Chapter Five
Santiago held the bike steady as Percy climbed onto the back, kneeing him twice. He was going to have to show the male how to smoothly mount and dismount or he would take a knee to the kidney way too often.
“Sorry,”
Percy said close to his ear. “Jeans are more constrictive than I remember.”
It had been the first thing Santiago noticed when Percy joined him outside. He’d nearly strained his eyes when his mate had dropped his phone and bent over to retrieve it. Those jeans cupped his ass nicely, making Santiago almost lose his mind.
Now, he sat there with a half-hard dick. The motorcycle vibrations weren’t helping his situation either.
“Ever ride before?”
Santiago slid his sunglasses in place.
“Sure,”
Percy said a little too quickly.
“Make sure you hold on tight and lean in the direction I lean.”
The holding on tight wasn’t really necessary, but he wasn’t passing up the opportunity to have Percy’s arms firmly around him.
“Do I get some cool sunglasses?”
His lips brushed the curve of Santiago’s ear. Between Percy and the vibrations, Santiago was on the verge of embarrassing himself.
“Give me the address.”
He leaned back a little, pressing his large frame into his mate’s much smaller one. Percy smelled freshly showered—a blend of crisp water and a hint of citrus.
His wolf growled softly, urging Santiago to take him inside and claim the male, to bind their souls.
Although the thought made his cock twitch, it wouldn’t be that easy.
“Heck if I know. I’ve never needed an address before.”
His slender fingers gripped Santiago’s leather jacket, his chin settling on his shoulder.
He had to give his phone his full attention. If he didn’t, it would be on the warm body leaning heavily into his.
As he punched in the name of the place, he leaned a little farther back, his arm extended behind him.
“Are you trying to make a move on me?”
Percy chuckled, but Santiago felt his mate stiffen. Subtle, but noticeable.
“You wanted a pair of shades.”
He rummaged inside his saddle bag and came away with a pair, holding them up.
Percy’s fingers slightly trembled as he took them. It was a straight-up gut punch that Percy was so cautious around him. Before Tito’s attack, his elegido used to lean into him.
He wanted to kill Tito all over again.
Santiago glanced at his phone. No sooner had he seen where the place was located, than his phone began to ring.
Matias.
“I saw,”
he said with a sigh before his alpha could say a word. Because Percy was unaware of the existence of shifters, Santiago switched to Spanish, doubting his mate could keep up enough to translate. “It’s in cheetah territory.”
“I cleared the way with Xavier,”
Matias replied. “He’s granting us temporary passage and privilege as long as we don’t deviate from the route and are off their land no later than one.”
“He actually said yes?”
Santiago thought he’d have to tell Percy they couldn’t go. Xavier Fortelli was a snarky son of a bitch on a good day. Still, knowing they would be in cheetah territory made him feel on edge.
“Apparently finding dead hyenas in that abandoned factory brightened his day.”
“They have a hyena problem too?”
Which would explain why Kia had infiltrated the group. Santiago still couldn’t believe the scrawny guy had taken it upon himself to join a pack of hyenas. Not only had it taken balls, but pure dumb luck.
It had been a risk that could’ve gotten him killed or tranquilized.
As if reading his mind, Matias said, “Xavier didn’t outright admit he had problems, but his begrudging thanks for not killing his nephew is what swayed him tonight. I’m heading your way. Don’t move until I get there.”
Like Santiago would cross the borderline without him. He didn’t fear them, but he had Percy on his bike. He would take every precaution to ensure his mate’s safety.
“Are we going?”
Percy asked when the call ended. “This bitch needs a drink or five and I’m ready to dance my ass off.”
Maybe Santiago should take his truck. If Percy got wasted, it would be a better option than trying to get the male home on a motorcycle.
But if shit went down, Santiago could navigate his bike through trickier terrain than he could his pickup.
“We’re waiting on Matias and Elijah,”
he said over his shoulder, inhaling Percy’s scent. It wrapped around his senses, causing his wolf to growl once more.
Slowly, his mate leaned into his back again, his chin reclaiming its spot on Santiago’s shoulder.
“Should I have worn a thicker jacket?”
He tugged on Santiago’s. “I don’t own a leather like some people.”
“As hot as it is?”
Santiago shook his head. “What you have on is fine, carino. ”
It would be even better if they weren’t going at all. Had he known, Santiago would’ve opted for calling it a night, even if he was far from tired. But Percy had been too excited, and his mate could use a night out.
Fifteen minutes later, Matias passed them on the street. Revving his motorcycle, Santiago pulled from the curb to follow.
Percy hugged him so hard, he should’ve cracked ribs. “Not that tight.”
Santiago chuckled, tapping his mate’s hands. “Relax, carino .”
“I lied, all right!”
Percy squeaked. “I’ve never been on the back of a bike. Do you really have to go this fast?”
“Babe, we’re doing twenty-five.”
Santiago clocked the police cruiser tucked between the drugstore and barbershop. It was dark out, the streetlights far enough apart to leave the alley bathed in shadows.
But he’d seen it, along with the silhouette inside. Hopefully Gilmore was off duty by now. He wasn’t the only shady deputy in the department, but he was the only cop with a personal grudge against Santiago.
“We’re going to go faster, aren’t we?”
Percy scooted impossibly closer, his crotch now pressed firmly against Santiago’s backside, his thin arms steel bands.
“We’re going to be doing the speed limit, hermoso . This is why you should’ve been honest with me.”
If he’d known Percy would panic, they would be in his truck instead.
His mistake was second-guessing himself. “If we go back for my truck, Matias will call off our little outing.”
Because if Santiago knew Matias, and he did, the alpha hadn’t wanted to go in the first place.
“Why can’t we just meet them there,”
he shouted right into Santiago’s ear. That wasn’t necessary. Despite the engine’s roar, Santiago’s heightened senses could hear Percy clearly. “We’d only be about twenty minutes late.”
No fucking way Santiago would leave his alpha and Elijah unprotected.
Regardless of the reason—partying, a meeting, or simply passing through—an outsider never rode solo.
If this had been a meeting with Xavier, the entire pack would’ve ridden along. Twenty-five deep. Their only goal—ensure Matias’s safety.
“Hold on tight, carino ,”
Santiago said as they reached the back road. “Remember, don’t let go and lean with me.”
Percy nodded, eyes squeezed shut. Santiago chuckled. The human was his elegido , so he needed to get used to being tossed onto the back of Santiago’s hog.
Ahead, he noticed Elijah clutching Matias like a spider monkey. It was clearly his first ride too. The tension in his body suggested he’d be sore by the time they reached the club.
Twenty minutes into their ride, they entered cheetah territory. Percy let out a squeal when Santiago sped up to keep with Matias’s pace.
Clearly Santiago wasn’t the only one eager to get there as quickly as possible, but he wasn’t any more at ease when they arrived.
In fact, he was even more alert now that they weren’t racing at top speed. Even before they dismounted, the deep bass of the music was pounding. The parking lot was full, with at least thirty cars and trucks crammed in. The concrete structure wasn’t particularly big, but it appeared fitting for a town of this size. In big neon pink, the letters on the left side of the building spelled out fLare. Lare. Santiago had to admit, which was pretty clever.
Past the doorway, he noticed laser lights and strobes cutting a path across the partygoers. Now, why in the hell couldn’t they have a spot like this back in Blackthorn?
The bouncer at the entrance—dark haired and muscular—scrutinized them closely, his nose twitching. “Xavier made it clear that you four are off-limits,”
he said, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. “As long as you come in peace, you won’t leave in pieces.”
Matias walked past him as if the bouncer were invisible. The cheetah grinned, a hint of respect in his eyes. “No harm will come to your mates while you’re here.”
“That’s bloody great!”
Percy beamed. “I didn’t know you were from the UK, Sully.”
A deep laugh resonated from the cheetah’s chest. “Good to see you, Percy. Make sure you and Elijah behave.”
Santiago held back a growl, since it would’ve been seen as a sign of aggression. But if Sully kept flirting with Percy, all bets were off.
“When don’t I behave?”
Percy retorted, placing a hand on his hip and eyeing Sully. “I can’t help it if our idea of fun differs. I’m loud, I’m proud, and I can work a crowd,”
he declared with enthusiasm.
Sully smiled warmly at the human. “That you are.”
Santiago and Sully locked gazes. The guy shrugged. “I won’t apologize for having a soft spot for Percy.”
“Just keep your fucking hands off him,”
Santiago cautioned, his voice low enough for only the cheetah to hear.
“I don’t poach, especially not someone’s mate,”
Sully snarled.
When Percy hurried toward the bar, Santiago decided he was done measuring dicks. This night was about his mate reclaiming a part of himself.
Santiago frowned when he saw Matias and Elijah on the dance floor. He’d never seen his alpha so at ease. He had his hand on Elijah’s lower back, their bodies pressed together and moving in a way that suggested they’d rather be fucking than dancing.
Speaking of…
Percy’s high-pitched laugh rang out, drawing Santiago’s attention. He smiled instinctively, happy to finally hear the sound once more, until he spotted the scene at the bar.
Several men hovered around Percy, their hungry gazes locked and loaded. Even one of the bartenders leaned in too close, a flirtatious smirk playing on his lips as he chatted with Percy.
Oh, hell no. Percy was his elegido , and Santiago would be damned if— His brow creased as he noticed Percy was glancing around the room nervously, his laughter a little too forced, his posture tense, avoiding eye contact. If he were truly at ease, his posture would be relaxed, and his eyes would be engaging in the conversation as well.
Just five hours ago, Percy had been terrified to enter his own pantry, stepped back when Santiago got too close, and panicked at the oven’s heat.
This whole situation felt wrong. Before Jacob had ruined their evening, Percy had been friendly yet guarded. Understandable given what he’d been through.
But the dynamics shifted after Santiago returned home from the police station. Percy had been the one to initiate contact. The kiss, the desire to go out, the tight jeans, and now his willingness to be in a crowded club.
On the motorcycle, Percy had tensed slightly when Santiago reached past him for the sunglasses, but that was just a brief lapse. An involuntary reaction he couldn’t suppress.
Elijah stepped into Santiago’s path, face flushed, drink in hand. “Please don’t feel jealous. His personality just draws people in. Unfortunately, it’s usually the wrong ones,”
he mumbled the last part.
With a frown, Santiago asked, “What happened while I was gone, Elijah?”
Elijah blinked and quickly glanced at the floor. Avoidance. Guilt.
“Percy didn’t take your arrest well,”
Matias said from behind him.
Turning, Santiago searched Matias’s expression, but his alpha was too disciplined to give anything away. “What happened?”
“He had a breakdown,”
Elijah replied, causing Santiago to turn back to him. “He wrecked the kitchen, flung dinner at the wall, then collapsed to the floor. I talked to him for over an hour, but after about ten minutes, he went silent, lost in his thoughts.”
“Why wasn’t I told about this?”
Santiago demanded.
“Watch your tone when speaking to my elegido ,”
Matias warned.
“It wasn’t our place to say anything,”
Elijah replied firmly. “Besides, he’s fine now that you’re back.”
He gestured toward the bar. “Percy seems like his old self.”
Santiago closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. No one saw the reality. Percy laughed loudly again, but it lacked any real happiness. It sounded more like panic.
“He’s not fine.”
Santiago glanced at Matias, his jaw tightening. “He’s spiraling, and fast.”
“Spiraling?”
Elijah glanced over at Percy, who had backed away from the bartender, still smiling, but it was strained. “Oh, shit,”
he whispered.
“We’re leaving,”
Matias declared. “Secure your elegido .”
Elijah gasped. “Percy is your mate?”
Santiago was already making his way across the room, shouldering people aside, ignoring the indignant replies, his sole focus on reaching his mate.
Percy was gripping his glass so tightly the color had bled from his knuckles. His pupils were wide, his face a mask of forced cheerfulness and barely concealed horror.
How could those around him not notice? The bartender kept chatting and grinning, seemingly blind to Percy’s internal collapse. Fucking idiots.
Santiago wrapped his arms around Percy, turning his body into a fortress to shield the smaller man. “I got you, carino .”
“Santiago,”
Percy whispered with a strained voice, his head tilting upward. “I don’t feel so…”
Tears welled up in his eyes.
“Let’s get you out of here. Can you hold on a little longer, carino ?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll hold you together, elegido .”
Santiago swept Percy into his arms and bulldozed through the crowd, eyes locked on the exit.
Sully frowned as he watched their approach, before springing into action, ordering the crowd to make way.
Someone snarled, clearly pissed Santiago had shoved them aside.
“Just go,”
Sully said to him. “Take care of your mate.”
Santiago emerged from the club, but kept moving until he reached his motorcycle. He didn’t want to stop until they were home.
Instead of placing Percy behind him, Santiago cradled him against his chest, encouraging his mate to cling tightly to him. Once Percy complied, Santiago started his motorcycle, the back tire kicking up a spray of gravel as he sped off, Matias blazing the trail ahead.
They tore down the dark country road, his alpha fully aware they needed to cross the territorial line before Percy unraveled completely. Stopping was not an option, at least not until they reached the safety of their land.
Percy trembled violently, his nails raking against Santiago’s back, like he was trying to burrow his way inside Santiago’s body.
“Hold on, baby,”
he murmured through the rushing wind. “Just hold on for a few more miles.”
Jaw clenched, he twisted the throttle, pushing the motorcycle to its limits as the tremors intensified, the landscape blurring into a streak of urgency and speed.
In the distance, a serpentine line of glowing headlights sped toward them. A symphony of engines roared through the darkness, signaling that Santiago and Matias were no longer alone.
Their pack had arrived like a protective storm, circling around to flank them on all sides, guiding them safely toward home.
“The cavalry is here, my sweet elegido ,”
Santiago murmured, but refused to ease up on the throttle. His legs were stretched out before him, his hair whipping in the wind, while grim determination rode Santiago harder than the powerful engine underneath him.
They rode the entire way, Percy curled against him. Every few minutes, Santiago rubbed his mate’s back, hoping he held on just a little longer.