Page 6 of Chasing Secrets
“Found my mate,” he said without preamble.
A pause. “You serious?”
“Dead serious. Human. Name’s Jalen.” Chase leaned against his pickup, eyes fixed on the apartment building’s entrance. “But there’s a problem. One of the vampires found him too.”
Zeppelin cursed softly. “Bring your mate home. He’ll be safer here.”
“He’s too freaked out.” He ran a hand through his hair, watching Jalen’s window. “Can’t blame him. He just watched me sprout claws and canines while fighting a vampire in his living room.”
“Not the ideal first impression.”
“No shit,” Chase snorted. “I’m staying in the parking lot tonight. Making sure that bloodsucker doesn’t come back.”
“I’m sending backup your way,” Zeppelin replied. “Send me your location.”
After sending his location, Chase hung up then settled into his pickup truck, adjusting the seat to keep a clear view of the apartment building’s entrance. The night air carried a mix of scents through his cracked window—pine from the nearby forest, exhaust from passing cars, and, faintly, Jalen’s scent, which lingered on his own clothes from their brief encounter.
He hadn’t expected to find his mate tonight. Hadn’t expected to find a mate ever, if he was being honest. The universe had a sick sense of humor, dropping Jalen into his life at the exact same moment a vampire decided to make him dinner.
Chase kept his senses alert, scanning the darkness for any sign of the vampire’s return. His wolf paced restlessly inside him, anxious to be closer to their newly discovered mate. He still couldn't believe that vampire had gotten away. Again. That fucked with Chase. There was more than just him now. The bloodsucker liked playing games, though. He could be telling the truth or simply taunting Chase.
Either way, he wanted that vamp to greet the sun.
Chase watched as Vaughn passed the parking lot, gave a small wave, and circled around to the back of the building.
Twenty minutes later, movement at the building’s entrance caught his attention. Jalen emerged, his lean frame silhouetted against the lobby lights. Even from a distance, Chase could see the rigid set of his shoulders and the purposeful stride of someone who was well and truly pissed off.
He straightened in his seat, caught between the urge to meet Jalen halfway and the instinct to brace for whatever storm was coming. His mate’s expression promised thunder, and Chase had the distinct feeling he was about to get struck by lightning.
* * * *
The absurdity of Jalen’s situation hit him with each step. His apartment was trashed, his security deposit was definitely gone, and now he was marching toward the pickup truck where Chase sat watching his building like some kind of supernatural Uber driver.
Great. Just great. The cherry on top of this disaster sundae. Chase had decided to camp out like some kind of muscled bodyguard. Because tonight wasn’t stressful enough already.
Jalen headed across the lot, gripping the strap of his hastily packed overnight bag until his knuckles turned white.
“Going somewhere?” Chase asked, getting out of his truck.
“Motel,” Jalen replied, keeping a careful distance between them.
The night air felt thick with humidity, clinging to his skin like an unwelcome second layer. Or maybe that was just the nervous sweat trickling down his back. Hard to tell when his worldview had been obliterated in a single night.
Chase’s nostrils flared slightly, almost like he was... smelling him? Jalen fought the urge to sniff his own armpits. Instead, he shifted his weight, hyperaware of the man’s intense focus.
“You don’t need a motel,” Chase said, his voice rumbling in the quiet parking lot. “I can take you somewhere safe.”
“Safe?” Jalen laughed, the sound hollow and slightly hysterical. “My apartment looks like a war zone, I just watched a vampire try to drink your blood, and you grew claws. Actual claws. Safety sailed right past concerning and straight into what-the-actual-hell territory about an hour ago.”
Something that might have been hurt flickered across Chase’s face before his expression hardened again. “You’re in danger.”
“No shit.” Jalen ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the ends in frustration. “There was a vampire in my bedroom. My freaking second-floor bedroom. He used you as his Kibbles snack. I’m fully aware of how much danger I’m in.” He patted the strap of his bag. “Hence, the motel.”
Chase took a step forward, and Jalen instinctively backed up, hating that he’d shown such vulnerability. The man stopped, raising his hands in a placating gesture that would’ve been more effective if Jalen hadn’t seen those same hands sprout razor-sharp claws.
“Look,” Jalen continued, exhaustion making his voice crack, “I appreciate you saving me from becoming a midnight snack. Really. But I just need some space to process... whatever the hell is happening.”
“The vampire knows your scent now.” A muscle twitched in Chase’s jaw. “He’ll come back.”
