Chasing Seth

by Loveless, J. R.

  The current tore Drakson away from Kasey, and Kasey flung his body at an outcropping of rocks to stop his momentum, scrabbling with his paws to hold on. He watched Drakson being swept further away until a huge log slammed into Drakson, knocking him unconscious and dragging him beneath the water. Nick had managed to shift and clung to a boulder in the center of the ravine. “Kasey!” Nick shouted. “Seth’s still in the cage!”

  Horror flooded Kasey as he realized how helpless his mate was and how the cave must be almost entirely under water. Seth would drown! Kasey shifted, knowing he had more control as a human than as a wolf, and struggled toward the cave entrance. They had been swept a couple hundred yards down from it.

  His muscles were screaming by the time he reached it. He could just make out Seth’s face pressed against the bars at the top of the cage as he tried to keep his head above water. “Seth!”

  The water completely covered the cage, and Kasey let out a shout of denial as he dove beneath the swirling liquid. Seth yanked in vain against the bars, his strength still sapped from whatever Drakson had used on him.

  Kasey grabbed at the door of the cage and pulled as hard as he could, but the door wouldn’t budge. He swam to the bottom of the cave, searching for something to use on the overly large metal padlock. His hand grazed over a large, sharp rock, and he grasped it gratefully, pushing back to the surface of the water to breathe in. He dove beneath the water again.

  Seth was beginning to run out of air; his eyes were almost wild with the knowledge. Kasey beckoned Seth to the front of the cage, where he pulled his mate’s face to the bars, pressing his lips to Seth. He blew into Seth’s mouth for a moment before kicking back to the surface for more.

  Gasping, he broke the surface and dove under, gripping the rock tighter. He smashed at the padlock again and again, pulling on it at the same time, his arms straining to break the thick metal.

  He saw Seth pointing at the surface, urging him to go back up, but Kasey shook his head. He would never leave his mate to die. His chest burned from the lack of oxygen, and he could only imagine how Seth felt. Seth’s eyes were starting to close, and panic set in. Kasey couldn’t lose Seth, not now. Just as Seth started to lose consciousness, Kasey felt the lock give way. He jerked the door open frantically and reached in, grabbing Seth by the wrist.

  Kasey swam to the surface, hefting Seth above the water. Dread swamped Kasey when Seth didn’t start breathing immediately. He pulled him toward the entrance and out into the ravine.

  Nick helped wrestle Seth to an outcropping of rocks.

  Kasey brushed the wet hair back from his mate’s face. A tinge of blue colored Seth’s lips. “Oh God,” he said hoarsely.

  Nick forced him out of the way, tilted Seth’s head back, and began trying to resuscitate Seth. He breathed into Seth’s mouth while counting mentally. Kasey initiated chest compressions. “One… two… three.”

  Sealing his lips to Seth’s, Nick breathed into him again several more times before Seth started choking up water. They immediately rolled him to his side to help him dispel the water from his lungs. Kasey almost crushed Seth to him the moment he was able to breathe normally, his arms tight around his mate and his face buried in the strings of dark, wet hair clinging to Seth’s nape. “I thought I lost you,” he cried frantically.

  Seth weakly linked his arms around Kasey’s waist, trying to pull air into his abused lungs. Nick’s hand rested on his shoulder as they all attempted to gather their strength for the swim to the other side of the ravine. “Where’s Drakson?” Seth finally managed to ask.

  “Gone,” Nick replied. “Swept away in the water.”

  “Is he dead?”

  When neither of them answered, Seth almost sobbed. Nick squeezed his shoulder. “We saw him go under, but he was unconscious. We figure he drowned, babe.”

  Seth clung to Kasey in remembered fear of the water rushing in while he remained locked in the cage with no way to escape. “I was so scared.”

  “I know, pup,” Kasey murmured, nuzzling at Seth’s throat. “I was terrified I wasn’t going to be able to get you out of there.”

  Nick looked around them at the water rushing past. “Do you think you can swim across, Seth?”

  Seth nodded, but Kasey stopped him. “No. I’ll carry you across. Get on my back, Seth.”

  “I’m fine, Kasey. I can swim,” Seth protested. Kasey glared at him, and he sighed. “Fine.” He wrapped his arms around Kasey’s back and his legs around Kasey’s waist.

  Kasey hefted him higher and shoved away from the rock, sinking further with Seth’s weight on his back. Seth gripped at Kasey tighter as he felt the pull of the current. Swimming back to the trail leading out of the ravine would probably sap the last bit of energy Kasey still had.

  Kasey glanced back at Nick and saw the other male struggling. He frowned as he remembered the swipe Drakson had taken at him. “Are you all right, Nick?”

  Nick gave a sharp nod, but his face was extremely pale.

  Seth looked at his friend with concern. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s nothing,” Nick ground out, grabbing at the rocks as they neared the other side of the ravine.

  “Drakson got him with his paw. I think he’s hurt,” Kasey ground out, all of his concentration on keeping both him and Seth above water while struggling to keep hold of the sheer rock face.

  Seth glared at Nick while Nick glared at Kasey. “You’re going to let me look at that when we get out of this damn ravine.”

  “No. You can’t spare the energy,” Nick snapped. “I’m fine.”

  “Shut up, Nick,” Seth growled fiercely. “I’m not injured. You are. So you’re going to let me look at your side whether you want me to or not.”

  Kasey would have chuckled at Seth’s ferocity if he hadn’t been so busy trying to keep them afloat. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the trail coming up in front of him. His fingers were raw and bleeding from gripping at the sharp rocks, and his arms trembled with exertion. He was strong, but the pull of the current and Seth’s weight sapped his strength quickly.

  The three of them dragged themselves up onto the path, slipping several times before they found their footing. Nick’s hand pressed against his side as they reached the top, and Seth gasped when he saw the blood spilling out through his best friend’s fingers. “Damn it, Nick. You are so stubborn,” he shouted as he jumped from Kasey’s back and rushed to his friend’s side.

  Nick collapsed to the ground as Seth reached him, and Seth sank to his knees next to Nick. He gently pushed the dark shirt Nick wore up to reveal a huge seeping gash in Nick’s side. Seth swore and placed his palms against the wound. Closing his eyes, he focused on pulling the negative energy inside of him. A shuddery breath left him as he felt the flow of energy reverse into his body and the dark fluid began to build up inside of him. Black spots danced across his vision within moments. Seth’s breath wheezed from his throat as the gash in Nick’s side started to knit together. Nick groaned in pain, his body stiffening as he attempted to hold still.

  Kasey watched in fascination as his mate used the strange ability he possessed to heal his friend, but his heart tripped in his chest when he saw the strain it placed on his mate to use it. Anxiety spiked through him when he saw the sweat beading on Seth’s brow and the way his fair skin paled even further. “Seth,” Nick moaned. “Stop!”

  Striding to his mate’s side, Kasey gripped Seth’s shoulders tightly. “Seth.”

  Seth jerked in surprise and fell back against Kasey’s legs. Nick’s side wasn’t completely smooth—a pink scar ran the length of his ribs—but it no longer bled. Crawling a few feet away from the others, Seth retched to expel the foul liquid invading every inch of his innards. Kasey held his hair back and rubbed his shoulders soothingly. Seth would have slumped to the ground when he’d finished, but Kasey caught him up in his arms. “I’ve got you, pup,” Kasey whispered gently.

  Several wolves appeared in the clearing seconds later. When they sa
w Seth and Nick, they crouched low and growled menacingly. Kasey held up his hand. “No!”

  They stopped snarling, but their stances didn’t change as they waited to see if the threat still existed. Julian stepped in front of the four, and he trotted over to Nick and licked his cheek. Kasey shook his head, heaving a weary sigh. He wasn’t ready to tell them. “You’ll all receive an explanation later, but for now, just accept that these two are friends.” Kasey stared at each wolf in turn, sincerity shining from his eyes. “Julian.”

  His deputy shifted, squatting next to Kasey. “What do you need, Kase?”

  “Take them and search the ravine for any sign of a stranger. Gray wolf with black-tipped ears. He may have shifted back to human form if he’s still alive. Go.” He grabbed Julian’s forearm before his friend could leave. “Be careful. He’s not a Created one, but he’s dangerous.”

  Julian clapped him on his shoulder with a cocky grin. “Don’t worry, Kase. We got this. Just take care of your mate.” He looked at the other four wolves. “You heard him. Let’s head out.” Shifting, Julian led the other four at a fast sprint along the edge of the ravine.

  Nick ran a hand over his face as he sat up. “I think I need a vacation after this.”

  Kasey chuckled slightly, looking down at his mate. Seth’s eyes were closed and his breathing shallow. Kasey trailed the tips of his fingers over Seth’s cheek. “Let’s go home, pup.”

  Two days later, Kasey’s father, Jeremiah, the Alpha of the Senaka Pack, stood in the center of the village, all his wolves in a circle around him along with their mates and pups. “It’s long been believed that we, as Native Americans, are the only ones with the gift of becoming the sacred wolf. We also believed any other aside from Cheyenne couldn’t possibly have this ability without being one of the Created, a monstrous being. Recent events have shown us this is no longer our reality.”

  Furious whispers and gasps went up from the crowd. Jeremiah held up a hand, instantly silencing them. “This opens us to new opportunities as well as new dangers. It will give many of you a fresh chance at finding your mate, as my son has. We also must approach any newcomers with keen senses but without alarm.”

  Seth pressed closer to Kasey’s side as the crowd’s attention shifted to him for several moments. Kasey’s arm crossed over his back, and his hand rested on Seth’s hip. “Relax, pup. They’re just curious as to who the mate of the Alpha heir is.”

  “In a week’s time, the Alpha of my son’s mate’s pack will be arriving to discuss the possibilities of coming together at a summit every few months with the hopes some of you may find the mate destined for you. As your Alpha, I ask that you respect our visitors, but it is your choice to make if you wish to attend the summit. You will not be forced to do so.” Jeremiah paused, looking around at his pack with pride before looking at his son. Curiosity shone from the eyes of most, while a handful still showed fear.

  Kasey stepped forward, pulling Seth by his side. “Do not close yourself off from the other pack out of fear, my friends. I almost made the same mistake, and it would have cost me the one true mate destined to be mine. It is something I would have regretted for the rest of my life.”

  He dropped his gaze to look at his pup, smiling gently. “If you have the chance to meet the one that holds the other half of your soul, don’t let it slip away. Don’t let fear take them away from you.”

  Seth flushed and buried his face in Kasey’s bicep, but he couldn’t keep a wide grin from spreading over his lips. For the past two days, Kasey had treated him like spun glass. It frustrated him and annoyed the hell out of him, but it also made him feel cherished and loved. Kasey hadn’t made love to him and had ignored all of his advances. His body ached to feel his mate inside of him. If Kasey didn’t take him soon, he was going to tie the man to his bed and ravish him against his protests until he gave in and loved him.

  After the pack meeting finished, many of the wolves with their mates and children came up to greet Seth and welcome him to the pack. Seth was stunned at how many of them hugged him or kissed his cheek. It wasn’t what he’d expected, as he wasn’t Cheyenne.

  Nick stood off from everyone else, and even though he tried to appear nonchalant, Seth could see the tension in his friend, his jawline tight as his eyes scanned the crowd. Seth’s heart went out to his best friend. He wandered over to Nick’s side, lightly touching his arm. “You okay?”

  Scoffing, Nick shrugged. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  A skeptical look came over Seth’s features. “Come on, Nick. I’ve known you for a long time. I can see you aren’t happy.”

  “I’m fine,” Nick sighed, running a tired hand over his face. He forced a smile. “I’m glad you found your mate, babe. I always knew you would one day.”

  Seth wondered if he should mention what Drakson had told him in the cave before Kasey and Nick had shown up. He decided against it because he knew Nick cared about him, and he didn’t want to cause him any further pain. If it was true, Nick was surely carrying enough guilt around to crush a lesser man.

  There had been no sign of Drakson’s body when the others finally returned from their search, but he could have been swept several hundred miles downriver. All they could do was hope to hear something on the news about a man or wolf found dead. Until then, they would always wonder if the rogue wolf had actually survived. “Let’s go get something to eat,” Seth said, smiling and reaching out to grab Nick’s hand.

  Kasey searched him out about a half an hour later, coming up behind his mate and dropping his hands on Seth’s shoulders. Nick sat next to Seth, and they were talking about the pack Seth had come from. Leaning down, Kasey nuzzled Seth’s neck. “I have a surprise for you, pup.”

  Humming in pleasure, Seth settled into his mate’s body. “What is it?”

  “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?” Kasey winked at Nick, who laughed and shook his head.

  “I need to get back to the pack. Your father and my Alpha are discussing the arrangement of the first summit meeting. Now that you no longer need me, Jack wants me to come home.” Nick set his plate aside an instant before Seth punched him in the arm, hard. “Ow! What the fuck did you do that for?” Nick glared at him.

  “No longer need you?” Seth growled. “You are my best friend, Nick. If you don’t keep in touch, I’m going to come find you and kick your ass.”

  Kasey laughed loudly. It pleased him to see his mate so forceful and unafraid. “I think you should listen to him, Nick. Seems like he’s serious.”

  Nick’s disgruntled expression softened. “Of course I’m going to keep in touch, Seth. I just meant that now you have Kasey, you don’t need me to protect you anymore.”

  “Oh.” Seth grinned sheepishly. “Sorry.”

  Kasey reached down and picked up his mate’s hand, tugging him out of his seat. “Come. I want to show you your surprise.”

  Seth hugged Nick briefly before following Kasey out of his parents’ house. “What is it?”

  “Nope. You have to see for yourself. Here.” Once they were inside the truck, he handed Seth a blindfold, which Seth took with a lifted eyebrow. “Trust me,” Kasey said.

  A small smile twitched at the corner of Seth’s lips. “I do trust you, Kasey.”

  Warmth spread through Kasey at the sheer trust and acceptance shining from Seth’s eyes a second before they were covered by the blindfold. “No peeking,” he ordered gruffly, hiding the way his voice thickened, tears prickling the corners of his eyes.

  Seth huffed and crossed his arms. “I happen to have restraint.”

  “Oh? Is that right?” Kasey grinned as he pulled out onto the road leading from the reservation. “I guess we’ll have to see how much restraint later, hmm?” Kasey’s voice, husky with lust, sent a shaft of pure lust straight to Seth’s groin.

  Scowling, Seth shifted in his seat, but he didn’t say anything. He knew Kasey had to smell his arousal. It was the jerk’s fault he was so damn horny. They hadn’t fucked in almos
t three days. Lying next to Kasey’s hard body and feeling it pressed into his own had been exquisite torture the past two nights. “Where are we going?”

  “Patience, pup. We’ll be there in a few minutes.” Kasey took Seth’s hand in his and entwined their fingers. Excitement raced through him. He could hardly wait to see his mate’s expression.

  Sending a look at Seth to make sure he wasn’t peeking, Kasey turned the truck into the clinic parking lot. He shut the engine off and climbed out of the driver’s side, rushing around to the passenger side to help Seth out. “Are you ready, mate?”

  The words sent a shiver of joy down Seth’s spine. He was ready in more ways than one, but he just nodded. A gasp ripped from his throat the instant Kasey yanked the blindfold away. His heart beat against his ribs hard, fierce. Seth stumbled forward a few paces. “Why?”