Baine
When Daegan had asked him to come to the main house after he’d returned from dinner he’d never expected this. He’d only been talking to his best friend through their pack link, he’d been telling him about Soren sending over the cake and hot chocolate. He was just trying to understand why the man was looking out for him but refused to actually introduce himself.
“I’m not sure it’s my place to say anything,” Deagan said with a sigh.
“It’s not like I can ask him, he refuses to come near me unless I’m unconscious. I can’t talk to him through the pack link either since we’ve never met really. I mean I can sense him in a way, like a shadow off to the side, but I can’t connect to him. Does that make sense?”
“I’m new to all this, how would I know. You’re the one who’s been a shifter all your life. Haven’t you experienced that before?”
“That’s just it, never has this happened before. It’s weird, it’s like he’s being shielded from me for some reason and I just don’t understand how or why. Can he do that? Can he hide even in my head like that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe that would be a question for Sypher.”
“But the more important thing is why is he hiding from me there too? Have I done something to offend him or hurt him? Cade and Slate said that he has a mate, but that he won’t claim them, right?”
“Yes,” Daegan replied cautiously, “That’s true.”
“Do you know who his mate is, then?”
“Yes, I do. Most everyone does at this point. Everyone but his mate that is.”
“I don’t understand any of this. Everyone raves about this guy and how awesome he is, but he’s hiding from me and his mate. If he’s so great why is he hiding from the two of us?”
“Uh…”
All of a sudden it hit him as he listened to the silence from his friend. Soren was hiding from only him and his mate. The whole town knew who Soren’s mate was, and knew the man existed. Everyone but him that was.
“Daegan, damn it. He’s only hiding from me, isn’t he? There’s no one else is there? He’s my mate. That’s why he’s always around when I need help and doing things for me, like tonight with the cake.”
“Where are you?” Daegan asked in his head.
“Just got back and heading home, why?”
“Come up to the main house. We need to talk.”
Ten minutes later he’d walked in to find Daegan sitting alone in the living room chewing his lip in thought. “Hey, so you ready to answer my question or at least confirm what I already suspect.”
“We only have a minute. Sypher went to meet Soren and bring him back here. Yes, you’re his mate. He’s known since the moment he saw you in the cages, but he’s refused to claim you. I don’t know why that’s what Sypher is bringing him up here to find out. He was in the cafe with you earlier watching over you and threatened Cade and Slate. Sypher can’t let that stand, so we have to get this sorted out. I know this is a bit dirty and wrong, but I think you should be here to hear it. Just stay in the hallway and he won’t be able to see you. You can hear everything and we’re hoping it’ll help you to understand and get the big oaf to give in.”
Now here he stood, cowering behind a wall listening to his mate, his beautiful kind-hearted mate tells a story of utter betrayal and destruction. His heart hurt from the words and from the guilt of listening in to what should be a private conversation. But the more he heard the more he understood why Sypher and Daegan had set this up. There was no way Soren would give in and claim him. It was going to be up to Baine to claim his mate instead. He had the perfect way to do it too. The poor man wasn’t going to know what hit him but come hell or high water they were going to be together and happy, even if it killed them.
Now he just had to get some help from his friends and sneak out without Soren hearing him. He didn’t want his mate to know he knew yet, but one thing was for sure he couldn't wait to lay eyes on the man, in person for the first time.
***
It’d taken a full day to get everyone to meet him and not arouse suspicion from Soren. It was now or never, Baine looked between the group gathered and smiled. Gerri, Sypher, Daegan, Cade, and Slate sat looking at him waiting for an explanation of why he’d asked them to meet him in secret. This was going to be fun. “So, it’s come to my attention that you all knew that Soren’s my mate. It took me a bit but I finally figured it out. Now, I want you to help me force him to meet me, face to face.”
“It’s not like we were hiding it from you, per se.” Slate said slowly, “It’s just that it wasn’t our place to tell you.”
“Yeah,” Cade added, “besides I’d just met you last night. I’m more curious as to why Gerri set up that dinner for us to meet.”
“To force Soren too step up and claim his mate. You guys didn’t see him at the cafe hiding, watching you guys, but I did. He was jealous as hell, I knew no matter what he proclaimed if he saw other people around his mate even if it was platonic he’d make a move. Not that he knew it was platonic of course, what fun would that have been.” Gerri explained. “I knew the day I met him that you two were meant to be together, he’s been hiding for the last few months, love won’t be denied. I needed to come back and meet a few more people so I figured I could kill two birds with one stone.”
“Wait, does that mean you’re matching us next?” Slate interjected in wide-eyed terror. “Cause I’ve heard of the things you do and no offense but I’m scared shitless.”
“What do you want us to do?” Sypher asked with a laugh, “I for one am excited to help out. I want you both to be happy, you both deserve it. I know you’ll be good for him and we’ve already seen he’ll be good to you.”
“The only time he comes around is when I need him, usually when I’m incapacitated. I want to set it up so that he comes to my rescue, but this time I’ll be faking.” Baine bit his lip and glanced between them trying to gauge their reactions. “What do you think?”
Daegan nodded, “I think he’ll be pissed off, but I think it may be the easiest solution.” He paused, bit his lip in thought, “Aren’t you mad at him for keeping this from you?”
Baine let out a bitter laugh, “Yes and no, but I can’t work that out with him if I can’t even get the guy to be in the same room with me when I’m lucid. Hell, I only know he’s my mate because of you guys. My animal hasn’t figured it out, which is odd considering I’ve been in his arms technically.”
“Every time has been a result of some traumatic event that has left you unconscious. One would assume your animal would be out too.” Gerri replied, “You are connected, what you go through, it goes through. Your animal would suffer the same effects as you.”
“So,” Slate said slowly, drawing the word out until he had everyone’s attention again. “How are we doing this and where is he, anyway?”
“Checking out some kids he got a lead on. He went yesterday but they’d already disappeared. He got a call this morning and headed up at first light. If all goes well he’ll be back soon with them.” Sypher explained.
Baine frowned in confusion, “Kids?”
“It’s how the Phoenix pack came into existence basically,” Daegan said with a nod towards Sypher. “Over the years he found shifters who needed a safe place, be it here in his pack or with others of their kind.”
Sypher nodded, “That’s the simple explanation. Now, most of the packs keep an eye out and let us know when they hear or see someone in need. We just got word of a couple kids that have been hiding out. No one's been able to get close enough to them to discover what shifter type they are.”
“And you’re sure they are shifters?” Cade asked, “If they can’t get close, how do they know they aren’t just humans?”
“Does it matter if they are or not?” Gerri huffed in annoyance. “They are kids, alone and scared, they need help. That’s what matters.”
Sypher shrugged, “She’s right. Either way, we’ll do what we can to help them and find them a safe place. But back to your trap. How do you want to do this?”