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Every minute away from her was like a sword in my heart, and I ran on and on, only stopping to drink or rest for a few minutes when necessary.
It was so far, and it would have been easy to get lost, but I understood what the wolf meant. Jillian was a beacon ahead of us. Not a scent or sight or other specific sense I could understand. I just knew where to go from minute to minute. If I had to go off-course a bit to get around an obstacle, it felt so wrong then fantastic again when back on the straight line to her.
Jillian.
I raced over hills and splashed through streams, leapt over narrow gaps in the earth and skidded down one side and up the other when they were too wide. Nothing should keep me from my mate…nothing.
And yet, when I approached the cabin, I stayed in the trees and watched, seeing my mate and the other two having dinner at the table by lamplight.
And, like the coward I was, I headed for the compound, telling myself it was to report in to the alpha, as all good shifters would do. But that did not explain why I slept in the single-males’ dorm that night.
No. That was cowardice.
And I hated myself.
Chapter Ten
Dean
Before my eyes even opened the next morning, my phone was ringing. I fumbled for it where it sat on the dorm nightstand, finally managing to close my hand over it and answer. “It’s too early.”
Christi laughed. “Yeah, well, it’s never too early for alphas. You’d better get in here before he calls you.”
Wait a damned minute. Did Christi think I was still at Midnight Alder? I rose up to rest on my elbows and looked around. Yep, still at Crystal Cavern.
WTF?“Before who calls me? And…I’m not on your pack lands anymore.”
It was still too early for this pack stuff, clearly.
“We are at Crystal Cavern. The alpha called us in, Dean. This isn’t me asking you over for breakfast. They are in that room right this moment discussing you. I suggest you move your ass over here before they have to ask you. I’m assuming you know the way to your own alpha’s office.”
She hung up. She wasn’t angry, but I could tell there was an annoyance in her voice. Why did I have to get there before they even called for me? Was I supposed to be a mind reader?
A five-minute shower, shave, and teeth brushing later, I practically sprinted to the alpha’s house and ran right in.
I hoped I wasn’t in trouble, but a small part of me wished an alpha, Jillian’s alpha, my alpha would demand I go see my mate.
“They are still in there. I haven’t gone so far as to listen in, but seriously, why else would he be here?”
I blew out a breath as Christi handed me a cup of coffee. “It can’t be good.”
She shrugged and leaned against Tristan. They had made themselves at home, which I thought was funny but stopped myself from laughing. “Who knows? It might be nothing.”
I chuckled and took a seat only to stand up again when I heard Samson’s office door open. “You’re a bad liar. You and your mates didn’t come all the way over here for nothing.”
“Christie, mate, can you find Dean?” Samson called from somewhere in the house. The office, I assumed. “We’ve been phoning him, but he doesn’t answer.”
Shit, I’d left my phone on my bunk, still plugged into the charger on the nightstand.
“That’s because he’s here!” she shouted and winked at me.
Christi and I moved into the living area, and Samson and the Crystal Cavern alpha appeared at the top of the stairs and looked exasperated with the whole thing. Samson did that a lot, seemed exasperated. Mostly with Christi but in a loving way.
“Well, get up here, Dean. Your alpha asked us to come, and I don’t have time to bullshit around.”
My turn to roll my eyes. I took the stairs two at a time and stepped into the office where the pair of alphas stood before Barrett’s desk.
I bared my neck to both of them, not really knowing protocol and hoping they overlooked the glaring fact. “Alphas.”
