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wanted to stay with the wolves and his mate, but seeing Pete day in and day out without being able to touch him would kill him.
    He’d caught Pete looking back at him a few times as if checking on him, but, every time Grey had managed to catch his gaze, Pete would turn back around. Grey couldn’t take it anymore. For now he’d let it drop. He wasn’t the type to give in easily, but Pete wore him down. They’d worked well together when they’d reached the camp. Then Dji had gone crazy and all hell had broken loose. They hadn’t even been needed so it was a waste of effort on their part. If they’d had more time to work as a team—maybe Pete would be walking beside him, not in front of him.
    The only thing they were good for was a ride home. And would he even be going home? He wanted to talk to his sister, but she’d been so preoccupied with her mate she hadn’t even had time to say ‘hi’. He was just relieved to see her alive.
    “How’re you doing, Ive?”
    “I’m good as I can be, Grey. Thank you for coming.”
    “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Had to pull your butt out of the fire—again.” Grey managed a small smile.
    “This is true.”
    Dji moaned between them and stumbled again. He was too weak. That was the only reason the group had forgone shifting to make the journey quicker. Grey hoped it wasn’t much longer. The big guy was heavy, even with Ive supporting some of his weight.
    “You weren’t hurt too bad, were you?” He was worried about his sister, but knew not to baby her. She was a strong protector and he was proud of her.
    “It’ll take more than a slap or two to bring me down, but I think I should ask how bad you’re hurt.” Ive gave him ‘the look’. The one that said she thought she knew more than she did. He’d hated seeing that growing up.
    “I’ll be fine.” Grey spared a glance ahead to see Pete looking back. He gave him a wink and was surprised. Pete actually smiled back at him before the frown returned.
    “Sure you will. You’re mated, aren’t you? Yet he still keeps his distance?”
    “And you aren’t mated—what’s up with that?” He wanted to shift the conversation away from him.
    By now, after their night together he and Pete had, the two of them should be in a better place.
    “We have a few issues to get through before Dji and I can get to that.” Ive rolled her eyes.
    “I’m sorry, my mate.” Dji injected.
    Grey hadn’t realised he was fully conscious. Ive must not have noticed either because she jerked just a little. If someone didn’t know her, they wouldn’t have seen it. She was quick to put her ice mask back in place. The one she showed the world to hide her emotions. Something he’d never developed.
    “No need to apologise. We’ll get to that technicality when we get to America and the Master’s compound.” Ive assured Dji and the other shifter went back to his almost catatonic state.
    “That’s another thing—we shouldn’t have bonded. Pete and I. We didn’t do the ritual.”
    He didn’t know what was worse—feeling Pete’s emotions or never knowing they existed. For all his standoffishness, Pete yearned for him, so now he not only felt his own ache, but Pete’s too. Sometimes life sucked.
    Dji spoke up again, “It’s the magic of our native land. When you’re here, you don’t need the words, just a bite between soulmates and you are joined—well, and the sex. If you have those two things—the mating is complete.”
    Grey was going to have to watch what he said—obviously Dji was paying more attention than he let on. But that was good to know. Fate hadn’t only given him a mate who didn’t believe he deserved one, but it had also fucked him over by mating them before Pete was ready. Behind that ache, Pete was freaking out something awful. Grey wanted to know more about Pete’s family. They’d royally screwed him over and, if Grey had his way, he’d kill them all for making his fearless mate doubt himself.
    “We are