Page 7 of Flint's Arrow
Python’s voice, sharp with an underlying threat.
Arrow stood and started pacing. The wolf inside him pushed against his skin, wanting out, wanting to hunt. In his head it was simple. He wanted to find their mate and drag him back to the den.
But Flint wasn’t prey. He was... What was he, exactly?
Arrow tried to remember their encounter at the bar. He’d been there hunting for a hookup - someone tall, muscled, dominant. Instead, he’d caught a scent that made his wolf sit up and howl.Clean and sharp, like fresh-cut grass with something sweeter underneath.
He’d tracked it to a small blond in the corner, nursing a drink and watching the crowd. Arrow had approached, already imagining those pouty lips wrapped around his cock.
“Hey there, pretty thing.”
The blond had looked up with huge eyes. “I’m working.”
“Working?” Arrow had laughed. “What, as a go-go dancer? You’re way too covered up for that.” He’d reached out to trace one finger down the man’s arm. “Why don’t you come home with me instead? I’ve got a much better place for you to work that mouth.”
“I’m on a job. For the same agency you work for.” The blond had nodded at the discreet pin Arrow wore with pride on his jacket lapel.
That had made Arrow pause. “The agency? You?” He’d looked the blond up and down. Small, delicate, pretty. “What do you do, answer phones?”
“I’m in the field.”
“Sure you are, sweetheart.” Arrow had moved closer, crowding into his mate’s space. The scent was intoxicating. “Look, I get it. You probably tell all the guys you’re important. But between you and me, we both know what you’re really good for.” He’d dropped his voice. “And I can smell how much you want it. So why don’t we skip the games and…”
“I need to focus.” The blond had stood, barely coming up to Arrow’s shoulder. “My target’s about to move.”
“Your target?” Arrow had grabbed his wrist. “Come on, baby. Stop playing hard to get. The mating pull’s driving me crazy, and I know you feel it too.”
“Let go of me.”
“Not until you agree to come home with me. You can’t fight the bond. You’re my mate, which means you belong to me now.”
The blond had yanked free with surprising strength. “I don’t belong to anyone. And if you don’t stop interfering with my work, I’m going to report you.”
“Report me?” Arrow had laughed. “To who?”
“To whoever your supervisor is at cybercrimes. I saw your credentials when you flashed them at the bar.” Those huge eyes had narrowed. “Now, excuse me. I have an actual job to do.”
And then he’d walked away. Just turned and walked through the crowd like Arrow didn’t exist, leaving him standing there stunned and furious. His mate had rejected him and walked away like the bond meant nothing.
Those weren’t the only things you said to him…
He’d tried to follow, but the crowd had swallowed the blond up. By the time Arrow pushed through to the back of the bar, the blond was gone. It wasn’t until later that Arrow realized he’d never gotten his mate’s name. Arrow had gotten that confirmed from Cyrus.
Now, sitting in his office, Arrow replayed what he remembered from the conversation, trying to see it from the other side. He had a feeling his version of events was completely skewed, but he did remember a couple of points very clearly.
I’m working. I’m on a job. I need to focus. My target’s about to move.
What if the blond had been telling the truth?
What if he really had been tracking someone? And Arrow had...
You interfered with an active operation,Arrow realized with dawning horror.If he was really working, you could have blown his cover, which could have gotten him killed.
His wolf whimpered.
No. No, that’s not...He was too small. Too pretty. He couldn’t be...
The agency’s best sniper,that damn mechanic Cyrus had said,with one of the highest kill rates.
