Page 30 of Dominion

Zolla’s eyes immediately lowered submissively. He held out his hand. “Gimme the phone.”

Ben nodded to Ashley, who dug it out of her purse and handed it to him.

Zolla started scrolling through the screens. He was an omega because of his size. In human form, he stood at five-eight, tops, and while his body was all lean muscle, he was scrawny. As a wolf, he was the size of a canine, while most shifters stood at least half again as tall as an ordinary wolf. He freelanced as a computer programmer, and specialized in security, which made him an excellent hacker. He had set up the internal security software at Stone under Leon’s direction.

Ben didn’t know Zolla well, but he had a distinct memory of his brother praising him in front of the whole pack for removing the tracking devices from all their phones and providing other technology help to the pack. Leon had been good about signaling out individuals’ achievements, showing his appreciation where all could hear and see it.

A heavy stone sank in his gut as he realized he had done none of that since he’d taken over Leon’s company. No wonder the managers had lost interest in achievement. Had this been what Ashley had been trying to help him do by including people in meetings? Giving them buy-in and empowering them? He stabbed his fingers through his hair. God, he was awful at all of this. Having a dominant personality didn’t make him a decent leader. In fact, he’d been the worst kind. He’d been like his father—a dictator. Well, at least he hadn’t tried to lead the pack, or he would’ve run them into the ground, too.

“This phone was tappable and traceable,” Zolla announced.

“Yeah, I figured. Can you clean it up?”

“Not if you want me to be able to trace calls that come into it.”

“Oh, right. So can you? Trace incoming calls?”

“I can try, yes. Not from here, but from home,” he said, without looking up. “And it depends on if they’ve removed their location software.”

He exhaled. “Great, thanks.” Writing down the license number he’d memorized from the car in the parking lot, he slid the paper across to Zolla. “This is the license plate.”

Zolla nodded. “That will be easy to trace.”

“Thanks.”

Zolla looked at him speculatively. “So what happens to me if it’s Bruce, my new alpha, who’s trying to kill you?”

Ben’s eyebrows shot up. “Why would he want me dead?”

“Come on, Stone. A lone wolf who’s alpha material? Every pack leader around will be thinking you’re angling to steal his pack. Maybe it’s Stanley, have you thought of that?”

“It’s not Stanley. And I’m not interested in stealing any pack.”

“I know that, but what if Bruce thinks you are? What if I’m acting against him by helping you right now? Are you going to have my back?”

Ashley was listening intently. Zolla’s eyes went to her and Ben growled.

The omega dropped his eyes again. “You should really mark her if you’re that territorial.”

“Consider what you just said to me and tell me that’s a good idea,” he said.

Zolla looked thoughtful and then nodded. “I see.”

A wolf didn’t put his mate into danger, and Ben was a walking target. If he even set foot in Venezuela again, he had no doubt he’d be marked for death by Sandoval, the pack leader and drug tycoon who took down his father’s pack. And here in the States, someone had already ordered his death. Whether they were human or shifter didn’t matter. He wasn’t about to tangle Ashley in it any more than she already was.

“Well, we’re back to my original question, then,” Zolla said, levelling him as much of a challenging look as subordinate wolf would dare.

Ben blew out his breath. He didn’t want to be responsible for anyone. He could barely handle his own screwed-up life, and now he had Ashley to protect and deliver from evil, too. He definitely didn’t need anyone else on his tab. But what choice did he have?

“Yeah, I’ll protect you.”

Zolla grinned. “Pack of two, then.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You’re leaving your pack to follow me? You must be nuts.”

“Nah. I’ve always known you were my pack leader. I’ve just been waiting for you to come around.”

A strange sensation ran through Ben’s body—a shudder of something—recognition? Acceptance of his fate? He didn’t know. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “Thanks,” he said.