pinned them to the sides of his head. Josef gasped out loud when Cole dropped forward, planting a demanding kiss on his lips. It was all teeth and tongue. A faint trace of blood trickled across Josef’s tongue, but he didn’t pull back. Cole needed this.
The hard length between his cheeks became more persistent. Josef cried out when Cole thrust forward, and the crown broke through his resistant muscles. It was dry, and the stretch brought tears to his eyes, but he didn’t say a word. Cole needed to let loose, and Josef preferred his mate did it on him than someone else. Josef could take anything his mate could give him.
Even through the pain, Josef’s cock thickened and rubbed along Cole’s washboard abs with every inward movement. Cole’s hips picked up the pace and slammed into him. His cock leaked clear juices, smearing between his and Cole’s bodies. He was close. His balls tingled, and a swirling pressure shot up from his balls and out his dick. The orgasm raked through his body, having him screaming out his release.
Cole struck hard and fast, sinking his teeth into Josef’s shoulder, taking his blood while his cock took his ass. Josef was at Cole’s mercy and turned over all his control to his mate. Cole pushed forward two more times, then hot, wet heat bathed his insides, and Cole stilled over him.
Time seemed to stop as his mate held on to him. Tears damped Josef’s neck and sobs started to shake his mate’s body. Josef held Cole tight and cooed soft words to him. Cole needed to let go of his hurt and pain. The feeling of loss would never go away, but Cole needed to start the healing process.
“It’s okay, Cole.” Josef combed his fingers through Cole’s short blond hair. “Just let it all out.”
He could feel Cole opening and closing his mouth against his skin. “I just can’t believe he’s gone.”
Josef continued to caress his hands up and down Cole’s back. He had no words of advice for his mate. Life wasn’t easy, and people died, and there was nothing that he could possibly say that would ease that brand of pain.
Cole shifted, and his softened cock slipped out of Josef’s stretched hole. He cringed. His ass ached with sensitivity.
“Oh, Josef.” Cole sat up and looked down at his mate, his fingers touching his most intimate location. “I’m sorry. You must be so sore.”
Josef pushed his fingers away and yanked on Cole’s hand to come lay back next to him. “I’m fine.” He kissed Cole gently on the lips, just a brushing of skin. “All I care about it how you are feeling.”
“It aches right here.” Cole rubbed a hand against his chest right above his heart. A small smile tugged up at the corners of his upper lip. “I can’t believe it took him dying to finally admit how much he loved us, stubborn bastard. He always had to do things the hard way.”
Josef kissed Cole on the top of his head and held him close. “But at least you know how he felt.”
Cole sat up. “True. In this fucked-up situation, it feels really good to know that. I never wanted my father to die, but it helps knowing how much he loved us.”
“I’m sure it does. But I really think he felt it the entire time but was too blinded by his fear and hatred to admit it. It doesn’t matter the reason just as long as you know.”
“I agree.” Cole tucked his head into Josef’s neck. “And I’m glad I got to tell him how much I loved him,” he whispered.
Cole didn’t say anything more, and Josef didn’t push him. It’d take time, but he knew Cole would be fine. His mate was strong and would learn to live with his loss and come to see the man who he called father did truly care about him all along.