“I’m Robbie, a lone wolf. I’ve always wanted to be. I like traveling, seeing the world, but after all this, I think I’m ready to settle. I think it’s time to have somewhere to call home.” He closed his eyes, his body shaking. When he opened them, he asked, “You have Jed? Is he okay?”
“Jed is your friend?” Deacon asked.
“Yes. I haven’t seen him since they took him earlier.” He closed his eyes again, his breathing shaky. “I thought they were going to kill him.”
“He’s on his way to our hospital,” Viridian said. They’d communicated via telepathy, so he’d received the update. “He’s not critical, but his treatment will take some time. He has several wounds that will need watching.”
The man nodded. “That’s good.” He coughed and slumped forward, Deacon catching him before he hit the floor. “She’s a fighter,” he whispered. “Gave them hell. Sky. She kept screaming it at them when they referred to her by her number. They moved her. Came in suddenly, darted her, then dragged her out.” He looked up into Deacon’s eyes. “They were planning on killing us. Tomorrow, I think. I don’t think they were expecting you to come today.”
Deacon growled. “But they were expecting us.”
The man nodded. “Yeah, they knew. Someone had to have told them.”
“Get him to the hospital, Deacon.” Indigo stared at the shifter and touched his shoulder. “Let him recover and we’ll talk to him again.”
Deacon bent and picked the man up. He nodded to them all and left the room, the shifter cradled in his arms. Cyan walked over and kicked the chair. A traitor. Someone was betraying them. Human or shifter? Both lived in their town. Who would do this to them? Who could let their own kind be tortured and murdered? How much money was he or she getting?
“A fucking traitor,” he muttered harshly, a growl under his words.
“We’ll find them. We’ll leave no stone unturned.” Teal sighed. “I can’t fucking believe it.” He shook his head and glanced over at the doorway when Sapphire, their other sister, stepped in.
“We’re on our way now. All have been treated the best we can from here.” Her eyes scanned the room. “I can’t believe we missed her.”
“We’ll get her back.”
“We will, Indy.” She nodded. “We don’t leave our own behind.”
“Let’s go. We’ve got everything we’re gonna get. Teal?” Viridian looked over at him.
Teal nodded. “I’ll burn this place to the ground. There will be nothing left for them to find.”
Cyan walked out and into the night. They would find her. He would never stop searching until he had brought her home.
He continued walking, even after the scent of fuel hit the air, followed by the explosion as Teal finished his job. They would bring Sky home one way or another, and those who had her had better run, because when Cyan got hold of them, they would all die.
Chapter Five
Alex stepped back, wiping his eyes, and stared at the woman who’d held him as he’d cried. “Who are you again?”
“I’m the woman who is taking you out. After you have freshened yourself up, Alex.” She gave him another pointed stare. Wow, the power that woman had in a single look.
Alex did what she wanted and thirty minutes later stood outside the apartment building. His body shook, his breath stuttered, and he swallowed hard. He hadn’t stepped outside once since he’d arrived from the hospital, and now, here he was, about to go into town. Anna took one look at him and looped her arm through his.
“I’m right here, Alex. I’ll be with you every step of the way,” she murmured to him.
She walked toward the center of town, practically dragging Alex along behind her. By the time they made it, Alex was drenched in sweat and shaking uncontrollably. Anna pulled him into Sam’s Coffee Shop and ordered for both of them before sitting them down on the sofa by the open fire.
“So, Alex. How are you finding Salutem?”
He had no idea, and he knew Anna was aware he hadn’t left the apartment. He’d had no plans to until Anna had arrived. “Okay.” He shrugged and stared at the fire, watching the flames flicker.
“Yes, I suppose the view from your apartment is okay, isn’t it?” Anna mused then straightened in her seat. “Now, I’m going to show you around town, so you know where the shops are and won’t feel the need to be stuck in that apartment all the time.”
Alex furrowed his brow and glared at her. “Are you watching me?”
She raised an eyebrow and thanked the man who brought their drinks over. “We take care of our own, and while you are here, you are one of us.”
Alex shook his head. He wasn’t one of them. He never would be. “I’m human.”
“So? What difference does that make?” Anna tilted her head, waiting for him to answer.
Alex shook his head again and sighed in frustration. “I just don’t understand.” He didn’t understand anyone in this town. From the people who’d rescued him, to the people he’d met in the hospital.
“Alex, sweetheart. You went through an experience I can’t even begin to imagine. You’re here to recover, and that’s what we want too. There is no rush for you to leave, take as much time as you need, but remember, we’re here for you.” She glanced away, then muttered, “At least I can help you.”
“What do you mean?”
Anna pursed her lips. “You know what we are...” Alex nodded. “Well sadly, so do others.”
“Has something happened?”
“My daughter Sky is missing. Taken from us because of what she is, but we’ll find her and bring her home.”
“I’m so sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say. What did you say to someone whose child was missing?
“Thank you, but I didn’t tell you for you to feel sorry for me. I told you to let you know I understand in some small way what it’s like to have something happen to you that’s out of your control. She’s my baby, my beautiful girl, and I couldn’t protect her.”
Anna looked down and quickly wiped her eyes. Alex reached out and awkwardly touched her hand before snatching his own back. She smiled at him and patted his hand in return
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
Anna sighed. “My family will find her. My mate and my sons. They won’t rest until she’s brought home to us. We have help too. It’s times like this you realize you have an entire town willing to drop everything to help you. That’s the one thing I love about Salutem. We have a strong sense of community, and helping each other comes naturally to us. We’re all cats of one form or another: tigers, lions, cougars to name but a few.”
“Why did you all come here?”
“We were being hunted by those who knew of our existence, knew what we are. We were dying out, unprotected in the harsh world outside of town, so we chose to leave and hide from humans, in order to save our species. The vampires are out, and look what some of them still face today.”
“More so after the world found out about the blood slaves they’d kept hidden.”
“Yes, true, but Jacques is a lovely young man. He’ll lead them in the right direction.”
Alex’s eyes widened in surprise. “You believe that? He’s a vampire too.”
“Oh, I do, Alex. When he and his mate came here, they stayed with us for a while. He’s suffered, just like you. He was adamant you would all be free when they went to stop the king. He wasn’t leaving any of you behind.”
“He came to visit me,” Alex admitted in a small voice.
“He’s that kind of man. He wanted to make sure all of you were being cared for.”
“He seemed nice, kind.”
Anna smiled. “It’s hard to find yourself liking one of the species that did what they did to you, isn’t it?”
Alex nodded. “I don’t want to like him, but he understands what we’re going through.”
“He still sees a therapist. I know Miguel, his mate, waits outside for him. Well, when he’s not off with Rescue, Inc. Then Troy or
Sacha will come home to go with him.”
“Troy? Sacha?” He vaguely remembered hearing the name Troy but struggled to remember the details.
“Ah, wasn’t sure if you remembered it all. Troy’s grandfather, a vampire named Graham, decided he wanted Troy to leave his human father and live with him. Graham forced Troy to go to his mansion, and it was there that he discovered the slaves. Jacques was one of those slaves. Troy was mated to a human named Ale and was able to tell him what was happening. Troy’s father, Silas, who is also the local sheriff, arrived, and that was how they discovered what the vampires were up to.”
“Miguel was there too,” Alex whispered, remembering.
“Yes, he was and when he found out he was Jacques’ mate, he did everything he could to help him. I know they have easy days and hard days, but they weather the storm because they love each other.”
“I saw.” He remembered the looks they’d shared, the gentleness Miguel used. He’d heard about Jacques and his mate but their closeness became more apparent after Jacques had been to visit him and the others at the hospital. Alex had looked out of the hospital window one time and saw Miguel holding his mate as Jacques cried in his arms.
“You’ll have that too.”
Alex vigorously shook his head. “No, never. I’m never letting any man touch me again.”
Anna appeared taken aback by the hardness in Alex’s voice. “Alex, son, think—”
“No, Anna, I can’t. Don’t push me on this. Please,” he begged in a quiet voice. “I can’t.”
Anna slowly nodded. “I’ll drop it, but only if you see the therapist. I know she lives in the apartment building with you.”
Alex bit his lip and nodded, then sighed as he remembered what Viridian had told him about lies. “I can’t promise, but I’ll try.”
The door to the shop opened, and the most gorgeous man Alex had ever seen walked in. Alex couldn’t help but stare as the man gave Sam behind the counter an easy smile. When Sam pointed over toward them, Alex shrank back in his seat.
Anna patted his hand and stood when the man reached them. “Cyan, love.”
“Mom.”
Cyan leaned over and gave Anna a hug. “Have you slept?”
Cyan rolled his eyes but smiled at her. “Yeah, Mom, I have.”
Cyan’s blue eyes caught Alex’s, and Alex’s breath stuttered in his chest. He looked down at his hands, watching them tighten. He glanced up to see Cyan watching him, and he looked away again.
“Cyan, this is Alex. Alex, this is my son—well one of four—Cyan.”
Alex mumbled, “Hi,” but didn’t look up.
“Mom. Got a minute?”
Alex watched Cyan take a few steps away, and Anna followed. They spoke a few words before Cyan’s face fell, and he slowly nodded. He waved at Alex as he left the shop, catching his eye as he walked past. Alex’s breath caught in his throat as he struggled to break the hold the man’s eyes seemed to have over him.
When Cyan was finally out of sight, Alex bit his lip, and Anna smiled at him. “That’s Cyan.”
“Yeah.”
“He’s just come back from searching for Sky.”
“He didn’t find her?”
Anna shook her head, and Alex could see the unshed tears that glittered in her eyes. Impulsively, he reached out and squeezed her hand. “They’ll find her.”
Her chin wobbled, but he nodded. “They won’t give up on her.”
“No, they won’t.”
Alex held her hand but looked away, giving Anna the time she needed to compose herself. He wanted to find something to say, something that would help her, but he came up empty. He was a mess, inside and out. Maybe he should speak to someone. Maybe he could try speaking to the therapist.
❊❊❊
Cyan stared at the beautiful man sitting with his mom and groaned at the sweet aroma coming from him. His scent tugged at him, and he knew, at last, he was staring into the eyes of his mate.
He nodded at his mom, and she got up and walked over to him where he stood at the counter. “Cyan.”
His eyes automatically focused on his mate. “Who is he?”
“I just told you who he is.”
He glanced at Anna then back at Alex again. “Mom, please.”
She furrowed her brow. “Don’t go sniffing around him, boy.”
“Mom, please. Just tell me who he is?”
“Tell me why first?”
Cyan watched the young man, watching them with a fearful look on his face, one that Cyan wanted to wipe away. “He’s my mate,” he whispered.
“Oh, Cyan,” Anna muttered.
Cyan broke eye contact with Alex and stared at Anna. “What, Mom?”
“I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “He won’t be able to give you what you want.”
It was then it dawned on Cyan who the young man was. “Oh god. He’s one of the slaves we rescued, isn’t he?” He glanced over at him again and noticed the scars on his neck that Alex had tried to hide.
Anna reached out and touched his arm. “It will be a long, difficult road, Cyan.”
“He’s my mate. I can’t walk away now I know he exists.” No, he couldn’t, but he would find a way to help him in any way he could.
“I know, but you need to know the truth, know what you are dealing with.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He needed to think, work out how he was going to approach his mate. “I’m going to head home. I’ll see you later.”
Anna kissed his cheek. “Give him time.”
Cyan left the coffee shop and reached out to Teal. You home?
Yeah. You heading over?
We need to talk. See you soon.
It took him ten minutes to get home, and by the time he walked in, Viridian had arrived. Both Teal and Vir looked at him, and Cyan sighed.
“I met my mate today.”
Teal whooped, but Vir asked, “What’s the problem.”
Cyan shook his head, sighing heavily. “It’s Alex, the human you took home from the hospital last month.”
Teal’s grin fell from his face. “Ah shit, Cy.”
“Yeah.”
Cyan dropped on the sofa and closed his eyes. He felt it dip on either side of him as Vir gripped his shoulder.
“We’ll get you through this. You know we’ll all be here for you.” And that was why Cyan had the best family. Even though Alex was his mate, his family would be there to help them both.
“Thanks, Vir. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I want to go over there and take care of him, but he doesn’t even know me. Can you even imagine how he’ll respond when he finds out we’re mates?”
Teal winced. “Not good. He’s been through hell. We’ve all seen the scars the slaves have.”
“And then some,” Vir added. “He has the therapist on site. He can talk to her whenever he wants. We need to show him he has friends and support. That he isn’t alone, but we need to approach this carefully. We don’t want to scare him more than he already is.”
“Is that why Mom was there?”
“He hasn’t left the apartment since I dropped him off. She said he needed to get out, get back into the real world, instead of being trapped in another set of walls.”
Cyan gave Vir a small smile. “They were in Sam’s.”
Vir nodded. “That’s good. He’s finally gone outside. That first step is always the hardest. I think he should meet us all but one on one at first. Let him get used to us.”
“I don’t want to scare him.”
“Vir’s right.” Teal leaned forward with his arms on his thighs. “He needs to get used to meeting people and not being afraid, and who better than his mate’s family. We’ll all support him. One at a time.” Cyan nodded in agreement. More than one person at a time could very well overwhelm Alex
“You first,” Vir muttered. “Let him get used to you. He’s your mate so he’ll feel the connection. He might not understand it, but he’ll feel it, and hopefully, over time he’ll feel safe around you.
”
“He needs to speak to the therapist.” Teal stood and stretched. “I’m going to bed.”
“Didn’t you sleep when we got back?”
“No, I had to go to Sterling’s Farm.”
“Go to bed, Teal.” Viridian stood and yawned. “Shit. I won’t be far behind, but I need to go to Indy’s and look at that cost sheet.”
“He still wants to go ahead with the new wing for the hospital?”
“Yeah. The work we did with Rescue, Inc. and our investigation has pushed his plans forward. We need it anyway. The town is getting larger as more shifters move here and with Deacon’s village expanding as well, we need the space.”
“Deacon taking those two lone wolf shifters?”
“He will when they’re released from the hospital. He’s getting a place ready for them now. He’s looking to expand too, so more work for Crocker’s Construction. Right, I’ll come over later with Indy, and we can go through everything Hunter could pull from the lab.”
Viridian left, and Teal waved before heading to his bedroom. Cyan watched his twin leave and sank back on the sofa. He had a mate. A beautiful but damaged mate, and Cyan needed to step up and be the best mate possible. Sighing, Cyan closed his eyes and thought of his Alex, falling asleep with his image on his mind.
Chapter Six
Cyan stretched from side to side, wincing as his back pulled. That’s what he got for falling asleep on the sofa. He stood, staring at the coffee in his hand, and then looked up toward the ceiling as he heard Teal moving around. Knowing his brother and the lack of sleep he’d had, he would need a large coffee by the time he came downstairs.
Teal staggered into the kitchen and mumbled thanks when Cyan handed him a cup of coffee. Cyan chuckled when Teal walked into the table and grunted.
“Who put the table there?”
Cyan grinned. “We did when we moved in.”
“Huh.” Teal stared at the table for several more seconds then drained his coffee and held his cup out to Cyan. “More.”
What He Needs (Salutem Book 1) Page 3