Page 5 of Blinded
CHAPTER TWO
Bayne
As I pulled into the parking lot of the pack house, I wondered what had happened. All I knew was that Kurt had called for me. He not only used the mental link we shared as pack members and him being my alpha, but he'd taken the time to text me, making sure I was on my way home.
I'd been several hours away, visiting a friend when the call came. As much as I hated leaving long before I'd planned to, an official call from Kurt wasn't something I ignored. Sure, there were others he could have asked for help, and I'm sure he did, but I prided myself on being there when the pack needed me.
The tension was strong through my pack link, and I wondered what was causing it. It was pack-wide, so everyone was aware of whatever was going on. I guess I could have easily called to find out, but something told me it was best to just get back to the pack house and find out for myself.
I parked the car toward the back of the lot and grabbed my backpack out of the passenger seat before heading toward the house. There were more cars than usual in the lot for a weekday, adding to my worry that something big had happened.
I had just hit the front porch when a scent hit me, causing me to stop in my tracks. I inhaled deeply, my wolf coming to full attention in my head as I sniffed again. It couldn't be. I shook my head, doubting what I was smelling, but my wolf didn't doubt it for a second. He howled inside my head and tried to push his way forward.
I resisted, stopping him from forcing the shift. I needed control for the moment. If what I was smelling was true, things just got a lot more intense than I'd ever thought they could.
My mate.
I'd spent my life telling myself I'd never find a mate. I inhaled again, frozen to the spot on the steps as I let my mate's scent wash over me. He-she, it didn't matter the sex, smelled perfect. The scent smelled male, but I couldn't be sure. My pulse raced as I finally gave in to my wolf and ran inside.
I pushed the door open, not stopping to close it as I followed the scent, worry forming as I realized it was coming from Cohen's medical suite. I didn't bother knocking as I slammed against the door, nearly breaking it as I gripped the door handle and pushed it open.
I dropped my backpack on the ground as I skidded to a halt just inside the door and took in my mate for the first time.
His back was to me as he sat naked. My gaze roamed over his dark hair, ivory skin, perfect ass. Even without seeing his face, I was in love.
"No, oh, fuck no. Not now. This can't be happening. Not you. Not now." My mate jumped off the small medical table, collapsing to his knees as soon as his feet hit the ground. "This is so fucked up. This can't be real." He sounded as if he was crying.
"Bayne!" Cohen turned, glaring at me. "I'm with a patient."
"You're with my mate." My voice came out dangerously low and my wolf wanted to attack Cohen for even hinting that we shouldn't be there.
"Your mate?" Cohen stepped back.
"No!" My mate shook his head. "You're wrong. I'm not…" He gripped his head as if in pain.
"I'm not wrong." I slowly took several steps toward him. "My name's Bayne." I came around him, so I could see him for the first time.
A white gauze bandage covered half of his face, wrapping around the back of his head, but it didn't matter. This was my mate. He could have been the most hideous person in the world and I would still want him. But he was far from ugly from what I could tell. Dark hair, a sharp nose, gentle cheekbones, and lips that I couldn't wait to kiss.
"Leave me alone. This can't happen. Why now?" He slammed a fist against his thigh.
I fell to my knees in front of him. "You know I can't leave you alone. I've waited my whole life for you." I reached out and gently touched his arm.
He had to have felt what I did at our first touch. It was an electrical current that shot from his skin through mine. A sense of rightness, of awareness, of perfection. I stared at him in awe, wondering why he wasn't as excited as I was to have found his mate.
"Bayne…" Cohen touched my shoulder.
I glanced up at Cohen. "My mate, Cohen. I've found my mate." I reached out and gently ran my hand down my mate's cheek. "What's your name?"
"Go away. This is hard enough." My mate turned away from my touch. "Why did this have to happen now? Why now?"
"I'm not going away. You know I can't." The mating pull was strong, and while it wasn't final until we'd gone through the mating ceremony, it was still enough that parting would be hard. I wasn't moving until I knew why he wasn't happy about this. "Your name?"
He bowed his head. "Brett."
"Brett…" I liked how his name sounded when I said it. "What happened to you?" I hated that the bandage hid half his face from me, but the scent of his blood was strong in the room. He'd been badly hurt at some point.
"Bayne, even Kurt doesn't know what happened yet. Brett just shifted and is still weak. Give him time, give him space." Cohen stared down at me, concern, and something else in his eyes. Was it pity?
