Luca growled his disagreement. “It’s not possible. We cannot separate you from the wolf while the bond remains unfulfilled. The risk to him is too great.”
Devan jerked his head up. “What do you mean?”
“It’s not important right now.” Luca crouched and gripped Devan’s chin, forcing him to look at him as he laced his next words with alpha power far greater than Varian’s. “What is vital is that the northern pack holds the border and that they appear to do it on their own without outside help. Do you think your wolf can do that?”
“No one can run the border operation better than Zio.”
“Then you have two tasks,” Luca said. “Keep him where he needs to be, and keep him alive.”
* * *
Zio couldn’t remember a time when his lips didn’t buzz with the energy of a kiss that seemed to have happened to someone else. It felt like a century had passed since that stolen moment, hidden away from the world in a tent that was still heavy with fragrant arousal and... something else. Something beyond Devan’s unique scent.
It’s the bond.
Zio screwed his eyes shut, willing the errant thought away. But it went nowhere, and neither did he, apparently rooted to his spot on the ground, waiting for something that would never come.
He’s not coming back. After five long days, Zio didn’t know much, but of that he was certain.
Danielo slipped into the tent. “There you are. Varian called the satellite phone looking for you, but no one could track you down.”
“Didn’t try very hard then. I’m hardly hidden in plain sight.”
“All right, all right. Don’t get shitty with me.”
Zio spared Danielo a sour look, but it was fleeting. He didn’t have the energy to be a dick to one of his closest brothers. “Did he say anything about Bomber?”
“Just that he’s doing as well as can be expected. Tomas is taking care of him.”
“He should’ve died.”
“Uh-huh. But he didn’t.”Because of Devan.
The unspoken words hung between them like a cloud of poison gas. Danielo backed off and disappeared before either of them could say anymore.
Zio flopped onto his back, a low growl escaping him. He’d come to the tent convinced he’d be able to gather anything and everything Devan had touched and burn it on the nearest fire, but it hadn’t happened. Instead he’d found himself overcome by longing, and sulking it out had seemed his only option.
He closed his eyes.Five fucking days. Where is he?No one knew, or if they did, they weren’t telling Zio.
And bythey,Zio meant Varian. Not that Zio had even asked. Pathetically, he’d been kind of hoping Varian would do his Jedi mind trick and throw Zio a bone.
You’re not that lucky.Or maybe he was. Maybe not knowing Devan’s whereabouts was a gift, because without it, there was no doubt in Zio’s mind that his wolf would want to follow.
On cue, his wolf stirred, urging Zio to shift and find his mate. To claim him and heal the gaping wound in his soul, but he fought it, clenching his fists until it subsided, the sharp ache fading to a dull roar.I need to sleep.
And after so many days without rest, resisting was a battle he lost.
* * *
It was early, barely dawn. Devan drifted through the camp, tracking Zio’s scent, all the while telling himself to go straight to the military hub and announce his return. Though the camp appeared to be asleep, somehow he knew Zio would be up.
Zio’s scent was freshest on the path that led to the tent Devan had once shared with him. Devan took a step closer, but a warm hand closed around his arm before he could take another.
“You’re back.”
Devan turned to face Danielo. “I am, and I have orders to stay.”
“For good?”