“Thank you, little halfling,” he whispered, his eyes damp as his palm cupped her cheek. “For your heart, for my parents.”
“You saw them?” Surprise filled her. No one had ever seen them before.
“I saw them. I heard them. Finally. I dreamed of them together as a boy, and now you’ve given me that dream.” His lips touched hers. “Every dream I’ve held, Cassie, you’ve brought to life.”
His lips brushed against hers, a gentle, heated caress that reaffirmed his words. The kiss was a benediction, a promise, a vow.
It was everything they were meant to be.
She was what she was, what she was meant to be, in her mate’s heart, in his arms.
Finally, no longer a cross breed, but a mate.
Dog’s mate.
• EPILOGUE •
Ahh threads, Graeme thought as he read the message sent to his tablet. More samples would arrive within the hour, another Coyote Breed Mating, more questions. He loved the questions. Along with his mate, it was all that kept his sane.
It seemed for a while the Breed scientists were focusing on the Coyote Breeds, believing the anomalies of the Mating Heat within that species held the answers they were looking for, and that two former Russian scientists had found a key with the vaccinations they’d invented over two decades before. The vaccinations were interesting, as were the Coyote anomalies. The Wolf Breeds, though—now they were interesting. Their inability to conceive even within Mating Heat was becoming rather a problem for the females.
At least, it had been. The scientists were searching in the wrong direction, but to be certain, he needed a Wolf Breed mating, now didn’t he? Wolf and human. Preferably an Alpha male. And wasn’t it just fortuitous that he knew just such a couple, he thought with innate satisfaction. A Mating long overdue.
Not that this one would be easy. A more stubborn female he’d only met once. His own mate was of course more stubborn, but he liked to think he had the best in all things, now didn’t he? But this female, she would give his own mate a run for the stubborn money.
The sound of the door opening at the top of the circular metal stairs had him pausing. The scent of anger, hurt, stubborn will, and determined pride mixed with that of emerging Mating Heat. Rather like the scent drifting from the connecting cavern. He had to cover a smile. He wondered if this young woman had the slightest suspicion of the determined Wolf that would die before he ever truly released her?
Ensuring his expression was suitably filled with sadness and regret, he watched as Khileen Langer moved down the stairs. Long sunlit red hair was pulled back into a neat little braid, exposing her worried expression and the delicate lines of her face. Dressed in jeans, boots and a tank top he’d dared his own mate to wear, she moved down the stairs, the roiling emotions she felt touching his very narrow vein of compassion.
“I’m here,” she announced quietly as she took the last step. “I need to hurry, though, I have an appointment in town with Cassie Sinclair. For some reason she’s decided I should be in her wedding party.” And she was genuinely confused over that, it seemed.
Lifting the syringe he had laid close by several hours before, he watched as she turned her shoulder to him. Her profile was downcast, something too thoughtful, too somber reflecting in it.
Pushing the pressure syringe to her shoulder he injected the hormonal treatment to still the effects of Mating Heat then stepped back.
“That’s the last injection, Khi,” he told her quietly. “I’m sorry, but your system can’t handle much more.”
He was a very effective liar, sadly.
Poor Khi. The time for running was now at an end.
• • •
Khileen Langer stared at the Bengal Breed, certain she couldn’t have heard him correctly. It wasn’t possible. He had to be wrong.
Graeme Parker was like Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde and the Einstein of Breed genetics and mating bullshit all rolled into one. He knew his shit backward and forward. It wasn’t possible that he wouldn’t have an answer to this.
“I’m sorry, Khi.” He stared back at her, somber, compassion reflecting his expression. “There’s simply no way to go any further with the serum. The Mating Heat is simply adjusting to it too quickly. If I keep messing with your system in this way then it could kill you.”
“Could kill me.” She latched onto the words desperately. “You’re not certain, though.”
A grimace tightened his face and he shook his head at the objection.
“Kill you, paralyze you, it could make the Heat worse, it could cause severe internal bleeding or all of the above,” he growled out, flashing her an irritated look. “I’ve run all the probables and those probables say that another increase in the strength of the injections to be highly ill advised. You’re going to have to face this now. There’s no delaying it any longer.”
She could feel herself shaking. Fear, desperation, grief. Emotions she’d been holding onto for the past two years were beginning to race through her, threatening to escape all hope of control. She was shaking her head, staring at Graeme pleadingly, certain he had to be wrong.
“Graeme, please … ” she whispered.