Page 60 of Lost Mate

“Wait. Why do I get the blame?” Dylan growled. “This wasn’t my idea. It was your test, remember? And now my mate is leaving me.”

Ross sat down on the bed and stared at his hands. They were all between him and the door. It didn’t look as if he were going anywhere soon.

“Ross.”

He looked up to see Eli staring at him. “Yes?”

“These shenanigans are nothing to do with Dylan. I want to make that clear.”

“But they are,” Ross objected. “I get it. You didn’t believe me or the doc that Dylan was safe, so you did another test, and he passed. How many more tests do you want to insist on before you believe him? I’m done, y’know? If I’m angry with him for keeping secrets, I’m angrier with you for forcing my mate’s hand. He did it for me. What did you do it for?” Ross could feel the fury rising inside him. He wasn’t going to back down, not to Dylan and not to his employer. “I’ve worked for you for years. You should have trusted me.” He saw the look of satisfaction on Milo’s face and guessed this wasn’t the first time they’d had this discussion.

There were more footsteps and Joe appeared. “It’s time we left, or we’ll miss the full moon. Cal is getting antsy.” He took in the tableau in front of him. “Is everything all right?”

For some reason everyone turned to look at Ross. He stared back at them.

“What do you want from me?” he demanded.

“An assurance you’re not about to run, Ross,” Milo said. “Give these idiots a chance to make it right.” He waved at Eli. “And the same from your mate. This isn’t the time to go all dark night. We haven’t got time or resources to waste with the hunters planning a new raid.”

Ross blinked at him. “Dark Knight? Like Batman?”

It was Milo’s turn to blink. “Batman? No, I mean dark night of the soul. Where one of the heroes flounces off to sulk leaving the couple apart until they reconcile.”

“Milo’s been reading too many romances,” Eli said. “He helps in an assisted living facility. Don’t ask.” His smile was tender as he looked at his mate.

Ross opened his mouth and shut it again.

“Okay,” Joe said. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if you don’t get out of here soon, Cal is gonna go epic on your asses.” He turned to leave, then looked over his shoulder. “I told them it was a stupid idea. They didn’t listen.”

Eli let out a long breath. “We’ll talk later. Just come with us, Ross.”

Everyone left the room, Eli looking over his shoulder before he did, leaving Ross and Dylan behind. Dylan kept his gaze firmly locked on the floor.

Ross rolled to his feet. “You should go with the wolves.”

Dylan gave a fierce shake of his head. “Not unless you’re coming with me. I can’t go without you.”

As much as he wanted to, Ross knew that he wouldn’t get away with leaving now. The pack wouldn’t let him. They’d screwed up and they wanted to make it right. He wasn’t allowed to…what did Milo call it…flounce off to sulk. He wanted his dark night moment, but he wasn’t going to get it now.

He fixed his gaze on his mate. “I’ll come with you but afterward we talk. You and me.”

Dylan let out a shaky breath. “Okay, you and me, and no one else.”

“Ross. Anderson. Move it,” Niles bellowed from the office door.

“You’d better shift,” Ross said.

Before he’d finished the words, a large grey wolf stood in front of him. For a second, Dylan bared his neck to Ross, then he headed for the door. Ross followed, wondering just how long this night was going to be.

In the yard, all the wolves congregated at one end. He knew where Dylan was, his energy projecting like a beacon to him. Strength and power radiated from Peter and Joe Senior. A large, unknown, dark gray wolf stood with them. That had to be the doc. He appeared to be communicating with Dylan which made Ross clench his jaw. Dylan was his. His!

Ross heard a cough beside him and turned to see Niles rolling his eyes. “You can stay out of it. I’ll have words with you later.”

“You work for me, not the other way around, remember?”

“We’ll talk about that too.” Ross wasn’t giving an inch to anyone.

Niles huffed and turned to the yard. “Each wolf and human has to wear a tracker,” he said, projecting his voice over the yard so everyone heard.

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