Hiding

‘Talking to their cat’

~Mind link~

Mikey’s P.O.V.

Feeling my chest start to tighten in panic I end up dropping my bag of books. It drops with a small thud at my feet. Not that I even process that it fell from my hands. As our eyes meet, I see the anger and sick desire for me hidden behind his cold black eyes. It makes my throat fill with bile in disgust and fear. His eyes slowly work their way up and down my body, clearing examining every inch of me. It makes me feel as filthy and tainted as he had made me. He seems to notice as a grin spreads across his face. Revealing the fangs that were going to mark me as his. But not anymore because I am not his I am Theo’s I want to be Theo’s not is. Though I know Theo will protect me, the prickle of doubt driven by fear starts to claw at the back of my mind. Tearing my graze from King Raphael I look at Theo mentally pleading for him to make this monster go away. Having lost my attention Raphael’s smile quickly vanishes. A frown of irritation and annoyance quickly replaced it. As he stands, taking a few steps closer to me makes me take a few steps back. Wrapping my arms around myself I try to stop myself from trembling with little success. “King Theo, I thought you were a man of your word. But it seems that is not true as you have just lied to me.”

Despite my fear of Raphael, I can’t help but want to snap at him. As he has no right at all to insult my mate Theo like that. Theo stands up slowly from his chair adjusting his sunglasses as he does so. “It is King Theodore to you King Raphael, and I didn’t lie to you. You asked if we had a were-cheetah here by the name of Micheal, who is your mate.”

My eyes quickly shifted to Theo as his cold and sharp tone surprised me. To be honest it did scare me a bit even though I know it wasn’t directed towards me. His graze though sightless seems to follow Raphael with scary precision. Though he looks calm Chase, and I can feel the anger hidden beneath the surface. It is ready to explode at a moment’s notice. “What I said is true.”

Raphael holds back a growl as he glares at Theo. “They why in the name of the Goddess is my runaway mate standing right here.”

At this I start to panic again as Chase snarls in my head. As we aren’t his we aren’t his mate we are Theo’s mate. Though despite Chase’s desire to fight and defend ourselves I just want to run. I want to get as far away from him and his scent as possible. As just his scent alone reminds me of all the times, he beat me. All the times he took what he wanted from me whenever he wanted. Even now I can feel his hands on my skin where he used to touch me. It burns like an icy fire that couldn’t be extinguished. “That is not your runaway mate King Raphael. That is Mikey, he is a member of this pride and my mate.”

My eyes widen when I hear Theo say this. Yes, he claimed me in front of his sister and his second-in-command. But this is another King from a different pride. It is a very big deal to be claimed like this. At this I can feel hot tears start to fill my eyes. “Mikey.”

I jump slightly when I hear Katie’s voice as she gently wraps a protective arm around me. While Raphael glares at Theo before a mocking laugh spills out of him. Theo frowns at this while Axle moves slightly ready to protect us if need be. As his laugh suddenly cuts off as he speaks in a spine-chilling cold tone. “Your mate? Don’t make me laugh as much of a perfect sad fitting that would be. That mongrel right here is mine. He belongs to my pride. He belongs to me.”

Axel lets out a territorial and protective growl as he glares at Raphael. “He isn’t yours; he is the King of this pride.”

Raphael lets out a short laugh at Axel’s words. “Him a King? Don’t make me laugh, he is nothing more than a used-up breeding whore.”

Katie pulls me closer to her when I jump out of fear. As a low deep dangerous growl leaves none other than Theo. This being the angriest I have ever seen him. As he bares his fangs in a snarl. His eyes flashing that beautiful sunset orange from behind his sunglasses. “I think it is time for you to leave King Raphael. I will not tolerate my mate being spoken to in that manner.”

Theo is clearly trying to hold his black panther, or I guess jaguar back. As he is trying to push through and take over. But he can’t because if he hurts Raphael then it could start a whole war between the two prides. Maybe even the allies of either pride if it gets that severe. So, Theo has to control his were-cat so that he doesn’t attack King Raphael. He takes a deep breath as he controls his anger. Raphael snarls clearly not liking being spoken to like that. “Very well I am going to leave.”

Katie pulls us out of the door as he starts to get closer to the door. Though when he is close enough, he suddenly grabs me by the arm. I let out a yelp in pain as I was ripped out of Katie's hold as I pulled into Raphael. “But I am taking this whore with me. He is my property and belongs to me.”

Tears fill my eyes as I struggle to try to get away from him. I did want to touch him and didn’t want him touching me. “No please let me go. Don’t touch me.”

Letting out a snarl he raises a hand to strike me and flinches away closing my eyes. I wait for the incoming pain from his strike. Though when it doesn’t come, I slowly open my eyes to see. My eyes widen at what I see. Standing there I see Theo holding onto Raphael’s arm with a death grip. His black panther is clearly in full control as his eyes glow orange. Though there is something different it is almost as if he is actually looking at Raphael. Well, more like glaring at him as he snarls at him baring his fangs. It is not just a warning, but a threat. It scared me to see this side of Theo especially since Raphael’s other hand still held me. “You will not touch our mate!”

His grip on Raphael tightens causing him to snarl in pain. Though as he tries to pull away from Theo his grip on me starts to loosen. Noticing this I start to wiggle and to fight my way out of his grasp. After a bit more wiggling and struggling I am able to free myself. But in doing so I end up stumbling back and falling to the floor. “Mikey!”

Katie and Axle hurry to my side and try to help me up. But being in a severe state of fight flight or freeze I do that one thing I can do. I shift and run as fast as I can to get somewhere safe. Despite hearing them call after me I don’t stop running not knowing where I am going. As I only know that I have to get away and now.

Theo’s P.O.V.

Hearing my mate yelp in pain I can’t hold back Kyle any longer. As my sight returns my anger only grows at what I see. As I see the tears in my adorable mate’s eyes as his body shakes like a leaf out of fear. Despite his fear he is struggling hard against his hold clearing wanting to get away from him. “No please let me go. Don’t touch me.”

His struggling and words seem to only anger Raphael as he raises his hand to strike him. As soon as Mikey sees him raise his hand he automatically flinches away. It is clear to tell that it is a reflex at this point from years of abuse. Furious Kyle pushes his way forward and takes over in a rage. In an instant we are next to him grabbing his arm hard, preventing him from striking our mate. Snarling at him, snapping my teeth at him, putting him in his place. Even though we are both Kings I am stronger and have more authority. Though I know that doing this is seen as a disrespect to him. But I don’t care as long as I make my threat very clear to him. “You will not touch our mate!”

As I warn him my grip on his arm tightens with each word. Making him let out a pained growl as I can hear the bones in his arm start to crack and break. It causes Mikey to be able to wiggle and fight his way free from Raphael’s grasp. Though once he breaks free, he ends up falling backwards landing on the hard floor. We wanted to go to him immediately, but we had to keep a hold of King Raphael. As he is a threat to our mate that we can’t let go. Though Axel and Katie hurry over to him, but as soon as they try to help him up, he panics. As he scrambles to his feet shifting as he bolts off down the hallway. Turning my attention to King Raphael I growl lowly at him wanting to kill him just for what he did to Mikey. Axle must have mind linked some warriors as they arrive just in time. Seeing them I roughly release Raphael causing him to stumble back a bit. Turning towards Axel I hold back a growl. “Escort him off the territory before I remove his eyes and tongue.”

Axel and my warriors bow their heads before they surround King Raphael to remove him. Though before they take him away, I have one more thing to say. “King Raphael if you come anywhere near my mate or pride again it will be the last thing you ever do.”

“The council won’t stand for the theft of my mate.”

At this my lip curls in a low warning growl. “Go ahead, bring the council in on this. I’m sure they will be excited to hear all about how Mickey was treated when he was part of your pride. If you didn’t think we documented all his injuries old and new, then you are terribly mistaken. Like I said, come near my mate again and I will ruin you.”

He holds back a growl as he looks away as he is learning quickly not to challenge me. As Axel and my warriors lead him out Katie places a hand on my arm. It soothes some of the rage within me though not completely. “Hey, go find him, we got this here. Just make sure to be gentle when you find him.”

Taking a deep breath I nod in agreement. “Don’t worry I will.”

Giving her a faint smile I quickly left the direction that Mikey had bolted off in. Quickly I follow after his scent as it ends up leading me to my room. Admittedly I am a bit surprised though it does please us that he went to my room to hide. Finding the door slightly open I slowly push it open and step inside. Sniffing the air, I pause when I find his scent pooling under my bed. Getting down on my hands and knees I look under my bed. When I do I find my mate there curled up into a tight ball in his cheetah form. Humming softly, I shift into my black panther form. Laying down on the floor I slowly crawl closer to him. As I do I rumble softly so that I don’t scare him.

With my head under the bed, I pause as I can sense him tense up. Letting out a soft coo I try to help him settle down and relax. It takes some time, but I am able to get him to relax. Though not fully it is enough to allow me to get closer. As I manage to slip under the bed with him despite it being a very tight fit. The boards of the bed frame rub against my back as I adjust myself to curl around him. He flinches at first when I curl around him. Though once he realizes that it is me, he relaxes, turning himself so that he is hiding his face into my fur. Wrapping my tail around him I snuggle him as close as I can into my side. As I do I let out a soft rumble making sure it doesn’t scare him. While I start to groom his shoulder as his head has completely disappeared into my side. ‘How is he doing?’

‘He is very shaken up, but this is helping.’

I mentally sigh in relief, glad that this is helping him. As Mikey isn’t officially a part of our pride none of us can mind link him in his feline form. Since we haven’t marked each other, we can’t even mind link each other either. However, our cats’ can at least communicate with each other. It is better than nothing though I really wish that I could talk to him myself. ‘Can you tell him that I am sorry for not acting sooner.’

‘I will tell him that we are sorry.’

A few moments later I feel him shift against me again. I lift my head up slightly to let him adjust himself properly. When I do, I am surprised when I feel a lick against my neck. Surprised by this I freeze as I am giving a few more before he buries his face under my chin. It is as if he is saying that it is okay. Smiling mentally, I lay my head down over him which makes a sweet little chirp leave him. It makes my tail flicker happily as I nuzzle him as I go back to grooming him. Which makes him chirp a bit more as a purr starts to leave him. Spending after a while like this I noticed that Mikey had slowly stopped purring. Glancing down at him I find that he is asleep making Kyle chuff happily. Since he clearly feels safe enough with us to fall asleep. Though my moment of happiness when Axle mind links me. ~King Raphael has been escorted far from our territory’s borders though not to happily.~

~Good thank you for that Axel.~

~Of course, he threatened your mate. None of us will stand for that, we don't care who he is. Speaking of which, how is Mikey doing?~

~Well he is asleep, so I’d have to say he is doing better than he was earlier.~

~That is good he probably needs all the rest he can get. Where did you two end up?~

~Is that you asking or is it Katie asking?~

There is a moment of silence as the pair are caught. ~Both of us if you must know. I am asking as your second-in-command and friend. Katie is asking as both your friends and a worried sister.~

Rolling my eyes I hold back a chuckle at their antics. ~We are in my room under the bed.~

~Under the bed? Wait you can fit under there?~

~Well not really it is a bit of a tight fit. But I can move around just enough to not get stuck.~

Axle laughs for a second as he takes this in. ~Want me to talk to the staff about getting the beds raised?~

~Yes that would be much appreciated. As the sofas as well. If this is what makes him feel safe I want him to have as many options as possible.~

~Alright all talk to them about it now.~

~Thank you.~

At this I close the mind link collection snuggling back up to Mikey. As my thoughts wander back to when King Raphael showed up. Sighing I nuzzle my nose into his fur breathing in his intoxicating scent. While he sleeps, I start to form a plan on how to better protect Mikey from his former King. Mind linking my head warrior telling her that I want training in combat and battle strategies to be increased. King Raphael being a possible volatile threat that I am not sure how he will react. Especially when word of Mikey being my mate becomes public knowledge. King Raphael not having the best reputation as a King let alone a person. As I have heard of many rumors of his abuse towards the weaker pride members. Of course, as someone who has many rumors about myself, I didn’t think much of the rumors about him. Though now that I have met Mikey and Raphael himself. I have little doubt that those rumors are far off from the truth. To be honest the truth of what is going on in that pride is probably much worse than the rumors. With this in mind I decided to double patrols. It's better to be safe than sorry. With all that settled I glanced back down at my sleeping mate.

His sleeping face looked so innocent and worry free. As if what had happened earlier had never happened. My ears pinning back in anger at the thought of anyone hurting someone so sweet and innocent. Mentally I make a promise to Mikey that he will never be treated poorly like that ever again. That no one will hurt him whether it is physical or mental. “No one will ever hurt you again. From now on you will be protected, loved and spoiled my sweet little mate.”

Laying my head down I bury my nose into his fur and close my eyes. The smell of his scent lulling me into a peaceful slumber.