had a connection. At first, neither of us knew what it was, but eventually Collin recognized it. We’re fated mates. That’s why we were drawn to one another and why his wolf never killed me.”
She crosses her arms, and her eyes narrow again. “Did he really have you for two months?”
“He didn’t have me. He let me go on day two, but I didn’t want to leave him.”
Her eyes widen.
“It’s because we’re fated,” I add quickly. I know I’ve finally caught her complete attention, and I’m frantic to keep it. “His wolf recognized it first. He almost killed me, but when he caught my scent in his wolf form, his wolf started understanding it. Collin took another day to process it, and by day three…” I shrug. “I felt it too.”
She shakes her head, her frown deepening. “But he was still a rogue when he recognized it, right? His wolf was crazy?”
“Yeah, but even though his wolf was psychotic, the fact that we’re fated broke through his bloodlust, and the longer I was with him, the tamer his beast became.”
“Beast?”
“It’s what Collin called his wolf-side, although, he doesn’t anymore. Now, he said he feels like a normal werewolf again.”
Kelly bites her lip and shakes her head. “What you’re telling me is unheard of.”
“I know, but it’s true.”
She takes a deep breath, confusion still filling her eyes. “I heard a few things about you two. Most aren’t sure what to think. No rogue has ever come back from insanity.”
“But how many rogue werewolves met their fated mate? Is there any history of that happening?”
Kelly begins walking again, so I fall into step beside her, but her frown remains. She eventually shakes her head. “Come to think of it, no, I’ve never heard of a rogue meeting his fated mate.”
A thrill runs through me. “See? Even the SF wasn’t aware that a fated mate can affect a rogue, and you guys didn’t know about my lineage, so isn’t that proof that your organization doesn’t know everything? Maybe you’re all wrong about Collin.”
She shakes her head. “Oh no. Trust me. Rogues are nasty business, and Collin was definitely a rogue, but you make a fair point. We haven’t seen a fated mate’s effect on a rogue before. I’ll give you that.”
We circle back around the field to the door we initially exited. I know she’s going to escort me back to my room, so I grab her hand before she can open the door. “Please, can I see him?”
Her eyes bug out. “You want to see Collin?” She quickly shakes her head. “No. That’s not possible. His ward doesn’t allow visitors, for their own safety.”
I know my face falls because her expression turns sympathetic.
“Then can you at least give him a message? Please? Not seeing him is killing me.”
She frowns and scans us in at the door. That creepy robotic voice comes on again, welcoming us back to the building. “I suppose I could pass on a message to him, just as long as it’s not some weird coded shit that tells him how to break out.” My eyebrows rise, and she laughs. “Kidding. There’s no way he could break out of here.”
We begin walking back to my room, our feet tapping quietly on the concrete floor.
“My message is pretty simple. Tell him that I love him, and that I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay right here for as long as I can.”
She pauses outside my door. “You won’t be able to stay here for much longer. It’s highly unusual that you’ve been here as long as you have and seen so much. You’ve seen some rooms that only SF members are allowed in.”
I twist my hands. “Then I’ll stay in Boise so I’m nearby if I’m needed.”
She cocks her head, her expression perplexed. After a moment, she says, “You really do love him, don’t you?”
My breath shudders out of me. “More than words can describe.” I grab her hand when my door clicks open. I know it’s my last chance. “Please, just pass along my message, okay?”
She eyes me for a long moment, then finally says, “I’ll try.” She steps aside and waves for me to enter my room. A tray of food waits on the bed, but even though my stomach was growling not even ten minutes ago, I could care less about the food. “Someone will be back to retrieve you in the morning. We should have answers then about who you really are. In the meantime, I