Page 5 of Lost Mate

“You were hurt?” Dylan asked, looking horrified.

“Someone totaled our SUV,” Ross said. “Cal recovered quickly. Me, not so much.”

Dylan’s hands fluttered over him as if they didn’t know where to land. “Are you all right?”

Ross smiled and took his hands, anxious to soothe his concerns. “I’m fine.”

Joe raised an eyebrow. “Is there such a thing as a shifter doc?”

“I’ve known a few,” Peter said, “but most of them are retired now.”

“I know a doc in the Wild Creek Pack,” Cal said quietly. “He survived the massacre because he was away at the time. He returned home to help them. But I don’t know if he’d come here. He was one of the betas and friends with my brothers.”

“If you invite him here, I’m out,” Owen said harshly.

“We go together,” Zeke assured him. ‘You’re my mate. I won’t let you run away again.”

Ross kept quiet. This was above his pay grade. He just wanted someone to look at his mate.

You still think I’m your mate?

I know you’re my mate, Ross assured Dylan. I don’t know all the words yet, but I’m here for you until the end of our days.

Joe pointed at Owen. “You can’t go. You’re pack. You will always be part of my pack. We’ll go to them, if necessary.”

Dylan leaned against Ross who gathered him in close. I should go. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. But he buried himself against Ross’s chest, clearly not wanting to move away from him. Ross held him tightly in his arms because he wasn’t letting Dylan go, not when he’d just found him. Ross had prayed to find his mate and the shifters in the pack had always believed he would. That was good enough for him.

The conversation swirled around them, mainly focused on how to contact the shifter doctor. Ross didn’t join in, his whole attention on the young wolf in his arms. Dylan was exhausted. That was clear when he heard a soft snore, then the wolf jerked awake.

“Guys,” Ross said, repeating it a second time when the conversation didn’t die.

They turned to look at him. “Dylan is worn out. I’m taking him to bed.” He would not blush. “Joe, I can understand if you don’t want us to stay with your dad.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Joe Senior snapped. “He’s not going to harm us. Peter could twist him into a pretzel. No offense, Dylan.”

“None taken.” But Dylan didn’t take his eyes away from him. He looked worried.

Ross chuckled through their link. You should have seen Joe’s dad a few weeks ago. He was dying of cancer. Now he wants to take on the world.

And you? What do you want to do?

I’m a soldier, my mate. I take orders. I’m not interested in taking over the world. Just saving the ones I love. Ross hoped his mate would hear the love in his voice and understand that it was meant for him.

You’re not an alpha?

Was that disappointment in Dylan’s voice? Ross bit his lip. He was never going to be an alpha. He was one of the pack but he’d never wanted to be in charge.

Dylan turned to look in his eyes. I don’t need an alpha. Just a mate. Alphas hurt their pack.

Ross frowned. “Joe and Cal aren’t like that. Is that what happened to you?”

“I…don’t know. I think so.” Dylan seemed to be thinking it through. “I don’t remember what happened. I think ‘alpha’ and feel pain. Here.” He pointed to his kidneys. “I don’t feel that when I see you.”

Ross looked up. The conversation at the table had died and everyone stared at him and Dylan.

“Your alpha beat you?” Owen asked, his voice harsh.

“I don’t know,” Dylan said, clearly exasperated. “I don’t remember a thing.”

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