Page 15

Mika

I give a quick look over at Gabe and see the fire in his eyes. He’s ready to leap out of the truck and raise hell, but I’ve got this. “ Nah, this works, ” I look at him, cutting off whatever rebellious thought he’s about to fire at me. “At least one of them will run back to Zane and let him know we’re coming. I can assure you they know it’s me. And you know what? I’m actually looking forward to this confrontation now.”

Gabe’s brow furrows, but I press on, the words coming out like a challenge. “The pack decided I was an abomination. Unnatural. If that’s the case, then how did I end up with a mate?” I meet his gaze with a grin that’s all teeth. “This should fuck with their heads but good.”

Before Gabe can fire off a reply, a large gray wolf steps out into the middle of the creek bed, muscles rippling under its coat. Oh, so it’s Zane himself, stepping into this little reunion . Gabe’s fingers grip the door handle, his body tense with the need to act. I know what he’s thinki ng. The guy’s always ready to jump in, protect me, fight for me. It makes my heart swell, even though I have to keep him in check for now.

“That’s Zane,” I place a calming hand on his shoulder. “Give me just a minute with him. Then, if you want, you can join me. Please, Gabe.”

I can see the reluctance in his eyes, but he nods once, jaw set. He doesn’t like it, but he’ll let me take the lead. Unless Zane—or any of these shifter pricks—tries something stupid. Then I know all bets are off.

I climb out of the truck, the crunch of my boots on the dry creek bed loud in the silence. I walk to the front of the vehicle, leaning casually against the hood like I don’t have a care in the world. Maybe I should be worried. Hell, maybe I am, but I won’t let Zane—or anyone else—see that. Not when Gabe is watching, ready to jump in at the first sign of trouble.

Three smaller wolves flank Zane, their forms bristling with tension. I glance back at the truck and catch Gabe cracking the door open slightly, his expression pure fury as he glares at the pack. My lips twitch into a small smile. God, I love that man.

“May as well shift, Zane,” I call out, my voice loud and steady. “You too, Fernando, Azrael, Jared. There are no secrets between Gabriel and me.” I nod toward the cab, where Gabe sits, all fire and defiance. My grin widens, sharper now. “Though, if you’re feeling shy, you might want to jog back to the tree line and grab one of your secret stashes of clothes first. Wouldn’t want you worrying that this queer might jump your bones.”

I let the words hang there, enjoying the way Zane’s hackles rise slightly. The other wolves give fleeting looks at each other, then at Zane, waiting for his signal. It’s hilarious, really. Like I’d ever be desperate enough to even consider any of them. I keep my eyes locked on Zane, refusing to look away, refusing to drop my gaze in deference. I’m not part of this pack anymore. I don’t owe them that respect.

Zane gives a curt nod to the other three, and they trot off toward the tree line, probably to shift and grab some clothes.

I glance back at Gabe, my mate still perched in the truck like a coiled spring, ready to launch himself at the first sign of trouble. The sight of him, poised and fierce, sends a warm wave of pride through me.

I let a genuine smile break through the tension and call out to him, holding out my hand. “Join me?”

Gabe is at my side in seconds, his hand reaching for mine, our fingers intertwining in a firm grip. “Don’t ever do that to me again,” he fumes, his voice low and sharp. “It was hell sitting there, waiting for one of those assholes to do…whatever.”

I nod, not daring to argue, even though I’d only wanted to keep him safe. I’m not sure he realizes it yet, but he just spoke to me through the link. I think back to what I told him yesterday— Stronger together. My voice softens in his mind. “I’m sorry, babe. I was only thinking of protecting you.”

“ Same goes,” he mutters, turning his head to glare at the four men walking toward us. Zane suddenly stiffens, his head snapping up as his nostrils flare.

His whole body locks up, eyes going wide for just a fraction of a second before he schools his expression into something harder, unreadable.

But it’s too late. I saw it.

He knows.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

I let my grin sharpen, waiting for it to sink in, waiting for him to really process what he just scented. But Zane just stands there, silent, the mu scle in his jaw ticking like he’s grinding his teeth so hard they might crack.

It must be eating him alive.

The great, noble Alpha of the Gila pack, standing face to face with the ’unnatural abomination’ he helped exile. The same abomination who somehow—impossibly—has a true mate.

A shifter’s true mate.

I see it now, the way his hands twitch, like he wants to shift, like his wolf doesn’t know whether to attack or run. He’s struggling, his instincts at war, because this isn’t supposed to happen . Not to someone like me. Not to someone his pack decided wasn’t worthy of anything beyond rejection.

I can practically hear the thoughts racing through his head. This isn’t real. This isn’t possible. Mika shouldn’t have a mate.

But I do.

And he can’t deny it.

Gabe notices immediately. “What’s he doing?”

“He’s scented that we’re mates,” I explain. “It’s impossible to miss. All shapeshifters can scent mated pairs. And he can’t ignore it.” The look on Zane’s face makes me want to laugh, and his three subordinates falter in their steps, no doubt catching the same undeniable scent. I can’t stop a smirk from spreading across my face. Gabe bites his cheek, visibly fighting not to laugh. I’m impressed by his restraint.

Zane stares at me, his confusion evident. “How…?” he starts, his voice thick with disbelief. “What the fuck?”

“You smell it, don’t you?” I say, keeping my voice light, taunting. The air between us is thick, charged, and I can feel the tension rolling off him in waves.

Zane swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His fists clench at his sides .

“Yes,” he finally says, voice rough, like the word is sandpaper on his tongue.

I hum, cocking my head like I’m considering something deeply. Then I let my smile widen, all teeth. “You can’t ignore it. You can’t pretend this isn’t real. I found my mate, Zane. The bond exists.” I step forward slightly, dropping my voice to something more serious. “So tell me… What does that make me now?”

His throat works around a response that never comes.

I love this.

But the longer I watch him, the more something shifts in my gut. The look in his eyes—it’s not just anger. Not just confusion.

It’s fear.

And for some reason, that makes me pause.

Because Zane Mitchell isn’t afraid of anything.

Gabe laughs then, sharp and unrestrained, and I can’t blame him. Watching Zane eat crow like this is delicious. The alpha glares at me, but his posturing rolls off me like water. I don’t owe him a damn thing. Still, a small part of me acknowledges that I might never have found Gabe if they hadn’t banished me. Maybe I shouldn’t hate them…too much.

But forgiveness? Nah.

Zane’s voice comes out rough, like he’s forcing the words through his teeth. “I believe you were banished.”

My smile hardens into something cold and sharp. Gabe steps forward, his laughter gone, replaced with a tension that radiates from his every move. His anger is palpable, burning as brightly as mine once had. Before he can take another step, I wrap an arm around his waist, pulling him back to my side. My grin fades as I hold him close.

“Yes,” I say, my tone sharp as a blade, “because I’m an ‘abomination,’ as the pack decided. Funny, then, that even someon e like me would have a mate, huh?” I let the words hang in the air, watching as they sink in.

Mates are sacred to us—every shifter’s dream. Yet most shifters live their entire lives without ever finding theirs. I smirk at the irony. Maybe they’ve been searching in all the wrong places, clinging to their outdated beliefs. Zane’s pack had only ever known one other true mating, and that was decades ago, from someone twice my age.

Zane glances at Gabe, nostrils flaring again like he’s hoping against hope that he’s mistaken. The three men behind him exchange uneasy looks, nodding to confirm what their alpha clearly doesn’t want to believe. I feel a flicker of satisfaction but decide to show them a mercy they never gave me.

“We’ve only come to get my things, Zane,” I say evenly. Before I can add more, Gabe pinches my side, and I barely keep from yelping. I tighten my hold on him, slitting my eyes at him briefly. “I’m getting there, babe. Be patient.”

Zane narrows his eyes, clearly catching the exchange. “What is it your mate would like to say, Mika?” His voice is calm, but I don’t miss the edge beneath it. He’s picked up on more than just Gabe’s pinch—he’s noticed our link, too.

I open my mouth to answer, but Gabe’s voice cuts through, clear and measured. The calmness in his tone doesn’t hide the simmering anger underneath.

“This mate has a name, asshole. Gabriel Staley.”

Gabe tries to step up to Zane, his voice sharp and irritated, but I yank him back before he can close the distance. Zane’s face flushes deep red, and his jaw works. Oh yeah, he didn’t take kindly to that insult. The three wolves flanking him bristle and start forward, but Zane halts them with a sharp motion.

“ My apologies, Mr Staley,” Zane says, his tone clipped. “I deserved that, but you only get one shot, the next insult will have repercussions.” His eyes narrow to slits, the unspoken warning clear.

Gabe doesn’t seem to care. He’s ready to let another verbal volley fly, and I know whatever comes next won’t help the situation. Before he can speak, I press my hand against his chest, stopping him.

“Shhh, let’s not resort to name-calling. Well, not any more name-calling, even if it is accurate.”

Gabe huffs out a breath and finally nods, though the tension in his shoulders doesn’t ease much.

Turning back to Zane, I let my wolf rise to the surface just enough to lace my voice with steel. “If you threaten my mate again, I will beat you to a bloody pulp and disband this whole goddamned pack when I’m through with you.”

The promise lands heavy in the air between us. I mean every word, and Zane knows it. My gaze locks on his, unblinking, daring him to test me. He has a choice—stand down and let us finish what we came here for or push back and see how far I’m willing to go.

Through our link, Gabe’s voice comes, light and amused despite the tension. “Damn, you’re fucking hot when you go all caveman!”

I fight the blush creeping up my neck, but it’s a losing battle. Zane notices and tilts his head slightly, studying me. To my surprise, his features relax, like he’s come to some quiet understanding.

Then, something I never expected happens—Zane steps forward and bows slightly, first to Gabe and then to me. An alpha bowing to anyone who doesn’t outrank him? It’s unheard of.

“It would seem I must apologize again,” Zane says, his voice softer this time. “I am sorry, Mika, Gabriel. I am not used to having my…flaws…pointed out so bluntly.”

He lowers his gaze, and through the link, Gabe’s thoughts ripple with unexpected sympathy. “I kind of feel sorry for him. Wait, no I don’t. But I could, if he hadn’t been such an asshole to you.”

I sigh, some of my own tension draining. I’ve made my point—the pack was wrong about me—and maybe, just maybe, this will stop anyone else from being ostracized over their sexuality.

“If we’re done,” I say, my voice weary, “I’d like to gather my things so we can get back home.”

Zane hesitates, like there’s more he wants to say, but after a moment, he just nods. “Of course, Mika. Your belongings should be packed and left in your house. We kept them there until we knew where to send them.”

He turns and starts toward the pack dwellings, his men falling into step behind him.

“Zane,” Gabe calls out suddenly, his tone carrying a glint of challenge.

The alpha stops and turns back, his expression cautious.

“You could always ride there with us,” Gabe says, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

I blink at Gabe, torn between pinching him for stirring the pot and pulling him into a kiss for being so bold.

Zane studies Gabe for a long moment, his nostrils flaring faintly as he scents the emotions simmering beneath my mate’s words. Then, to my surprise, Zane’s lips twitch into a grin.

“I think I’ll take you up on that, Gabriel, just because it will irritate you to have to sit by the evil alpha.” Striding toward the truck and climbs into the back seat.

I laugh as Gabe scowls and climbs in the truck, glaring at the alpha as he hops in beside him. “Oh, babe, I think your plan just bit you in the ass!”

Gab e looks at me, his grin turning coy. “This should be fun,” he says, moving closer to Zane. “Really, Mika? So you don’t mind that your former alpha is pressed up—”

I snarl, yanking Gabe onto my lap and pressing his back against the driver’s door. Zane looks a little startled, but I don’t give a damn. It’s going to be a couple of hours before we reach the heart of the Gila packlands since we have to follow the creek bed. Thanks to Gabe’s invitation to Zane, the drive is going to feel twice as long. My temper is already on edge, and there is no way in hell I’m letting Gabe carry even a trace of the alpha’s scent. That would very likely end with me doing exactly what I threatened Zane with earlier. This is going to be a long ride.

I can feel the shift in the air before I see it. Word must have spread throughout the pack because, as we load the last of my things, the curious stares multiply. The hostility that used to weigh down on me like a suffocating fog? Gone. It’s not exactly warm and fuzzy, but it’s progress. Maybe the next gay shifter born here won’t have to fight tooth and nail just to exist.

“Last box,” Gabe says, setting it down in the truck bed with a thud. He looks at me, his eyes sharp but soft around the edges, like he can already tell I’m relieved to be done here. “Ready to get out of here?”

“Oh, yeah.” My voice comes out low, gruff, but then I blurt, “I, uh, I miss Iko, ya know?”

Why that’s hard to say, I have no idea. But it is.

Gabe doesn’t laugh or tease me, just nods and starts tossing tie-down straps across the truck bed. I grab the straps on my side, locking them into place while Gabe secures his. It’s a silent, efficient routin e—one that feels good, like we’ve been doing this together forever.

Finally, the truck’s loaded. We head to the cab, climb in, and just as Gabe slides the keys into the ignition, there’s a sharp rap on his window.

Gabe jerks, startled, then scowls as he rolls the window down. I don’t need to look to know who it is. The scent of Zane hits me before I see him standing there.

“Yeah?” Gabe snaps, his tone annoyed. He’s trying not to be a total ass, but it’s clear he’s not over his annoyance with the alpha. Honestly, I don’t blame him. And yet, seeing my mate’s fire makes me feel something warm in my chest. God, this man makes me happy.

“I just wanted to tell you…” Zane hesitates, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “Tell you both that you’re welcome to stay here tonight, if you’d like.”

The sincerity in his tone catches me off guard. It doesn’t erase the years of hurt, not by a long shot, but it does ease some of the sting. Gabe looks at me with a question in his eyes.

“That’ll be a no, babe,” I think, letting my lips curl into a small, wicked smile. “I have plans for you tonight that I don’t feel like sharing with my former pack. Most of them have excellent hearing—and an incomparable sense of smell.”

That thought makes Gabe grin, his eyes lighting up with a mix of anticipation and mischief.

I turn back to Zane. “We appreciate it, but…” I trail off, not wanting to list all the reasons why we’re declining.

Zane nods, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets. “I understand. For what it’s worth—which is probably nothing to y’all—I am sorry. But even if you don’t stay the night, we’re about to go for a run. You’re welcome to join us, Mika,” he says, his voice low but resonant. “It’s been t oo long.” His voice sounds heavier than before, weighed down with something like regret.

Gabe’s hand finds my shoulder, squeezing lightly. “You should go,” he murmurs. “I can stay back here.”

My throat closes at his words. There’s no jealousy, no bitterness in his tone—just encouragement and trust. He knows what this means to me, even if I haven’t fully put it into words.

Zane’s been quiet.

Too quiet.

I’d watched him as we finished loading the last of my things into the truck, his gaze flickering from me to the wolves standing nearby, then back again. There’s tension in his shoulders, something uneasy in the way he stands, like he’s waiting for something to happen.

Like he’s waiting for something to go wrong.

I jump out of the truck, wipe my hands on my jeans and step toward him, lowering my voice. “All right, spill it.”

Zane blinks, caught off guard. “What?”

I cross my arms. “You’re worried about something.”

His brows pull together, but he doesn’t deny it. Doesn’t even try. Instead, he lets out a slow breath, gaze shifting to the side like he’s deciding whether or not to say whatever’s on his mind.

That’s new.

Finally, he speaks. “It’s not as simple as you think, Mika.”

I let out a dry laugh. “What isn’t?”

Zane exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “The decisions I make. You think I could’ve just told them all to shove their opinions and accept you for who you are? You think I didn’t want to?”

I still, the words hitting me harder than I expect. There’s something raw in his voice, something real . And that throws me off.

Because I didn’t expect that .

Zan e shifts on his feet, voice lower now, like he doesn’t want anyone else to hear. “I tried, Mika. But there’s only so much I can do before they start looking for someone else to replace me.”

I narrow my eyes, studying him. His posture is rigid, his expression strained. There’s no pride in his stance, no arrogance in his words. Just…frustration. Exhaustion.

Fear.

I shake my head. “You were the alpha. Your word was supposed to be law.”

“That’s what you think,” Zane mutters, voice bitter. “But even an alpha isn’t untouchable.”

I stare at him for a long moment, letting the words settle, rolling them over in my head. I don’t want to feel anything about this. About him.

But something in my gut twists anyway.

Zane Mitchell—the same bastard who banished me—looks lost.

And that’s almost worse than seeing him angry.

I glance toward the pack, toward the wolves standing at a distance, whispering among themselves, watching him more than they’re watching me.

That’s when it clicks.

“They don’t respect you,” I say, and the way Zane’s jaw ticks tells me I’m not wrong. “They smell the weakness,” I continue, my voice dropping lower. “They know something’s shifting. And they’re waiting for their moment.”

Zane clenches his fists at his sides—doesn’t deny it.

I don’t know why I say what I say next. Maybe because, despite everything, this pack is still my pack. And I don’t want to see them tear themselves apart.

“ You need to figure out what kind of leader you really are,” I tell him, voice firm. “Before it’s too late.”

Zane doesn’t respond.

I let the moment hang between us before Zane walks over to the rest of the pack.

The low hum of voices fades as the pack shifts and stretches, their excitement vibrating in the cool night air. They’re preparing for a run, the kind of group hunt that used to be as natural to me as breathing. My body reacts instinctively, muscles coiling tight and itching for the release of transformation. I can almost feel the pull of the earth under my paws, the wind rushing through my fur, the collective rhythm of the pack as we move as one.

The instinct is overwhelming, clawing at me from the inside. My wolf howls to join them, to feel the ancient bond of kinship, the unspoken connection that exists only among those who run under the same moon. For a moment, I close my eyes, letting the sound of shifting bodies and the growing growls wash over me. It’s a sound I thought I’d buried, one I’d resigned myself to never hearing again.

And yet, here I am, standing on the edge of what I’ve craved for so long.

Zane catches my eye as he shifts, his amber gaze steady, but there’s no pressure in it. He knows I’m torn, the same way I’d know if it were him. The alpha might not say it outright, but I can see the invitation in his stance. If I want to join them—if I want to let go, even just for tonight—he won’t stop me. Hell, he’ll welcome me, even after everything.

The thought sends a pang through me, one I didn’t expect.

I glance back at Gabe, who’s leaning against the car with his arms crossed, watching the pack with wary curiosity. He’s out of place here, no doubt about it. His scent is wrong, too clean and sharp amid the earthy musk of wolves. He’s a human standing in a world that’s not meant for him.

But he’s here—for me.

My wolf doesn’t understand what that means, not fully. The primal part of me screams to stay, to run, to feel the blood of a kill on my tongue and the electric thrill of being part of something bigger. But the man in me? The man knows what he’s already found in Gabe.

I take a step toward the pack, drawn by the visceral need to run. Zane shifts fully, his sleek gray wolf merging seamlessly into the group.

“Take care of yourself, Zane,” I shout across to him.

He’s still standing there, staring, but he’s not looking at me anymore.

He’s looking at the pack.

And for the first time, I think he’s realizing what I already know.

They’re waiting .

Not to follow him.

To see if they even should.

They move together like a tide, flowing into the night, as though it belongs to them—and maybe it does. It used to belong to me, too.

I take another step, my hand twitching at my side. The need to transform is a living thing, clawing at my skin and whispering promises of what I could have, if only I let myself give in.

But then I hear it—Gabe’s voice, soft and hesitant. “Mika?”

I turn to him, and for the first time, I see the faintest trace of unease in his expression. He doesn’t say anything else, but he doesn’t have to. He knows what this is, even if he can’t put it into words. He knows what I’m giving up.

But I know what I’ve gained.

The pull of the pack fades, replaced by something deeper. A bond that’s newer, less certain, but no less powerful. Gabe doesn’t belong here, not in this world, but he’s given me something the pack never could. He’s given me a place where I can be more than my wolf. A place where I can be myself.

I take a deep breath, letting the tension drain out of my body. My wolf growls in protest, but I don’t give in. Instead, I turn fully to Gabe and close the distance between us. His hand brushes mine, and the connection steadies me in a way nothing else ever has.

“They’re gone,” he says, glancing toward the shadows where the pack has disappeared. There’s no judgment in his voice, just quiet understanding.

“Yeah,” I murmur, my voice rough with emotion. “They’re gone.”

Gabe studies me for a long moment before nodding his head in acceptance and tilting it toward the car. “Ready to go?”

I glance one last time at the forest, where the echoes of the pack’s howls linger in the air. A part of me will always miss this, I know. It’s who I am, etched into my very bones. But when I look back at Gabe, standing there with nothing but love in his eyes, I know I’ve made the right choice.

“Yeah,” I say, with a bittersweet ache. “Let’s go.”

“So, where to, caveman? You want to make a straight drive home? It’s almost dark now, but we could probably handle a twelve-hour drive if you’re up for it.”

I grin at the nickname, catching the faint scent of arousal curling off him as he speaks. God, this man . My balls tingle as the need I’ve been holding back all day surges to the forefront.

“No way, babe.” My voice dips low, heavy with promise. “I told you I have plans for you tonight. I think Silver City is about as far as I’m gonna be able to make it before I jump you.”

Sliding my hand over the bulge in his jeans, I press my palm against his hardening cock, rubbing slow and deliberate.

Gab e groans, and I can’t help the satisfied smirk that spreads across my face.