Page 81 of Their Mate

The wheel was warm under my palm. The throttle sat where I wanted it. Ahead, the river opened its black throat to the sea.

Behind me, I left a handful of wolves who’d stopped being only targets and started being something I couldn’t name without feeling foolish. Who I… cared for, in the ways I could, in the only ways I knew how.

I didn’t let myself look back a second time.

The boat cut a clean V into the dark, and I let her.

The keys were still in the ignition. I touched them once with my fingertips, almost like a silent thank you that I knew Jamie couldn’t hear, but wanted him to anyway.

Then I squared my shoulders and drove for open water, using the stars as my guide.

CHAPTER 26

Edward

I couldn’t believe she was gone. I stared Jamie down for several seconds and then I left before I said or did something I couldn’t take back and walked into the main room.

“She’s gone,” I said. “Jamie helped her escape.”

Aidan went still. “Explain.”

Declan straightened, eyes sharpening. “You let our mate leave?”

Jamie had followed me into the living area, hands lifted like I’d pulled a weapon on him. “Aye. I gave her space. That’s all.”

Logan’s gaze found Jamie’s and didn’t blink. “Say what you really mean.”

“She needs the Watch,” Jamie said, and the grin he usually wore was nowhere to be seen. “We need them. You know I’m right. You just don’t like trusting humans.”

Aidan’s jaw flexed. “And you didn’t think to say that before you just opened the door and just let her waltz out into the dark?”

“I did think it,” Jamie shot back. “And I’ve been saying it. She was already planning on leaving, lads. I just helped her along.”

Declan’s mouth went hard. “By letting her go alone? How the fuck is she even going to get there? Flap her wings and fly?”

“She’s fully capable all on her own,” Jamie said, meeting my eye for once without flinching. “I found a functioning, seaworthy boat and may have mentioned it to her.”

Aidan stepped forward, green eyes dark and angry. “You what? You don’t get to decide for the rest of us.”

“You don’t get to decide for her either,” Jamie said, softer now. “She decided. I just respected it and solved her biggest problem for her.”

Logan’s voice resounded throughout the room. “Enough.”

We all shut up.

He looked at me. “What do you suggest?”

I swallowed the first answer (drag Jamie outside and knock some sense into him) and gave the one that mattered. “We move at first light. Somehow find another boat in working condition and follow her. Finding her on the water is going to be impossible, so we make it to the Isle of Man and make sure she’s alright. She’ll make it to the Watch before we do. There’s no preventing that.”

Declan folded his arms, scar tugging when he scowled. “And if she doesn’t want eyes on her?”

“She’ll never know,” I said.

“And Zara?” Aidan asked.

Logan answered automatically. “We keep the radio schedule. Every hour on the half, three-minute windows. If…” He closed his eyes for a moment before resuming. “When her team surfaces, we adjust and meet them north.”

“Your handset is still cooked,” I reminded him. “We need a working transmitter, not hope.”