Preston giggled from his spot on Scott's lap, his eyes shining with happiness as Scott fed him his lunch and cooed at him. Preston didn't understand much of what was going on, but he knew that this man, who claimed he wasn't Sammy, treated him with just as much kindness and care, maybe even more.
Just as they were settling into a comfortable moment, a knock at the door interrupted them. "Excuse me, sir, the alpha has sent for you. He says it's urgent and requires your immediate attention," Ryan, the young omega nurse, said, peeking into the room.
Scott sighed, his expression reluctant. His omega was already gripping his bicep tightly, a silent plea no to go anywhere. "I'm not going far, Preston. I promise. I just have some business to attend to, and then I'll be right back."
Preston's face fell, his lower lip jutting out in a pout. "But why do you have to go without me? You always let me come with you before."
Scott's eyes narrowed slightly, his annoyance piqued. He knew Preston was referring to Sammy, and it grated on him that his mate still thought of that man. Moreover, he knew that Sammy was also the Beta and was aware of the kind of 'business' their rank usually attended to. The thought of Sammy potentially endangering Preston made Scott's instincts bristle.
"You're still recovering, baby," Scott said, his voice soft but firm. "I wouldn't want you to be any more stressed out than you already are. Just stay here, Ryan will keep you company, and I'll be back before you know it."
"But that's not fair, The nice lady said I'm all healed up anyway. Let me come with you," Preston begged.
Preston's pleading eyes almost undid Scott, but he knew he had to leave. "I'm sorry, Preston. I don't really want to leave your side either, but it could be dangerous. I would never be able to survive it if anything happened to you."
"But—"
"Ryan, please keep an eye on him while I'm gone," Scott instructed before leaving.
As Scott left the room, Preston's face crumpled, and he whispered, "But...but I want to go with you, mate..."
Scott glared at Joey who was waiting for him just outside the infirmary. "This better be important, Joseph."
Joey rolled his eyes. "Haven't you heard loverboy? We have 'guests'."
The guards patrolling the border had brought news of a 'visitor'. The two men sighed, knowing it was inevitable and it was only a matter of time before their unwanted guest showed up. They had planned on making their way to Red moon pack anyways once they had gotten more information but Gage Marshall had saved them the journey by showing up himself.
Scott and Joey made their way to the border, where Gage and his men who could only be described as his lackeys, were being made to wait by the guards till otherwise was said.
"Grayson, always a pleasure," Gage smirked.
"I'm not sure I can say the same," Joey responded.
Scott observed the man stood in front of them — dark red hair and deep brown eyes framed his smooth face and well-defined jawline, making him almost handsome, but his monstrous nature far overshadowed any physical appeal.
Gage finally turned to Scott, taking in his appearance for the first time. He was taken aback and filled with fear for a split second before quickly regaining his composure and smirking at Scott. Standing at 6'3, Gage easily matched Scott's 6'2, and the two men engaged in a stare-down until Joey intervened. "That's enough. What do you want, Marshall?"
Gage shrugged. "Aww, come on, you're not even going to invite me in? You can't possibly expect us to have a cordial conversation just standing outside."
"Fine, but your men stay here," Joey warned.
Gage turned to a young man and beckoned for him to come with them, and Scott glared. "He's my Beta. I'm allowed to have him beside me, am I not?"
Scott gritted his teeth, he knew it was just common protocol but it didn't mean he still wasn't annoyed by Gage's words — it seemed everything about this man's mere existence annoyed Scott really.
"What do you want Marshall?" Joey glared gettining right to business without wasting any time. He wanted this man off his lands as soon as possible.
"Awww, so straight to the point? No warm welcome, no hugs? Where's the hospitality I've heard Silver Creek is so renowned for?"
Scott's eyes narrowed. "You've got some nerve showing up uninvited."
Gage's smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "I'm here to take back what's mine - my people, my omega, my child. They belong to me."
Joey raised an eyebrow. "Your people?"
"Your omega?" Scott glared. "You mean the ones who ran away from your cruelty and abuse? We heard of the treacherous things you put them through. You're nothing but a pathetic excuse of a leader."
Gage's smile faltered again before he sneered. "They owed me. And as for the omega, he and his partner were traitors. They deserve to be punished."
The young man beside Gage who had been quiet the entire time discreetly elbowed his Alpha in the side.
"Relax, I know what I'm doing," Gage whispered in response. If Joey or Scott noticed this, neither man made any mention of it.
"You see Joseph, you're an Alpha yourself. You should know how these things are," Gage refocused his attention to them.
"First, don't you dare put yourself and I on the same level, there is no comparison between us. Second, you don't even care about the people, and you want to have Preston executed. What harm could they possibly bring you when they aren't even on your territory anymore? Why would you go out of your way to get them back just to torment them or have them executed?" Joey questioned.
"Regardless of whatever you or those runaways think, they are still members of Red Moon and as the Alpha, I reserve the right to choose how and what punishments I inflict on them. It is of no concern of yours."
"You see, ever since they left, they've given more and more people the courage to think they can just run away like that so the population is dwindling rapidly."
"I don't see how that's any of our concern," Joey rolled his eyes. "Your mistreatment of them is the reason they're all fleeing and as you said, I have no authority of them so I can't force them to return with you."
"Look Grayson, you're making this more difficult than it needs to be. Normally i wouldn't care so much about those strays, especially not the omega I have a rule that I don't lay my hands on those nasty little mutts but my nephew here has taken a liking to your little omega," Denzel nodded his head and smiled as Gage spoke.
Scott leaned forward over the long table, his voice menacing. "You're not taking anyone anywhere, Gage. Least of all Preston. They're under our protection now."
Gage's eyes locked onto Scott, a glimmer of fear flashing before he smirked again. "Oh, I see. You're more similar to that traitor than in just your looks and rank. It'll be fun to squash you too, and then your precious omega."
"As I've said, Preston is my mate," Scott said firmly. "And I won't let anyone hurt him or his child. Especially not you."
Gage snarled, "Then I'll report Silver Creek to The Council for infringing on my pack matters and holding my members hostage."
Joey locked eyes with Gage, unphased. "Go ahead, Marshall. I dare you."
Just then, a voice drew everyone's attention to the hallway, it was Preston. "Sa-Scott, Scott where are you?" he called out.
"Sir you can't go in there," the guards at the door called out to Preston. The guards, being aware of the omega's somewhat fragile condition, knew that they couldn't use physical force to restrain him though and so the omega used this fact to his advantage. He managed to slip by them and run into the meeting hall, the young nurse Ryan followed hot on his heels.
"Please come back Preston, you need to return to the infirmary." Ryan pleaded .
"No, I want to see my mate," Preston stubbornly refused.
Just then, Preston stormed into the meeting hall, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Scott, whom he immediately sprinted towards.
"Oh would you look at that, the man of the hour, and right on time too," Gage smirked.
Preston, who was making a beeline straight to Scott, spotted Gage and stumbled backward, his face white with fear. "Scott, help me," he whispered, trembling. Scott, who had gotten up to meet his mate halfway, rushed to his side, catching him just as he passed out.
Scott glared at Gage, wanting to say something but he looked at his pale unconscious mate in his arms and knew what was more important. He glared at Gage once more as he made his way to the infirmary, the panicked young nurse behind him.
As Scott carried Preston out of the room, Joey turned to Gage. "I think it's time for you to leave, Gage. You're not welcome here."
Gage's face twisted with anger, but he knew better than to push his luck. "This isn't over, Grayson," he snarled before leaving with his Beta.
Back in the infirmary, Scott laid Preston down on the bed, his heart racing with worry. "Preston, please wake up. It's okay, I'm here."
Elara rushed in, concern etched on her face. "What happened?"
"Preston saw Gage and had a panic attack," Scott said, his voice tight with fear. "He's already weak and... fragile ...I don't know if he can handle this kind of stress."
Elara nodded. "We'll do everything we can to keep him safe, Scott. I promise."