Page 19 of The Suspicious Mate

Noa was amazing. His bear filled the doorway and beyond, taking down part of the wall as he charged inside. Axel held Kallan by the throat and positioned him in front, shielding him from the bear, but he wasn't going to get away. Kallan had no doubt that his bear would save him. He glanced down at Mac, who was pressed against the wall trying to protect himself from the fallout.

"Back off, bear, or I kill him. Don't push me, or your little mate gets his throat torn out." Axel moved toward the door with his back to the wall and Kallan in front of him. He kept his eyes on the bear, believing he had a chance at escape, but there was no way he was leaving that room, especially not with Noa's mate in tow.

Noa shifted back to his human form, which strangely was just as frightening as his bear. He blocked the door, and his gaze followed the Jackal as he continued to shuffle his way to the door. Kallan had never seen a more perfect specimen of manly perfection than his mate Noa.

"Let me leave, and I will not kill him." The Jackal promised, but it seemed hollow even to Kallan's ears. The Jackal took a step to the left, and Kallan stumbled, and that was the break that Noa had been waiting for.

Noa was not letting the bastard leave the room. His mate was holding it together and seemed to be receiving the calm that Noa was sending him. Mac was safe where he was, so he kept all his attention on the Jackal holding his mate. Fighting was still going on throughout the derelict building. Cross, Parc, and Zeke had shown up and were taking care of the rest of the grays. Axel was Noa's, and he was going to take great pleasure in ending this bastard.

The moment Kallan stumbled and loosened Axel's grip, Noa grabbed Kallan by the front of his shirt and jerked him away, tossing him over toward his cousin, and Noa went for Axel. Leaping upon him as Axel shifted into his beast, the Jackal was large and ferocious but still no match for a man like Noa, who was bound and determined to protect and avenge his Fated mate.

Bonding strengthened a shifter in a way that could not be described. The position of protector brought with it enhanced, focused, and supercharged abilities. The Jackal, although powerful in his own right, began to falter under the attack of the bear.

Noa wrestled the beast to the floor and wrapped his arm around its throat and his legs around its midsection rendering it immobile as he continued to tighten his grip. He twisted aggressively to his right breaking the Jackal's neck and subsequently ending his life. Noa would have preferred drawing it out and delivering considerably more pain for the crimes committed against Kallan, but he went for expediency so he could go and comfort his mate. He desperately needed to hold the man in his arms and know that he was well and safe.

The minute he dumped the guy off him and rolled to his feet, he found his arms filled with a grateful mate. He had expected appreciation but had not expected the love and adoration that poured off him. God, he loved this man, always a surprise and always so sweet.

"Noa, I am sorry for running. I won't doubt you again. Mac told me the truth. I know who you are. It's a lot to process, but I will get there. I want you in my life." Kallan was in a rush of apologies and explanations, and all Noa could do was smile. Having the man in his arms relatively unhurt and more interested in Noa's feelings than the mayhem that was surrounding him was heartwarming. Noa broke the ties binding his wrists, and Kallan's arms were instantly wrapped around him.

He held his mate flat to his chest and buried his nose in his hair, relishing the vitality and life of this beautiful man. He glanced over at Mac, who was standing a few feet away. Noa reached over and broke his ties, and Mac began to rub his wrists. He didn't speak, just nodded with a smile and gave Noa a thumbs up.

“What’s going on downstairs?” Kallan asked as the sound of fighting continued for a few more minutes before silence and then the sound of voices.

"Cross, Parc, and Zeke are cleaning up down there. Nothing to be afraid of." Noa assured him.

"That sounds like a cat, a large cat," Kallan commented and then tilted his head to the side as another loud snarl pierced the silence.

"Zeke, the surveillance specialist at the club, is a tiger shifter," Mac interjected. "I've never met him, but I hear he's deadly impressive in his tiger form."

"Very impressive indeed." There came a voice from the doorway, and it was Zeke who walked over and introduced himself to Mac and then put his arm around him. “Let me help you.” He said and assisted him along as they followed Noa and Kallan downstairs and out of the building. "You take care of your mate, and I'll see to Mac," Zeke stated and walked Mac over to his vehicle.

Noa took his mate into his arms once outside. Thankfully Cross had brought him a change of clothes since his were destroyed in his shift. He checked Kallan over to make sure he wasn’t injured, only a few cuts and scrapes. The fact that they were bonded had assisted him in healing and strengthened him for the attack he endured. He would explain that to him later. Noa had enough explaining for one night and didn’t want to risk fucking things up again.

“I want to go back to your place Noa. Let’s go back to where we were before I got all stupid and ran away.” Kallan was endearing, and Noa was so in love with this human he couldn't imagine a life without him now.

"You weren't stupid, sweetheart. You were discerning." Noa corrected. "I didn't explain myself appropriately.

"Either way, let's go back to your place," Kallan repeated.

"It's our place, Kallan, unless you'd like to live somewhere else. We can house hunt if you like. I'm open to whatever you desire." Noa knew he was getting ahead of himself again, but he just couldn't seem to stop.

“You want me to live with you?”

“I want you to live with me.”

"Normally, my answer would be a firm no, but I'm finding that with you, Noa, my love, I look at you, and all I want is more. You are a charmer like no other, and yet I believe every word you say." Kallan reached up to cup the side of his face and placed a soft kiss on his bottom lip.

"I will never lie to you, never desert you, never look at another. You are it for me, baby." Noa stated emphatically. Kallan searched his face for a few seconds and then smiled, having obviously found what he was looking for.

"I don't know where this relationship is headed, but I know it's going to be interesting." Kallan smiled, completely at ease with his decisions now and completely at ease with his new reality.

“Thank you, sweetheart, for giving me a chance.”

“Thank you for saving my life in more ways than one.” Kallan reached up again and pulled him down for a proper heartfelt kiss that spoke volumes of what he was feeling. Noa gathered him close and kissed him like his life depended on it. He loved this man, and he knew for a fact that no one would ever make him feel the way Kallan made him feel.

“Let’s go home.”

“Let’s go home.”

Ames and Hofer arrived to assist with the cleanup, and Ames tossed Noa his keys. "Go home and enjoy your young man."

"Thanks, Ames." Noa shot back, more than ready to do just that. His body was calling for Kallan, and he couldn't wait to taste that beauty once again.

"Take a few days off. I'll cover for you." He said, and before entering the structure, he stopped and turned back to regard him with a lighthearted smile. "Congratulations, Noa mates are the greatest gift of life, don't you agree."

“The greatest gift.” Noa agreed while never taking his eyes off Kallan’s lovely, upturned face. He hadn’t believed in Fate or mates but thank God Fate believed in him.

THE END