I sink back onto the couch, studying the note again.
It turns out the detective's ultimatum is a gift that keeps on giving. The front is addressed to Marlow, the back to me. No doubt about it since it reads“To Wynn Blackwood.”
“To Wynn Blackwood: Whatever he told you is a lie. Save yourself before it's too late.”
Damn, detective Harper’s good. He put all the pieces together while hunting Marlow. Harper found the cabin and knows Marlow’s been close this whole time. Only someone who knows the pack’s capabilities and the territory could manage that. Put that together with me disappearing at exactly the same time as the escaped prisoner and not being reachable and it all leads right back to me.
I've got my own message for the good detective—mostly angry growling and two letters starting with ‘F’ and ending with ‘U.’
But Harper’s just doing his job. He thinks Marlow is a killer who needs to be stopped. That doesn't mean I like him snatching up the gargoyle. I wish he'd found me instead. At least I had a chance at standing up to him.
I keep staring at the note. I shouldn't let the words bother me. There's no truth to them. I know that... Being lied to isn't the problem. Marlowthinkswe're mates. If he wasn't being honest, he would’ve claimed he Recognized me and we were absolutely meant to be.
Marlow told me what he knows. The problem is that neither of us know for sure. Still.
Why haven't I Recognized him as my mate?
Recognition should be simple, catching a glimpse of something genuine from the one meant for you. There have been so many opportunities. Marlow’s one of the few people who have seen my real talents as a wolf and appreciated them. I've watched him with Iggy when that cocky smirk melts into something real.
I hunt for that certainty, that bone-deep knowledge that screamsmine.It never comes.
"You're not listening to that bastard, are you?" Marlow's voice comes from above me.
I jump, so lost in thought I didn't even notice him. "No! Of course not!"
"You wanna try that again? I doubt you could sound more unconvincing if you tried, but hey, I believe in you. Give it a shot."
The venom in his voice catches me off guard. "Marlow..."
"Don't worry about it." His face looks hard when I crane my neck up. "We don't really have time for this anyway."
"We aren’t leaving until the sun sets," I point out. By the time we get across the forest to the edge of the inhabited area, it will be dark. "We still have time."
For a minute, I think he'll pretend he hasn't heard me or create an excuse to flee. Instead, he drops down on the other side of the couch, and we both twist to face each other.
"You were right not to trust me after I played you," he says, getting right to it. "But has anything changed? Do you think I’m still the same lying demon?"
"It's not that simple. I don't think you lied about our connection, but you could be wrong."
"Jeez." Marlow winces, looking like he regrets ever sitting down.
Feeling guilty, I force myself to continue. "You know it's true. Neither of us has Recognized the other. With everything we've been through, why haven't we?"
"How the hell should I know? I never even believed in any of this shit until…"
"Until?" I press when he cuts off.
Marlow scrubs a hand over his face, looking exhausted. "I don't know how any of it works."
I bite back my impatience, desperate to know how he was going to finish that sentence. But I also know how stubborn he can be. He won’t offer it up. He’s shutting down. Not a good sign.
I sink back against the cushions, curling my hands in my lap. "I know you believe it's a possibility that we're mates. So do I. But you also told me you aren't interested. Has that changed?"
Actually, if he's still dead-set against having a true mate, that could explain why we haven't Recognized each other. If one party isn't willing or able to see the truth, it can hinder things.
"Wynn, I’m not in a position to promise anything.” Marlow's voice drops lower, his eyes fixed on the cabin's dusty floorboards. “If we can't clear my name, I'm going away for a long time. I can't sweep you off your feet and tell you everything will be alright. I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if we're the real deal."
"But are we something? Anything?" I whisper.
