Page 15 of Lost Mate

“They’ve only just met and it’s not forever,” Eli insisted. “Milo and I were separated because of our work.”

“And Milo hated every minute of it,” Cal said.

Milo sighed and nodded. “It’s hard on a wolf to be away from their mate. It hurts in here.” He pressed over his heart.

“It’s a matter of days,” Eli said. “Just to get tests done by the shifter doctor.”

Ross noticed he didn’t argue with his mate. “And to interrogate him. You forgot to mention that.”

No one had actually said they wanted to interrogate Dylan, but Ross and his mate weren’t born yesterday. Even if Dylan couldn’t remember dick, he was a Cavalry man too. They needed information and Dylan hadn’t provided it. Ross understood their frustration, he really did, but Dylan was his mate, and they were sticking together.

Eli stared up at the ceiling, clearly counting in his head, and expelled a long breath. “Intel has given us information concerning Dylan’s movements after he went dark. We need to know how much he remembers of that time.”

“But I don’t remember anything.” Dylan shivered.

Smelling his mate’s sudden fear, Ross put his left arm around Dylan and pulled him close. “I’m not leaving you,” he insisted. “Whatever they do, I’ll be by your side.”

Don’t go scorched earth on your career. Let them do what they want and then I can come home.

Ross wasn’t sure where home was going to be, but he still shook his head at Dylan’s shaky comment. “We go together,” he said out loud. “You need to see a shifter doctor. But they can come here. Or wherever we find to live.”

Remember the farm? Ross’s dream might come true sooner than he expected. Would that be such a bad thing?

Despite his brave words, Dylan was relieved by Ross’s decision. He could feel that through their mate link.

“Ross, this is not your call,” Niles said. “You know that. After Jake’s betrayal, we can’t take any chances. This is an order.”

“Stuff your orders,” Ross said succinctly, and held back a grin at the derisive snort from Owen. “I don’t work for the Cavalry anymore and my mate doesn’t go anywhere without me.”

He grasped Dylan’s hand under the table and entangled their fingers. He needed his mate’s closeness and comfort too. Ross looked around the table; aside from Eli’s scowl and Niles’s look of resignation, the rest looked smug, especially the wolves. They’d all expected this reaction.

“You need to answer some of my questions,” Dylan said suddenly. “I’m tired of knowing nothing about myself.”

Eli nodded. “If it doesn’t affect our assignment.”

“How long did I work for you?”

“Six years, three years in undercover assignments.”

“How old am I?”

“Twenty-eight, nearly twenty-nine.”

Ross blinked. Despite his youthful appearance, Dylan was older than he expected.

Wolf genes.

Now I don’t feel I’m lusting after a kid.

Dylan shrugged at Ross’s comment. Age isn’t as important to us as it is to humans. We have a longer lifespan.

You do? Ross blinked. He hadn’t discovered that.

“Is my name really Dylan Anderson?” Dylan asked Eli.

“That’s the name you gave us. It could be as much a lie as the history on your resume.”

Ross scowled at Eli, but he knew his soon-to-be-ex boss had a point.

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