Liam (11 page)

"Yeah, Brad reported its whereabouts after his and Corey's scouting mission." Ben put the car in reverse and left the driveway.

As they drove, something Alpha Wallis said registered with Declan.

"He knows." He didn't realize he'd spoken aloud until Liam asked him.

"Who knows what?"

"Alpha Wallis, he knows about Corey and Brad. He told me on the phone about the wolves poking around his pack."

"Doesn't matter now. Everything's going to come to a head this afternoon. Alpha Wallis's time is up. Frank, Glen and Adrian should be arriving in the next day or so anyway so this wouldn't have gone on for much longer."

The anger in Ben's voice was clearly evident.

Declan processed what Ben said and settled back against the seat as they headed towards Cairns.

He hadn't slept, but Declan must have zoned out because the next thing he registered, the car pulled to a stop in his pack ground's car park.

Declan exited the vehicle. As soon as his feet touched the ground he started shivering. He had no idea why, the temperature felt pleasant, by no means cold yet.

Liam wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close. "Everything's going to be fine. Tommy will be fine.

We'll go get him, kick the Alpha's ass, and go home.

Okay?"

"Yeah." That sounded really good, in fact.

Ben came round the front of the car and waved his hand towards the trees. "Can you lead us to where everything went down?"

"Yeah." Declan didn't look forward to going back there.

Hell he didn't want to walk back into the stretch of trees full stop. Liam never let go of his hand as they headed into the bush.

Declan glanced down at his watch. Half past five.

Shit, it had taken them longer to get here than he thought.

They needed to move. After traipsing through the trees for maybe fifteen minutes, the sound of a gun reverberated through the silence. Birds screeched and took flight above them.

"Tommy!" Declan shouted, yanking his hand away from his mate's and racing through the trees.

He didn't care if Liam and Ben were behind him or not, once again thankful for his speed. His heart pounded in his chest and he pushed branches out of his way, ignoring the stinging cuts to his skin when he had been unsuccessful in moving them in time.

Declan finally broke through the edge into the same clearing he had witnessed Nigel's murder. Time seemed to slow down as he came to a halt. Gregory and Barry held Tommy between them just as they had Nigel that night.

Tommy sagged, naked; his body covered in bruises, his left leg broken, the bone sticking out through the skin. Declan couldn't see Tommy's face with his head slumped forward.

Hell, he couldn't even tell from where he stood if his brother was alive or not.

He turned to face the Alpha, fury rolling through him. Before he could so much as utter a sound, the gun in Alpha Wallis's hand went off again and fiery pain pierced Declan's left shoulder. The force of the impact knocked him backwards to the ground. His head landed hard against a rock, black spots danced before his eyes.

Twin howls rent the air when Liam and Ben burst through the tree line in their shifted form. If Tommy still breathed, Liam would rescue him. His last thought before he let the darkness take him.

Damn, but his mate could really run. Liam's heart nearly stopped when another gunshot rent the air. Fire rolled through his body. Not his own pain. Declan had been shot.

Shifting, Liam howled and broke through the tree line, Ben right beside him. Alpha Wallis stood in the centre of a clearing, the gun now pointing in their direction. Liam lowered his head down and put on a burst of speed. He might not be near as fast as his mate, but he could still run with the best of them. Ben easily remained right beside him.

Alpha Wallis seemed to be having trouble deciding who to shoot at first, finally deciding on Liam. He pulled the trigger again. At the last second, Liam veered to the left and headed to the Betas who were holding up Tommy between them.

As much as Liam wanted to take on Alpha Wallis, it would be better all-round if Ben did the honours. Liam liked being a Beta. He didn't want to be Alpha, and if he beat Kegan Wallis, and he would with the way he felt right now, he'd become Alpha of the Cairns pack, and he didn't want that. He'd discussed the possibility at length with Ben over the last week. As much as he wanted to be the one to take out the man who had caused his mate so much grief, he couldn't.

He'd promised Declan he'd get his brother and he planned to do exactly that. When the two Betas saw him heading directly for them, they took one look at their Alpha currently engaged in a fight with Ben and dropped Tommy to the ground and made a run for it.

Cowards. Liam watched them disappear into the tree line. He had more important things to do than give chase. They'd be caught eventually and held accountable for their crimes. At the moment he had other things to worry about. The sounds of fighting carried on behind him.

Liam had no doubt Ben would come out of the encounter the victor.

He shifted and knelt down beside Tommy. Even through all the bruising he could see the resemblance. Liam breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed Tommy's pulse beating under his skin. He didn't know where to touch the young man, his body a mass of bruised and broken flesh, afraid no matter where he placed his hands it would cause Tommy more pain. Probably a good thing Tommy had passed out.

Liam tried to be as gentle as possible, but his breath caught in his throat when the mate threads of Declan's younger brother and Ben joined in his mind. Fuck! Not good. Declan would have a fit when he found out. Declan had nothing against Ben, but Tommy being Declan's much younger brother would have all of his protective instincts coming out. Liam and Declan had talked at length about his little brother and how Declan had raised him after their parents passed. He didn't know if Declan could let go of that mindset, especially after what had just happened.

Looking down once again at the bruised and battered body of his mate's brother he had no idea how his friend and Alpha would react either. It would have to wait, though. At the moment, he needed to get back to his mate and make sure he was okay.

Liam picked Tommy up in his arms trying not to hurt the young man any more than he already had been, and started back across the field towards where his mate lay.

"Honey, come on, wake up, please,"
Liam asked soothingly as they got closer. He didn't receive any response.

The fighting had diminished and when Liam laid Tommy beside Declan, Ben made his way over to them.

Liam checked out his mate. The bullet had made one hell of a mess of his shoulder. But it looked like a through and through, thank God. They wouldn't have to go digging around to remove the bullet. As bad as the wound looked it would have been worse when it first happened.

Liam wished the healing could go faster, but he'd be happy with whatever he got.

Ben arrived and crouched on the other side of Liam.

His muzzle and back left leg were both covered in blood and he had a large gouge in his flank.

"Shift, Alpha," Liam said quietly to his friend.

As soon as Ben realized his mate had been found, but remained gravely injured, he'd lose his shit. And Liam needed him to keep it together. Ben's head snapped up and he sniffed the air several times before he made his way to Tommy's side. Ben lay down and licked Tommy's face before raising his muzzle and howling the most haunted sound Liam had ever heard.

Liam watched in wonder when Tommy's faint mate thread seemed to strengthen simply with the Alpha being so close to him. Every time Ben nuzzled Tommy the partially joined threads pulsed with energy and Liam held out hope for the future. The threads wouldn't join completely until after the pair had claimed one another, but that could happen later. Now, they needed to get Tommy and Declan somewhere they could heal in peace.

"He's alive, Ben. Now shift and we can get them out of here," Liam said sharply.

Liam held back his surprise when Ben obeyed him immediately. The tall, macho Alpha seemed to crumble when he took in the extent of his young mate's injuries. Ben picked Tommy up in his arms with more care than Liam had ever seen the Alpha use.

Liam did the same with Declan and the pair was soon on their way back through the trees. Ben didn't say anything the entire walk, too busy paying attention to the man he held in his arms, not that Liam blamed him.

When they exited the tree line, Liam opened the passenger door and settled Declan in, strapping him in place with the seatbelt. Liam then opened the back door so Ben could lay Tommy down before he headed to the rear of the SUV. Opening up the back, he pulled out the bag Ben always kept with spare garments of all sizes. Shifters never knew when they would be in need of more clothes.

He threw Ben a pair of jeans and a shirt.

Unfortunately there were no spare shoes in the car. Theirs were back in the forest somewhere and Liam didn't plan to go looking for them. Liam pulled on a pair of sweats and a shirt before he threw the bag in the back and closed the door. Ben climbed awkwardly into the backseat so he could be with his mate. The man stood six foot six and was not really built for backseats.

Liam got in the driver's side and after checking on his mate headed the car in the direction of home.

The drive home went as quietly as the walk back to the car. About fifteen minutes from Atherton, Liam decided he better broach a subject he really didn't want to.

He cleared his throat. "Ben?"

Ben grunted.

Figuring that would be the best he'd get, he continued, "You realise Tommy won't be going home with you? Right?"

"Excuse me?"

The low rumbling growl from his Alpha had Liam's hairs standing up all over his body. Liam had to grit his teeth not to bend his head and expose his neck.

"Ben, he's young. Ten years younger than Declan.

And he's just been abused. The last thing he needs is to wake up in a strange house with a strange man. He needs his brother. Please understand." Liam hoped he could get his Alpha to see reason. He hated having to be the one to keep his Alpha from taking his mate home, but he honestly thought it for the best.

Ben snorted and went back to caressing Tommy's face. Liam knew Declan would have a fit if Tommy went home with Ben at the moment. He had no idea how his lover would deal with the situation but he thought it best for all involved if Tommy came home with them to begin with.

Liam handed Ben his phone from the centre

console. "You might want to call Dr Carter and have him meet us at my place."

"Shit," Ben muttered before placing the call. "He'll meet us there in ten," Ben said as he ended the conversation.

Liam nodded and quickly looked at his mate again.

If not for the blood soaked shirt, one could think he slept peacefully. Waking up this morning, Liam had no idea of the shit fest this day would turn out to be. He was glad his friend and Alpha had finally met his mate, even if they did have a long road ahead of them.

"Mmmm." Declan moaned and pressed back against the hard shaft currently trying to pierce his body. His eyes fluttered open and he twisted his head to the side.

"Morning, love." He met Liam's mouth in a lazy kiss.

"Morning yourself," Liam whispered and his shaft broke through Declan's guardian muscle.

Liam took it slow, no need to rush. Saturday morning dawned and neither of them needed to be anywhere.

Declan pushed back when Liam withdrew his huge cock and slowly rocked forward once again. Liam's hand reached around and gripped Declan's aching length.

He started a maddening pace that matched his thrusts. Declan relaxed against Liam's chest and let his mate have his way with him. His body sung as desire built and his balls drew tight against his body.

Declan panted, his hand gripped Liam's hip behind him as his mate continued to rock into him. Liam squeezed his first tight and bit deep into the side of his neck and Declan flew over the edge, tumbling freely, as he gave his body over to the ministrations of his mate. Pearly white cum shot from his cock, covering his stomach and Liam's hand. His mate thrust hard two more time before going still, his low groan muffled by Declan's neck as his cock twitched deep within the confines of Declan's body.

They lay together, relaxing in each other's arms until their bodies released them from their knotted embrace.

Declan whimpered when Liam's softened cock slipped from his body, but he rolled over and kissed his mate properly.

"Good morning."

"Morning, love. Shower?" Liam asked.

Hmm. His mate, naked and wet? He couldn't think of anything better.

Declan lay in bed for a little while so Liam could get the shower started. His thoughts, as they inevitably did, went to his brother. Tommy had finally woken up the day after they had brought him back to Atherton and cried while Declan held him close. In broken sobs Tommy recounted what he remembered of his ordeal. Declan's heart ached for his brother. He hated his former Alpha for destroying Tommy's youthful exuberance.

His brother had changed. He spent the majority of his days alone, quiet and withdrawn. He jumped at shadows and constantly woke throughout the night, screaming from nightmares. Declan would do anything he could to help Tommy deal with what had happened.

Tommy wasn't ready to mate Ben yet. Once Tommy stopped being so afraid Declan hoped things would change.

He still lived with Declan and Liam. Ben understood and willingly gave Tommy all the time he needed. Thank God.

It didn't stop the man from coming round constantly or calling to check up on Tommy though.

Declan couldn't blame the Alpha and thought it actually kind of sweet. He just hoped Tommy would come round and see Ben for the loving, caring man Declan had come to know.

Frank Schmidt had taken over the Cairns pack with his two Betas, Glen and Adrian. They had found and dealt with Gregory and Barry. Declan had no idea how they handled it, but he trusted Liam when he said there would be no more trouble from them.