Ugh.

I ignore him as I head into the police station. My eyes go right to the cell that my mate is in, and my eyes lock with her pale blue ones.

“Hey,” I say, and she glares at me.

Alright, we’re off to a rocky start, but we can come back from this.

Yeah, by biting her,my wolf says.

No! That is only going to make everything worse. Stop suggesting it.

He growls, and I try to smile at Nori. She ignores me and goes back to pacing her cell like a caged tiger.

“What’s your favorite animal?” I blurt, and she pauses to stare at me in disbelief.

“Let me out of here, and I’ll tell you.”

“I can’t.”

“Then I can’t talk to you. Get me a phone or a lawyer.”

“Nori, I…”

I want to explain, but I don’t know how to. I don’t know where to start or how to get her to see.

“Are you hungry?” I ask her, but she ignores me.

I head over to my desk and take a seat. Maybe she just needs some time, and then we can talk. I just need to wait her out. I can do that. I’ve been waiting all my life to find my fated mate. What’s a little bit longer?

I get started on some paperwork and try to lose myself in the monotony, but it’s no use. I’m hyper-focused on Nori. Every movement she makes, every breath she takes, I’m aware of all of it.

When I’ve read the same line a dozen times, I decide to give up on the pretense of working. At this time of night, I should be headed home, but I don’t want to leave Nori. I can’t leave her. She might not be talking to me, but I still want to be inher presence. My wolf nods, and for once today, we’re finally in agreement.

I shuffle papers around my desk, pretending to work while really trying to look at my mate. She gave up pacing a while ago, and now she’s lying down on the cot in there.

She should be in our bed,my wolf growls, and I sigh.

She will be. Soon,I promise him.

We watch her as she lays there, and soon enough, her breathing has evened out, and I know that she’s asleep. She must have been tired from traveling.

We didn’t feed her,my wolf reminds me, and I wince.

We’ll bring her a big breakfast. Maybe we can talk and take her out for something to eat.

My wolf likes the idea of that, and I smile as I push to my feet and head off to find a blanket for her. I grab one out of the small supply closet in the hall and head back to her cell. She’s out cold now, and I head inside and cover her, making sure that she’s covered and warm enough.

The wind whistles outside as I take a seat on the ground next to the cot and watch over her. I know that nothing bad will happen to her inside of the station, but I can’t bring myself to leave her. So, I settle in, determined to spend as much time with my mate as I can.

It’s going to be a long boring night…and also the best night that I’ve ever had, because I’m finally with my fated mate.

I smile softly as I watch her and wonder if she’s dreaming of me.

FIVE

Nori

“Morning!”Comes a cheery male voice behind me, and I groan.