Page 4 of The Lost Beloved

"Weapons, we need weapons if you can find any," Gage called to him as he left the room.

Gage brought his beloved over to one of the large, wide sofas in the center of the room and carefully laid him down. He then took his jacket off and covered him as best as possible.

The man still wore a stricken expression and it worried Gage. The vision of the dead shifter on the heels of such a traumatic night was too much for his little beauty. He hoped that once he woke and explanations were made that Harley would be able, in time, to put the fear and the shock behind him.

Gage sat on the sturdy wooden coffee table so he could remain close to Harley. He wanted to be at hand when he came around. The poor man was probably going to take some carefulhandling after the night he'd endured, and Gage would have to watch his words. He tended to be too blunt, and now was not the time for impatience. He pulled out his phone, but there was still no service. Perhaps Dumas would find a location on the upper floors that might offer a connection.

The small human was quite a surprise even more so than the twisted shifter Dumas had to kill. Oddities were not uncommon in the world of the supernatural but finding ones beloved was always a shock a beautiful and welcome shock but a shock all the same. He’d just been discussing his preferences and then Fate delivered.

Harley was a handsome man probably somewhere between twenty and twenty-five with the blondest of blond hair Gage could ever recall seeing or maybe it was just a beloved thing. Everything about Harley was perfect and brought a sense of love and appreciation out of Gage.

The scent that poured off him was out of this world a combination of floral and citrus that was sharp and invigorating. Gage loved the feelings that rushed him with each breath.

His mind had been focused on getting the man to safety and being alert to the creatures in the woods but still the sensations and emotions that filled him at the touch of his beloved were quite overwhelming. Now standing guard and watching him sleep filled him with the same sense of irresistible appeal.

The emotions he was experiencing were powerful, and he loved every aspect of this new discovery. Gage wanted to know all there was to know about this man named Harley Fraser, but all he was allowed at present was a name.

It wasn’t more than a few minutes before Harley started coming around. He groaned a few times and thrashed and thencame awake with a violent start. He sat up and started swinging his arms.

CHAPTER THREE

Harley wasn’t sure where he was and what was happening, but he was certain that he needed to get away. Panic took him over and he started just blindly swinging his arms and attempting to stand. Suddenly things changed and the panic that was consuming him was draining away. His fear diminished as he took in his surroundings.

The man there grabbing his arms and trying to calm him seemed familiar to him. "Easy, sweetheart, don’t hurt yourself. My name is Gage, don't you remember?" He reached for him, but Harley jerked away. "We're at the Lodge owned by Nikolas Hadden. Try to remember. There are more creatures out there like the one who chased you, and we needed to get somewhere safe. No one is going to harm you here, I promise." Harley calmed down, sat back, and stared at the man in front of him.

He grabbed the jacket that had been covering him and was compelled to hold it close and drink in its amazing scent. Deep breaths brough a sense of peace over him and his panic disappeared. “Where is your friend?” Harley remembered the large dour looking man standing over the remains of that beast.

"Dumas is searching the premises for anything that might be useful to us. He's also trying to get reception so we can reachour commander." That did not sound good, and Harley felt a chill run up his spine. "Nothing to worry about, really. Whatever these things are, I assure you Dumas and I can handle them."

"This is a nightmare." Harley didn't want to sound like a whiner, but this was utterly horrible. "I can't believe I willingly put myself in this mess. I could be warm and safe in my bed. Why did I have to be such a petty-ass bitch."

"I've only known you a short time, but I'm certain you are not and have never been a petty-ass bitch." Gage smiled, and it relieved every regret Harley was feeling, and he smiled back, suddenly feeling warm and safe.

"I went off on my own because of hurt feelings, which is something I should have handled better. Anger is not your friend, and that is a lesson learned." Gage patted him on the shoulder, but Harley could not resist leaning into the gesture.

“Where were you camping?” Gage moved from where he was seated on the coffee table to sit next to Harley on the sofa. Harley held fast to the lovely smelling jacket but moved to give Gage room to sit.

“I’m not really sure. I was walking and thinking and was blind to where I was going. It was nearly dark when I finally set up camp. I chose a level clearing with tree cover just off the main trail. I really didn't think this thing out. I wanted to get away and be alone, and I picked the worst possible way to achieve that." Harley leaned against Gage's shoulder, liking the way he felt and the energy he was giving off.

“Do you have your phone with you?”

“Yes, but I couldn’t get any service after I started running.” He then went into a description of what had happened to him. “I got a bad feeling when I was setting up my tent, but I was tired, and it was late, so I ignored it.” He shook his head andthen turned to look up at Gage. He was surprised by the sweet understanding that was reflected there in his expression.

“I got comfortable and settled about two hours later I heard movement outside my tent. It continued to get closer and louder, and I stepped out of my tent to see something unimaginable.” The memory of the sight of that thing sent another shudder through him and to his delight Gage put his arm around him.

"I started running, chaotically, I'm sorry to say, and that thing kept following. It could have overtaken me at any time, but instead, it just kept running behind me until I was utterly exhausted." Harley laid his head on Gage's shoulder and noticed he carried the same delicious scent as the jacket.

"Larger animals will sometimes do that with their prey," Gage commented. "How did you get into the storage building? I know it was locked up tight?"

“I picked the lock.”

“Thank heavens you were able to get to safety.”

"You and your friend weren't too far behind, and for that, I am thankful."

"So am I, Harley." Gage pulled him close, and Harley went with it, thoroughly enjoying the attention from this strong and handsome man. He deserved it after the day he'd been through.

"We can't reach them by phone, and there is no reception due to the storm rolling in there," Micheal reported to Josef his concerns for his men. "They should have reported in by now. Those two are damned resourceful, and if they don't report, then it is because they can't."

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