A blink of the eye in a supernatural lifetime, but Varian’s pack—Devan’s pack now—were still young. Devan cast his gaze around the clearing. Campfires were lit, tended to by men and women grilling meat and roasting potatoes. Those that weren’t cooking were generally fucking. Danielo and Bomber were both... occupied, though not, Devan noted, with each other.
Zio was nowhere to be seen, but Devan knew that without looking. Knew that wherever Zio was, he wasn’t remotely close. He pondered where he might be, then cursed himself for caring.I wish I’d never met him.
Michael got up and fetched a plate of meat and potatoes. For campfire food, it was pretty good, but Devan couldn’t bring himself to eat much. He’d healed so many today he’d carry their pain for a while. Food would’ve helped, but sleep would do more, and Devan craved the sweet oblivion.
He excused himself and left Michael, retreating through the amorous chaos, so intent on reaching his bed for the night that he walked right into Bomber. “Damn. Sorry.”
“No worries.” Bomber regarded him through hooded eyes. “Where are you headed in such a hurry anyway? Someone waiting for you?”
His grin was suggestive. Devan rolled his eyes. “I doubt it, especially after today. I don’t think many people are gonna be queuing to hook up with the man who healed the enemy, do you?”
“I’ll hook up with you.”
Devan laughed, couldn’t help it, despite his connection to Bomber telling him the offer was entirely serious. “Thanks, but it’s okay. I didn’t fight today, so my, uh, urges aren’t quite as irresistible as yours.”
Bomber laughed too and stepped closer, crowding into Devan’s personal space, grabbing his arm. “If you say so, doc. The offer’s open-ended, though, so come find me if you change your mind.”
A lick of potent rage hit Devan. He blinked as his subconscious adjusted.That wasn’t me. But with so many emotions roiling in the air, he couldn’t pinpoint the source. As he glanced around, he extracted himself from Bomber’s grip and gave him a gentle push back to the party, but no one was looking in their direction or giving any indication that they had ever been.
Unsettled, Devan continued his trek to the tent he was to call home for as long as this operation lasted. He fully expected to find it empty, but as he got closer, the tingling in his spine that had been present since he’d caught Zio’s scent tripled in intensity.
Devan’s heart thudded with every step, and he began to wonder if the anger simmering in his gut was his own after all. Part of him wanted to throw Zio down and kick some sense into him. The rest of himjust wanted to throw him down.
Conflicted, Devan ducked into the tent. Zio was on the far side, sitting cross-legged on a spread-out sleeping bag, rubbing his temples. His discomfort broke through Devan’s confusion. He stepped forward.
Zio growled. “Don’t.”
Fine by me.
It wasn’t, but Devan didn’t have the energy to force his powers on anyone, least of all someone who’d likely take his head off in return.
He retreated to the sleeping bag someone had kindly left on the other side of the tent. Head spinning with fatigue, he unrolled it and opened it out. The night air was cold, but the warmth of the fires, combined with the heat of dozens of over-sexed wolves, was enough to keep it at bay.
Devan stretched out and closed his eyes. Sleep hovered at the edge of his brain, but Zio’s pain and the weight of his fierce glare shone brighter. Sighing, he rolled over, turning his back on them both. After a moment, he sensed movement, and then a different heat as a body stretched out behind him.
Zio pressed his face between Devan’s shoulder blades and threw his sleeping bag over both of them. He growled again. “Don’t.”
Chapter Fifteen
Zio woke at dawn. At some point in the night, Devan had rolled over, and Zio was now curled into his side, his head cradled on Devan’s chest, his headache from the night before a dazed memory.
Great. Now he’s healing me in his sleep. But Zio couldn’t find it within himself to be resentful. He needed Devan like he needed air.
He just didn’t know why.
And he couldn’t deny that it felt good to be in Devan’s arms. Safe. Right. If he could get back to sleep and rest a little while longer—
Michael stuck his head in the tent. “Drones have picked something up.”
Zio blinked. “Okay. I’m coming.”
Michael ducked out with no sign that he’d noticed Zio was wrapped around Devan.
But still.Shit. His unit up in his face about Devan was aggravation he didn’t need.At least we’re not naked.
Zio held the small comfort close until he spotted the wood he was sporting in his combat trousers—wood that was currently digging a hole in Devan’s thigh.Awesome.
Somehow, Zio disentangled himself from the hot mess he’d woken up in without waking Devan. His heart clenched. Loyalty and duty had roused his wolf, but leaving their cocoon of arms and legs felt like the end of the world and unsettled his wolf even more.