Page 24 of Ignited By My Mate

We’re silent for a moment before Miles perks up. “Maybe it suddenly hit her, and she needed a moment to wrap her head around things,” he suggests. “I mean, that’s understandable.”

“Yeah… maybe.”

That does seem like the best-case scenario.

My bear paces inside me, and I go back to hitting the bag for a few more minutes.

“What’s up with you?” I ask Miles when I realize that he’s still standing there.

Miles doesn’t respond right away. He just gives me that look—the one he saves for serious crap. “There’s something else you should know. Another fire flared up last night. Same pattern as all of the others.”

My stomach drops. “Red Fog again?”

“Looks like it.”

I swear under my breath and toss the towel into the bin. The Red Fog Pack has been edging closer to our borders for months. Always testing. Always pushing.

And now fires? On mating night?

My bear snarls in the back of my mind, protective rage rising like smoke.

Wewill notlet them come near her, I tell him.

He growls in agreement and goes back to pacing.

“What did the Alphas and the others say?” I ask Miles. “Do we have a plan yet?”

“They’ve called for extra patrols along the northern edge of our pack land. No one on patrol can split up. We stick to pairs.”

“Good. What else?”

“The Alphas are talking with Tucker and Crew’s mates to find out all they can about the Red Fog Pack. The land, the layout of all of the buildings, the members. I have a feeling we’ll be going to war any day now. It’s time for us to start fighting back. Soon, they won’t be satisfied with just burning down things here.”

I nod grimly. “Keep me posted.”

He nods, clapping me on the back. “Will do. Now, why don’t you get out of here and fix things with your mate?”

“You don’t think that she might need more time?”

He shrugs. “Way I see it, you only have a few more days with her here. Might as well make the most of it.”

I know he’s right, so I nod, waving as I grab my things and head out.

I walk outside and take a long breath of cool mountain air. The sun is dipping again, streaking the sky with pink and amber. Everything feels quiet, still.

But I know better.

Things are about to change, one way or another, and I have to protect Lark—whether she’s ready to accept the bond or not.

Because mate or not, she’smine.

I’ll give her space. I’ll give her time.

But I’m not walking away.

Not now.

Not ever.

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