Cole's Redemption (Alpha Pack #5)(58)

The prince was right—and that’s what worried Zan.

Something about the upcoming fight didn’t sit well with him. He had a feeling they were missing something important.

“You’re going to what? No!” Selene blurted.

“I can fight, baby,” Zan said evenly. He tried not to take her reaction personally. After all, she was his mate and she had a right to be worried. “Like I told your father, I have my hearing back and I’m fine. I’m not going to put the team in danger.”

“I’m not worried about the team!” she hissed, cupping his face. “You’re the one I care about. Can’t you just stay behind this once? Nobody would blame you.”

“I would,” he said gently, pushing a pale strand of hair off her brow. “I wouldn’t be worthy of the Pack if I allowed my brothers to face danger without me when I’m perfectly capable.”

“Being able to hold your own is not the same as being one hundred percent. Plus, if someone gets injured, you’re going to use your healing ability on them when that’s the very last thing you should do.”

He shook his head, seeking to reassure her. “I won’t do that unless it’s a matter of life and death.”

“But then you’ll be the one at risk, don’t you see? I’m not going to stand by and say nothing while you kill yourself to save someone else!”

His heart sank. It seemed they were at a stalemate on the issue, and he didn’t know how to ease her fear, short of going against his own beliefs. “Baby, please. I can’t stand by and condemn someone to death if it’s in my power to prevent it. If I could, I wouldn’t be a man you could respect at all.” Much less love. And he hoped one day she would, though he didn’t voice it.

Thankfully, her face softened and she released a long breath. “I know. God, this is so hard. I don’t want you anywhere near the fighting, but that’s who you are—a tough Navy SEAL turned wolf shifter and Healer. Something tells me the waiting and worrying doesn’t get any easier.”

“Probably not. This is where you have to trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

She was silent for a long moment, and finally she nodded. “Okay. I’m afraid, but I do trust you. I want to prove that to you.”

“Sweetheart, it’s not about proving anything to me.” Unable to help himself, he kissed her slowly. Then he drew back and curved his lips in a smile. “Whatever comes, we take it on together. All right?”

She made an attempt to relax. “Yeah.”

That night, when they made love, it was beautiful. Intense. Zan poured his soul into loving her, and afterward whispered the words that meant so much to him. She still didn’t say them back, and he tried not to be disappointed. He knew she cared for him. That much was obvious from how scared she was for him.

I don’t need the words.

But it sure would be nice to hear them. Just once in my life.

He told himself to be patient. They had time. There wasn’t any need to rush something so good, so right.

If only he’d remembered the lesson he learned in Afghanistan—that life is brief and time waits for no man or beast.

The next evening, he gathered with his team and a few of the prince’s best men near the front entrance to the stronghold. They agreed to take several SUVs since not everyone could teleport and they preferred to remain together.

“Remember, this is a seek-and-destroy mission,” Nick called loudly, making sure all the men could hear him. “Recon first, assess the situation, and then take them down.”

Tarron broke in. “We want Darrow alive.” This was met with widespread disapproval. “We need to question him about what he knows, and after we’re satisfied, he will be put to death for his crimes. You have our word.”

Grimly, Nick gave a nod. “Let’s go!”

Zan hugged Selene to him tightly, then set her back. “Be back as soon as I can, baby.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

She smiled, trying to be brave, but her eyes were moist. He hated leaving her, but they’d talked about this. He saw in her face that she understood, but she wasn’t happy.

With a last kiss, he got into the SUV that Ryon was driving, in the middle seat next to Phoenix. Jax got into the front. He didn’t see where the other members of both teams chose to ride—his mind was too occupied with how they were going to get this mission done quickly, with a minimum of bloodshed.

Right.

“Selene didn’t look too thrilled with you leaving,” Nix remarked, breaking into his thoughts.

“About as happy as Noah looked just a minute ago.”

“Shit, that’s the truth.”

“Trouble in paradise already?”

“Not as far as my being in the field, but . . .” He shrugged, his normally bright, cocky smile noticeably absent. “It’s not easy, you know?”

“What’s not?” But he had a good idea. So did the occupants in the front of the vehicle, if their exchanged glances were any indication.

“I always thought my mate would be a woman,” he said quietly.

Oh, boy. So the man wasn’t quite as nonchalant about that fact as he appeared. “How does Noah feel about having a wolf shifter for a mate?”

Nix snorted. “Are you kidding? He’s ready to order a rainbow wedding cake and line up bridesmaids.” That drew some snickers from the front. “Shut up, ass**les. You guys got the ladies of your dreams.”