Getting Close to the Omega (37 page)

might not be targeted in the future, given that I am the only

one of my kind so far. But I stopped the fight today, and yes,

protected Ron’s pack, not because he had me enthralled or

controlled, or anything like that. I stopped the fight because

my friends fighting those men would have been wrong. The

Jefferson pack were as much victims as I was, and you would

have all massacred them within minutes. You had reason too –

I understand that. It’s the wolf way of life. But those men,

those shifters, they didn’t deserve to die because of what their

Alpha did. And they only followed what I said during that

moment.”

“So, what does that mean exactly?”

“It means, my big strong Alpha lover, that I won’t stop a fair

fight, and I can’t compel anyone to do anything the way that

Alphas can. I will only override an Alpha’s desire for an unfair

fight – if
I
think that is the right thing to do. The Shaman

prompted me today when he said that the Omega wouldn’t

allow the fight. But it was my feelings…” Dean broke off.

“You know, if you had let the Jefferson City pack get

annihilated, no one would have blamed you,” Matthew said

gently, not sure what Dean was trying to say. “That was the

seat of all of the abuse you suffered and every man there

today, on our side, would have killed every one of them simply

because of what was done to you in the pack.”

“And I couldn’t have that,” Dean said quietly. “I know it’s the

wolf way, but those men that I saved – I don’t remember any

of them from my past. Maybe things would have been different

if I had seen someone I knew, but I didn’t. I don’t know what I

would have done if I had, but I’ll never know now. I honestly

think that I did the right thing.”

“As I do, little one, as did everyone else who was there,”

Matthew said. “There would have been no honor in killing

those wolves, they couldn’t put up a fair fight, even if their

Alpha did steal you away from us.”

“The Shaman said it was enough for the Fates that so many

were prepared to fight for me. The Alphas, I mean. It meant

things were going to change for the better for all of us.”

Matthew tugged Dean a little closer and stroked over his hair.

“I can’t pretend to understand everything that is going on,” he

said softly. “But I would have given anything to have saved the

Omegas I met in my past. Watching you today made me so

proud, but kind of sad too, if you can understand what I mean.

Just think how many wolf shifters might be alive today, if

Omegas had been allowed to mate and come into their powers

fifty years ago. How many needless and unfair fights might

have been stopped?”

“I think that’s why you were meant to be with me,” Dean said

and Matthew could tell his mate was deadly serious. “Because

you understand. You saw the pain – you more than anyone

else knows how badly the Omegas were treated simply because

they were perceived as weak and too small to be of any value

to the pack. That’s how I was treated, until I escaped. You

understand that and yet you love me anyway, and you do

protect me. I’m one you saved, when you weren’t in a position

to help the others.”

“You are very different to them, little one,” and Matthew didn’t

even try to hide the pride on his face. “You were strong

enough to survive, to escape and to build a new life for

yourself. And despite everything that was done to you, you still

have an infinite amount of compassion for everyone around

you. That’s pretty amazing, you do realize that, don’t you?”

“I think it’s nice that you think so,” Dean said and Matthew

could see the red on the man’s face deepen. Despite

everything he’d gone through in the past few days, his mate

still had trouble accepting compliments and probably always

would.

“I also think,” Dean went on, “that a steak and salad, and a hot

shower would go a long way towards giving me the energy to

explore that awesome body of yours for a lot longer than I did

this last time.”

Matthew laughed. “Diversionary tactics, big time, little mate.

Tempting me with needs of the mate, flattery, and another

bout of hot lovemaking, all because I paid you a compliment.

You could have just said thank you.”

“I’ll say thank you when I am eating my steak,” Dean said

pertly, wiggling out of bed and heading towards the bathroom.

“Which you can cook, while I’m having a long overdue wash.”

“But I’m an Alpha,” Matthew protested even as he got off the

bed.

“And I’m
the
Omega,” Dean yelled back from the bathroom,

“And don’t you forget it.”

Matthew was still laughing as he served up Dean’s steak and

salad, just like his little mate had asked for.

Dean wanted to catch up with all of his friends, before the likes

of Damien and Scott, Claude, and Shaman Paulo left for their

home territories, so Matthew agreed with Kane that a

celebratory dinner was in order. Shawn was catering, in his

own unique style, which meant no one had to do anything but

show up, which in Matthew’s opinion was perfect. He still

thought Dean was too thin, and too pale and he saw a lot of

bed rest in their immediate future.

Unfortunately it seemed his mate had other ideas. “So Kane,

now that Kyron/Kylan is under house arrest at the San Antonio

pack and the threat from Ron and the Jefferson City pack is

over, do you think you’ll reopen the workshop anytime soon?”

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Kane said with a grin. “You up to

get back to work or something?”

“I’d just like for things to get back to normal,” Dean said, and

Matthew could see his face going red, and his little mate

dropped his head. Not liking to see Dean so submissive, even

though Dean would never be able to go against his true nature,

Matthew surreptitiously raised Dean’s chin and grinned at him.

From the twinkle in his mate’s eyes, it would seem Dean got

the message.

“Yes,” said Kane. “It would be nice to wake up in the morning

and worry about a transmission or an engine job instead of

who is going to kill us next type scenario. What is it you do

again, Matthew?”

“It’s more a case of what haven’t I done,” Matthew said,

thinking back over his years of travelling. “I’m really a hands

on type of person and can pretty much turn my hand to

anything. I don’t need money, because, well, fuck it, I’ve lived

so long already, but I do like to keep busy.”

“Know anything about mechanics?”

Matthew snorted and then laughed. “I’ve been working on

vehicles since they were first invented. There’s not a lot I don’t

know about the older ones at least.”

“Well with Kyron out of action, Griff working with Diablo and

Scott in San Antonio with Damien, I could use another

mechanic,” Kane offered.

“Or you could come and work with us,” Griff said from the

other side of the table. “We can always use someone of your

size for bodyguard detail and that sort of thing.”

Matthew looked down at Dean who was studiously looking at

his food as though it held the secrets of the universe. He knew

without having to ask that Dean would prefer that he work with

him, and Matthew already knew he wanted that as well. But

he couldn’t help but tease his little mate just a tiny bit.

“This bodyguard work, will it involve much travelling?” He

asked Griff as he felt Dean stiffen beside him.

Griff looked across at Dean’s head that was bent again and

clearly saw that the Omega was not happy, especially if the

teasing grin on his face was any indication.

“Yeah, it can,” said Griff. “We don’t get any local work for that

type of thing. You’d probably be gone a couple of weeks, up to

a month at a time.”

Matthew nodded, as though he was considering it. But Troy

had picked up on what was going on as well, he must have,

because he piped up and said, “That’s okay Dean. If Matthew’s

going to take off like that, I’m sure me and Anton can keep you

busy. Claude’s always asking us to pop up there for the night,

so you can go clubbing with his pack, while Anton and I do our

thing.”

“Or you can come over to ours,” Scott said with a grin

matching his twins’. “Levi and Vincent would love to see you

again, as would Malachi and Elijah, and you can always stay

upstairs at the club there. Not so far to travel if you get a bit

tipsy.”

Dean’s head came up then. Matthew noticed his little mate had

a big grin on his face. Standing up, Dean started to gather the

plates, saying, “That sounds awesome. Thanks Troy, Scott.

After all, now I have a bit more confidence, it might be nice to

go dancing for a bit. And nowhere could be safer for me than

gay shifter nightclubs.” He looked down at Matthew, who was

busy trying to work out where his joke had gone wrong.

“You decide what you think is best for you, Matthew,” Dean

said with a smile. “I’ve got plenty of friends here to keep me

company if you decide to take this bodyguard gig, and I’m sure

I will make some new ones. Some of the enforcers I met

recently seemed really nice. Very friendly.”

And with that, Dean sauntered – he fucking sauntered – into

the kitchen with an armful of plates.

“The mechanic job sounds fine,” Matthew snarled as the men

around the table laughed at him. Standing up, he damn near

ran into the kitchen and caught Dean up in his arms, while the

man was putting dishes in the sink.

“What do you think you were doing out there?” he growled.

With a face of perfect innocence, Dean looked up at him, and

Matthew was lost all over again. His mate was already cute in

his eyes, but in a few years, Matthew knew Dean would be

drop dead gorgeous. With his high cheek bones, unusual eyes

and mop of auburn hair, combined with a slim yet muscled

body, and a burst of confidence that Matthew hoped he was

partially responsible for, Dean had that whole ethereal look

going on that shifters, hell men anywhere, would kill to

possess. The thought made him growl again and it wasn’t

helped when Dean laughed.

“I don’t know what you are worried about, mate of mine,” Dean

said with a smile. “I thought you would be happy to know that

if you are off traipsing around the country doing your

bodyguard work that I have friends who are happy to keep me

entertained so I’m not moping at home. And Damien and

Claude are both capable Alphas who can keep me safe, if that’s

what you are worried about.”

“And friendly enforcers, are they part of your plan too?” It’s not

that easy to talk when you just feel like growling, Matthew

decided.

Dean raised his eyebrows. “But they are friendly – you could

see that for yourself. What’s wrong with that?”

“That’s the wrong type of friendly,” Matthew said remembering

only too well how many of the enforcers, who had come to

Deans’ defense, also let their eyes linger on Dean’s pert ass too

long for Matthew’s liking when he was saying good bye to

them.

Dean laughed again, and smacked him on his chest. “There’s

no such thing as the wrong kind of friendly, lover. No, I just

didn’t want you to think that I was trying to influence your

decision in any way, when it comes too working out what you

want to do now you are living here. I mean it’s not as though I

have some sort of kink for sweaty Alphas covered in grease or

anything.” But from the light in Dean’s eyes and the smell of

his arousal that wafted up and punched Matthew in the nose, it

seemed that maybe his mate did have exactly that sort of kink.

“Why couldn’t you just say you wanted me to work with you?”

“Why would I, when you already knew and chose to tease me

anyway?”

Matthew had no choice but to admit defeat. “God, you’re

gorgeous and fucking smart as well. How in hell am I meant to

fight that sort of combination?”

“Kissing seems to work,” Dean said with another smile and

Matthew had to admit, as he lowered his head to kiss the