4 - It's Complicated

I sit in the booth both amused by the older human woman and how she removed the 2 unwanted men, when Steve begins telling us about the young she-wolf Charlie.  My wolf stirs in my head on full alert, "she's here, that scent it's her."  As I'm telling Steve about Stacy being kidnapped by rogues, the sweet scent of vanilla and cinnamon hit me, I lick my lips and turn my head waiting with anticipation for her to turn around.  My wolf is jumping up and down like a pup, chasing his tale in my mind, "MATE, OUR MATE!"  I inhale deeply, committing her scent to memory, a wide smile on my face as she turns, her voice is sweet, but with an undertone of saddness, "who get's the French Toast." 

I speak the only word my wolf is growling in my head, "MINE."  Her head snaps in my direction, my heart hurts immediately taking in her condition, her nose is broken, her lips are split and her face is swollen and bruised.  My smile slips into a frown, as my heart sinks just by seeing her so battered.  Her scent is closer as she leans over to set my plate down, her hands shaking, my eyes met hers and I feel the bond snap into place, I rush of saddness and despair rushes through me. 

My eyes lock with hers as she stumbled back a step, one hand reaching her chest, the other heading for her face, when a word leaves her lips in a question, "mate?"  She turns to serve the rest of the plates in front of us and stares at the floor, "is there anything else I can get you?"

Steve pipes up, offering to buy her breakfast, she shakes her head as I mind linked him, "back off you're mated."  I politely told her we were fine, but to please check in on us and said her name, Charlie, my heart did a flip in my chest and my wolf purred.  She walks heading for the kitchen door taking her intoxicating scent with her.  My head falls back, my fingers pinching the bridge of my nose as I mutter, "what the hell, I'm mated to a child, who is obviously abused, my chosen has been kidnapped by rogues, can this day get any more complicated?"

The word "MATE" being shouted at me, catches my attention, as I look at Chris and Steve both eyeing me.  Steve chuckles, "hah see miracles do happen," he grabs his fork and continues eating with a smug grin on his face.  Chris looks at me, "I don't think she knows she's a wolf, she didn't acknowledge us at all, not one sigh of recognition.

The door to the kitchen opens and I can't help my eyes following Charlies' every move, I watch as she looks at me, first noding her head in the "yes" motion, then shakes if frantically side to side in the "no" motion.  Tears begin to stream down her face, as both hands curled into fist slam the sides of her head, her small voice repeating over and over, "please stop, this is crazy, please just stop talking," her voice goes up an octive, "get out of my head, leave me alone."  

I stand and move towards her, I gently put my hand on her arm and she jumps away from me, her eyes wide, rubbing where I just touched her.   These fated mate sparks are no joke, pure pleasure rush, as  I touch her and the feeling is addicting.  I lean over the counter, look her in the eyes, "Hey, it's all okay, I can help you, I know what's happening to you."

Her green eyes, full of saddness, stare into mine, "Mister, you have no idea what's happening to me, because I am absolutely crazy."  My anger rising as I feel her saddness and despair, I want to kill whoever has done this to my mate. 

I ackwardly smile, "It's a good thing I'm a psychiatrist, I can help you," my eyes pleading with her.

She lowers her eyes to floor, her voice a whisper, "you believe me that I'm crazy."

My voice cracks, "I believe you need help and I'm offering it to you," I extend my hand out to her and to my delight she places her tiny hand on top of it, sparks explode from our skin to skin contact and I already know I'm hooked.  My large hand engulfs hers laying on top of the counter, "if you like, I'll take you somewhere you'll be safe and we can work on treating you."  She stares at our hands and nods in agreement.  My wolf howls in my head, "our Mate is perfect."  I agree with him, I ask her "do you have personal items here?"

She nods her head, "my purse it's in the kitchen," I move towards the kitchen door still holding her hand and swing it open, "where," she points to a small locker and I move her to it, she grabs her purse along with a small envelope and I turn when I notice the the older couple.  

The woman who was holding the shotgun earlier and I assume the cook approach us, the woman clears her throat, "What exactly is going on here?" the man looks at Charlie and in a firm voice speaks, "why are you holding her hand?"  

I look down at Charlie, her hand tight in mine, "Ma'am, Sir, I'm going to take her out of here, to a safe place that will help her." 

The woman gasps and the old man's brows shoot up into his hair line, "uh huh, what's your name and where exactly do you think your taking this young girl?

I chuckle, "Right, my name is Braddock Westfield, I'm a licensed phsyciatrist and I'm taking her to a center that specializes in trauma that seems to be happening to her.  She will receive help."

The old woman's hand flies over her mouth and she sobs softly, "see prayers are answered, God has sent this angel to help this sweet girl."