Page 59 of Lost Mate

Eli appeared in the doorway, Milo padding behind him, already shifted. “It’s us, Dylan. Don’t attack.” He didn’t seem surprised to find Dylan in his wolf form.

“What do you want?” Ross asked icily, his arms folded across his chest.

He was sure Eli had brought Milo to tackle Dylan if necessary and that made him angrier than ever. No one hurt his mate, human or shifter!

“Can we talk?” Eli asked.

“Where’s Niles?”

“Handling a team that’s stationed over near Zeke’s house. Ross, I’m to blame as much as Niles. It was his idea but only because he wanted me to calm down and accept you both back into the Cavalry before you go on the road trip. I didn’t talk to Milo first or he’d have pointed out what idiots we are coming between mates.”

Milo growled at his mate, which Ross assumed was him agreeing that Eli was indeed an idiot.

Dylan was still standing with his hackles up, but he was calming. Ross could sense that through their link, so he hadn’t slammed it closed like he did before.

Ross was seething. He was so damn tired of being jerked around by everyone else. He fixed his gaze on Eli. “You either trust the two men you’ve worked with for years or I leave. No more threats. This is the Cavalry’s last chance and you’re only getting that because I’m too damn tired to fight you right now.”

Before Eli could answer Milo shifted. By now they were used to shifters being naked. It barely registered with Ross.

“We need to talk,” Milo said.

Ross shook his head. “I’ve got nothing to say, sheriff.”

“I’m not the sheriff anymore. I finished today. The Cavalry now has a full-time shifter in post to keep the humans under control.”

“You mean from making stupid mistakes like today,” Ross said. “Good start.”

“I mean exactly that.” Milo overlooked his snark, kneeling in front of Dylan, ignoring the low growl. “Niles shouldn’t have asked you to keep secrets from your mate. It goes against the wolf gods fated mates’ rules. You should know this too, but I understand you thought you were doing it for Ross.”

Dylan dipped his head. Not so much submission as an acknowledgement he’d screwed up.

“There are rules?” Ross asked.

“Wolves have rules for everything. You should know that by now. Dylan should definitely know that.” Then Milo stood and focused on Ross. “You need to understand what you’re doing by walking away from your mate.”

“My mate kept secrets from me.” Ross saw Dylan’s shoulders slump.

“That’s not what I said.”

“I know it could harm both of us,” Ross admitted.

“Then don’t be an idiot.”

“I need to think.” Ross needed to be away from them all, especially his mate. “Even if it’s overnight. One night won’t do any harm.” They’d both hurt but it wouldn’t kill them.

Dylan swung around to look at him. You’re not going for good?

Ross hesitated, because he’d thought about it.

Milo gave an odd smile. “Your mate is the last one you need to be away from. There are acres of land under the moonlight for you to run across. Do you think you could calm down that way? And then maybe you could reconnect with him under the moonlight like we’ll all be doing.”

Was Milo saying what Ross thought he was saying? They were all going to fuck under the moonlight.

Milo smirked at him. “I think your mate forgot to tell you that too. Maybe he wanted to surprise you.”

Dylan shifted and glared at Milo. “Did you have to do that?”

“I think I did. You screwed up as much as the humans, pup. You owe your mate an apology…away from the rest of us.”

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