Waking up disorientated in the dark I couldn't remember where the hell I was. I reached for my phone. "Fuck!" It was already four in the morning. I'd been out at least six hours.

Rubbing my hand over my stubbled face, the fogginess lifted as I remembered where I was. My brothers.

Dragging my arse to the edge of the sofa I bent over, scrubbing my hands through my hair. First up Shower. Then find Sage.

Gunner!

I checked my messages; he'd found her. The relief was immense, swiftly followed by dread as yesterday's events replayed.

Was this Sylar her mate?

Would it make a difference if he was?

No, it wouldn't. I would fight for her with my last breath.

Forty-five minutes later I'd showered and was drinking a mug of strong coffee as Zander walked in, rubbing the heel of his palm into his closed eye. "Gunner found her; I'm heading out. I'm taking your car."

"Hold on, slow down Hunter. You're not going anywhere without me, yeah?" He gave his best 'dad' frown. "How's your head anyway, and how long have you been having headaches like that? You were babbling some crazy shit." He moved towards the cupboard, grabbed a mug, poured himself a coffee, and sat opposite me.

They'd only started since I'd met Sage, and they were getting worse the longer I went without seeing her. That, and the ongoing battle with my wolf who seemed to think it would be better if he was in charge of finding our mate.

And the cherry on top—I was hardly sleeping. "Rarely," I replied.

He raised an eyebrow, not buying my bullshit.

"Had to drag your heavy arse from the car, forced you to take some Syndol and then left you to sleep on the sofa. There was no way I could get you upstairs; you were out of it. Plus, I think you've put on some weight from what I remember."

He laughed, clearly fucking amused.

Cheeky bastard.

"All muscle princess, try working out sometime, don't think I haven't noticed that stomach of yours." I winked at him.

He laughed again, muttering before lifting his mug to his mouth.

I took a swig of my coffee, the thick bitterness biting the back of my throat. "Apart from the insults. Thanks, appreciate it."

"After this, I'll grab a quick shower and then we can talk. Yeah?" he said.

I grabbed my phone and checked the time. I didn't have time to sit on my backside waiting for him. "You get your shit together and follow me. I want to check in with Gunner and scope the place."

Zander let out a frustrated sigh. "I've already spoken with Gunner last night; he's done the recon. She's hiding out at a farmhouse, in the middle of nowhere. And nobody else has come and gone since he got there. There's no rush Hunter, it's the crack of dawn and we need a plan of how to attack this. See if we can find out some more about the shit that went down yesterday."

I had no intention of waiting, but he didn't need to know that.

>>>

Fifteen minutes later I was cursing at every driver on the road. It was the start of fucking rush hour traffic —the last thing I needed.

But at least it would hold Zander back too. In another half hour, it would be ten times worse than this.

Another twenty minutes later my phone buzzed. Glancing, my brother's name flashed up. I swiped and sent it to voicemail.

My wolf grumbled but I was ignoring him too.

Finally, I pulled up to the location, scanning the area. I could see his car, but Gunner was nowhere to be found. Sending him a quick text, I waited with impatience gnawing at my guts.

Getting out of my car, I stomped towards his. "Shit." I'd forgotten about Pearl and there she was curled up sleeping on the back seat.

On the front seat were Gunner's clothes and I could safely assume his phone would be in there too. He had shifted.

My wolf howled, wanting to be loose. And he was right. It would be better if I let him loose. We could cover more ground that way.

I checked on Zander. I had about an hour before he caught up with me and chewed my ear off—but I would deal with his shit later.

I walked around Gunner's car, looking over the vast fields and the woods behind a house. The house, which I could assume had Sage inside—with him.

A growl caught my attention and turning I saw Gunner's wolf stalking closer. Stopping at the other side of his car, I heard him grunting and cursing as his head popped up revealing his bare chest. Opening his car door he grabbed his tee-shirt and pulled it over his head. "Boss," he acknowledged me.

"Gunner. Any changes since you last spoke with Zander?"

"Nah boss, all good, quiet."

"She give you any trouble?" Flicking my head towards Pearl still sleeping.

He tutted. "Never fucking shuts up that one, but no problems. Finally fell asleep around two this morning and I've been scoping the area on and off."

So, what now? Do I just knock on the door, throw her over my shoulder and leave with her?

Fuck. I hadn't thought this far ahead. But it was a sound plan.

"The woods at the back of the house," said Gunner, dragging me from my thoughts. He flicked his head. "She's out there now Boss."

"What in the woods? On her own?" My wolf became excited.

Mate. Find her. Mate.

"Yeah, Boss."

This was good, better than expected. Track her and talk to her, alone. "Did you get any more info on him?" Sylar.

"Got the details of the owner of the car and that house is where it's registered to—but he's not the owner. Or he looks fucking good for someone in his sixties."

I checked Zander's location on my phone. Looked like he was sitting in traffic. "She didn't see you?" I asked without glancing up.

"Nah, all good boss, but there's something wrong with her."

My head shot up. "What do you mean? Is she hurt?" My fingers curled into a fist. Just the thought of someone laying a finger on her, hurting her sparked my anger—my wolf too.

"Nah, not hurt." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Just a feeling I have more than anything, but if I had to put a guess on it, she seemed frustrated and looked a little—"

"Little what?"

"Sickly, pale and tired maybe." He shrugged.

I was done waiting. Dragging my t-shirt over my head, I kicked off my shoes and started undoing my pants. Seconds later, I was naked and about to change. "If you could hold back Zander from tracking me down, I'd appreciate it." I gave him a hard stare.

"Sure thing boss."

>>>

The sun emerged from the clouds as I pounded the dirt with the woods in sight. I would find her, tell her how I felt, what I wanted. And hope to fucking god she wanted the same.

Mate. Mate, him indoors kept repeating.

I know I hear you, loud and fucking clear.

We ran faster.

Attempting to approach without making a sound was fucking difficult. And he wasn't helping, he was still chanting —Mine. Mine. Mine, like a broken record.

Our blood pumped hard and fast, dodging trees, my eyes on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary.

Then her scent hit me. Familiar, powerful—soothing.

I came to an abrupt stop as I spotted her. She was sitting on a fallen tree, covered in moss. Head in her hands, she was talking to herself. I found it a little strange that she hadn't noticed me or scented me approaching.

More dread filled me as I considered if this Sylar had marked her.

I may not have given much thought to the fated mate, shit—well until I met Sage. But I knew you had to mark each other willingly.

I padded closer, my wolf shaking his head, sniffing the air.

Her head shot up, turning towards me. Her face was unreadable.

"Hunter?" she asked, her brow creased.

My wolf huffed, we were almost in touching distance.

Surprising me, with a sad expression she held out her hand.

Gunner was right, she didn't look well. My wolf whimpered. He could sense her hurt—sadness. It suffocated us both.

I nudged my head forward, rubbing it against her hand as her fingers spread through my fur.

"I'm not sure how you found me, but I'm glad you did," she whispered.

I forced the shift but stayed knelt in front of her, ignoring the fact I was naked. Well, it's not that she hadn't seen him before. "Sage." My hand cupped her cheek.

She leaned into my touch. "I'm sorry for leaving you there I—"

"Shhh." My hand slipped behind her head and pulled her down towards me and with our foreheads touching, her warm breath brushed my lips.

The urge to claim her was undeniable. "You had to know I'd follow you, find you."

She remained still and quiet but her breathing was stead and her heart beat like a blood drum syncing with mine. "Talk to me, Sage."

She sighed, pulling away from me, her eyes glancing down before a flush decorated her cheeks. "Sorry." A small smile kicked up at the corner of my mouth.

It was nice to see I still affected her and just like that he hardened. Her eyes shot up. "C'mon Sage, you can't blame him." I winked, and she gifted me with that fucking shy smile I loved so much. "He'll behave...for now."

"I'd try to find you a leaf to cover, but I don't think there are any big enough for—" Her tongue peeped out, licking over her bottom lip.

I groaned. "You're gonna have to stop looking at me Sage—like that. Or else I won't be able to control myself."

I couldn't stop the way my body reacted when this close to her. It was hard not to be hard around her. I wanted her, every goddamn second of the day and night. She drove me fucking insane with want.

She shook her head and inched sidewards out of my reach and rose from the fallen log. On her feet, she put a few steps between us.

"There are things I need to tell you, Hunter. And I know once I do. This, whatever it is, will be over."

What the?

Was she serious?

I rose to my feet. Nothing she could tell me would turn me away from her. Why couldn't she see the spell she had me under? What I wouldn't do for her. I'd almost killed my cousin to stop him from laying one finger on her.

I walked towards her, her back facing me. Standing right behind her. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her against me. She shivered as she relaxed into me. My mouth brushed her ear. "Nothing and I mean nothing would make me walk away from you Sage. Can't you feel this—between us? This pull?"

I was laying everything on the line. Opening up, baring my heart and fucking soul to this woman. Ready to admit to the world she was my mine.

I wanted her, and I needed her to want me.

She was silent but did not attempt to move. I had to ask. "Sylar, is he holding you back from me—do you want him?"

"What? No, no. It's not Sylar. It's me I'm—" she stopped.

"Please, talk to me Sage, let me fix this. I know this sounds crazy, but I don't want to spend another day without you—separated from you. I can't stop thinking about you." I paused trying to slow my words, not wanting to rush this. "Listen to me Sage, I know with every breath in my body, I want you. And if you believe nothing else I say—believe that."

"What does that even mean, Hunter?"

I ran my nose through her hair, inhaling her intoxicating scent. "I think you know."

"Do you think I'm your mate?" she asked quietly, almost warily.

Time to man up Hunter. Admit the truth. "Yeah, I do."

She tensed.

Fuck!

"I think I've hurt people Hunter." her voice was barely a whisper.

That wasn't the answer I expected. "Do you mean back there at your grandfather's place?" The wolves in the marquee flashed through my thoughts.

"Yes... no. I'm talking about the recent suicides—I think I killed them."

I dug my fingers into her waist before twisting her around to face me. Her beautiful blue eyes were filled to the brim with tears ready to overflow.

I didn't believe—no I wouldn't believe she could kill anyone. "I don't believe that Sage. You can trust me."

Her head lowered. I waited, just about to speak, when her head lifted and her eyes found mine, silently relaying a message, begging me to understand. Which I didn't.

"I'm different—" she paused.

"Different how?"

She chewed the inside of her cheek. Her heart rate spiked. "I can sense people, read their thoughts, feel their feelings, and—"

Fuck!

Was she a Hawker? I'd read about them. They were rare, extremely fucking rare.

Had she been reading my mind all this time, listening to my thoughts? Known how I felt about her. All the depraved things I wanted to do to her?

I tried to slow the panic. Fucking stop thinking—idiot! She can hear you.

Swallowing hard. "So, you know what I'm thinking—right now?"

She shook her head. "No, not you. You're the only person I've not been able to use my gift on. Ever!"

Thank fuck for that.

That was a good thing—right?

That she couldn't read my thoughts.

Wait a minute—why the fuck not?

Was there something wrong with me?

That didn't make me feel any better either. "How, I mean, why not? Is there something wrong with me?" I wasn't verbalising myself very well.

"I don't know why you're different Hunter, but if it makes you feel any better...I like it."

Okay. We could come back to that question later. And it felt good knowing it made her happy.

I watched her chest rapidly rise before holding her breath. "I think it's because of my grandfather." She looked at me warily, letting out her breath. Her fingers were being crushed in the rhythmic grip of her other hand.

"I didn't know he was going to blame you for those pack deaths. I'm so sorry Hunter. They all think you killed their family members. I wanted to confess, although I'm not entirely sure what I'm confessing to, as I don't remember. But I swear to you and I won't let you take the blame. I will hand myself over to the authorities."

There was no fucking way. Over my dead body, I would hand her over to anyone.

Her vulnerability speared my chest. Her eyes pleaded with mine, pain and guilt fell over her face like a shadow, piercing my heart.

I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her. She felt cold. "It's okay Sage, we can figure this out. You're not to worry, I won't let anything happen to you. But you need to tell me more about your gift, yeah?"

Having her in my arms brought me comfort that I couldn't explain, and I knew there wasn't a cat-in-hells chance I would ever let her go, not now.

Gift or no gift—She was mine.

"Gift," she scoffed. "It's a curse, Hunter. I want to be normal."

"Pfft, what's so good about normal?" I eased back and ran my finger down her cheek. "We're gonna figure this out together, me and you, yeah? I'm not letting you go, Sage. I'm here. I want you, with or without this gift. Even if you burned the world down. I'd still be here."

Her eyes widened, astonished by the declaration. But I meant every word. "That's if you want this...me and you. If you think I'm your mate."

There, I'd said it. Heart on the fucking line and in her hands.

Her next words could breathe life into us... or kill me stone-cold dead.

I waited.