Little made sense to Leo as he came to. The only thing that he could comprehend was that he was strapped down to a… table? No… a bed. He was so tired. His limbs felt like cinder blocks and his mind felt thick, his brain swollen, his thoughts confused. The room was a nice temperature, a little on the cool side but who could complain? His wrists were encircled with cold metal, handcuffs, he thought. There were straps crossing over his body. Four of them starting from his ankles up to the top of his chest.
There is no need for them, he thought. I couldn't move even if I wanted to. Why am I here…?
Just then, Justice North came striding into the room. It was a shock to his system because he hasn't seen the leader of the New Species since he was denied the right to get his tail removed. That was why he had to do it in secret.
Secret… Sara! His mate! Sadness filled him at the loss of her and his beast roared in anguish. HIs pain so palpable that an answering roar was ripped from his chest.
Pure agony and heartbreak was felt. Hell is often described as unbearably hot, hot enough to burn one alive. HIs hell felt like ice. He felt frozen as though his heart were soon to stop pumping blood around his body from the agonizing chill. HIs brain seized and he felt physically sick.
He wanted to lash out and destroy something. His mate was gone because of him. She has to be, a voice of reason whispered to him.
Nooo! My mate! His beast roared, tearing at his insides.
His beast knew that it was for the best because he hurt her. He caused her pain. If he hadn't gone away, he would have done it again and again. Such delicate angels deserve reverence and soft touches. Her skin was so delicate that it could rip like paper. So soft and warm and inviting. HIs soul mourned for his loss.
Such a beauty needs a kind and honorable male. One without a tail and one that was just as beautiful. His every instinct wanted to throw something, to fight, at the thought of another with his Sara. His mate. But he knew that he could do no such thing.
He blinked back tears and turned his face up to the ceiling staring at the reflections of light and being once again reminded of his loss. Everything beautiful will always remind me of her.
Once his vision cleared he turned his head to look at the the other feline.
When he did so, he discovered that the feline was gazing upon him with pity.
His beast wanted to fight the male but Leo urged him back down. Even if he was not strapped to a table and could fight, what would be the point of fighting for honor without his mate? Who cares about how others perceive him if his mate couldn't see him. Fight for honor? There is no honor for a male who has lost what is his. The other half of his soul.
Justice began speaking, "Leo, how are you?".
Leo wanted to growl at the stupid question, how was he? How did the male think he was? Just fine? No.
"I am not a whole person anymore. My soul is gone. My life is gone", Leo tried to clear some of the raw emotion form his voice, but to no avail.
Justice looked aghast and said, "Surely you have not boned so quickly?" he gave him an appraising glance and continued, "Leo, I understand how you are feeling but you kidnapped a human. She was terrified!".
"Mine was scared but I showed her that I would protect her. That I would never harm what was mind. My mate stroked my tail and ran it against her face. She treated me like I was a worthy male. Her soft hands caressed me and she cared for me. She cared for me. She cared for me. No one has ever treated me so kindly. I want my mate". At the last word his voice broke and he was unable to continue speaking of his treasured memories.
Justice appeared to be heartbroken with his eyebrows drawn so tightly together that they almost touched. Them, he seemed to shake himself, draw his shoulders back and widen his stance. The stance of an aggressive male.
The hair at the back of his neck stood up at the challenge, at the threat. However, he knew his instinct was wrong. There was no need to fight if he did not have a mate to protect.
Justice spoke again, "I was told by Tiger that you thought that your relationship was real but you have to remember that humans do not mate like we do. They don't necessarily love forever and it takes much longer for them than it does for us. You have put me in a tough situation."
Unfortunately, Leo's mind disallowed him to speak anymore. When he was a child he was beaten for making any sound. For breathing too loudly he was punished. Mercile used him like a punching bag. He was big and ugly, not perfect, so he was only ever used for fighting and endurance tests. It didn't matter how disgusting they made him look. The scarier he was, the more their investors would pay to use him for… other things… horrible scary things. At least until he was older and too big to easily restrained so that they could continue seeking their monstrous pleasures. WHen he grew bigger he rejoiced at the fact that they couldn't touch him anymore. But it also made him feel even more ugly. He was so big that they didn't want him anymore?
Now he knew different and knew how fucked up it is. At the time, his impoverished little brain just felt abandoned. Unfortunately, those were the few times that he ever got affection until his little mate. His soul cried once again
"God, damn it, Leo!" Justice roared. That got his attention.
"I am trying to help you but you are not even listening. If you don't want to listen I will not tell you about Sara."
Just his mate's name on Justice's tongue mad Leo salivate at the thought of ripping out his throat. No one should utter my angel's name except me. Not that it was his right to even think of her name anymore. Although he could not stop himself from straining all of his senses out, waiting in anticipation for Justice to continue. Je couldn't miss a single detail about her. Never.
He nodded at Justice to try and communicate that he was listening. Justice seemed to understand as this was the most he had ever heard the gigantic male ever speak. He granted him this one boon.
"Dr. Sara is no longer working for us as a doctor. She was kicked out by Flame while I was on a vacation with my mate. We are having her come in today and she will be here in a few hours. I am planning on speaking to her and if you promise to be on your best behavior, I will mention you and gauge her reaction. I understand that you thought that she wanted to be with you but that does not mean that she did". He took a calming breath and said, "When I first heard about her and you almost mating her and almost ordered you to be put down. I destroyed my living room and scared my mate with my rage. My MATE", he turned to glare at him, "I had been so keyed up and decided to take a vacation with my mate to apologize and to calm down. I knew that she would be safe because you were locked up but I never realized that she would go to you".
"Now listen, you were dying when Jericho found you. He is friends with Sara and talked to her before she left Reservation. She made him promise that he would help to get everything sorted out and that he would fine you. Your life is owed to him and his friendship with her.".
At that, Leo growled low in his throat at the idea of another male being near his mate. His mind started to become hazy again, an enraged red dying the edges of his vision, slowly creeping in. He had to fight with himself in order to stay sane and not go into a rage. If he did that, he would be denied information about his mate. He must concentrate.
"Regardless, she is coming today and she and I will speak about what happened between you two. I do not want her to be afraid and I will not force her to be the mate that you want her to be. I would be a monster if I did that and I would never wish harm upon a female. However, I will try and talk to her and if she wants, you might be able to see her one day when you have calmed down and are not crazed".
Leo knew that the longer he was separated from his mate, the more crazed he would become but he kept his mouth shut. If he opened it, he would be unable to force words out and it would only serve to humiliate him and make him seem weak. A male should have full control over his words. Be he was ruined. He did not deserve his precious mate.
All he did was nod at Justice to let him know that he was heard. He would try his best. He might not ever get his mate back and he knew that he should stay away from her, but he wanted to be surrounded by her beautiful scent. He wanted her to stroke his skin and chase away the demons with the whispers of softness of the pads of her fingers. He would have this even if he had to be strapped down and never touch her, never see her, never make love to her. A tear slipped from his left eye and then his right. Soon, many followed and he didn't even try to hide them from the leader of the NSO. Maybe he will now see how much he yearned or even the tiniest whisper of his mate. HIs heart hurt and he wished that he could curl up into himself and bring his tail, with the tatter of his mates shirt, up to his face to pretend that it was her hands stroking him.
He heard Justice get up and leave but he paid him no mind. He closed his eyes and pictured his mate lying in his arms, her scent surrounding him. And then, he was at peace.