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Mo sighed, leaning more heavily against Zack. "I feel guilty. How can I be happy when she might be god knows where? How could I have been up here for nearly a week with no thought other than sex?"

"You know what I've learned from years of fostering kids? " Zack asked. "That guilt doesn't help anyone. It doesn't make you more effective at finding her, and it doesn't make her situation any better."

"That's easy to say—"

"And it wasn't just a week of sex," Zack said with a humorless laugh. "it's about what we are."

"It's a natural part of bonding," Victor said from the doorway. Mo hadn't heard him approach. Victor seemed to move silently even in human form.

Mo looked up, grateful when Victor came to sit on his other side. "What do you mean?"

"When a bond forms, it creates a...hierarchy of priorities," Victor explained, choosing his words carefully. "Your mate bond with us is fresh, intense. It's natural for it to temporarily overwhelm other concerns."

"But she's my sister," Mo protested weakly.

"And we will find her," Victor promised, his voice carrying that quiet certainty that always made Mo believe him. "But Noah's situation has given us information we didn't have before. If Pearson is behind this, and he's experimenting on shifters, there's a possibility..."

"That Khloe could be one of his test subjects," Mo finished, his stomach dropping as the implications hit him. "God, Victor. What if she's being held somewhere like Jacob?"

Zack's warm brown eyes held his. "It makes sense. Pearson knows about shifters. He's keeping kids somewhere. It fits with what we know."

Hope bloomed in Mo's chest for the first time in weeks. "Then finding Jacob might lead us to Khloe."

"It's possible," Zack said cautiously. "I don't want to promise you something I can't deliver, but..."

"But it's more than we had before," Mo finished, feeling optimistic for the first time in what seemed like forever. He stood up, energy thrumming through him. "We need to move quickly then. For both of them."

"That's the plan," Zack agreed, rising to his feet. "Victor's already coordinating with Raschid's wolves for surveillance. We're going to get eyes on Pearson's place tonight."

Zack squeezed Mo's shoulder. "We'll do our best. But we need to be smart about this. Rushing in without a plan could put them both at risk."

Mo deflated. He’d been ready to run somewhere, anywhere. Tears pricked at his eyes. It was always the same. He’d get this amazing information then it wouldn’t work out. It was like being on a permanent rollercoaster.

He caught the look Victor sent Zack. “I think our mate needs some stress relief.” But he shook his head. He didn’t deserve good when Khloe might be imprisoned. Zack’s fingers trailed a line down his chest.

“I agree.”

Mo tried to push away, but his mates' hands were too convincing, too soothing. "I can't," he whispered. "Not while Khloe—"

"Listen to me," Victor said, his voice firm but gentle as he cupped Mo's face. "You're carrying too much. Your body is still adjusting to the bond, and your mind is stretched in too many directions. You need to let us take care of you."

"He's right," Zack murmured, pressing a kiss to Mo's temple. "You'll be no good to Khloe if you're falling apart. Let us help you."

Mo felt the fight drain out of him as Victor's thumb brushed his cheek, wiping away a tear he hadn't realized had fallen. "I'm so tired," he admitted. He was exhausted, but didn’t need sleep. He needed to let his mind go for a little while.

Zack pressed a tender kiss to the side of Mo’s head.

Defeated, Mo let out a deep breath and allowed himself to be laid down on the bed. As Victor's strong fingers kneaded away the tension in his shoulders, Zack's lips brushed over Mo's neck, collarbone, and nipples, the sensation sending shivers down his spine.

“I know, baby,” Zack whispered as he continued his tender exploration of Mo’s body. “Just relax.”

As Mo gave in to their touch, allowing warmth and pleasure to spread through him, he couldn’t help but feel a deeper connection forming with his mates.

Victor bent down and softly captured Mo’s lips with his own. Mo could feel the commanding presence of his mate in that one kiss–all-consuming and powerful.

Simultaneously, Zack's hands worked at removing Mo’s clothes piece by piece, each exposed area of skin receiving more attention from his skilled mouth.

“Let go,” Victor murmured against Mo’s lips. “Just for now. Let us take care of everything.”