"I don't know."
Oh, this infuriating man. "How can you not know? Take an educated frigging guess."
He shrugs.
"That's it? Seriously?" Fuck. Things may not have changed for him, but everything's different for me. The idea of us as mates once seemed laughable and impossible.
Now it's all I crave. The thought of his hand in mine, his scent lingering on my clothes, laughing as he pretends to be some tough heartless demon instead of an unconventional protector who helps the vulnerable.
"I don't have answers for you, Wynn." He takes one look at my face and sighs. "What, you think I'm being a dick? I see it differently… What if we aren’t mates?”
"Believe me, I worry about that constantly." The only reason it hasn't kept me up at night is because it's surprisingly easy to fall asleep next to him.
"Yeah, and that's what worries me." His fingers drum against his thigh in a restless rhythm. "I matter to you because I'm the man whomightbe meant for you. What if I'm not? Where does that leave me?"
The implication there stings. "You think I'll abandon you or hand you over to the authorities?"
"No, I know you won't do that. But it doesn't mean you'll stick with me either," he continues quietly. "What if I'm not that guy you're waiting for? If he comes along, it's bye-bye Marlow. We had some fun, went on the run together, but hey, destiny is calling, and the next thing I know, I'm history."
"Marlow..."
"I'm sorry, but I can't give you more," he says. I didn't notice it before, but he seems sad about that. "Not unless I know you want more fromme,regardless of who I might be." He spreadshis arms out wide. "You may not know who I amto you,but you know who I am. You've gotten closer to me than anyone in any reality ever has. Either that's enough for you or it's not. So once you figure that out, let me know."
He stands and strides past me toward the door.
"Wait, Marlow…”
"We've got a job to do," he says, looking out the window. "It's sunset."
24.The Trouble with Terrible Plans
Wynn
The darkness swallows us as Marlow and I crouch at the edge of the treeline, staring out into the night that shrouds the Iron Pack's territory. We're about to infiltrate the very heart of the pack I've pledged my loyalty to. I never thought I'd be sneaking into my own territory like a trespasser.
There’s no other choice. We have to save Iggy.
I scan the shadows, searching for any sign of movement. Everything is still and quiet in the dead of night, a far cry from our original plan. Any disturbance will stand out tonight. The night feels almost peaceful, though I've never thought of the Iron Pack that way before.
Marlow and I are anything but peaceful.
Tension radiates from him. He's even wearing the Cloak of Cloaking without complaint, too worried about Iggy’s safety to joke around or sneer at the hideous design.
Marlow takes a single step forward before I put my hand up, and he halts mid-movement.
There. The faintest whisper at the edge of my hearing sharpens into distant footsteps. It isn't long before two figures emerge from the shadows. Patrolling guards stroll casually through the darkness, both in human form on a routine night shift.
We hold our breath as the guards keep going, oblivious to our presence in the shadows. Every second feels like an eternity. Josh's magic conceals our scents and muffles sound, shielding us from detection. But if we do something obvious enough to attract attention, or come face to face with a patrolling shifter, the potion's effects won't be enough to conceal us and the magic will break.
After what feels like a lifetime, the guards pass by, and I can breathe again. Josh's potion works. Not that I doubted him, my cousin would throttle me for doubting his mate’s abilities. At least something goes according to plan.
Alright. Time to move.
We slip through the shadows together. The looming buildings in the Iron Pack's territory grow closer as we inch forward. Nerve-wracking as it is to move so slowly and constantly watch out for any sudden movements in the shadows, it actually seems like we might pull this off.
Things go from bad to worse way too fast.
Sneaking around the back of the residential area will provide the quickest route to the Alpha's house. We reach an exposed stretch with no cover to hide behind, but the night's shadows still offer protection.
