“No.” Varian shook his head. “The potential bond between you and Devan is a dangerous thing, and there will be consequences if you choose to fulfil it, especially now he has been seen by the southern packs, fought for us, killed for us, but that doesn’t make it wrong. Just... difficult.”
Zio could hardly catch the words as Varian spoke them. So many things he’d never considered. Devan had killed every enemy wolf that had come within spitting distance of Zio, but their ambushing force had been vast. Many had escaped to run home with tall tales of a raging tiger that turned out to be true. “What do we do now?”
Varian laid a warm hand on Zio’s shoulder. “To be honest, I don’t know. I’ve asked to speak with Dash. Perhaps he will know more than I do about such things, but the fact remains that the southern packs will likely see Devan’s intervention tonight as a sign Shadow Clan has joined our war. For now, that must be our greatest concern.”
“What about Devan? Will he be punished?”
“For what? This wasn’t a circumstance he chose. There is a chance, maybe, that Dash will feel that Devan should’ve been wiser or perhaps informed him that he’d nurtured a... relationship with you, but Dash knows better than most of us that these things can’t be predicted. I’d imagine his priority will be staying out of this war.”
Zio rubbed his temples. “Do you think Devan will come back?”
“I have every faith that he will find it impossible not to, but you have to accept that Dash may not let him stay if it puts his own people at risk.”
“What will happen if he leaves?”
“To your bond?”
Zio nodded, tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.
“It will fade, with time,” Varian said. “But it will be tough for both of you. Painful until the yearning to be together is gone. And then you will grieve, because you’ll know what you’ve lost. It will be hard to be with another.”
“I—”
Varian silenced Zio with a shake of his head. “Don’t even contemplate it right now. There is much to discuss with many people before any decisions need to be made, but know this, Zio. In a time of peace, such decisions would be yours alone, and I will do everything in my power to be sure you retain that right.”
Zio believed him. Varian’s humility was legendary. Their enemies believed it made him weak, but Zio knew it was his greatest strength. “I miss him.”
“I know. And you will every moment it takes to unravel this mess. Which is why I must go. Bomber is in need of some loving care from Tomas, and there are many conversations I must have before this night ends.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“For what? I will not repeat myself, Zio. There is no time. Your orders are to hold this camp with as little bloodshed as you can until you hear otherwise. If Devan returns to you, make contact with me when you can, but do not risk the safety of your pack. Is that clear?”
Varian’s alpha timbre vibrated deep within Zio, reaching parts of him even Devan couldn’t. He nodded and accepted his alpha’s scent mark. “I understand.”
Chapter Seventeen
Devan had been running for days and days. Weeks, maybe. Time had ceased to matter. White noise filled his head, the sounds of the never-ending forest drowned out by the screaming pain in his chest, agony that intensified with every mile he ran from his pack. From his newfound extended family. From Zio. But as much as it hurt, he couldn’t stop. Frenetic energy filled his veins and had become the only thing standing between him and the primal call to claim his mate.
He’s not your mate, though, is he? He’s the commander of the wolf pack unit you’ve been loaned to, and the last thing on earth his pack or the clan needs is the complication of a cross-species bond.
The fact that Devan had long ago ceased to think of the northern wolves as anyone’s pack save his own seemed a distant point.
I want him.
I need him.
I can’t have him.
Thirst drove Devan to a spring. He had no clue where he was—just that he was far enough from Zio that the compulsion to kill for him had faded, but the desire to be with him in any capacity burnt as strong as ever.
Devan’s paws itched.I have to keep moving.
Thirst quenched, he leapt the spring and ran on, not stopping even when the forest petered out. He darted across farmland and holiday parks, thankfully deserted for the winter. Across open fields in broad daylight.
At dusk, he came to the outskirts of a town large enough to house an armed police unit.I could run through the church square. Scare enough people that—
“Don’t even think about it.”