Of course he didn’t. It seemed to him that would be stupid, but Race didn’t want to be Debbie Downer. “I have no idea.”
“You liar.” Nolan stared at him, those big brown eyes like holes in a blanket. “So where? I know you have intel.”
“What intel? I have a bunny saying he saw a bear named Milo. He was snatched from a broken-down car. I have no idea where the tip came from to go to the damn warehouse.”
“Okay, so then we go set the grizzlies on the warehouse, and they tell where he is now.” Nolan’s lips firmed into a hard line as he shoved granola bars into a rucksack.
He was all about the food.
Race would never say that to Nolan, though, because Nolan was self-conscious about being a little soft. He didn’t judge. He could run that way himself if he wasn’t always on the road.
“Maybe that’ll work. Maybe I just go in and be annoying. There has to be a predator bar close by, right?”
“Hey, that’s a good idea.” Nolan paused, granola bar open and halfway to his mouth. “I’m super good bait.”
“Yeah, I don’t think Ryder’s going to love that.” Not to mention that he didn’t think it was the best idea ever either.
“Well, it worked before.”
“Yeah, and I got darted by a drone, and my mate got shot… This is a bad situation, bro.”
“I’m not a weakling, you know,” Nolan snarled, and he nodded.
“I know. I do know. I just want you safe.”
Nolan sighed. “I get it. I wasn’t safe for a long time.”
“And I couldn’t get to you. It killed me to leave you there. I was so proud when you got yourself out.”
Nolan shrugged and shook his head. “I knew you were out there, offering me support. You were why I could, you know?”
“I’m glad you feel that way.” Race didn’t feel that way. He worried that he’d left Nolan where he was for too long, and he could have done more to save him from the big fake alpha asshole that he had been stuck with for ages.
Now there was Milo.
They had thought Milo had gone off to make his own way in the world. Had they known he was in trouble, Race would have put more energy into finding him years ago,, even though he did search.
“Hey, stop.” Nolan handed him a package of chocolate chip cookies. “Just breathe. We’re going to go get him, and he’s going to be great, and we need to just stop having guilt.”
Easier said than done, but he was going to try. Guilt was overrated. He was learning that from Connal if nothing else. He loved how his mate lived very much in the moment.
Did you need anything, love?
Of course Con had heard him. His mate was incredibly attuned to him.
Did he?
More than anything.
Please. My heart is filled with guilt and shame.
Connal filled it with peace.
I’m coming. Let Nolan pack food and you go upstairs to get your stuff. You can bring it back to my place once we get home.
Yeah? Forever?
Forever, mate. We need to make our den.
