When Vince came to, he sported one nasty headache. He found himself tied to a chair, just like Sally. His bindings hurt though, cutting into his skin, and he realized they were silver cuffs.
“Don’t struggle too much or it’s going to get worse, boy.”
That gruff voice sounded all too familiar. After all, Vince heard that voice throughout his childhood. He froze, finally looking with horror upon his father’s eyes. Alphonse Hunt looked furious, beyond reason. His father had two men with him, Greg and Jonathan, two fellow hunters.
“I told you to stay put. Look what kind of trouble you dragged me into.” His father glowered at him, as if this was all his fault.
At least he wasn’t gagged like Sally. “Where’s Reed?”
“Your friend’s in the bedroom. Fought like a bull, so Greg here had to put him down.” Seeing his horrified expression, Alphonse shook his head. “He’ll wake up with a bruise, boy.”
“You can’t hold them captive. They’re humans. You hunt the paranormal.”
“Humans?” Jonathan sneered. “They worked with a dirty animal.”
“Wait, what are you talking about?”
“He can’t be this dumb, right?” Greg asked his father.
“This useless son of mine? Bah.” Alphonse shook his head, expression murderous.
“I’m an adult. I can do whatever I want, but if you came here to kill me, fine. Just let Sally and Reed go. They didn’t do anything.” He insisted.
It wasn’t the best choice of words, but he would rather die than betray his friends. Even if telling his father to kill him practically gutted him, because what would happen to Korey?
The Alpha had been wonderful, happiness he didn’t deserve and he very much would like to see if they had a future together. However, he had a feeling Korey would understand loyalty to his friends. Sally and Reed weren’t just his friends, they were his real family. They came for him when his own father made him a prisoner.
“It’s not that simple, boy.” His father crossed his arms. “Seems you really don’t know, so I’ll explain it to you. We need you as bait. I know you only managed to escape because that werewolf helped you.”
His head spun. His father wasn’t talking about Korey. It took him a second to put the pieces together. “You’re talking about Wilson Green.”
Part of him was relieved his father didn’t know about Korey. Yet, he was worried about Wilson. He hardly knew the werewolf, but Wilson did help him break out of his prison. True, Wilson did it out of guilt, but he still owed the man.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” his father said.
Vince tried to get a read on his father. Some part of him—the boy who still wanted to win Alphonse Hunt’s approval, hoped there might be some sign his father gave a shit about him, even just a little. There was only ruthlessness there, a lack of mercy. Vince grew up being bullied. If there was one thing he knew, it was knowing when to fight the battles he could win.
It was painful to admit the man he called ‘father’ would torture him for information. Even if Vince confessed to knowing nothing, they wouldn’t believe him. He’d seen firsthand how these men treated their shifter captives. They were brutal, thorough and pushed prisoners to confessing crimes they didn’t commit.
Vince sagged in his bonds. He was a good actor and knew how to lie. The bite on his neck suddenly pulsed with pain, but he schooled his face to defeat, like a kicked dog. That was how he always got himself out of his father’s radar. No reason his play acting wouldn’t work now. Did he reach Joe? If so, did the werebear call Korey?
At least Joe hadn’t busted in. He knew the shifter could handle himself, but his father and the two hunters were armed to the teeth. Vince had seen for himself how vicious they could be on a hunt. They were no better than rabid shifters unable to control their beasts.
“Easy, but only if you promise to let Sally and Reed go. Please, they didn’t do a thing.”
His father considered him for a couple of seconds. Vince pleaded with his eyes, although he hated it—begging his father for anything. Today was an exception.
“Fine, but only after you give up the location of Wilson Green.”
“I need your word you’ll let Sally and Reed go,” he interrupted.
That earned him a blow to the side of his face from Greg.
“Don’t make demands, animal.” Greg threatened.
His father, thankfully, was more reasonable. “If I find out you’re lying to me boy, you’re dead. You mean nothing to me, understand?”
He looked Alphonse in the eye, showing his father his undisguised hatred there. Alphonse laughed.
“Finally showing your real claws, boy? Well, it’s too late.”
* * * *
Korey was in the middle of Dominance’s press conference when he felt a tug on the other end of the metaphysical bond that connected him to his mate. His wolf paced restlessly inside him. Something was wrong. Instinct never failed him before.
“Korey, care to answer that question?” Peter asked.
To his left, Mick looked at him, question in his eyes.
Korey leaned in to whisper, soft enough the press wouldn’t hear. “My mate’s in trouble.”
“Go,” Steel said simply, probably able to catch his words.
Korey looked to the press. “I apologize. I need to excuse myself due to a personal emergency. Mick and Steel will answer your questions.”
Ignoring the questions thrown at him, Korey left the table. Backstage now, he found two of his bodyguards waiting.
“What’s up, boss?” asked Tooth.
Dagger finished a call and looked to Korey. “Joe just called. He said Vince has been taken captive in his apartment.”
Korey narrowed his eyes and tried to reel in his temper. “By who? Why the fuck wasn’t Joe with him?”
He talked as he walked, towards the backdoor. Tooth had worked alongside him for years and had already called for a car.
“Apparently, the Omega convinced him to stay on the street. He hasn’t made a move because the Omega’s taken by what looks to be three armed hunters, pros, and two other humans were taken captive.”
Korey cursed under his breath. There could only be one explanation. Vince mentioned his origins. The Omega came from a family of hunters, despite being the black sheep. Was the captor his father?
What did Alphonse Hunt want from Vince? Korey had information dug up on the man right after Vince and he parted ways. What he found, he didn’t like. Apparently, this hunter, this monster in human skin was well-known around the supernatural community.
“What’s Joe thinking?” Tooth muttered.
They were finally out the building and Tooth opened the car door for them. Another man had joined them—Turtle, another one of his long-time guards. The alleyway was empty. Korey and the others had always regarded privacy as their number one priority. They didn’t hire the most prestigious all-shifter security firm in the nation for no reason. Even the car Turtle drove looked harmless and battered, certainly not what a celebrity would ride in.
“It’s not Joe’s fault. Taking action against these hunters would alarm them. For now, I’m assuming Alphonse Hunt doesn’t know who his son is mated to. Vince won’t tattle.”
“Are you certain of that, boss?” Tooth asked.
“Absolutely.”
They drove past the city’s business and entertainment district and entered a residential neighborhood. Vince had given him the address and this was it. It looked like any other middle-class neighborhood. Kids played on the street. Mothers pushed their strollers on the sidewalk and joggers walked their dogs. During the ride, Korey had changed out of his signature leather jacket into a hoodie and plain jeans. Lifting the hood up, he glanced at the building.
He reached out for his mate connection with Vince, feeling an echo. Someone came running to their car from the opposite apartment building. It was Joe, looking out of breath. Korey assumed the werebear was keeping a close eye on Vince’s unit. Tooth opened the car door so Joe could enter.
“What’s happening?” Korey asked, interrupting Joe when the werebear began to apologize. “Joe, you did the right thing. Now tell us.”
“The hunters left the two humans in the apartment. They’re taking Vince to their car. It’s parked by the alley behind the building. We need to move. Now.”
“Turtle, stay in the car with Dagger,” Korey ordered.
“Boss, you’re just taking Tooth and Joe?” Dagger asked.
His bodyguards at least, didn’t make the mistake of telling him they’ll handle it. They knew Korey wouldn’t sit still. Besides, they could feel his angry Alpha wolf, screaming out for blood, vengeance for his mate.
“We don’t need that many people. I want to keep this as quiet as possible. Tooth, Joe, get out of the car. I’m shifting.”
The men didn’t question him. Once Joe and Tooth exited the vehicle, Korey quickly peeled off his clothes and reached for his wolf. In seconds, fur replaced skin and dangerous claws and fangs were his natural weapons. Korey sprinted out into the street, a lethal force of anger and vengeance. He needed to teach these hunters they made the grievous mistake of taking what rightfully belonged to him, what was naturally his to protect.
The public didn’t know what kind of wolf he was, so being in wolf form gave him anonymity. Joe took the lead. Tooth and he loped after the werebear. Time was limited. Once the hunters pushed Vince into the car, this would get even messier. They rounded the corner, but kept themselves hidden. Hearing a cry from Vince, all the fur on his body rose up.
Korey didn’t need to be a genius to figure out what happened. Vince must have sacrificed himself for the sake of his friends. A noble act, but Korey didn’t need a dead mate on his hands. They still had plans to carry out, a wonderful future to make together.
Vince let out another muffled moan. Something inside him snapped—maybe it was the pieces holding his human sanity together. He sprinted towards his mate, revealing his presence by opening his jaws to let a loud roar rumble out. It distracted the three hunters, but only for a second. It was enough for the bastard holding Vince to let go of the Omega. Vince wisely rolled to the side.
True to Joe’s assessment, these bastards were pros. The three men drew their guns, motions lightning quick. Most novice hunters or humans who have never tangled with the supernatural before would hesitate. These fuckers shoot to kill.
Korey went for the throat of the shooter who pulled the first trigger. Their guns hardly made any sound—they came prepared with silencers. The bullet didn’t hit him, merely grazed him, but Korey growled between his teeth. It was silver—why wasn’t he surprised?
He took the first guy out. The bastard didn’t make it easy. They rolled on the dirty gravel. The hunter clearly knew how to hold his own against a shifter by avoiding Korey’s claws and fangs and using his gun as a blunt instrument.
Rage fuelled Korey though. Ignoring the hits he’d taken, he went for the bastard’s throat. He knew Joe and Tooth were behind him, ready to fend off the other hunters. He tore out the bastard’s throat. Blood lust called to him, but he pulled his fangs away, eager to move on to the next. Another man tangled with Tooth in wereleopard form, but Korey knew Tooth would win.
One of the hunters had unfortunately figured out they were outnumbered. The bastard had an arm wrapped around Vince’s throat, gun steadily pointed at his mate. At the same time, Tooth finished his kill. The three of them paused.
“Take another step closer and he dies, animals,” the silver-haired man sneered.
With Vince standing next to this bastard, Korey instantly drew the physical similarities. This man must be Alphonse Hunt. How could a fucking father use his own son as a human shield?
Vince met his gaze. Korey could read the apology in Vince’s eyes, but there was no reason for it. None of this was Vince’s fault and Alphonse Hunt should have left his son alone in peace.
“Let me go, dad. Don’t you want to live?” Vince managed to rasp.
Korey was glad he was in human form. There was no fucking way he’d let Alphonse Hunt live, not while the hunter was a threat to his mate. The look in Alphonse Hunt’s eyes told him everything. This mad man would do everything in his power to hurt Vince and whoever was close to him. None of them were safe. What if Vince and he had pups? Would this man hunt the babies too?
Fuck this.
Korey bared his teeth.
“Who the fuck are your new friends, boy? Did you fuck one of them?”
Vince snapped his head to look at his father in shock. The fact his mate could move at all made Korey proud. Other hostages would have begged or fainted by now, but Vince had a spine of steel.
“That’s right, boy,” Alphonse went on. “I saw that bite on your neck. It seems you couldn’t wait to tie yourself to a monster. You’re a sick depraved creature.”
Tears filled Vince’s eyes, but his voice was rock steady, like iron. “Mating is a wonderful thing. You know nothing about love, dad.”
“There’s no use speaking to you. You’re already brainwashed. You’re no longer human, but one of them. So which one of you animals had the guts to mate my boy?” Alphonse demanded.
Korey stepped forward, fangs bared. He knew Tooth and Joe wouldn’t approve of that, but he didn’t care. This wasn’t some poor passerby. His mate was in danger.
“The biggest fucker, I’m not surprised,” Alphonse said dryly.
Damn this, but Korey couldn’t take another step, not when Alphonse dug the barrel of his gun to the side of Vince’s face. It didn’t escape Korey his mate had taken one hell of a beating during his short time with the hunters. A father should protect his son, not threaten his life.
Alphonse suddenly swung the gun right at him.
“No!” Vince screamed.
But it was what Korey had been waiting for. He knew men like Alphonse. Hell, he’d fought cornered cowards before. When pushed to desperation, men did unforgivable things and Korey counted on that. He broke into a run and leapt at him.
Vince stomped on his father’s foot just as Alphonse fired. The bullet hit him squarely in the left shoulder, barely missing his chest. This bastard knew what he was about. A silver bullet to the brain or heart would be lethal to their kind. The pain in his shoulder throbbed, but Korey was an unstoppable force. Vince shied away so Korey could take down Alphonse. The gun clattered to the ground. Instead of reaching for it, Alphonse grabbed something from his belt, a hunting knife.
Recklessness drove Korey. He snarled when the knife slid into his side—also made of silver, but the sacrifice was worth it. If he had the option, he’d make this man pay and suffer. But Alphonse was still Vince’s dad, so he went right for the bastard’s pulse and tore out his throat. Alphonse fell back, shocked, life leaving his eyes.
Certain the hunter wasn’t getting up again, Korey got off the corpse only to be pulled into a tight hug by Vince.
“Baby, you scared the shit out of me. You were so reckless,” Vince accused, looking at the knife handle still stuck to Korey’s side. The Omega hesitated, touching the handle.
“Leave the knife, Vince. We have a healer back at the car,” Joe called out.
Korey was only happy to have his mate hugging him close, like he was the most comforting thing in the world. He could hear Joe calling Dagger to bring the first-aid kit. After, Joe made another call for a clean-up crew. By the time the knife and bullet were extracted, Korey was still feeling high. The wounds would get to him though and he’d fall unconscious.
Their party headed back to the car. Korey wasn’t worried about the bodies. In the first place, Alphonse and his men did something illegal. Turtle had checked on Vince’s friends. They were bruised, but didn’t sustain any serious injuries. Sally and Reed went down to greet and thank them.
“Thank you,” Sally told Korey, still in wolf form. The human woman had tears in her eyes. Her mate did the same. “Take care of Vince, please. Vince, you’ll promise to introduce your mate properly?”
“We’ll do a little double date,” Vince promised.
Korey wondered what Vince told them about him. Well, it didn’t matter. Explanations would come and besides, he’d rather not change forms yet. He liked lying on Vince’s lap in the car.