Baine
He was having a great time with everyone, but he knew he wasn’t going to last much longer. Cade and Slate were hysterical, easygoing and were going to be great friends. He was glad he’d gotten to know them better, but the events of the day were taking their toll. His brain was finally shutting down, the demons were subdued for now at least. He was just opening his mouth to let them know he was ready to leave when Pixie the cafe owner stopped beside him.
“What’s this?”
“It’s for you.” She said simply as she placed the plate and cup down in front of him with a wide smile.
“I didn’t order anything.” Baine said as he looked between his two companions. They both shook their heads in the negative. “Where did this come from?”
“Soren.”
Baine glanced up at her in shock, “He’s here?” He asked as he scanned the tables and street outside for anyone he didn’t know.
“He said to tell you that you looked like you could use the pick me up with your hard day and that it’s comfort food so to take it and enjoy.”
“Where is he?”
Pixie glanced over her shoulder before replying, “He’s closer than you think. But between you and I, he’ll run if you try to find him.”
Baine scowled at her as he attempted to understand her words. He’d done nothing to the man, why would he hide from him. “I don’t understand.”
Slate shrugged, “Who knows. He’s a good guy though so I’m sure he doesn’t mean anything by it. Just accept the offering and enjoy it. He’s obviously watching over you and from what I’ve heard he’s been doing that since the day they rescued you.”
“What do you mean?” He asked slowly as he took a bite of the most delicious cake he’d ever eaten.
“He was the one that carried you out and flew with you back here. He sat with you for days on end, while you were unconscious. He refused to leave your side, didn’t you know that?” Cade answered in surprise. “It was the talk of the pack for weeks afterwards.”
“No one told me. I’ve never met him. He always seems to be around when something happens, but he disappears just as quick. I’ve been joking that he’s a figment of the towns imagination and they are pulling a prank on me.”
Slate laughed, “No, he’s very much real. He’s second in command of the pack, how can you possibly have not seen him in all this time?”
“Wait, I’ve got a picture. He hates them being taken, but I was able to snap one when he wasn’t paying attention. He’d probably kill me for this, but it was too precious to let slip by. I’d planned on sending it to Sypher and forgot.” Cade pulled out his phone and began scrolling through it before turning it so he could see.
Baine sucked a breath in as he saw a profile picture of the most gorgeous man he’d ever seen in his life. He was perfection wrapped up in everything he’d ever wanted. Soren was squatting down with a little girl of about three on his knee. She was laughing as Soren held a small puppy in his other arm. The three of them were so happy, so full of life. He pulled the phone closer to study the man’s features as much as he could with his face turned towards the girl. “No wonder the town loves him.” He whispered.
“He’s generous to a fault but hates if anyone tries to give him credit or thank him for anything he does. He practically has an animal rescue behind his cabin. Any animal in a hundred-mile radius either finds their way to him or is brought to him to be rehabilitated, healed and loved. Works on kids too, as you can see by that little one on his lap. She’s a member of the feline pack, and every chance she gets she's in his arms.”
“Cade, did you hear she announced to her parents she was going to marry him one day. I've never seen Soren blush as much as he did.” Slate interjected.
“How come I’ve never met him, I don’t understand why he would avoid me.”
Neither man said a word, they both shrugged and averted their eyes from his. He could tell they knew something, but for some reason they refused to share it with him. He narrowed his eyes, fine he wasn’t a cop for nothing. He knew how to get people to share things they didn’t want to. “He’s the pack Beta, you said, right? He seems young, for that position. Has he been here a long time?”
The two men shared a glance before shrugging. Cade licked his lips, “From what I’ve heard he was one of the first ones to join. He’s kind of reclusive and doesn’t really talk about his past before he came here.”
“Hell,” Slate chuckled, “I’ve been here for more years then I can recall and I’ve never even been inside his place. I don’t think anyone but Sypher has.”
“He’s not mated then?”
The men shared a look again, this time Baine could see the apprehension on their faces as they tried to figure out how to respond. It was an odd reaction for such a simple question. Either he had a mate or he didn’t.
“It’s not that simple.” Cade began at the same time Slate said “Yes and no.”
Baine arched one eyebrow, “How is it yes and no? Did his mate die or something? I’ve never heard of a mate leaving but I guess anything could be possible.”
“Honey, what these two idiots are trying to say.” Pixie said as she stopped beside their table to grab his empty plate and cup, “is that he’s met his mate, but he hasn’t claimed them yet.”
“Why in the hell would someone not claim their mate. That’s insane, I’ve searched my whole life for mine. That makes no sense, I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous before in my life. How come Sypher or Gerri hasn’t knocked some sense into him. Doesn’t he realize that he’s not only hurting himself but his mate too?”
PIxie winked, “Exactly, but you men are not always the most reasonable when you get some fucked up idea in your head that you’re doing what’s best for somebody. Now you three get out of here, it’s closing time and I got better things to do then sit here.”
Baine followed his two new friends outside absently as he thought over all he’d just learned. How could someone be so selfish like that? What good reason could he have to renounce his mate and leave them both to suffer. He could only hope that whoever Soren’s mate was, the poor person didn’t know their mate was so close and rejecting them.