His Guardian (MxM)

Chapter 20

Jackson

I pushed my legs as fast as they could go. My paws slapped against the hard ground that was beginning to show sporadic sprinkles of snowflakes. I finally knew where my mate was, and no one was in my way. The prison was a short run from home, to which I was grateful. As I approached the building, I only took a second to shift into my human form and throw on the clothes I had tied to my ankle. I burst into the doors of the prison and was met with the bulging, terrified eyes of the guards that were around. Word travels fast.

I ignored them as I jogged to the back of the building. I began to smell him. My Ben. I followed his scent, and was led to a door that exposed a stairwell. As I bounded down the stairs, my mate's scent got stronger, as well as the smell of his blood, and the unmistakable scent of wolvesbane. It had to have been four, maybe five flights of stairs before I reached the bottom floor. It was a dark hallway, walls made up of exposed stone. I wasted no time following Ben's scent down the path, and finally found him at the end.

Within a cell that was barred off with silver was my little mate. With my newfound strength and adrenaline, I was able to rip the door open with my bare hands. I immediately kneeled beside my mate and cradled his body in my arms. He was completely limp, but I could still hear his faint heartbeat. His body was covered in cuts, and bruises. There was more blood to be seen than his beautiful, fair skin. He was so much thinner than he was before. I could clearly see his ribs, collarbones, and his hipbones that jutted out unnaturally. The entire cell reeked of wolvesbane, and I could smell it all over my mate. There were silver cuffs attached to chains on the wall. Had he been chained within this cell?

"No, no, no, no, no. I'm here, baby. I'm here," I whispered to him, but got no response. I cradled his face in my left hand as he lie in my right arm. I looked down at his body once more and noticed his wrist that was bent in a way that turned my stomach. He needs help. I have to get him to Doctor Green. I quickly pulled my shirt off and placed it on him, and it seemed to envelope him almost completely. He was tiny before, but now...

I lifted Ben in my arms, one under his legs and the other under his back. I ran out of the dreaded cell and up the several flights of stairs. I ignored the guards once more as I ran outside, straight home; where I knew Doctor Green would be. 

As I approached my home, I noticed everyone had cleared from the front lawn. The only evidence of what had happened was the vast amount of blood across the front steps of the mansion. I ran inside, through the entryway, straight for the stairs. Beth and Liam were standing near the stairs. He seemed to be consoling her, but I couldn't be sure as I only saw them for a moment as I sprinted by. They both looked up at me with wide eyes. I took the stairs two at a time as I carried my mate to safety. Reaching the doctor's wing, I wasted no time knocking and practically kicked the door open.

Doctor Green and his wife looked at me with shocked expressions as I carried my mate directly to them.

"Please," was all I said as they both looked over Ben who was still unconscious in my arms. Doctor Green simply nodded and beckoned me to follow him. He quickly opened a room that was outfitted with numerous medical supplies. I walked in and laid Ben on the bed that was in the center of the large room. The two medical professionals immediately went to work on his small body. 

"We'll take care of him, Alpha," the doctor assured me as he gently guided me toward the door. I stepped out and sunk to the floor beside the door I had just carried my mate through. I held my head in my hands as it all began to sink in.

I found him. I got to him in time, and he's going to be okay.

Footsteps quickly approached as I looked up to see Liam quickly approaching me. I stood, and hugged my best friend. He wrapped his arms around me tightly.