Soren
Soren cursed as he felt a wave of despair and pain wash over him. His mate was in trouble, he wasn’t sure how he knew it, but he did. He didn’t waste any time, he turned and ran to the police station where he knew Baine was inside fighting for his sanity. As soon as he stepped inside, the feeling grew more intense as he was almost crushed under the overwhelming pain and despair.
“Where is he?” He barked at the young officer standing in the middle of the room gaping like a man who’d just seen a ghost.
The man glanced at him in shocked disbelief, “What….um…” He stammered as he returned his attention to the hallway in front of him.
Soren grunted, jumped the small swinging door that separated the front area from the back where the desks were and raced down the hall.
“Wait, you can’t.” The deputy half-heartedly called out as Soren raced past him.
He was almost there, he wasn’t sure how he knew it, but he did. His mate was just a few feet away now. He pushed his way around another deputy and a naked young man and saw him. “Move over, I’ve got him.”
He didn’t wait for Daegan to move, just pushed him out of the way and reached down to pick his trembling mate up from his balled-up position on the floor. “I’ve got you love, you’re safe now.”
Soren wasn’t even sure what he was saying as he continued to whisper to the man in his arms as he followed his Alpha’s mate back out into the main area, then into an office. Within a few steps, he felt his mate pass out. That was both a blessing and a curse. His mate was over the worst of it, but he’d still have to face waking again and his coworkers and their curious stares.
“What happened?”
Daegan shrugged sheepishly, “I’m not sure honestly. I sent him to release the kid from the cell. Next thing I know I’ve got a naked man-child running out screaming for help that some guy had collapsed.”
“Sherriff,” A voice called from the doorway startling both men. “If it helps I can tell you what happened from what I saw.”
Soren cocked one eyebrow at the kid. “Where are your clothes?”
“Here,” another deputy called as he stepped up behind the guy. “I grabbed them from the cell. Get dressed before you scare Deputy Jeffries any more than you already have.” The deputy let out a small laugh and looked up to Daegan, “I think we’ve lost him as a deputy now though. He’s beyond freaked out and asking lots of questions.”
Daegan groaned, “What do you mean.”
“He’s watching the tapes of the cells. He saw him shift and fly through the bars, shift back to human and run out the door to get you. He’s pale as a ghost, shaking and demanding to know how we set up this ruse so quickly. He’s kind of falling apart out there.”
“God damn it. I don’t need this right now. Call the doc and have him come over with a sedative to knock him out until we can deal with him. Send him in here after so he can check Baine out too.”
“You got it.”
Soren frowned, “What in the hell is going on here? Tell me everything that happened and put your damn clothes on. We’re in a public building, you don’t know who’s going to walk in that door and see you. And with your luck, it would be some hot chick your age.”
The boy blushed and quickly pulled his clothes on as he began to explain, “I don’t know what happened really. He walked in and just sort of froze. He fell back against the wall and began whimpering, his eyes were scanning the room, but I got the feeling he wasn’t seeing here you know. He covered his ears with his hands and cried out, begging for it to stop. I called out to him, but he didn’t seem to hear me. I shifted and ran out to get help. You know the rest.”
Soren sighed, as he pulled his mate tighter against his chest. He wasn’t sure, but it sounded like Baine had seen the cells and flashed back to his time as a captive. How had they not known he was struggling this much? Hadn’t anyone noticed he was suffering?
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Soren croaked in an anguished whisper as he continued to stare at the man in his arms.
“I had no idea. I mean I knew he was having trouble sleeping, nightmares and the such, but he never told me it was this bad. I didn’t know I swear I didn’t. He’s kept it hidden from all of us.”
“Is he going to be okay?” The kid asked, fear lacing each word.
“Thanks to you getting us, yes he will be. What’s your name and who’s your Alpha? I need to explain what happened with my deputy and set things right, but I need to deal with this first. Can you tell them I’ll be in contact shortly?”
“Yes, no problem. I’m Jaime, I’m with the Avian Pack. Will do and I’m sorry about your friend. I hope he’s okay.”
Soren half listened to the others as he focused all his attention on the man in his arms. He shouldn’t need him this much, but he feared now that he’d held him like this, he’d never be able to let go. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head. “I’m sorry, but this is for the best. Just know that I will always be close by doing everything I can to make sure you’re okay, love.”
“Soren, the doc’s here. Can you relax your grip so he can be examined? We need to make sure he’s okay.”
Soren sighed but nodded as he stood up and laid Baine down on the small loveseat he’d been sitting on. As soon as he let go, his mate whimpered and shifted as if searching for his arms again. Soren stepped back and glared at the two men standing there as his hands fisted at his sides.
The doc nodded sadly and stepped around him to examine his patient, “I know this is hard, but I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure he comes out of this quickly and safely. You have my word.”
Soren frowned but didn’t say anything. He knew he was being unreasonable, that his mate probably had just passed out from the episode or panic attack or whatever it’d been. It didn’t stop him from watching every move the doctor made, watching for anything that seemed like it was going to hurt or scare Baine. Nobody was going to hurt his mate while he was around to protect him.
“From what was explained to me it sounds like he had a flashback. The cells reminded him of the cage he was kept in. Until he works through it, I’d advise keeping him away from them. He’s asleep and will be fine, this is just his body’s way of helping him. DId he suffer from panic attacks prior to his kidnapping?”
Soren opened his mouth to reply but shrugged and glanced at Daegan. The truth was he didn’t know, he knew next to nothing about Baine’s past, nothing about who he was other than the stories he’d heard from Daegan. All he knew was that he was his mate and he’d die to protect him, even if meant never claiming him for himself. His gargoyle could push him all it wanted, but he was in control. They’d protect Baine, watch over him and stay hidden just as the Gargoyles that sat upon castles and buildings did.