The Billionaire Wolves' Virgin Page 7

  He jumped up, then fell again as his knees buckled. Cole lunged, but Nathan tucked Tanya into a ball against his chest and rolled over, shielding her from the blow that Cole rained down on him. Gabriel snarled and threw himself between them again. He grasped Cole by the collar and used all his strength to drag him from the pantry.

  "You'll hurt Tanya!" he shouted. "The alpha's mate!"

  Cole tore himself free. He stood panting and snarling for a moment before he straightened and turned a baleful look on his son, who was now scrambling to his feet while keeping Tanya behind him. Blood poured down his face from a clearly broken nose and various bruises were rising on his skin. He snarled, but Tanya grabbed his arm and held him back.

  "You would attack your alpha, boy?" Cole growled, the black fur still covering him. "This is why you'd never make a halfway decent alpha. You never think, always leaping to violence as your first response… is it any wonder your mother didn't want you? You're the reason she left without a glance back."

  Tanya gasped. Nathan lunged. Gabriel caught him and threw him back before he could touch Cole. Pure pain radiated from the other wolf's eyes. Then his expression hardened and he tore out of the pantry. He shoved Cole aside and raced for the door. By the time Gabriel and Tanya were at the kitchen door, shreds of clothes were strewn everywhere and a howl echoed through the corridors.

  "Nathan!" Tanya cried, starting after him. She yelped as her leg buckled beneath her. Gabriel caught her.

  "You're hurt."

  "It's nothing."

  Her pant leg was torn open, blood dribbling down her calf. Gabriel picked her up. "It's not nothing. I told you to go to your room. You can't get in the middle of fighting wolves, you could have been killed."

  "Give her to me." Cole grabbed Tanya and yanked before Gabriel could protest. He released her, not wanting to hurt her further, and she yelped again. A look of pain crossed her face but she still pushed away from Cole.

  "Let me go, you big, ugly—"

  Cole growled, making her fall silent. "I protected you from Nathan. He was going to claim you even though he's not an alpha anymore."

  Tanya's jaw dropped, and Gabriel knew exactly how she felt. Nathan wasn't that kind of male. To have Cole come in here like this and upset everything… his hackles rose, though he forced himself not to show it. Attacking another alpha was never a good idea, especially when he was smaller and had less experience than Cole did. Alphas never stopped growing, and he could expect to be seven feet tall by the time he was old and gray.

  "Let go of me," Tanya repeated, kicking her legs. "Nathan was protecting me, and by the time I'm done with you, you'll be locked away forever. This is sexual harassment! Sexual assault!"

  "Assault?" Cole repeated. "I haven't even touched you yet. Trust me, when I do 'assault' you, you'll love every minute of it."

  That was too much for Gabriel. He snarled as he aimed a blow for the other alpha's face. Cole drew back just in time for Gabriel's fist to glance off his jaw, then held Tanya a little higher. His dark eyes glittered as he smiled at Gabriel.

  "It was just a joke, Gabe. No need to overreact."

  "Put me down," Tanya said. "You're a disgusting, vile man and I hate you."

  Cole rolled his eyes. "You're injured, little one. Let me carry you to the bathroom so I can bind your leg."

  Adrenaline pumped through Gabriel. He wanted to attack. He wanted to defend his mate, tear Cole apart. But he couldn't even punch again without risking hurting Tanya. His hands curled into fists and his mouth was so dry with anger that his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. Cole made to move past him, but he grabbed Tanya and spun away from the other alpha.

  "I will take care of her," he said, setting Tanya down on her feet in case she needed to run. She trembled against him and he once more had to fight the urge to attack. His wolf clawed at his chest, telling him to defend his mate, but the best way to protect her was to diffuse the situation. He could deal with Cole again later.

  The other alpha narrowed his eyes, but made a gesture with his hand as if saying 'go ahead'. "I have to convene the council anyway… my own son attacking me… This could be grounds for expulsion from the pack."

  "You—" Tanya lunged.

  Gabriel caught her around the waist. He hefted her over his shoulder and strode out as she spit and shouted curses at both him and Cole. Her hands pounded his back, causing him to wince a few times, but he didn't slow. He carried her to his room and lowered her onto the bed. She punched him in the jaw, her eyes blazing. He held out his hands as he stepped back.

  "I understand how you feel, but we have to stay calm," he said.

  "You stay calm!" Tanya shouted at him as she jumped to her feet. Her injured leg trembled but she didn't seem to notice. "I am going to go get Nathan back and then I'm going to call the cops and that man is going to jail! I can't believe this. Why are you still standing there? We need to find Nathan."

  Gabriel nodded but eased her back onto the bed. "I need to bandage your leg, and Nathan needs time to calm down. We all do. And I need to figure out how to stop Cole from pressing matters. If he gets the council involved—"

  "I don't see why you can't just kick him out of here. Seriously, Gabriel. He has no place being around us, and you heard him saying he was going to assault me."

  Gabriel snarled. Just the thought made him want to go back down and destroy the other alpha.

  "I don’t care if he thought it was a joke or not, I am scared that he won't take no for an answer." Tanya shivered, clutching her stomach. "Nathan was defending me. Cole was making all sorts of crude remarks and don't think I didn't notice that the other two women just mysteriously disappeared as soon as he arrived."

  Gabriel shook his head. "That's because Olivia wanted to stay with Grace. They're good friends. Grace swore that Cole never abused her in… that way, though. Nathan backed her up, so I don't think Cole would actually assault you. It doesn't mean I don't want to kill him anyway."

  "You can still kick him out."

  "I can't. Not without putting you in more danger."

  Tanya's eyes widened.

  With a sigh, Gabriel started to scrub away the blood on her leg with an alcohol wipe. It wasn't a particularly bad scrape but it was still oozing even though she was sitting. "Nathan and I agreed to share you for the two months for you to decide. The council wanted us to trade you from my house to his, but we agreed we didn't want that. If I kicked out Cole, they'd insist we still continue the trade-off. I'd have to give you to him for half the time and I wouldn't be there to protect you if he did… take things too far."

  Her skin paled and Gabriel almost found himself wishing that he hadn't said anything. The truth of the matter was she needed to know, though. And while he doubted that Cole would outright rape her, that didn't mean he wouldn't try other, underhanded means to make her choose him. Failing that, he could very well simply declare he wanted to fight for her.

  Tanya threw her arms around him and started to sob. "Isn't there anything we can do?"

  "I won't let him hurt you," Gabriel promised.

  He stroked Tanya's hair as she sobbed. A feeling of steely determination rose up in him. If Cole wasn't the alpha, he would have no claim on her. Gabriel swallowed. It was clear that Cole had abused his children in some way, though the extent of it, he didn't know. If he could convince Nathan and Grace to speak out against him, and Nathan challenge his right to be alpha… there might be a chance to restore him.

  And if I brought him on as co-alpha of my pack, we could fight together, Gabriel thought grimly. Together, they had a chance at taking down Cole.

  A wry smile spread over his face. When Tanya had suggested a three-way sleepover, he had been all in. But then the doubts and uncertainty had crowded in, and when she suggested that they all be alphas together, it had been unthinkable. Now, it seemed like the best option. He could work with Nathan, he knew that. Would Nathan work with him, though?

  "I'll talk with Nathan when he comes back," he pr
omised. "But for now, let me take care of that leg."

  Chapter Twelve

  Nathan

  Nathan waited in the circle of moonstones. After he had left the mansion, he had kept running until he was out of wolf territory altogether. He had stolen some clothing and wandered around the town, knowing that his father was going to convene a council over that attack. And it would be the excuse Cole needed to kick him out. It wouldn’t matter his reasons for doing it and he doubted that Tanya was going to even be there to speak.

  Thinking back, Cole had probably done what he had done knowing Nathan was there. He wanted his son to attack him. No doubt he was going to try to provoke Gabriel into attacking him as well, so he could use that to prove him 'unworthy' of being alpha and removing Tanya's choices from her. It made Nathan's blood boil, but it wasn't going to end that way. He knew what he had to do, he just had to make sure he acted quickly.

  A rust-colored wolf trotted into his view and Nathan frowned. "Gabriel. I didn’t expect to see you here."

  There was a cracking noise, like bones breaking, and Gabriel shifted. He frowned at Nathan. "I didn't expect to see you just giving up."

  "Where's Tanya?"

  "With Grace and Olivia. I need to talk to you."

  Nathan stared stonily at him.

  "Look, I don’t know everything you've been through. But if there is something that I've learned over these past few weeks… it's that you're not the asshole that I thought you were."

  A bitter chuckle worked its way up Nathan's throat. "That's a backhanded compliment if I ever heard one."

  Gabriel sat beside him. "I will back you if you want to challenge Cole's role as alpha. So will the council, if you tell them what he's done to you and Grace. Tanya—"

  "What do you know about what he did to me and Grace?" The hair on the back of Nathan's neck stood up. He had been closed-mouthed about everything. The worst of the abuse was always verbal, Cole always manipulating them. Then Nathan had found out that he was going to force Grace to mate with a rich pack member, Zander. When he confronted him about it, Cole had struck Grace.

  And in sheer rage, he had managed to drive Cole out. But, clearly, it hadn't been enough to free them forever.

  "I don't know the specifics, but I can guess," Gabriel said, his voice low. "Tanya wants to testify against Cole for his behavior towards her. And maybe it's not ideal, but if you and I stand together as alphas—"

  "I'm not an alpha," Nathan interrupted. He turned away. "And if Tanya says anything against Cole, he'll manipulate her words. He'll convince the council that she just misunderstood because she's not a wolf. He might even make them insist that she spend time alone with him, claim that I've tainted her impression of him."

  "The council would never do that."

  Nathan sighed. "No, you're right. The council wouldn't. Certain council members would, though. Your job is to protect Tanya, and you have to do that."

  A shadow crossed Gabriel's face. He gripped Nathan's shoulder, his gaze intense and fiery. "Nathan, I need you to answer this honestly. Did he ever molest you or Grace? Would he do that to Tanya?"

  The question had Nathan's jaw hanging loose. Not the question about whether he would force his attentions on Tanya, but if he would molest his own children. Yes, Cole was a vile man, emotionally and mentally abusive, he would have traded away his daughter for money, but if there was one thing he never would do, it was that. He shook his head and relief passed over Gabriel's face.

  "That doesn't mean you should leave her alone with him," Nathan warned. "My father is a master manipulator. Once he figures her out, he'll guilt her, wheedle her, anything he needs to get what he wants. Don't let him do that to her."

  "You can help. If you challenge him—"

  Nathan shook his head. "I'm no alpha. I can't take care of my pack, I can't resolve disputes, I can't meditate arguments."

  "I can," Gabriel interrupted. "I can do all that. But you know what I can't do? Figure out how to balance a budget without hurting the people who need funds most. You can. You've taken your pack out of poverty and made it rich. Tanya was right. You and I complement each other."

  It was true at that. Nathan couldn't help but smile. He even chuckled. "And if Cole hadn't come back, I'm sure she would have convinced us to give it a try… and I think it would have worked out wonderfully. We do complement each other, and not just when pleasing a woman. But it's not going to happen."

  There was rustling in the bushes and Nathan stood, expecting the council and his fate, but instead, three women burst through the trees. Nathan jumped as Grace, Olivia and Tanya all stumbled into the clearing. His brows arched, but he didn't comment. Grace's face was streaked with tears, and he held his arms out to her.

  "What are you doing here?" Gabriel asked, looking between the women. "I told you I'd call if—"

  "Brother, dear, if you really thought we'd stay behind, you don't know us," Olivia interrupted. "This is more than about you two, we're all affected."

  Grace wrapped her arms around Nathan while Tanya stood to one side, twisting her hands and looking anxious. Nathan held his sister tight, heart clenching. He hated hearing the sobs that shook her body, but it was all going to be fine. He would make sure of that. It wasn't possible to comfort her right now, though. Nobody could know his plan.

  "I'm going to tell them everything," Grace said, her voice muffled. "They won't let him be alpha if they know what he did. He tried to sell me off, and—"

  "Grace, I know that you want to protect me." Nathan wiped the tears from her eyes. "I wish it would help. But you know as well as I that it won't. Zander is on the council now. He'll deny everything and it will just look like you're trying to get me to be alpha."

  "This is ridiculous," Tanya whispered. "This isn't the dark ages… when the three of us are mated and alphas, things are going to change. You can't just go around selling daughters into marriage, that's completely illegal. Things are going to change."

  Nathan noted that she said the three of them, but didn't comment on it. Howls sounded in the forest, indicating that the council was coming. He stepped away from Grace, knowing that he was going to be exiled soon. But in the end, it wouldn't make a difference.

  He turned to Olivia. "I'm sorry."

  She chewed on her lip.

  "I should never have treated you the way I did. And I'm sorry that you didn't feel like you could tell me about the baby… and I'm sorry you lost it."

  Olivia shifted from side to side, clearly uncomfortable. She stuck her hands in her pockets and shrugged, her gaze on the ground. "You don't have to go on like that. It's like you think you're going to die or something."

  Tanya let out a wail, and Gabriel quickly pulled her into his arms, assuring her that it wouldn't end like that. Oh, if only he knew. Nathan gently pulled her away and clasped his hands on her hips. Tears streamed down her face and he found himself smiling. Who would have thought that one day he'd have a woman who believed in him, who wanted him just the way he was? He brushed his lips against hers.

  "What are you smiling about?" she demanded, scrubbing her palms over her eyes.

  "You're crying over me. I always knew that you'd pick me over Gabriel, but you care about me."

  "Of course I do!"

  The smile dropped and he kissed her again, this time more deeply. His eyes drifted shut as he teased her mouth open. For the first time, he doubted himself, but he pushed those doubts away. Breaking the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers.

  "I wish I could stay with you… but I know that you'll only have the best in your future with Gabriel."

  "But I don't want Gabriel." She pulled back, tears increasing as they flowed down her cheeks.

  Nathan's brows disappeared into his hairline.

  "I mean, yes I want Gabriel. I do want you." She looked over to the wolf in question and he nodded to acknowledge he understood. "But I want you, too. The three of us work so well together. We could be the best. I know it's unorthodox, but the council c
an just get the sticks out of their butts. The three of us can be alphas together. Please, Nathan. You're not in this alone, you have us."

  "It's true," Gabriel added. "I didn't think I would ever say this, but the three of us would work."

  "You're only saying that because you know that she wants me more than you." Nathan gave them both his most arrogant smile before stepping away. He shook his head while Olivia gently rubbed Grace's arms. His sister was a complete wreck, and his doubts twisted tighter. Would it be better if he stayed with them?

  But he was doing this for them.

  "It wouldn't work," he said. "Eventually I'd get bored, and then where would we be? I'm not like Gabriel, Tanya. He's dependable and stable. I only care about myself."

  The bushes shook as the council exited the trees. A few of them sniffed in Tanya's direction, but most of them ignored the group already gathered as they took their spots. This was it. It would all be over soon. Nathan went to step to his place as the wolf on trial, but hesitated. He needed one more kiss to bolster himself… he grabbed Tanya and pulled her flush against him. A scorching kiss passed between each other and he moved to her neck, hungrily tasting her skin.

  "I hope you're pregnant with my child," he whispered in her ear, and then pulled away. He didn't look at her as he took his spot.

  The council all shifted back to their human forms and he saw no sympathetic faces. If it was up to this lot, he never would have been alpha in the first place. It had been fortunate for him that the role of alpha was largely dependent on inheritance and pack opinion. The pack loved him, but it wouldn't be enough to save him in this case. Not when he attacked the 'rightful' alpha. But no matter. This farce of a trial would be over soon and he'd be able to concentrate on what he had to do to protect his sister, his pack, and his mate from Cole.

  Cole himself stepped from the trees. He nodded respectfully at the gathered council, then greeted Gabriel and the others as though it wasn't unusual to see them there. He stopped in front of the council and viewed them all.

  "I'm going to make this short, because we all don't want this unpleasantness to linger."