“I don’t give a shit what you believe.”
“I doubt that’s true, either.” His eyes pierced to the core of her. “We’re mates, and I can already feel your inner pain. Your longing for love and acceptance.”
Too close to the bull’s-eye. Much too close.
She looked away from that knowing gaze. “Think what you want. It’s not like I’m going to hang around after I settle my business with my father.”
“You’d just leave without giving our mating a chance?”
That question surprised her, deflating some of her anger for the moment. “I don’t know what you expect me to say. Finding a mate wasn’t exactly in my plans when I arrived.”
He gave a laugh tinged with bitterness. “And you think it was in mine to discover that my fated Bondmate is a cold, bitter woman who’s more comfortable wearing blinders than facing the truth?”
His accusation sent a hot flush of shame surging through her, and she reacted defensively. “Well, since I don’t measure up, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to let me go so you can find someone else,” she said coolly. Inside, her wolf growled in displeasure at the idea, startling her. “Maybe we should just change the subject.”
“Fine. What do you want to talk about?”
“I noticed that your voice is . . . different, and you’re always looking at the speaker. Are you hearing impaired?”
“Why? Is that another strike against me?”
Now who was being defensive?
“Not at all. I was just asking because I was curious to know more about you.”
He gave her a long look, then settled down, apparently deciding the question wasn’t meant to be rude or demeaning. “I was injured a few weeks ago during a battle with an Unseelie that came close to killing all of us. His name was Malik, and he was Kalen’s and Sariel’s father. You haven’t met Sariel yet.”
She digested that. “Malik is the one Ryon mentioned, who had labs that were experimenting on people.”
“Yeah. He was a mean fucking sonofabitch and almost turned Kalen to his side. His goal was to combine human and shifter DNA to try to create super-soldiers, sort of mass produce them and take over the world. And he damned near succeeded.”
“God, that’s horrible!” She tried to imagine her clan dealing with such evil, and wondered if they would be prepared to fight it if the situation ever arose.
“What’s worse is we now know Malik wasn’t the top of the food chain on the rule-the-world deal. Someone in the US government has been behind it all along, and even though Malik is dead and the labs have been destroyed, whoever is pulling the strings has created a huge problem with the rogue vampires.”
“I can’t imagine anyone being so stupid as to think they could control the rogues,” she scoffed. “They no longer possess morals, loyalty, honesty, or any quality that would make them respect another’s rule. They want nothing but to feed their lust for blood and sex, and they can acquire those two things without any help.”
“Well, someone in Washington didn’t get that memo before they royally fucked up. Now we have to find out who that someone is and stop not only him but the latest mess he created.”
She shook her head. “I don’t envy any of you on that job.” Except her father. He deserved that task and all the dangers that came with it.
“It won’t be easy. As for me, my fighting days are over unless my hearing improves a lot more.” He looked away, out the window. “I almost got Nix killed earlier. That’s why I was out for a run when I came across you and Nick. I was trying to decide whether to leave here for good.”
For some reason, the idea caused her stomach to twist. “I get the sense that saying good-bye to your team isn’t what you want at all.”
“It’s not.” With a start, he looked at her, whiskey-colored eyes wide. “I heard you say that! It sounded faint, as though you were far away, but I still heard!”
“That’s great,” she said, smiling as she grabbed one of his hands.
“I heard a little when I was talking to Nick, too.” He appeared excited about the development.
“I’m happy for you. Do you think it has something to do with our mating?”
“Could be. A strong bond between mates can work wonders, so maybe it can heal as well.”
“I hope so.” Even if they didn’t remain together, she found herself caring whether he could heal.
“What if it doesn’t? How will you feel about being saddled with a defective mate?”
“First of all, you’re not defective,” she said firmly. “You’ve been injured in battle while fighting evil, and that’s something you—and your mate—should always be proud of.”
“Thanks,” he said hoarsely.
“I think the better question is how we both feel about being mated, period, and whether we want to give this a real shot. I know what I said before about leaving, but I know from my clan that being mated complicates things.”
He was silent for a long moment before answering. “Speaking for myself, I’ve wanted a mate for a long time. Someone special who was meant to be only mine, as I would be only hers. Even before I was turned into a shifter, I didn’t date much. And after six years in the compound, life has gotten more than a little lonely.” He sighed. “I don’t want to be alone anymore, and I’d like to see if we can work it out.”
She fell silent for a long moment before answering carefully.
“Among my clan, to find our true Bondmate is a cause for celebration. It’s considered one of the greatest events that can befall a born wolf. Not everyone is blessed in that way, and part of me is grateful that it happened, in spite of how I came across before.”
“But the other part?”
“I’ll be honest, Zan. Even if a miracle should occur and I don’t end up killing my father, I’m just not sure I could ever fit in here.”
“Fair enough. But would you do us both a favor and keep an open mind?”
She looked away, torn. Finding a mate was a gift. But could she put aside revenge for her mate?
“I’ll try. That’s all I can promise.” And that wasn’t much.
“Then you’ll stay here for a while?”
“Yes. I don’t think the commander would let me leave even if I tried, which I won’t just yet.” Her uncle was going to shit monkeys when he found out. Not about Zander, but about her being around Nick for any length of time.
He smiled, his relief plain. “That’s all I can ask. I guess we start by introducing you around.”
“I’m sure everyone will welcome me with hugs and kisses,” she said sarcastically.
“Yeah, you did try to kill our commander, who’s respected and adored by everybody in the compound. So, doing that again is pretty much a deal breaker.”
“I’ll try to refrain—but only because of you and our mating bond.” Her tone made it clear that it wouldn’t be easy.
“You won’t be sorry.”
She wasn’t so sure. But for this kind, gentle man she’d mated, she felt compelled to make an effort. She wondered if she really was vindictive or stupid enough to ruin something as cherished as finding her Bondmate in favor of getting revenge.
But she wanted answers. Had to have them or she’d go crazy. She’d been nursing her hatred for so many years, it was damned difficult to let it go. However, even she could see that things were not what she’d always believed where Nick was concerned.
She’d bide her time. And eventually she’d get what she wanted—her mate and the truth.
Five
Uncomfortable talking about her father, Selene changed the subject.
“Do you have two bedrooms?”
“Just one, but I’ll take the sofa. No argument,” he said when she opened her mouth to protest.
“All right.”
“Do you have clothes somewhere?”
“I’ve been staying at a motel in town. My bags are there.”
“We’ll go for a drive later and pick them up.”
“That’s fine. What do we do now?”
“Want to go for a run, let our wolves out for a bit? Mine is ready to let off some tension, and I’m betting yours is going stir crazy from being cooped up in that cell. Besides, we’ve got a while before dinner and nothing better to do.”
She shrugged. “Okay.”
In truth, her she-wolf was dying to see him in action again, with his big, sleek form covered in ebony fur. The grace of his limbs and his incredible wolf scent. She recalled how he’d placed himself between her and his Pack, fangs bared, and a shiver of delight traveled unbidden down her spine.
That had been sexy as hell. She could deny a lot of things about this new mating, but one that defied any sort of denial whatsoever was the simple fact that she wanted him.
She wanted his body on top of her. Inside her, taking what only her mate had the right to. And she wanted to be on top of him, too, grinding her hips and ass into him—
“Hey, where’d you go?”
Shaking her head, she looked at him and grinned. “Just thinking about that run. I’m ready when you are.”
Following him through the hallways, she made direct eye contact with each person she encountered, not willing to show the slightest weakness. These shifters needed to know that she didn’t fear them, or care about their scorn. She didn’t crave their acceptance. The only thing she cared about was finding the truth and making her father own up to his part in the destruction of her life.
As she watched her mate’s fine ass swaying in his jeans, she was forced to admit perhaps revenge wasn’t all she was looking forward to. Since it was her right to take it, why not enjoy?
Outside, he led her to the edge of the forest, then a few yards down the path into the undergrowth. There, he began to shed his clothing, and she took another long look at the man who was now hers. He was absolutely gorgeous.
Having no modesty, she got rid of her clothes as well and laid them over a log. Zan studied her in kind, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at the flare of heat in his eyes. He obviously liked what he saw, and her wolf practically whined at the attention.
“How fast is your wolf?”
“Pretty fast,” she answered. “Yours?”
“Why don’t you find out?” He threw it out as a challenge, a twinkle in his brown eyes, then shifted. In seconds his gorgeous black wolf stood before her, waiting eagerly.
Not about to start out behind, she let the change flow over herself also. It always happened fast, and in moments she was next to him, a white wolf next to his ebony. She thought they must make a striking visual.
Zan took off with a bark, paws churning the earth. She dashed off after him. Stretching her muscles felt damned good after being cooped up in that stupid cell. She was glad he’d suggested this, because her wolf needed it.
She tore across the forest floor, jumping dead trees and dodging rocks, hot on his heels. He was fast; she’d give him that. But she was holding back a bit. He’d challenged a born wolf to a race, and she was determined to win.
But he’d been holding back as well. Just as she started to pass him, he put on a burst of speed that left her eating his dust again. Crap! He pulled several yards ahead, jumped a small creek, then skidded to a halt on the other side and spun, his wolf panting, tongue lolling, his expression looking like a big smile.
Jumping the creek, she barreled into him, taking him to the ground with a playful growl. Together they rolled over and over, nipping and yapping, and it was . . . fun. When was the last time she’d experienced this with one of her clan? Specifically, a lover? Never.
After their play, they lay panting, side by side. Gradually, the high of their tussle began to settle into an awareness of each other she’d never felt with anyone else. The feeling was heat and fire. Arousal.