Petros watched the clock carefully. Was it broken? It seemed like more than a minute had passed since he last checked. Six o’clock couldn’t seem to come fast enough.

He still couldn’t believe what had happened last night. Kate had come to him. Her actions had hurt him deeply, and he had to admit he had lashed out at everyone around him after he left her in the cabin. He saw he was testing even Christina and Jason’s patience, and he ended up leaving the lake earlier than the rest of the team who had stayed on until evening.

He was sullen and angry the whole weekend. He even let his wolf side take over, exploring the woods of the Blackstone Mountain and letting his animal take control. Anything to escape the pain of his mate’s words and actions.

That was all in the past now. He had made mistakes; they both did. But now was the time to rectify them. That’s why they had to start fresh. No matter how much he wanted to make love to her and claim her, he knew they had to take it slow. Sex was easy; it was everything else that was complicated. But all the misunderstandings would be behind them now.

“Finally,” he muttered when, upon what seemed like his hundredth glance, the clock read one minute before six. Close enough, he thought as he shut down his computer and walked over to Kate’s cubicle. It was difficult, trying not to get too close to her today, but he knew the anticipation only made it worth it.

When he reached her cubicle, he frowned when he didn’t see any sign of her. Her jacket was not hanging off the back of the chair, and her desk was empty. There was a piece of paper on top with his name scrawled over the surface.

Meet you downstairs, it read when he turned it over. It was unsigned, but who else would it be from?

Petros checked in with the overnight crew and made his way to the lobby of the Lennox Corp. Building. He immediately spotted her by the doors, and when he saw what she was wearing, let out a soft groan.

Kate had probably left earlier to change because she definitely was not wearing that when she came into the office this morning. The short, tight black dress showed off her lithe figure and long legs, while the spiked heels emphasized her delicate ankles and calves. Her hair hung down her shoulders, and he noticed she had switched out the piercing in her nose from a clear jewel to one that was blue-green. Her lips were painted red, and she flashed him a wicked smile as he approached.

“This,” he said, lowering his voice. “Is not fair.”

“Oh?” she said. “Who said I played fair?”

He snorted. She wasn’t making this easy, but then again, he didn’t expect her to. “I’ve made reservations at Pistache French Bistro,” he said. “Should we drive out separately?”

“Why don’t we take my car?” she said. “You’ve never ridden in a Mustang, have you?”

“I have not had the pleasure,” he said. He would have preferred to drive since he invited her out, but they didn’t plan the logistics well enough. Two cars seemed unnecessary, and a single vehicle was more practical. “All right. Let’s go.”

Kate led him to where the bright yellow vehicle was parked and unlocked the door. He got into the passenger side seat. “It’s very nice.”

“The interior’s all new,” Kate said. “Luxury leather seats. Only the best for my brother.”

As soon as he was settled, Kate flung her body across his. He startled, her delicious scent filling his nose as her soft body pressed against his. “Kate,” he warned, though he couldn’t stop himself from enjoying the feel of her.

She reached over, grabbed the seatbelt from over his right shoulder and pulled it across his body. “What?” she asked as the belt buckle clicked into place. “I just wanted to show you this car was safe.” She gave him a sweet smile as she put her own belt on and slipped the key into the ignition.

Oh no, Kate definitely did not play fair.

“Do you know the way?” he asked as they made their way out of the parking lot.

“I haven’t been there, but it’s near the Ritz Ski Resort, right?”

He nodded. “It’s a bit far out, but with everything in town mostly closed, I thought it would be the better choice.”

“No prob,” she said. “We’ll get there in no time.”

The engine revved a loud sound that made the car vibrate. Kate stepped on the pedal, and they sped down the highway.

“How’s that for a classic American car?” she asked, her lips curling up. He didn’t miss her breath hitch or the way her thighs pressed together as she revved the engine.

“Minx,” he said with an unhappy tone, letting her know he knew what she was doing. She laughed and threw her head back, the little jewel on her nose sparkling.

Soon, they reached the restaurant. Gentleman that he was, he opened the door for himself and then helped her out. Tucking her hand into his arm, they walked into the restaurant. The mai'tre d’ took his name and led them to their table.

“Do you eat a lot of French food in Lykos?” Kate asked as she perused the menu.

“We eat different kinds of food,” he said. “The island itself is like a self-contained city. Similar to Blackstone in some ways. We have our own restaurants, shops, services, even a fire department and a hospital, of course.”

“Wow,” she said. “Sounds like an interesting place.”

“Perhaps someday we could go back.” But not for a long while. There was nothing much left for him there after all.

“I’d like that. I’ve never left the U.S. We mostly went camping for family vacations, and I only went to school over at Colorado U.”

The waiter came back and took their orders, then promised to come back with the wine they requested.

“I must admit, Blackstone is turning out to be much more than I expected,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever lived in or even know of a place where different shifters live together in harmony. There are a few other types of shifters in Lykos, but they are there mostly to work.”

“Well, it’s not some Utopia here,” she said, taking a sip of her water. “But yeah, it’s unique. Lucas Lennox, the founder of the town and Sybil’s great-great-great-great-grandfather, wanted Blackstone to be a sanctuary of sorts for all shifters. He declared any shifter who came here to contribute to the community would be under the protection the Blackstone dragons as well as their children and children’s children.” Her eyes lowered. “You know, my parents weren’t from here. I was the only one in my family born in Blackstone.”

“I did not know that.” Intrigued, he leaned forward. “Tell me more.”

“Ma and Pop came from Texas. They were living a quiet, peaceful life in a small town, but someone outed them as wolf shifters,” she explained. “And well, a mob came in the middle of the night and drove them off. They took what they could, put Nathan in their truck, and drove out here because they heard Blackstone would welcome wolf shifters like them.”

“They were right,” Petros said.

“Yeah. And extremely lucky,” she added. “They were on their way here and saw Aunt Riva—that’s Sybil’s mom—stuck on the side of the road after she’d been in an accident. They helped her get back to the castle and well, the rest is history.”

“I had no idea,” he said. It seemed odd that their family histories were almost similar. His own biological parents were trying to find a better life for him when they escaped the mainland. But perhaps, this was fate working again.

The waiter came with their wine and poured them each a glass after Petros had nodded in approval. They chatted amiably, mostly talking about her work and clients, in only the most Kate way possible. He enjoyed hearing her talk openly. He did not find her cursing crass at all but rather refreshing in a world where most people pretended to be something they were not. No, his Kate was the real thing.

When the evening was winding down, they left, with Kate driving him back to Lennox Corp. so he could take his truck back to his hotel. She pulled up right next to his vehicle.

“So,” Kate began as they exited the Mustang. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to come back to my place for a nightcap?”

Oh, she was a temptress, but Petros reigned in his desires. “I would like nothing more, but as I said, I shall court you properly.”

Kate walked over to his side, her hips swaying gently. “Do I get a good night kiss at least?”

He chuckled. “Of course.” He leaned forward, trapping her against the door of his truck. Her arms snaked around his neck and pulled him down, and she pressed her lips to his. She tasted sweet as always, but what she was doing with her body was decidedly not so. Her breasts pressed up against his chest, and she squirmed her hips up at him, brushing against his crotch. His cock instantly reacted, though if he were honest with himself, he’d been half hard throughout their entire date.

She purred with pleasure against his mouth and ground against him. Petros allowed himself to enjoy the sensation of her body against his for a few more seconds before pulling away.

“Kate,” he said in a warning tone.

“Oh, you spoilsport,” she said with a pout. “So, buddy, before we go any further, I think we need to negotiate the terms.”

“Terms?”

“Yes. About when you’re gonna put out.” She planted her hands on her hips. “I can’t make all the time and effort into looking like this knowing it’s not working.”

“Oh, it’s working,” he said, as his eyes wandered up and down her delicious body. “But, like I said, I want you to be sure.”

“So … three dates?” she asked.

“At least.”

Kate muttered something about “pigs” and “sausages” under her breath that he didn’t catch. “Fine. But I’m keeping track.” She wagged her finger at him.

He laughed. “Of course. Now,” he kissed the wrinkle between her brows, “should I drive back with you and make sure you get home safe?”

“What? Nah, get some rest,” she said. “I’m a big girl; I’ll be fine.”

His wolf told him no, to make sure their mate was safe in her den before going home, but he wanted to respect her wishes. “All right, but send me a message when you’re home safe.”

“I will,” she said. She turned to her car, opened the door, and got inside, then rolled down the windows. “I’ll see you tomorrow night? I’ll be at The Agency offices in the morning, but I have to go check the systems at the mines in the afternoon.”

He was not comfortable with her being surrounded with so many males in one place, but she’d been doing it for years so he had to trust her. “Should I pick you up at your home?”

“Around seven?”

He nodded.

“See you then.” She waved at him as she pulled out of her spot and drove out.

He watched the car until it exited the lot and disappeared down the road. Tonight was a success, and he felt confident that Kate would soon be his bonded mate. He had no doubt now.

As Petros walked over to the driver’s side, he stopped in his tracks. His wolf’s hackles raised, and he heard alarm bells in his head. His instincts had been finely honed over the years, and he knew when he was being watched.

He whipped around. A movement from behind the line of trees caught his attention. Might have been a stray animal. He tried to tune his ears for any sound but didn’t hear anything else. Unfortunately, that wasn’t a good sign. If it was an animal, it would have made some sound. No, someone had been there. Watching him. No, watching them. A shifter most likely, but who? Blackstone was full of shifters; it could have been anyone. Perhaps it was just some resident, out for a moonlit shift to let his or her animal out.

Petros’ gaze went back toward the road. Kate was long gone by now. Even a shifter on foot wouldn’t have been able to catch up to her, especially the way she drove. But just to be sure, he waited in the parking lot, phone in hand.

Fifteen minutes passed by, and he received a text message.

I’m home.

Good, he replied. He climbed into his truck, but the sound of another message coming in made him pause. When he checked it, he let out an audible groan. It was a selfie of Kate lying in bed wearing only a silky black nightie with a caption underneath: Change your mind yet? ;)

Petros grinned to himself and sent a message. Three dates.

Spoilsport. Goodnight :)

Sweet dreams, he replied and put the phone away. The little minx could try all she wanted, but he had the patience and discipline of a monk.

Especially when it came to getting what he wanted.

Perhaps he underestimated his mate too much. Kate certainly would test the patience of a monk. No wait; she would test the patience of a saint.

It seemed innocent enough when she came in the day after their first date, flashing him a naughty smile as she walked by his office on her way to her cubicle. A few minutes later, he received a text message from her saying there was a problem in the server room that needed his attention.

As soon as he walked in, she pinned him against the wall. They had a quick make-out session, and while he wanted to continue, he had to stop before he broke his promise. She seemed disappointed, but the twinkle in her eye said she was not going to give up.

And she didn’t, not even when he had to cancel their second date, or attempted to, anyway. He had to work overtime since Luke and Georgina’s wedding was only two days away, and they were still making preparation as details came in.

“Oh no way, mister,” she had said over the phone as she drove back from the mines later that day. “I’m coming back, and we’re going to have date number two.”

So, over Chinese takeout in his office, they had their second date. He was checking the positions of the guard teams around the castle, and she planted herself on the desk, eating from the takeout boxes but not before making sure he had eaten as well. She would pick up pieces of sweet and sour pork or broccoli beef and offer it to him as he worked.

“Gotta keep your strength up,” she said with a cheeky smile.

They ended the date much in the same way as their first since their original plans of him picking her up fell through. Because of all the attention the security at the wedding demanded of his time, Petros had nearly forgotten about the incident in the parking lot. This time, as he watched Kate drive away, he didn’t feel anyone watching him. The incident faded away in his mind.

Besides, he had other things to worry about. First, the wedding was tomorrow, and they weren’t nearly enough people to secure it. Holding it on the castle grounds made it simpler, and Ari Stavros would be coming with more people, which would help. But the staff was spread so thin that even he was going to have his own quadrant of the grounds to patrol.

Second, of course, was that tonight would be his and Kate’s third date. He wanted her badly. Despite his stipulations, he would have gladly taken her to bed that very first date or even before then, when she marched into Argo’s. He still could not believe she would come after him like that. Her actions had hurt him deeply, but the fact that she was willing to swallow her pride and apologize told him Kate was a good person. And he was more than sure she was the only woman for him, but did she feel the same way about him or would it only be sex for her? That’s why he had to be sure, because once he made love to her, he knew he would never want another woman again.

“Petros?”

He looked up from his desk. Kate stood by the doorway. “Are you done for the day?”

“Yes, I am,” he said as he stood up. “Shall we take your car or mine?”

“I had Sybil drop me off this morning,” she said, her smile oddly shy. “I figured it might be easier to just take one car tonight than have to go back and forth.”

“Good.” He saw her pupils dilate and the flush on her cheeks. They both knew it was inevitable, but the anticipation was thrilling. How long could they draw this out before their desire for one another took over? “Where would you like to go for dinner? I thought it should be ladies’ choice tonight.”

“How about something familiar? Rosie’s if they’re not too crowded?”

“Whatever you wish,” he said.

They left the office and he drove them down to Main Street. Despite it being the dinner rush, Rosie’s wasn’t as busy as it had been the last couple of days. They only had to wait five minutes before they were seated in a corner booth. Much to his surprise, Kate slid into the seat beside him.

“Much cozier, right?” she said.

“Much,” he replied.

The waitress took their order and left them alone.

“How are the preps for tomorrow’s event?” she asked. “Think there’s going to be any trouble?”

“Our intelligence says The Organization is in chaos at the moment, and any strike back is unlikely,” he began. “But Christina and Jason do not want to take any chances.”

She nodded in agreement. “Good.”

There was something else weighing on his mind. It was like an itch that began as a small irritation but somehow buried itself in his brain. The feeling that he was being watched was back. Right now, he swore he could feel eyes on him. He glanced around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, frowning at him.

“What? Oh, nothing.” He was being paranoid. That incident in the parking lot was nothing. Just a coincidence. He glanced at Kate, her gorgeous face looking up at him and her sweet scent teasing him, he knew there were more important things to think about.

“Petros,” she said, her lashes lowering and her voice growing hoarse. “Tonight—”

“We will have plenty of time for later tonight,” he said. “But,” he nodded to the waitress approaching them with a tray, “for now, let’s eat.”

The waitress put their food down and wished them a good meal before she left. Kate dug in heartily into her meal—again, another trait he found endearing. He knew many women who wouldn’t eat in front of their dates for fear of looking unladylike, but Kate ate her chicken pot pie with gusto.

“How about dessert?” the waitress asked as she came back to clear their meals.

“I already have dessert waiting for me,” Kate said with a saucy grin and a wink at Petros.

The waitress laughed. “I’ll get your check.”

When the young woman walked away, Petros slipped his arm around Kate’s waist and pulled her against his side. “Are you sure, Kate?” he whispered in her ear. “You remember what I said about no going back?”

She looked up at him with those beautiful emerald green eyes. “Very sure.”

His wolf howled in delight, and he could feel Kate’s wolf join in a duet that stirred something deep inside him. He could not wait a single second more. Slapping a large bill on the table, he ushered Kate out of the booth and practically dragged her out of the cafe.

“My hotel is closer,” he said as they walked to his truck.

“Let’s go there, then.”

With all the businesses opening, they had to park farther out, two blocks from Main Street. Not all the lights were functioning on this side of the street, but it didn’t matter because his shifter vision would adjust.

“Petros,” she began. “I—”

He had been so wrapped up in Kate that he didn’t hear the sound of paws thundering toward them until it was too late. He howled in pain as he felt the claws dig deep down his back, but he managed to push Kate away.

“Run!” he urged his mate as he turned around. A large, furry beast pounced on him, knocking him to the ground.

“Petros!” Kate cried. “Mother—”

The wolf growled in his ear, and Petros’s own animal was rearing to get out. He called on his wolf to defend him and his mate, and the animal broke free of his skin. He swatted the other wolf away easily and rolled upright.

The other wolf yelped in surprise but managed to stay on its feet. As his vision began to adjust and focus on his attacker, a sickening feeling began to grip him. Petros finally saw the wolf clearly. Familiar, but there was something different about it. He was frozen in shock when he recognized the wolf.

No.

It couldn’t be.

But he was—

The wolf leapt at him, claws reaching out toward him, and there was no time to evade. But the attack he was bracing himself for never came as another blur from his right appeared from nowhere and knocked the other wolf down.

No! Petros shouted from inside his wolf. Kate!

He had to save Kate. The two wolves rolled around, vying for dominance. The other wolf was much larger, but Kate had the element of surprise. Her wolf opened its mouth and latched onto a leg, biting down so hard the other wolf yowled in pain. Kate used the chance to twist away though she did not run. Her wolf let out a growl and approached the other wolf who was now getting to its feet.

Petros pushed his body and leapt at the wolf before Kate could do anything. As their bodies tangled, he breathed in the other wolf’s scent, confirming his worst fears. No, he told his wolf, don’t kill him! He could sense Kate behind them, rearing and ready to go. But he couldn’t let her, not when her wolf’s thirst for blood was evident.

It seemed like a miracle, but Petros managed to end up on top. “Stop!” he managed to growl out through his wolf’s mouth. It seemed like it only angered the other wolf. Please, he thought, don’t make me do this.

The other wolf was in a frenzy, snapping its teeth as him even as it was obviously defeated. In his attempt to not hurt it, the other wolf managed to swipe his claws at his front. Pain bloomed in his chest, and he could feel the sticky sensation of blood on his fur. The wolf pushed him away and as Petros rolled to his side, he watched helplessly as it ran away, disappearing into the tree line. It can’t … but it was him. He knew that scent anywhere. But how?

“Petros!" Kate’s human voice startled him out of his thoughts. As she knelt beside him, he pushed his wolf inside, reclaiming his body as his own dark fur receded into his skin and his wolf limbs turned back to human ones. “Petros,” she said in a broken voice.

“I … I am fine,” he managed to choke out. “My wounds are already healing.” He could feel the skin on his back and chest knitting together.

Kate helped him to his feet. “I know, but for a second I thought ….”

He pulled her against him and held her close. Being with his mate relaxed him and calmed his wolf. “Are you hurt?”

“No, not a scratch,” she said, sniffing against this chest. “What the hell happened? Was it a stray wolf? A shifter gone feral?”

Petros wished it was some stray. But he knew who it was. He didn’t know how it was possible, but he was one hundred percent sure. “It wasn’t.”

“Then what was it?”

A pit began to form in his stomach, and the pounding in his ears wouldn’t stop. “It was Milos.”

Kate stiffened in his arms. “Milos—wait. Your friend? But you said he was dead!”

“That’s what we thought.” Obviously, they were wrong.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.” He had known Milos since they were seven years old. That scent was so distinct, so buried in his mind, that he would never forget it. “He must have survived somehow.”

“But why did he attack you if you’re his friend?”

Petros shrugged. “Perhaps he’s gone feral.” That had to be it. Milos had lost his mind and his wolf. They said feral shifters didn’t know their own mind and would attack anyone, even friends and loved ones. “We must go to Christina and Jason and tell them.”

Kate nodded. “Give me your keys.” She held up her hand when he tried to protest. “No! It will give you time to heal. I swear to God, you say anything and I’ll drag you to the hospital right now!”

He gave her a weak smile. “I wouldn’t expect any less.” His mate was fierce, as he’d known all along, and he knew it was no use arguing with her.

They walked over to his truck, and he took the spare set of clothes from the back as Kate slipped her dress back on. The wounds were already closed, but he felt exhausted both physically and mentally, and was glad he didn’t have to drive on top of that. As they made their way to Jason and Christina’s loft in South Blackstone, it gave him time to close his eyes and think about what just happened.

Milos was alive. The best friend he thought was dead was still living. But what happened to him? Where had he been all this time? Why did he not try to go back to Lykos? And how did he get to Blackstone? He already had a suspicion. As he ran through all the possible scenarios, they all led back to one thing: The Organization. He knew they were all connected, and when he found out who was responsible for all this, he was going to tear them apart with his bare hands.

“We’re here,” Kate announced as she cut the engine. “I’ve already sent a message to Jason. They know we’re coming.”

He followed Kate to the first building on the right and into the elevator. When they reached the top floor, the lone door in the hallway swung open.

“Come in,” Jason said, his face serious. He let them inside their spacious loft. They walked inside, and Christina was already seated on the couch.

“Are you all right?” Christina’s face was drawn into a look of concern.

Kate sank down on the couch, but Petros remained standing. “We were attacked.”

“By who?” Jason asked, his fists clenching at his sides.

“It was Milos.”

“Milos? Vasilakis?” Christina’s brows knitted together. “But he’s dead.”

“Apparently not.” Petros relayed the story of the attack to them. “… And then he ran away.”

“You’re sure?” Christina got to her feet. “You didn’t see him in human form, though?”

“I didn’t need to,” Petros said. “I could scent him. It was him, Christina. I know it.”

“But how—”

“How else?” he said, cutting her off.

Christina’s face turned grim. “You think The Organization got to him?”

“Who knows what they’ve accomplished with all their experiments?” Petros said.

Jason nodded in agreement. “It’s highly possible. Just think about what we’ve discovered so far.”

“This is distressing.” Christina tapped a finger on her chin. “I’m going to call HQ in Lykos. I think my father and Kostas are already on the way here for the wedding, but Nikos or Xander should be on-call.”

“We should get to work on finding out who did this,” Petros said. “And if Milos is out there—”

“I’ll inform P.D. and the Rangers,” Jason said.

“And I shall call our office and—”

“The only thing you have to do is go home and get rest,” Christina said in a firm voice. “No buts, that’s an order. I can handle contacting our guys. We still have the wedding tomorrow.”

Ah yes, he almost forgot. With these new developments, it could mean the wedding would not be as secure as they thought. “Of course.”

“Go and let us handle things,” Jason said. “Get your head on straight.”

Kate stood up, walked to him, and slipped her hand into his, threading their fingers together. The move was oddly soothing. “I’ll get him home,” she said.

“You take care. Call us for anything.”

“Will do,” she said, tugging him toward the exit.

Neither said a word as they left the loft. Petros’ mind was racing with all the possibilities. But most of all, he thought of his friend. What could have happened to him to make him turn feral? Was there a possibility of him turning back? Because there was only one way to deal with shifters whose animal sides have taken over, and he did not want to lose his friend for a second time.

Was Milos truly lost?

He glanced down at his and Kate’s linked hands. Milos tried to hurt his mate. If he tried to do it again, it would be unforgivable. She was his world now, his number one priority. He would do whatever it took to protect her, no matter what it cost him.