Sentinal Oaks - A Lion's Pride - 8. Chapter 8 - Tanner

Oh, thank heavens Milo and Trek rescued me from Nash. Well, Beckett helped by distracting him. While Beckett was busy getting Nash to help him get caramel tarts from the storage cooler that Cookie had set aside just for us we escaped out the outside staff door. I love that woman. Honestly, I was torn between running and eating those tarts. As soon as we were able to get out, they pestered me wanting to know what happened after I had stormed into the Alphas office. They eventually gave in when I refused to spill my guts to them, and they suggested we go for a run. Beats sitting around stewing in our bedroom waiting for Rush so I can tear him a new one for treating me like a child.

We walked around for a bit shooting the breeze, when we ended up outside the Alphas office. Looking through the window the view of my mate in the office window immediately reminded that not even twelve hours ago I was bent over that desk. I could still remember my alpha yelling out ‘fuck’ and I instantly tightened my muscles squeezing his dick hard enough for him to get the message. I’m not the least bit remorseful. It was hot as hel… helicopters. Now, I am not against cursing it’s just the way me and my sisters were raised, we were told not to be vulgar if we could help it. I guess there should be some exceptions to the rules.

Unfortunately for my mate, I wasn’t blocking our connection when all my thoughts got me hot and bothered and he got hit with a wave of my arousal. I watched him through the window trying to get himself together. Even more unfortunate – for my mate more than me – was Beckett had caught up with us, he smirked at me following my line of sight. He saw how his brother reacted to me – who was hanging on a thin edge - and laughing his ass off he shared with our friends.

“Oh my spirits, Tanner, this is priceless. You dirty, dirty, boy. Do it again. Do it again,” Beckett skipped from foot to foot like a pre-teen fan girl.

After a few minutes of egging me on I finally gave in and teased my mate a bit. I started out by imagining me slowly licking along his shaft like a lollipop. When that didn’t seem to work I just thought about slowly sinking down his entire length. My mate dropped to the chair his hand went down under the desk and the expression on his face delectable. BINGO! I could feel the lust pouring off of him, and then suddenly we all heard “BECKETT!!” Looking to the left stood an enraged Nash pointing at my friend angrily.

Well looks like the jig is up. Not knowing what to do we all looked at the one person who knew Rush best, his brother, who’s face had paled but still wickedly amused. He quickly gave us the reply as he shifted, “Oh shit! Run boys!”

My head snapped up to the window and saw Nash shift. The four of us shifted, shredding our clothes after hearing Beckett yell. “Move your ass boys, Nash is a bitch when he’s angry.” Somehow Beckett and Milo separated from me and Trek, I guess we’ll meet up later. Right now I need to focus on escaping. I knew we’d only end up at the place near where the beaver’s made their home. It had become a haven for the four us, we respected the rodents and their space and treated it as if we were guests in their home, never disturbing the little habitat they’d made for themselves.

“Munchkin, you can run. But you can’t hide.” I heard my mate tell me in my head. Oh snickerdoodles…

We took off running just like when we were cubs. I loved it when we had time to do this, the moments being carefree like when we were young. It’s not often we get a chance to do this now that we’re adults, too many responsibilities. I managed to make up the distance between me and Trek, and of course just as I reached his side he knocked me with his shoulder and I went tumbling with a “Squee!” I rolled once, twice, thr… and a half. I only tumbled two and a half times, okay, not three. Then leapt onto my feet running as fast as I could.

“Shake a leg, Trek, Rush is gaining on us,” I told my friend flying over a log where he stood sniffing the air. As I rounded by the big fallen tree, veering left at the fork in the trail. A loud ground shaking roar came from behind me as Trek almost knocked me on my ass as he flew by me. I tried to keep up with him, but he was running flat out his nose to the ground then in the air. It’s weird I’ve never seen him do that before he usually has two speeds, go, and stop, and usually along trails we’ve forged over the years. Our little foursome is usually very mindful of the beavers and their home and try not to disturb anything.

“Trek! Trek! What are you doing?” I called out while watching him disappear and reappear through the trees and scrub.

About ten minutes into the chase trying to keep up with Trek I heard, “Just imagine what’s going to happen to you tonight, I may just have to tie you up for this one, Munchkin.”

Well if that didn’t sound like a fun idea, I don’t know what would!

A shiver ran through me just at the thought, but Trek caught my eye again, I mean what the jackal is he doing? It was worrisome that he wouldn’t answer me. Finally, I managed to catch up to him as we made it to the clearing. Thank god, Milo and Beckett were waiting for us. I shifted back expecting Trek to do the same, but he stood nearby restlessly moving about the area. Milo and Beckett were bickering about something, but I couldn’t help but keep my eyes on Trek. I mean, seriously, what is the spirits is he doing? Trek would stop and seem like he was sniffing the air, or the ground covering anxiously, vigorously.

Trek shifted, “Can’t you smell that?” he sniffed the air as he put his nose in the air again trying to catch the scent of whatever was driving him crazy. “It’s like… coconut and ginger, you know… like the cheesecake that cookie makes. He sniffed the air again before explaining further he shifted and ran off. I’m not sure what he smelled so I sent Milo after him so he wouldn’t get into trouble or get hurt.

“Milo,” I jutted my chin in the direction Trek had scurried.

“On it,” he said affirmatively then shifted and took off.

A few seconds later I heard the voice of my mate and a wave of mischief and promises run through me, “You're lucky munchkin, Rafael just got ahold of me and it seems I’ve got meetings for the rest of the day, so for now you’re safe.” Oh my, the way he said ‘for now’ sent even more delicious shivers down my spine.

I’d turned around to say something to Beckett to find he too had also disappeared. “Do I smell bad or something?” I asked aloud to no one apparently sticking my nose in my armpit. “Hmpf, roses if you ask me.” I dropped my arm down in defeat. These guys are gonna give me a complex. Before I could yell out to Beckett, he appeared with a very naked and blushing Nash. I have no idea why he would be embarrassed. I mean we’re all naked because we shifted. There is no saving those clothes at the speed we shed them when we shifted. Oh, pooh, that was my favorite shirt too.

“Hey Tanner look what I found perving out on us!” Beckett said while laughing his ass off.

“I was not perving on you guys its just I….” Nash threw a look of daggers at Beckett.

“Dude you had your dick out!”

“I’m naked you idiot of course it was out!” he pointed at Beckett. “Even yours it out. Seriously, dude. Ever thought about a reduction; that thing has to slow you down.”

Beckett looked down with a grin looking at his tally-whacker, he grabbed his entire tackle giving it a jiggle in Nash’s direction. “Oh yeah, well that doesn’t explain the–”

Before Beckett could finish we heard a roar rip through the woods stopping the bickering, I’m not even sure any of us were breathing. The roar was full of anguish and pain. Forgetting what we were talking about, we quickly shifted and ran towards the guys not really knowing what we should expect.

“Help guys you need to get here quick. There is a guy, he’s all beat up. Trek’s lost it; I don’t know what’s going on!”

When we reached Trek and Milo they were in some makeshift camp. Looking down we found Trek was crying and cradling the guy who had been beaten so bad we couldn’t even make out his face. Before we could say anything Milo’s eyes bugged out of his head as his gaze narrowed piercing over my shoulder. I looked behind me to see another white lion like me, Nash, shifting back. What the hell?

Milo immediately asked angrily, “Why didn’t you tell us you were an omega???”

Before Nash could answer Beckett jumped in “Guys, there is a reason for the secrecy, but right now everyone needs to shut up and listen, we have a guy who needs medical attention. I need to concentrate so we can get him stable enough to be moved. So,” Beckett closed his eyes taking a deep breath and started throwing out orders before they re-opened. “First off, Nash, you and Milo need to go get some bandages and materials for a splint for his broken legs, if you can get some antiseptic as well. Go to the clinic and see if the doc can come but if not sign out a mobile cot and a neck brace as well.” Beckett started mumbling to himself in medical gibberish that I’m fairly sure none of us could understand. His face betrayed him showing his fear at the situation. I couldn’t help it; I was scared, and my body started shaking. If the alphas with me are scared I can feel it and it frightens me too. The poor man.

The guys just stood there stunned at Beckett before he unleashed his alpha voice “GET THE SUPPLIES NOW!”

The boys shifted at the sudden change in Beckett. He instantly became Doc Beckett and the Alpha tone had my whole body shaking even more from the wafting Alpha pheromones. Once he was licensed he was gonna be a force to be reckoned with.

I watched Beckett’s internal struggle as he assessed Trek, he looked to my friend and spoke to him with respect. If I’d never met my Alpha-in-law? Brother-in-law? Friend? Whatever, he’d have had my respect from that moment.

“Trek,” he said, “I know you don’t want to, and this will be difficult for you, but I need you to lay him on the ground so I can see to his injuries. Besides, you don’t know if you holding him like that is doing more damage or not.”

My poor friend looked panicked and frantic as he whimpered, sobbing, “He’s my mate.” The pain-stricken anguish on his face killed me, my heart shattered into a million pieces at his sorrow. I felt a subtle wave of love and warmth run through me. Shit! My Alpha felt that. I blocked my emotions from Rush he didn’t need to know anything yet until we had this figured out. He has enough on his plate.

“I know.” Beckett was so empathetic and respectful. “I’m not gonna harm him, Trek, you have my word.” Beckett fell to his knees quickly next to Trek pleading as he looked up at my friend patting the ground. “Please Trek, we need to save your mate.” Slowly and gingerly Trek crouched down ever so gently laying his mate on the ground while his tears fell. His whole body at war within itself holding back his natural instincts to keep his mate protected and letting someone else touch him. “Good, Trek, that’s good, you stay right there next to him. Let me look him over so I can see if there are any other injuries we need to worry about.”

I’m such a coward I stood frozen watching everything play out. It didn’t even occur to me to be happy that one of my best friends had found his mate. Instead, I was terrified Trek was going to lose his mate and it would break him.

“Tanner!” Beckett yelled at me.

“Huh?” my eyes moved from Trek to Beckett.

“Get over here, I need you to keep Trek calm. Help him.”

I moved my bum so quick now I feel dizzy as I dropped down next to Trek. I rubbed his back while holding his free hand that automatically moved to stop Beckett every time he tried to look over his mate.

While Beckett continued his examination, I was even more confident that he should be the one to take over the practice as soon as he finished school. He was going to be an amazing doctor. From what Rush said he only has to do his shifter residency, hopefully he can do it at the clinic under Dr. Marks, the Prides doctor. It’s kind of weird watching Beckett like this, I mean, he’s never serious always quick with a joke. He’s also a bit of an ass when he wants to be, but this, his movement is purposeful and experienced. It’s like watching a ballet or something, it’s magical.

About twenty minutes later the guys returned with all the supplies that Beckett had sent them to get. Nash dropped a back at Beckett’s feet. “We informed the clinic that we’d had found an injured person. So they’re expecting us.” Beckett nodded his head in acknowledgement and got right to work with the supplies. I’ve never seen anyone move so quickly with such purpose, it’s mesmerizing.

“There’s no way we could get a vehicle up here or by water, thanks to the beavers.” Milo kneeled down as he and Nash got to work setting up a stretcher. I think that’s what it is. I tried to pull Trek to the side so we were out of the way so they could all work. “We grabbed this stretcher from the Pride Warrior house. A couple of them said to call if we need help getting him down to the clinic.”

“We should be fine,” Beckett said quickly moving around the injured man as he made a splint for his legs and arm. During his exam Beckett couldn’t find any signs of internal damages but couldn’t completely rule them out. Before we knew it the guy was ready for transport. “Did you manage to grab a neck brace?” he asked standing because he’d finished. Both guys, Milo and Nash, shook their heads.

“Shit,” Beckett hissed, he blew out a breath, “I don’t want to move him until we stabilize his neck.” He turned around in a circle searching for spirits no what. “Okay guys, spread out we need something like rope or rope if you can find it, two individual fillable containers like a sock or boot, anything.”

We all spread out scouring the area for stuff we could use.

“What about his camp? Surely he’d have something in there,” Milo piped up moving to go check anyway.

“Go, go, go,” Nash said following him pushing him along. Not even thirty seconds later they came back with an old weathered bag and a pair of hiking boots.

Beckett’s eyes lit up, we watched as he snatched the boots from Milo throwing one at Nash. “Fill it with dirt, gravel, whatever.” He turned to Milo. “Did he have a tent?”

He gave a curt nod. “We need one of the ground ties. Hurry.”

I feel useless standing here but I was hanging on to a sobbing, freaked out best friend praying the whole time he didn’t go all Alpha on me because there is no way I could hold on to him. I could feel his entire body quivering. Holding back is taking a lot out of him, I could feel the nervous energy coming off him. Thankfully everything was moving fast in front of us.

“Guys, we have to do this as gently as possible,” Beckett said, kneeling down at the head of the injured man. “Trek I know it’s hard, but I need you to concentrate and help out some. I need his head as still as possible while we move him, that is your job, okay?” He showed Trek how was to hold the neck then looked up at him. “Can you do that?”

Trek let out a small whine but ended up agreeing to it.

“Good, great. Okay time to transfer him to the stretcher, Milo and Nash you guys grab a leg each, Tanner try to keep his middle the same level as his legs while me and Trek get his head and arms. Everybody on my count.” We were all silent concentrating as we moved Trek’s mate onto the stretcher. Tear poured from his face.

“Gently, gently, careful,” Beckett said to them in a low calm voice while sending out Alpha pheromones to keep everyone calm. Once we were done he moved us back while he quickly checked the stretcher and how the man was positioned and stabilizing the neck and head. “Okay, I think we’re good. Trek, I want you to carry this end of the stretcher. If he wakes up the first thing he’ll see is your face. He won’t know why but just seeing you will help. Are you cool with that?”

“Yes,” he answered immediately crouching down to his mate. Trek kissed the mans forehead whispering, “You’re going to be okay, baby, everything’s going to be okay.” He looked up at all of us. “Ready.”

“Okay, Milo you’re up. Walk slowly and try not to jostle the stretcher. Again, on my count,” Beckett said as he counted then had an eagle eye on his patient.

“You okay, Tanner,” Milo asked.

I raised my eyes from the poor beaten man to my friend. “Yeah, just…” I glanced at Trek, “yeah I’m fine. Rush is sending me waves of warmth and comfort.” I can feel the fond smile tugging on my lips.

“How do you mean, is he here somewhere?” Milo asked.

I smiled shyly, “No.”

“Then how?” Trek asked as he concentrated on his mate and walking at the same time.

The whole time we were moving, I explained to Trek about how having a mate is a good thing. I even explained to him about the little bond mate connection between an alpha and a male omega and how it worked. He started getting sad because he didn’t know if his mate would make it or not when I just told him, “Hey, think of it this way if it wasn’t for my mate bond, we would’ve never have been able to find him. If we hadn’t he wouldn’t survived. You gave him that chance when you scented him and found him. You did that Trek.”

“I guess you're right Tanner, but I just don’t want to lose him so soon after finding him. What if the doc can’t help him?”

Mustering up the most severe voice I could “TREK, you stop that nonsense right now! You’ve got the clinic doctor who will be able to help him, plus look at all the help Beckett was, he went straight to work. Do you honestly think there’s a chance we’re gonna let this guy die?” I shook my head vigorously. “If the doc can’t help him we’ll find someone who can.” I started sweating, I’d worked myself up into quite a tizzy. I took a couple of deep breaths only to hear a chuckle come from behind me.

Trek began to chuckle at me like I was some kind of comedian.

“Tanner, I love you. But that voice of yours does not sound right when you're being bossy, or at least trying to be.”

Well, as long as it lifted his spirits I guess I couldn’t complain about my lack of intimidation skills.

“Careful guys, slow it down a bit.” Beckett was so serious; he inspected the man on the stretcher as we walked. “Hmm, Tanner, I need you to run to that, um, place near the edge of the tree line–”

“The warriors mess hall,” Milo cut him off.

“Yeah, there, find someone and have them get a vehicle ready so when we reach them they can get us to the clinic as quick as possible.” Beckett frowned down at the man checking the splint as gently as he could.

“On it. Good luck guys,” I said shifting and taking off. I don’t think any of us expected total chaos to break out because of this stranger over the next few days though.

Hello Pride, there is a stranger in our midst, an escaped douche canoe, an omega disguised as an alpha, and an alpha who is losing control over his injured mate.
Should be some fun times ahead. Hope you cubs enjoy. Leave a note and let us know.
Wesley and Joh