Chapter 26

Zain came out of the supply room. It was a new thing for him to see the inventory he’d spent months arranging. He was thankful that the exact location had never been communicated on his laptop, or he would have been responsible for ruining the best location they’d ever had.

Webb came out the door across the hall and smiled at him. “Did you get a room?” He was always a happy, animated guy.

Zain nodded. It wasn’t a suite or anything, but it was warm, dry, and safe. “There’s a lot of them free with everyone going home for a few weeks before the Christmas party.”

“I can’t wait for that.”

“Yeah.” He looked down the hall. “They’re sending me to Chicago with Oaklyn and Bear to go to the party.”

“What?” Webb’s eyes rounded.

“Devin told us a few hours ago.”

“Wow. That’s a new kind of assignment.”

Zain jammed his hands in his pockets. “I’m used to being behind a desk—not being undercover.”

“That’s probably why you were selected. Did they tell you about the surveillance videos they found?”

Zain nodded. “Yeah.” They started walking down the hall. He had no idea where it went. The tour had been a lot to take in. “When Shepard is back, they need to cull everyone at the headquarters.”

“Cull?” Webb’s eyes lit with amusement. “That’s a new word for you.”

Zain blew out a breath. “I know, but I’m starting to think the only way to know for sure is to start fresh.”

“Some of them we know are okay.” He glanced at him. “The Alliance Security team and Tech people are right here with us in the fight.”

“I know. It’s just that information is still getting out—” He stopped walking. “Some of it is my fault, Webb.”

“What do you mean?”

“My laptop. They were tracking things I did on it.”

“Holy shit. How? Who?”

“Illias and Fallan are on it, but yeah, I’m the reason a lot of bad shit happened.”

“No, you’re not.” He put his hand on Zain’s shoulder, and he was reminded how big Webb was. His hand was large and heavy. “You had no idea.” He squeezed his shoulder and then dropped his hand away. “You need to go for a run. Come on, I know I can’t race around like your wolf, but my bear wouldn’t mind a meander around the bush.” He grinned.

A door opened and Amari, Deva, Gia, and Oaklyn came out.

“Hey, ladies, we’re going for a run, want to join?” Webb beamed one of his famous friendly smiles at them.

“I wouldn’t mind a run.” Amari looked at Deva. “We don’t get to go out together very often.

Deva nodded and turned to Oaklyn. “Feel like a run.”

Oaklyn chuckled. “My wolf would run all day if she could.”

Zain grinned. “Do we have to tell someone we’re all going out?”

Webb pulled out his phone. “I’ll message Blaise to let Cassius know that we have—” He looked around, “—a couple of wolves, a cougar, lynx, fox and bear going out.”

“That’s not somethin’ I ever thought I’d experience,” Oaklyn said. “Runnin’ with so many different clans.”

Webb laughed. His bear had to be close because it was several octaves lower than his normal voice. “We used to go out all the time, but lately, it’s not safe. The rogues watch the perimeter, so we just need to give them a heads up and stay in the borders.”

“Are they marked?” Zain was looking forward to doing this. He’d been solo so much that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone out with others.

Webb nodded as he typed into the phone. Zain wondered how he could as fast as he was with his big fingers.

“We’ll go grab our run packs and meet you out back.” Deva nodded and motioned for Oaklyn to go down the hall.

Oaklyn paused and looked at Zain. He nodded. He wasn’t sure if she was uneasy with this or what the look was for. If they weren’t safe here with his teammates, then all hope was lost.

“She’s nice.” Webb started going in the direction that the men’s rooms were in. At least, Zain thought it was this way. “I like her twang.” He smiled at him.

Zain’s wolf was right there. Another male was talking about their mate. Zain cleared his throat. “She’s my mate.” He hadn’t meant to blurt it out that way, but it was done now.

“No way. That’s awesome.” Webb smacked him on the back, and Zain almost stumbled with the force of the friendly tap.

“Yeah. Except neither of us want a plus one right now.”

“What do you mean?” Webb looked over his shoulder in the direction the women had gone.

“She had to escape her clan—literally, to avoid being paired up with a guy she couldn’t stand, and my life is a little too messy to put someone in danger.”

“Why would you put her in danger?” Webb stopped and looked down at him. “Jess told us most of your story, man, and it sucks, it really does, but being with her wouldn’t be putting her in danger.” He shook his head and started walking again. “Everyone of our kind is in danger. Every rogue is in danger. Waiting for the perfect time is going to have you old, alone, and wondering where your chance went.”

Zain wasn’t sure what to say about that. He wasn’t wrong, but still…

“I joined the Alliance so I could travel—well, one of the reasons. If my mate is out there—I want to be able to say I looked everywhere, know what I mean? I don’t care what she looks like, she doesn’t even have to be the same clan as me—look at Blaise and Griffin or Gia and Deacon—the rules are changing. For me, just as long as she’s into me and I’m into her—that’s all that matters.”

Zain always admired how easy-going Webb was and his outlook was so serene compared to most shifters he knew. “I hope you find her, Webb.”

“Yeah. I know I will someday.” He smiled.

“I told Oaklyn that in a weird way, if it weren’t for the Tomas family a lot of people we know wouldn’t have found theirs.”

“How’s that?” Webb stopped at a door, opened it, and reached in to grab his pack.

“Teams working together when they never have before. Rayne was running from Aiden when she found Devin.”

“Wow. I hadn’t thought of that. You’re right. I mean, it’s not good the reasons why, but you’re right.” He gave him a serious look. “I wouldn’t go telling Amari that though.”

Zain swallowed slowly. “You’re right. I guess I’ll keep that to myself.”

Webb started humming when Zain stopped at his room. He opened the door, and looked in, double-checking it was his. It was. Going in, he grabbed his pack and went back out. Maybe a run would help ease the three thousand what-ifs that were circling inside his head.