According to Nina's panicked phone call, they'd been out on a routine callout. Nothing to warrant Hudson losing it. To make things worse, Hudson wasn't responding to anyone. Not to Nina, and not to any of the members of Destructive Delta who'd been on scene and about to head back to HQ when Hudson ran into the cafe and started stripping. The team cleared the area, and after Hudson snarled at Nina and almost bit Ash, Sloane locked him inside the cafe. It had to be bad when the team remained outside. Seb was grateful Sloane hadn't given the order to tranq Hudson. Not yet, anyway.
Seb pulled the Suburban up near Destructive Delta's BearCat, turned off the engine, and darted from the car. He hurried over to Sloane, and laid a hand on his shoulder when he got there.
"How is he?"
Sloane pointed to the cafe's glass door. "Have a look."
Seb gave a start when Hudson threw himself against the glass, snarling and baring his fangs. He'd shifted into his feral form, all bristling fur and sharp teeth.
"Shit." Seb turned to Nina. "What the hell happened?"
"I don't know." Nina ran a hand through her hair. "One minute we were talking like normal, and the next he was going feral. Nothing like this has ever happened with him. Is he going to be okay?"
Seb turned to Sloane. "I'm going in."
"Seb, I don't...." Sloane hesitated, and Seb pulled him aside, speaking quietly.
"He's my mate, Sloane. You would do the same for Dex."
Sloane thought about it briefly before nodding. "Okay. But if things go south, I need to know you'll be able to tranq him. We can't let him out on the streets like this."
"You know what you're asking of me?"
Sloane clenched his jaw, his amber eyes intense as he met Seb's gaze. "Yeah, actually I do."
The answer was unexpected, but Seb didn't question him. Clearly Sloane did know what he was asking,
and at some point, either he or Dex had been in a similar position. If it meant saving Hudson from hurting himself or someone else, then Seb would do it. It might kill him, but he'd do it.
"You have my word. And thank you"--he patted Sloane's shoulder--"for understanding."
Sloane nodded. He motioned for Ash to open the door, and Seb quickly slipped in the moment it was unlocked. At the far corner of the trendy little cafe, Hudson was in his wolf form, beautiful and lethal. A sleek, gray wolf with stunning blue eyes. He was also extremely pissed at being locked up in here. His ears were pointed forward, his canines bared, and his fur bristled. He had his neck arched, head up, and tail held high. Hudson was ready to strike.
"Lobito, it's me. It's Seb." Slowly he placed his hands up in front of him and edged closer, taking care not to make any sudden movements. Hudson growled and snapped his jaws, saliva flying as he snarled at Seb. "Come on, baby. Come back to me." Seb stayed exceptionally still. Hudson sniffed the air, and he started pacing. Okay, they were clearly not getting anywhere. He wasn't responding. Maybe if....
Seb slowly edged away, making sure not to give his back to Hudson or move his gaze away. Hudson might not have sharp claws like a Felid, but his jaws were powerful, his teeth capable of shredding through Human flesh.
Gingerly Seb removed one piece of clothing at a time and laid them on a chair beside him. Hudson lowered his head, watching him as he undressed. At least he wasn't snarling at Seb. Once Seb was naked, he breathed in deep through his nose and let it out slowly through his mouth. He gritted his teeth and willed his body to change, inviting his feral half to come out. The first bone popped, and Seb sucked in a sharp breath. Physical pain was a constant in Seb's life, but shifting into his tiger Therian form was a different kind of pain altogether. He grunted as more bones popped out of place, and his muscles pulled and contracted, his mass changing as his body tore itself apart to piece itself back together.
Blackness encroached on his vision, but he remained focused on Hudson, who paced from one end of the cafe to the other, releasing a small whine.
Soon, baby, soon.
Fur pierced Seb's skin, and the agony in his face as his skull elongated had him screaming. Claws cut through the skin at his fingertips, and his body trembled as he curled in on himself, another cry tearing from his throat as his tail bone sliced open his flesh, growing out. Seb landed on his paws, his vision sharp and his sense of smell picking up the subtlest of scents. His transformation complete, he shook himself from nose to tail. He opened his mouth wide, and stretched his long, muscular body, spreading his toes and twitching his tail. Done stretching, he sat on his haunches and chuffed.
Across from him, his mate paused, flattening his ears back and narrowing his eyes in suspicion. Seb flattened his ears, rotating them back before wrinkling his nose and letting out a long, low roar followed by a series of short, low roars for his mate. Hudson whined, his head perking up and his tail slowly moving. He released a bark-howl, and Seb roared again, calling his mate to him. Hudson bounced over, tail wagging. He stopped in front of Seb and lowered to his front paws, butt in the air as his tail wagged. His Lobito let out a series of howls, and although Seb couldn't understand--what with Hudson being a Canid and not Felid--he knew his Lobito was happy to see him.
Seb mewled at him, and Hudson licked at Seb's muzzle before nuzzling Seb's fur under his chin. Seb lay down, front paws spreading as Hudson lay down against him. Hudson rolled onto his back, paws up in the air, whining and licking up at Seb's chin, pawing at him. His mate had returned to him.
Seb threw one massive paw over Hudson's chest and nuzzled him before grooming him, his broad tongue cleaning Hudson's soft fur. His Lobito made happy noises as he wiggled beneath him, his tail wagging joyously.
"You two are freaking adorable."
Hudson rolled onto his belly, his tail wagging for Dex. Seb pushed his nose against Hudson's cheek, and Hudson jumped to his feet, bounding over to Dex and howling playfully. Dex crouched down, laughing when Hudson licked at his face.
"Yeah, I'm happy to see you too, buddy. You scared us for a second there."
Hudson was so playful and beautiful. Seb pushed up to his paws and trotted over to knock his head against Dex's side.