Page 39 of Convincing the Heartbroken Beta

The danger Sascha faced slammed into him. He had to try and reason with Jackson. “Y-you don’t want to do this. There’s still time to go back, to end this. I won’t say anything.”

Jackson ignored him as if he wasn’t there. They flew past the gas station at the edge of town, heading for the public road that would tear him away from his mates.

From my baby.

“Please, I’m begging you. My baby, he needs me.”

Jackson snorted. “Why do you give a shit about that baby? From what I hear, it almost killed you. And anyway, you don’t even know who the real father is. It was just some sperm donor.”

Sascha growled, “I know exactly who his fathers are! Turn around!”

Sascha let out a scream, the truck fishtailing right as something banged against the door on his side. The pick-up crashed into a snow berm, bringing it to an abrupt halt and Sascha was barely able to keep from banging his head against the dashboard. He threw his hands over his eyes as a large rock landed on the windshield, the glass splintering into an elaborate spiderweb.

When he dared to look, he almost cried with joy. Brandon, Hawk and Nic stood in front of the truck, their weapons drawn. It became apparent that the SUV they’d been in must have cut Jackson’s truck off when it had emerged from an access road. His mate, Hawk and Nic were surrounded with shifter wolves, their presence undoubtedly there to cover all contingencies should Jackson try to get away.

A yell was wrenched from Sascha from Jackson clutching a fistful of hair and not letting go. He opened the driver’s side door a crack.

“Back the fuck off! I’ve got your omega! Either lower your weapons or I’ll kill the little asshole.”

Sascha twisted in Jackson’s hold, his legs flailing as he tried to pry Jackson’s fingers off his hair. His knee banged against the glove box and the door fell open, revealing a handgun. Sascha lunged for the weapon and so did Jackson. However, Sascha was closer and he reached it first. Jackson grabbed for the gun, letting go of Sascha’s hair in the process.

Sascha fell backward then used his position on his back to kick upward, knocking the weapon from Jackson’s grasp. It landed at Jackson’s feet on the driver’s side. While his kidnapper fumbled beneath the steering wheel to retrieve the gun, Sascha yanked the truck keys free and hit the button on the fob to unlock the truck doors.

Everything happened so fast, he couldn’t tell who opened the doors—him or Brandon—but all that mattered was that he’d tumbled into his mate’s arms and was being carried away from the melee. Sascha buried his face in the crook of Brandon’s neck, refusing to look back. The other Alphas could take care of Jackson. All he wanted was to get back to Dimitri and Cam.

* * * *

Sascha sat curled up on the sofa with his legs tucked under him, sipping from a cup of chamomile tea. When he’d returned home to a near-hysterical Cam and Jasper, Dimitri had awoken, wailing loudly as if sensing the fear and worry that had permeated the cabin. After being reassured over and over that he was okay and he’d finished nursing Dimitri, Cam had managed to rock him back to sleep. Sascha had noticed what a calming effect Cam had on the baby.

Jasper and Hawk had just left, and Brandon was in the process of adding more wood to the stove. Ca tiptoed back from the bedroom then sat on the sofa, cuddling up to Sascha. He adjusted the blanket around Sascha’s shoulders, then kissed his cheek.

“Are you sure I can’t get you anything else?”

Sascha angled his head to nuzzle Cam’s neck before taking another sip of tea. “No, thank you. This is perfect. I just need you guys here with me.”

Brandon wandered over and pulled the rocking chair over so he could sit facing him and Cam. He gathered Sascha’s hands into his own.

“I doubt we’ll ever leave you alone again.”

Sascha set down his tea on the side table. “But there’s nothing else to worry about, right? Jackson is locked up with the other prisoners, and there aren’t any more rogue deltas?”

“We don’t know for sure, love. But we aren’t letting you or the baby out of our sight. We’re working with Isaac at the Delta pack, trying to piece everything together with his help. And one of us will be with you at all times, okay?”

Sascha nodded, but still didn’t understand all that had happened. “What did Jasper mean when he said the poplar tipped him off?”

Brandon expression softened. “We owe him and Hawk so much. Jasper has learned so much about herbs, plants and so on from being around Hawk. In turn, Hawk has learned from Asha. Polar is used to mask a shifter’s true intent. That was how Jackson was able to lie to you, lure you into the truck under false pretenses.”

“Wow.” Sascha turned to Cam. “Have you heard of that before?”

He shook his head. “Nope. That was a new one. I know about sage masking a shifter’s scent, but not that.”

“Huh.”

Sascha still couldn’t believe Jackson had turned like that. Part of him suspected that Hawk being chosen got under Jackson’s fur more than if it had been another shifter. From what he’d learned, Jackson had hated Hawk from the start. But the seed of disloyalty had still been there and using Hawk as a reason was no excuse for his treacherous actions.

Sascha squeezed clutched Brandon’s hand tighter and laid his head on Cam’s shoulder. He was just so relieved to be back with his family. Nothing mattered more than being with his mates and Dimitri.