Page 20 of Chaos Claimed

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, cariño.”

“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, cariño?”

“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.

Chapter Six

Santiago paused long enough to turn off his motorcycle and drop the kickstand before he climbed the steps to his home. Once inside, he used his foot to kick the door closed.

Just as he began to head upstairs, he heard Percy’s first sob. He’d anticipated his mate breaking sooner, but Percy had damn near clawed Santiago’s back, as if he was trying to hold himself together.

“You can let go now, cariño,” Santiago murmured. “I’ve got you.”

Another sob escaped.

Santiago went directly to his bed, not bothering to remove his boots, and lay down, holding Percy closely against him.

This was on Santiago. He should’ve seen the signs that had been right in front of him. How Percy had been forcing normalcy, using sass to hide his emotions.

His mate had wanted to be his old self so badly, he’d pushed himself past the edge.

If he’d known about Percy’s breakdown in the kitchen, he never would’ve agreed to go out. Healing took time and should never be rushed.

---