Page 57 of Rescued

“Last box,” Gabe says, setting it down in the truck bed with a thud. He looks at me, his eyes sharp but soft around the edges, like he can already tell I’m relieved to be done here. “Ready to get out of here?”

“Oh, yeah.” My voice comes out low, gruff, but then I blurt, “I, uh, I miss Iko, ya know?”

Why that’s hard to say, I have no idea. But it is.

Gabe doesn’t laugh or tease me, just nods and starts tossing tie-down straps across the truck bed. I grab the straps on my side, locking them into place while Gabe secures his. It’s a silent, efficient routine—one that feels good, like we’ve been doing this together forever.

Finally, the truck’s loaded. We head to the cab, climb in, and just as Gabe slides the keys into the ignition, there’s a sharp rap on his window.

Gabe jerks, startled, then scowls as he rolls the window down. I don’t need to look to know who it is. The scent of Zane hits me before I see him standing there.

“Yeah?” Gabe snaps, his tone annoyed. He’s trying not to be a total ass, but it’s clear he’s not over his annoyance with the alpha. Honestly, I don’t blame him. And yet, seeing my mate’s fire makes me feel something warm in my chest.God, this man makes me happy.

“I just wanted to tell you…” Zane hesitates, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “Tell you both that you’re welcome to stay here tonight, if you’d like.”

The sincerity in his tone catches me off guard. It doesn’t erase the years of hurt, not by a long shot, but it does ease some of the sting. Gabe looks at me with a question in his eyes.

“That’ll be a no, babe,”I think, letting my lips curl into a small, wicked smile.“I have plans for you tonight that I don’t feel like sharing with my former pack. Most of them have excellent hearing—and an incomparable sense of smell.”

That thought makes Gabe grin, his eyes lighting up with a mix of anticipation and mischief.

I turn back to Zane. “We appreciate it, but…” I trail off, not wanting to list all the reasons why we’re declining.

Zane nods, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets. “I understand. For what it’s worth—which is probably nothing to y’all—I am sorry. But even if you don’t stay the night, we’re about to go for a run. You’re welcome to join us, Mika,” he says, his voice low but resonant. “It’s been too long.” His voice sounds heavier than before, weighed down with something like regret.

Gabe’s hand finds my shoulder, squeezing lightly. “You should go,” he murmurs. “I can stay back here.”

My throat closes at his words. There’s no jealousy, no bitterness in his tone—just encouragement and trust. He knows what this means to me, even if I haven’t fully put it into words.

Zane’s been quiet.

Too quiet.

I’d watched him as we finished loading the last of my things into the truck, his gaze flickering from me to the wolves standing nearby, then back again. There’s tension in his shoulders, something uneasy in the way he stands, like he’s waiting for something to happen.

Like he’s waiting for something to go wrong.

I jump out of the truck, wipe my hands on my jeans and step toward him, lowering my voice. “All right, spill it.”

Zane blinks, caught off guard. “What?”

I cross my arms. “You’re worried about something.”

His brows pull together, but he doesn’t deny it. Doesn’t even try. Instead, he lets out a slow breath, gaze shifting to the side like he’s deciding whether or not to say whatever’s on his mind.

That’s new.

Finally, he speaks. “It’s not as simple as you think, Mika.”

I let out a dry laugh. “What isn’t?”

Zane exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “The decisions I make. You think I could’ve just told them all to shove their opinions and accept you for who you are? You think I didn’twantto?”

I still, the words hitting me harder than I expect. There’s something raw in his voice, somethingreal. And that throws me off.

Because I didn’t expectthat.

Zane shifts on his feet, voice lower now, like he doesn’t want anyone else to hear. “I tried, Mika. But there’s only so much I can do before they start looking for someone else to replace me.”

---