Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

T he door had barely closed behind Ross when it burst open. He was lucky not to be sent flying. His mate rushed in, the door banging against the wall. Ross didn't turn to look. He knew it was Dylan.

"Don't you dare leave me," Dylan burst out. "You said you'd stay with me forever. I trusted you. My wolf trusted you."

Ross headed toward the bedroom to pack his bag. "You lied to me. You didn't tell me about the danger. I trusted you . More fool me."

"I didn't want to lie to you." Dylan sounded broken and it took everything in Ross to lock his muscles and not turn to face him. Everything in him wanted to take his mate in his arms. "I knew they were testing me. I thought if I passed this test, finally they would trust me and things can get back to normal for you."

"And how did that work out for you?" Ross said sarcastically.

He grabbed his pack and started stuffing all the clothes he knew were his into it. He had more at the ranch house. They could post them or trash them. He didn't care.

"I passed my employer's test and lost my mate," Dylan whispered. "Why are you so angry?"

"Work it out." Ross clenched his jaw, vanishing into the bathroom to pick up his toiletries. Dylan would have to buy his own instead of sharing his. He zipped up his pack, returned to the bedroom and stopped, rocking back on his heels.

A large gray wolf faced him, hackles up, teeth bared, the green of his eyes barely visible. Ross's line of escape was cut off. He wasn't going anywhere unless the wolf allowed it. Hair stood up on the back of his neck as he faced down the wolf.

"Dylan?"

He made his voice as non-threatening as he could, but the wolf stayed where he was, head down between his shoulders, glaring at Ross. Fight warred with flight, but his leg muscles were frozen in place. In his wolf form, Dylan was larger and could eat him in three bites, maybe four. Maybe that was an exaggeration but not by much. Ross and all the Cavalry men had been trained to respect the wolves and always take a step back.

But this was his mate. His Dylan.

Not yours. You're leaving me. You told me that.

The pain in Dylan's thought wrenched at Ross's heart, but he had to go. He couldn't stay where his employer, his pack, and his mate lied to him. None of them trusted him.

Footsteps sounded in the small hallway. Dylan swung around to stand between Ross and the newcomers, growling, his hackles so large he looked twice the size. Now he appeared to be protecting Ross from the intruders.

Eli appeared in the doorway, Milo padding behind him, already shifted. "It's us, Dylan. Don't attack." He didn't seem surprised to find Dylan in his wolf form.

"What do you want?" Ross asked icily, his arms folded across his chest.

He was sure Eli had brought Milo to tackle Dylan if necessary and that made him angrier than ever. No one hurt his mate, human or shifter!

"Can we talk?" Eli asked.

"Where's Niles?"

"Handling a team that's stationed over near Zeke's house. Ross, I'm to blame as much as Niles. It was his idea but only because he wanted me to calm down and accept you both back into the Cavalry before you go on the road trip. I didn't talk to Milo first or he'd have pointed out what idiots we are coming between mates."

Milo growled at his mate, which Ross assumed was him agreeing that Eli was indeed an idiot.

Dylan was still standing with his hackles up, but he was calming. Ross could sense that through their link, so he hadn't slammed it closed like he did before.

Ross was seething. He was so damn tired of being jerked around by everyone else. He fixed his gaze on Eli. "You either trust the two men you've worked with for years or I leave. No more threats. This is the Cavalry's last chance and you're only getting that because I'm too damn tired to fight you right now."

Before Eli could answer Milo shifted. By now they were used to shifters being naked. It barely registered with Ross.

"We need to talk," Milo said.

Ross shook his head. "I've got nothing to say, sheriff."

"I'm not the sheriff anymore. I finished today. The Cavalry now has a full-time shifter in post to keep the humans under control."

"You mean from making stupid mistakes like today," Ross said. "Good start."

"I mean exactly that." Milo overlooked his snark, kneeling in front of Dylan, ignoring the low growl. "Niles shouldn't have asked you to keep secrets from your mate. It goes against the wolf gods fated mates' rules. You should know this too, but I understand you thought you were doing it for Ross."

Dylan dipped his head. Not so much submission as an acknowledgement he'd screwed up.

"There are rules?" Ross asked.

"Wolves have rules for everything. You should know that by now. Dylan should definitely know that." Then Milo stood and focused on Ross. "You need to understand what you're doing by walking away from your mate."

"My mate kept secrets from me." Ross saw Dylan's shoulders slump.

"That's not what I said."

"I know it could harm both of us," Ross admitted.

"Then don't be an idiot."

"I need to think." Ross needed to be away from them all, especially his mate. "Even if it's overnight. One night won't do any harm." They'd both hurt but it wouldn't kill them.

Dylan swung around to look at him. You're not going for good?

Ross hesitated, because he'd thought about it.

Milo gave an odd smile. "Your mate is the last one you need to be away from. There are acres of land under the moonlight for you to run across. Do you think you could calm down that way? And then maybe you could reconnect with him under the moonlight like we'll all be doing."

Was Milo saying what Ross thought he was saying? They were all going to fuck under the moonlight.

Milo smirked at him. "I think your mate forgot to tell you that too. Maybe he wanted to surprise you."

Dylan shifted and glared at Milo. "Did you have to do that?"

"I think I did. You screwed up as much as the humans, pup. You owe your mate an apology…away from the rest of us."

"Wait. Why do I get the blame?" Dylan growled. "This wasn't my idea. It was your test, remember? And now my mate is leaving me."

Ross sat down on the bed and stared at his hands. They were all between him and the door. It didn't look as if he were going anywhere soon.

"Ross."

He looked up to see Eli staring at him. "Yes?"

"These shenanigans are nothing to do with Dylan. I want to make that clear."

"But they are," Ross objected. "I get it. You didn't believe me or the doc that Dylan was safe, so you did another test, and he passed. How many more tests do you want to insist on before you believe him? I'm done, y'know? If I'm angry with him for keeping secrets, I'm angrier with you for forcing my mate's hand. He did it for me. What did you do it for?" Ross could feel the fury rising inside him. He wasn't going to back down, not to Dylan and not to his employer. "I've worked for you for years. You should have trusted me ." He saw the look of satisfaction on Milo's face and guessed this wasn't the first time they'd had this discussion.

There were more footsteps and Joe appeared. "It's time we left, or we'll miss the full moon. Cal is getting antsy." He took in the tableau in front of him. "Is everything all right?"

For some reason everyone turned to look at Ross. He stared back at them.

"What do you want from me?" he demanded.

"An assurance you're not about to run, Ross," Milo said. "Give these idiots a chance to make it right." He waved at Eli. "And the same from your mate. This isn't the time to go all dark night. We haven't got time or resources to waste with the hunters planning a new raid."

Ross blinked at him. "Dark Knight? Like Batman?"

It was Milo's turn to blink. "Batman? No, I mean dark night of the soul. Where one of the heroes flounces off to sulk leaving the couple apart until they reconcile."

"Milo's been reading too many romances," Eli said. "He helps in an assisted living facility. Don't ask." His smile was tender as he looked at his mate.

Ross opened his mouth and shut it again.

"Okay," Joe said. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but if you don't get out of here soon, Cal is gonna go epic on your asses." He turned to leave, then looked over his shoulder. "I told them it was a stupid idea. They didn't listen."

Eli let out a long breath. "We'll talk later. Just come with us, Ross."

Everyone left the room, Eli looking over his shoulder before he did, leaving Ross and Dylan behind. Dylan kept his gaze firmly locked on the floor.

Ross rolled to his feet. "You should go with the wolves."

Dylan gave a fierce shake of his head. "Not unless you're coming with me. I can't go without you."

As much as he wanted to, Ross knew that he wouldn't get away with leaving now. The pack wouldn't let him. They'd screwed up and they wanted to make it right. He wasn't allowed to…what did Milo call it…flounce off to sulk. He wanted his dark night moment, but he wasn't going to get it now.

He fixed his gaze on his mate. "I'll come with you but afterward we talk. You and me."

Dylan let out a shaky breath. "Okay, you and me, and no one else."

"Ross. Anderson. Move it," Niles bellowed from the office door.

"You'd better shift," Ross said.

Before he'd finished the words, a large grey wolf stood in front of him. For a second, Dylan bared his neck to Ross, then he headed for the door. Ross followed, wondering just how long this night was going to be.

In the yard, all the wolves congregated at one end. He knew where Dylan was, his energy projecting like a beacon to him. Strength and power radiated from Peter and Joe Senior. A large, unknown, dark gray wolf stood with them. That had to be the doc. He appeared to be communicating with Dylan which made Ross clench his jaw. Dylan was his. His!

Ross heard a cough beside him and turned to see Niles rolling his eyes. "You can stay out of it. I'll have words with you later."

"You work for me, not the other way around, remember?"

"We'll talk about that too." Ross wasn't giving an inch to anyone.

Niles huffed and turned to the yard. "Each wolf and human has to wear a tracker," he said, projecting his voice over the yard so everyone heard.

They all grumbled but the wolves allowed their human mates to fit them with a tracker. Ross did as he was told, making sure the collar didn't catch any hair, but he didn't love on his mate like the others were. He swore he heard a whimper from Dylan as he stepped back.

Niles nodded when they were all ready. "Wolves, your humans will be with you at all times. Human mates, it's your job to keep track of your wolf. You've got your ATVs. Do not lose sight of them. If you do, find me. I am tracking you all."

"You're coming on the pack run?" Ross asked, not hiding his amusement.

Niles scowled at him. "As an observer. That's all."

Ross grunted, but he didn't say anything else. He climbed into an ATV and waited for the order to go from Joe. He had a job to do tonight. Whatever happened, he needed to keep an eye on his wolf. Dylan's life depended on it.

The wolves were gone, silvery shadows padding out of the yard under the full moon.