United

by Maggie Walsh

  “You’re finally awake,” the man said as he carried a tray into the room. He closed the door and locked it, then walked across the room and placed the tray on the desk.

  Bailey was still a little fuzzy and confused as he looked at the man in surprise. “What are you doing here?” he asked in a whisper.

  “This is my home,” he answered with a smile.

  “Okay, well, what am I doing here and how did I get here?”

  “I brought you here,” the man said, walking to Bailey and stopping in front of him.

  Bailey looked up to meet his eyes. “Okay, but why?” he asked and shook his head in confusion.

  “Because this is where you belong, Bailey,” the man said tenderly as he reached out and gently smoothed a stray hair from Bailey’s face. “Right here with me.”

  Bailey’s stomach started to knot as a shiver of fear raced through him. There was something in the man’s eyes that screamed at Bailey to run. He had never had that feeling before when he spoke with Gary at the café, but right now all his senses were yelling at him to get away, as far and as fast as he could. Damn it! How stupid could I be? I should have run to Lexi. I would be safe in his arms right now if I had. “Um…I’m…sorry…Gary, but…I should go,” Bailey said shakily as he tried to stand, his legs were still unsure as he took a step away. “My family will be wondering where I am,” he said cautiously as he turned and walked toward the door.

  “You’re a lost boy, Bailey. You have no family and no one will be looking for you,” Gary said nonchalantly as he stepped closer to Bailey.

  “I do have a family. I live with Evan and Josh. And Sage and Shane,” Bailey whispered nervously. The fear was building and he could feel the beginning signs that a panic attack was about to start.

  Gary chuckled and gave Bailey a big smile as he shook his head slightly. “Now, now, Bailey. You know that’s not true. Yes, you live in a boy’s home, but they aren’t your family. That’s why you were running from them. You knew you didn’t belong with them. You were coming to find me, weren’t you?” Gary stepped closer to Bailey.

  Bailey took a step back as Gary took another toward him, but his back met with the hard wall. He dropped his hands to his side, palms flat against the unyielding surface as he tried to control his breathing. “No, I-I-I was j-just g-going f-f-for a w-walk,” he stuttered. Bailey pressed his back against the wall harder, hoping it would afford him more room between him and the man in front of him, but the wall wouldn’t move. His fingernails gripped into the plaster as hard as he could. Gary’s eyes were focused on his face and Bailey could see the lust in his eyes. It frightened him and his heart began to beat faster. He needed to get out of here. He needed to get away from this man he thought was a nice guy, but could now see wasn’t. His judgement really was horrible. What was he going to do?

  Gary shook his head slowly and tsked at him. “We both know that’s a lie, Bailey.” He stepped closer. He was now almost chest-to-chest with Bailey. “I was watching you. You packed some of your things and you sneaked from the house. You were running away. You were coming to find me, weren’t you, sweetheart?” he said softly and raised his hand, cupping Bailey’s cheek. “I’m here. I’ll take such good care of you. Now that I finally found you and you’ve left them, we can be together.” He dragged his thumb over Bailey’s trembling bottom lip.

  “You can’t deny this pull between us. I felt it the first time I laid eyes on you. I walked into the café and there you were. You took such good care of me and gave me that cup of coffee and wouldn’t take any money for it. I knew you were giving me a sign. I knew that you felt the connection, too.” He ran his hand up Bailey’s face and his fingers into his hair. “I tried to be patient and wait for you, sweetheart. I tried to wait for you to come to me,” he said tenderly, but then his eyes turned hard and his jaw clenched. “But when I saw that enforcer walk into the café and kiss you, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to get you before he ruined everything we wanted. Damn enforcers think they can have whoever they want, whenever they want them. Well they can’t have you, my love. You belong to me. I knew it right from the start and I could see you did, too.” His eyes lit up with excitement. “Even now your body shivers from my touch. I feel you quivering. I wanted to wait until we knew each other a little better before I claimed you and made you mine. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about that damn enforcer anymore. He will be put to death if he interrupts a mating. The council has made it so.”

  Bailey remained still and just stared at Gary. He couldn’t believe what the man was saying. He hadn’t given him any signs. Holy shit, this guy was eleven eggs short of a dozen. What the hell was he going to do? And flirting with him? He wasn’t flirting with him. He was only doing his job and being polite to the customers. But this man had misinterpreted his kindness for attraction, for want. How the hell was he supposed to tell the man he was wrong? That he hadn’t been flirting with him and giving him signals. That he had no idea who he was and that he didn’t want him. Guys like this were dangerous, especially if they were turned down. How was he supposed to tell him he was mistaken and that the enforcer he was kissing was in fact his mate? There was no way this insane man was going to take that information lightly. He would probably get angry and who knows what he would do to Bailey then.

  “I-I don’t know what to say,” Bailey whispered nervously.

  “You don’t have to say anything, my love. You’re here with me now, safe and wanted, and loved. You don’t have to worry about anything ever again. I’ll always take care of you,” Gary whispered affectionately and lowered his head. His lips were about to touch Bailey’s.

  “No,” Bailey cried in a shaky voice and turned his head.

  “I only want to kiss you, my love. To finally feel those beautiful lips against mine,” Gary said. Bailey placed his palms on Gary’s chest and pushed against him. Gary wrapped his arms around Bailey’s waist and pinned him to the wall. Bailey tried harder to push him away but Gary was too strong.

  The door next to them burst open and smacked Gary in the back. He pulled his head away and looked toward the door as he cursed, “What the fuck?”

  Bailey saw Lexi’s face come around the edge of the door, his eyes blazing. He grabbed the door and smashed it into Gary’s face as he tried to turn. “Oh fuck,” he screamed as the door smashed him and his hands went to his now bleeding nose. Lexi grabbed Gary and pulled him away from Bailey.

  “Bailey, go into the other room,” Lexi said between clenched teeth, his eyes never leaving Gary’s face.

  “I-I-I c-c-can’t,” Bailey stuttered out, body shaking, frozen to the spot.

  “It’s okay, Bales. I’m here,” he heard Josh say and then saw him look around the door. Josh came to him and wrapped an arm around him. Bailey was shaking like a leaf. His heart was racing and his breath was getting caught in his throat. He could feel his throat closing as the panic attack took hold of him.

  “Josh, get him out of here,” Lexi growled.

  “Come on, Bales. It’s okay now. We’re here,” Josh said comfortingly.

  “I-I c-can’t m-move,” Bailey stuttered.

  “Bailey, sweetie, it’s me, Taylor. Come on, let’s get out of here, okay?” Taylor said gently from beside him. He hadn’t even seen him come in, for his eyes were focused on Gary.

  “H-he…he…t-tried t-to. H-he…w-w-want-ted…to…” Bailey’s breath was leaving him and he was gulping for air. “L-Lex-xi, h-help m-me,” he pleaded with his voice and his eyes.

  Lexi looked at him with pain and worry in his eyes. “Taylor, can you hold this piece of shit for me please?” he asked, swinging Gary around as if he were a rag doll.

  “My pleasure,” Taylor said and grabbed onto Gary from behind, wrapping his forearm around the man’s throat as he pulled one of his arms around his back and yanked it up, causing Gary to cry out in pain.

  Lexi went to Bailey and cautiously reached out, cupping his cheek tenderly. He looked deeply into Bailey’s terror-fill
ed gaze. “I’m right here, pretty baby. It’s okay now. I have you,” he whispered lovingly and moved his hand to cup the back of Bailey’s head. He pulled Bailey gently away from the wall and into his arms. Bailey continued to shake and gulp for air. Lexi picked him up and carried him from the room.

  They stepped into the small living room, which appeared even smaller with all the men in there. Bailey was only slightly aware of them all. His focus was solely on trying to breathe and the wonderful feeling of having Lexi hold him. He dropped his head to Lexi’s shoulder and pushed his face into Lexi’s neck, blocking out everyone else. He raised his one arm and wrapped it around Lexi’s neck, holding on for dear life as the tears began to fall.

  Taylor dragged Gary out into the living room where Micah stood by Jesse and the others. Gary’s eyes went wide when he saw Micah standing there with a look of barely contained anger in his eyes. “What would you like us to do with the garbage, Alpha Prime?” Taylor asked, purposely using Micah’s true title. It worked, too, because Gary’s body began to shake uncontrollably when Taylor said it.

  “Gary,” Micah growled through clenched teeth. “Do you know the punishment for kidnapping a mate, and for interfering with a mating?” Micah asked coldly as his eyes turned feral.

  Gary began to shake even harder. “Bailey’s…my…mate…Alpha. He belongs to…me.”

  “Lying to your Alpha is also punishable, Gary. But seeing as your fate is already sealed, I guess it doesn’t matter,” Micah said in a harsh voice.

  “But he’s―” He was cut off when Jesse raised his hand, stopping him. Gary’s eyes flicked to Jesse’s.

  “Just because someone shows you kindness doesn’t mean they are flirting with you,” Jesse spoke softly as he took a step toward Gary. His eyes fixed on Gary’s, boring into his mind. “Bailey was nice to you. That’s part of his job, to be nice to the customers. It doesn’t mean he wants you or that he belongs to you. Lexi is Bailey’s true mate. But you knew that. You didn’t care. You wanted Bailey all for yourself and it didn’t matter that he has a mate. You have been watching him, stalking him, waiting for the right moment to present itself, so that you could grab him. You had planned on taking him and claiming him against his will. As my mate has said, your fate is sealed,” Jesse said coldly and turned his back on him. He walked back to Micah and stood next to him. “He…” Jesse stared at him, tilting his head slightly. “You sick fuck,” Jesse hissed. He touched Micah’s arm and Micah could see what Jesse saw. They saw everything that Gary had thought or planned concerning Bailey since the moment he first laid eyes on him. Micah’s eyes turned feral as his wolf rose up inside him.

  “Enforcers, Gary has broken one of our most important laws. The Heart has seen into his mind and saw all his sins. Council members who are present, what is your sentence?” Micah asked without taking his eyes from Gary’s.

  “We have seen his crimes and his intentions, thanks to the Heart. His crimes each in their own are punishable by death. Death,” Dante said emotionless.

  “Death,” Dare agreed.

  “Death,” Ryland said.

  “Your sentence is unanimous among the council members present. Enforcers, you know what to do,” Micah said. He took Jesse’s hand and they turned and left. Everyone filed out of the house behind them except for the enforcers. Xander, Crew, Cass, and Christian stepped forward.

  “We’ve got this, Taylor,” Xander said. “Thanks, we’ll take out the trash.”

  Taylor released Gary and the enforcers grabbed him. Taylor left the house to join the others.

  * * * *

  Lexi carried Bailey’s shaking form from the house and climbed into the back of a waiting SUV. He sat and placed Bailey on his lap, never releasing him. Evan and Josh came to the open door.

  “Bailey, are you okay?” Evan asked with deep concern. But Bailey didn’t answer. He just buried his face deeper into Lexi’s throat as his body shook uncontrollably.

  “He’s having another panic attack,” Josh whispered.

  Lexi met Josh’s eyes. “Does this happen often?”

  Josh shook his head. “No, not anymore. He used to get them all the time when we lived on the streets, but they’re actually pretty rare since we moved in with Evan. It usually only happens when he’s either extremely nervous or extremely scared. It happened a lot when we were with that gang.”

  Lexi looked at him with wide, shocked eyes. “You were with a gang?” Lexi asked with pain in his voice. Josh nodded. “When? For how long?”

  Josh gave Lexi a confused look. “Dude, you’re his mate. Don’t you know anything about him?”

  “Only what Bailey has told me, and that hasn’t been a lot.”

  “Shit,” Josh whispered under his breath as he closed his eyes. “He’s never going to talk to me again.”

  “Lexi.” They heard Jesse’s voice, and turned to look at him. Jesse and Micah approached the SUV. “Is he okay?” Jesse asked with concern.

  “He’s having a panic attack,” Lexi answered, then looked at Josh. “What can I do for him?”

  “Just keep doing what you’re doing. It seems to be calming him. His breath isn’t so labored and he doesn’t look like he’s shaking too much anymore,” Josh answered as he studied Bailey’s body language.

  “It’s your scent,” Micah explained. “Mates calm from each other’s scent.”

  “I need to get him home,” Lexi said.

  “Good idea. We’ll go ahead so we can have his room all ready,” Evan offered.

  “No, to my home,” Lexi said harshly.

  “But he needs to be with us, with his family,” Evan protested. “In his own bed and his own room.”

  “Well that’s sure as shit not happening right now,” Lexi snapped.

  “Hey, Lex,” Taylor said softly and stepped closer. “It’s okay. Evan doesn’t mean Bailey any harm.”

  “Then he should have kept a better eye on him before.”

  “That’s not fair, Lexi. We had no way of knowing Bailey was going to sneak out,” Evan defended in a hurt voice.

  “He didn’t sneak out,” Lexi growled. “He ran away. People don’t run away because everything is hunky-dory. They run away from things or people that hurt them or frighten them.”

  Josh laid a hand on Evan’s arm. “Evan, let Lexi take him home with him for now. Lexi’s presence is calming him. When he’s past this, he can clear things up and tell Lexi why he was running. But for now, let’s just focus on Bailey getting out of here safely and getting calmed down.”

  “You’re right, Josh. What Bailey needs is more important, and right now he needs his mate,” Evan agreed.

  * * * *

  Micah held Jesse’s hand as Taylor held the other and the three stood in the driveway of the pack house. Ryland stood toward the back of the pack house holding Noah and Raffy’s hands. Fae warriors stood to the left and right of the house. They surrounded the pile of rubble that was once their home. Ryland began to chant and Jesse joined in. A light began to glow softly from beneath the wreckage. One by one, Taylor, Micah, Noah, Raffy, and each of the fae warriors joined in the chant. The light grew brighter and brighter as they continued.

  The house was engulfed by the light and Lexi and the others had to look away. Lexi still held an unconscious Bailey in his arms. He turned Bailey away from the brightness. The light grew bigger and brighter and washed over them. A pulse of energy ripped through the air and suddenly the light began to dim. It slowly shrank back upon itself and disappeared. Lexi turned back to see if it worked and was happy to see their home was back. Everyone cheered and smiled. Mates kissed and brothers clasped hands. This was not only their home anymore, but also the central point for all of them. Shifter, vampires, fae, demons, and angels alike―this was their sanctuary.

  Lexi moved closer to the door. “May I bring my mate in now, Alpha?”

  “Let us do one complete sweep to make sure everything is safe and then bring Bailey in to rest,” Micah answered. Lexi sat on the porch steps with Bail
ey as everyone else went in to make sure their home was complete again.

  * * * *

  Once again Bailey opened his eyes to find that he wasn’t at home in his own bed. But he wasn’t with the crazy loon Gary either. This room was bigger and more luxurious. The bed was so plush and comfortable he just wanted to wiggle into it further and go back to sleep. And the sheets against his skin were so soft. Softer than any sheet he had ever had against him in his whole life. He closed his eyes and just enjoyed the feeling of the soft sheet and comfy bed. Suddenly his eyes popped open in a panic. He could feel the sheets against his skin. Did that mean he was naked and if he was, how and who stripped him?

  He sat up and held the sheet against his chest, covering himself as he realized all he had on were his boxers. His eyes met with the most beautiful deep-blue eyes he had ever looked at. Lexi. His mate’s eyes were pools of heaven. He loved Lexi’s eyes, especially when they were looking at him. A small smile came across Lexi’s mouth as he stared at Bailey, and a happiness came to his eyes. But there was also a sadness that Bailey didn’t like.

  “How did I get here?” he asked softly.

  “I brought you here. Do you remember anything?” Lexi asked and sat forward in the chair he was sitting on next to the bed. He clasped his hands together between his spread legs, while resting his elbows on his knees.

  Bailey’s eyes filled with fear. “Gary.”

  “It’s okay, pretty baby. He’s not here. He can’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe,” Lexi said and reached a hand out, touching his knee gently.

  “I remember everything. He thought I wanted him. He was going to mate me. He thought I was flirting with him, but I wasn’t, Lexi. I promise I wasn’t,” Bailey explained in a scared voice.

  “Shh, I know, Bailey. I believe you,” Lexi said in a comforting voice.