Page 6 of Blinded
I narrowed my eyes at Cohen.
He shook his head. "Give him time, Bayne. This is all new to him as well. Trust me, I know how hard it is to find your mate and not have him excited like you are, but it sometimes takes time."
Brett wrapped his arms around himself. "If it had happened a week ago… I've wanted my mate for so long, but now, after this, I just can't. I'm sorry." He twisted away, sinking down from his knees to sit on the tile floor.
"Whatever happened, we can get through it. You're not alone. I'll stay with you for it. I want to get to know you, let you get to know me. You're my mate. Don't push me away." I was at a loss to how my mate couldn't be excited about us finding each other.
"Bayne, this is going to—"
The office door opened, and Kurt walked in, staring directly at me. As my alpha, there was no hiding things from him. He knew the second I did that I'd found my mate. He would have felt my emotions through our link.
"Well, congratulations, you two. I just wish it was under better circumstances." He shut the door and walked over to a chair that sat beside the wall. "It's good to see you managed to shift. How are you feeling?"
"I want to die." My mate didn't bother turning to face Kurt when he spoke.
His words were like a knife through my heart. "Die? Why? What happened?" I looked at Cohen and Kurt, hoping someone would tell me what was going on.
"We're about to find out." Kurt sent a wave of affection to me.
It calmed me, but also worried me. If he thought I of all people needed to stay calm, what I was about to hear was going to be bad. I was one of the calmest wolves in the pack.
"Brett, are you able to tell us what happened?" Cohen asked.
Brett shook his head. "I don't really know. Bridger and I were running. Headed to the lake to fish and fuck around. We were almost there when something hit my leg. I stumbled, and then everything went dark. When I woke, I couldn't see. I tried to move, but I was too weak. I smelled my blood and Bridger's blood, but couldn't see how badly either of us were hurt. I tried to cry out for Bridger, but I was so weak. I think I must have faded in and out of consciousness because if today is Monday, I missed several days. We went to the lake on Saturday."
I fisted my hands, anger raging through me that anyone would hurt my mate. "Where's Bridger?"
Kurt shook his head. "He didn't make it. His family will be here tomorrow to pick up his body. They were going to come tonight, but I need Cohen to inspect the body for evidence."
The scent of fear and sadness coming from my mate nearly smothered me. I reached out to hold him, but the moment I made contact with him, he shied away.
"Brett, please, let me help you."
"You don't want me. I'm sorry. I know you don't get a choice in who your mate is, but you don't want me." Brett sounded so tired.
"But I do. Whatever it is, we can get through it. Whatever you're facing, I can help you." I just wanted to pull him into my arms and make everything okay.
"You want this?" Brett reached up, tearing the bandage from his face, letting it drop into his lap before turning his head to me.
I gasped in shock, unable to help myself. If I'd had any warning, I would have held my reaction back, but to see my mate with two empty eye sockets was the last thing I could have expected. I wasn't revolted, just shocked. "Of course, I still want you." I reached up, cupping his face in my hands. "You're my destined mate. Nothing could make me not want you."
"Fuck, why did this have to happen now?" Brett wiped at his nose.
"Here." Cohen handed me a box of tissues.
I took one, placing it in Brett's hand. "Let me hold you?" I didn't wait for him to answer as I slid around, moving so he was sitting on my lap, his back braced against my chest. Holding him was the most amazing thing I'd ever done. Out of all my experiences, nothing compared to wrapping my arms around my mate for the first time. "It's going to be okay."
Brett tensed in my arms, but there was no denying he belonged there. For a moment, he seemed to debate about pushing away, but then slowly started to relax in my arms as I caressed my fingers down his arms and whispered in his ear.
"Brett, did you see anyone, catch scent of anyone?" Cohen asked.
"No, nothing was out of place. There had been deer in the area shortly before we got there. I wanted to hunt, but they were gone. Other than that, everything smelled normal. A few animals around, but nothing that shouldn't have been there. I could smell other shifters weakly, but the scent was days or even weeks old." Brett relaxed against my shoulder.
I wasn't even sure he was aware he was doing it. I just kept my arms around him, holding him securely to me.
"You don't remember the attack?" Kurt asked.
"Nothing. I woke up with broken bones and unable to see." Brett's shoulders heaved as if he was trying to hold back a sob. "I was too weak to move. My head was foggy. I thought it was from the pain, but Cohen said something about how I was shot with a dart?"
