“Your version is too blunt,” Breeze muttered.

Moon shot her a disgusted glance. “Be quiet.

That’s how males relate to each other. He understands me fine.” He snapped his head back to hold Obsidian’s gaze. “You beat on Jericho, threatened Justice and Fury, and now almost killed Destiny when you should have just beat on him until he couldn’t get up or hit you back.

You’re considered dangerous and that’s a real bad thing. We can’t have someone walking around who might kill other Species.”

“Now it’s my turn,” Breeze pushed Moon.

“Move.”

The male hesitantly stood, stepping away from the bed. “Be blunt.”

“Fine.” She bent, her hair falling to create a curtain around his face. “They sent Allison away to be a doctor. She is fine but on her way to somewhere far from here where you can’t see her.”

Rage boiled and he struggled frantically, mentally screamed his frustration. His body didn’t respond to the command to get up and find her. Instincts hammered him to hunt for her.

Hands gripped his face firmly, making him aware of the Species female.

“Your eyes are rolling back into your head.

Look at me and focus.”

He wanted to hit her but his hands wouldn’t curl into fists. She stood in his way—everyone did—to reach Alli.

“You can’t get her back unless you learn to join our society.”

No one would be able to keep him apart from Alli. He’d leave Homeland if they’d taken her away. It didn’t matter how long or how far he had to go but he would find her.

“I can imagine what you’re thinking and plotting. I would be doing the same. They will have to kill you before they allow you to escape Homeland. You’re dangerous and the humans would panic having a wild Species on the loose in the out world. They have weapons you’ve never seen before and your strength wouldn’t matter. You wouldn’t survive a day. You want her back? You can get her returned to you but you must control your temper.” She smoothed the hair from his forehead. “You can either die or you can learn what you need to survive here. We’ll get Allison back to you if you show them you aren’t dangerous.”

Moon suddenly walked around the bed, flipped Breeze’s hair back and bent his face close in able to be in his line of vision. “We are on your side and we’re going to help you. You need to leash down your urges. Think back to the times you wanted to kill a technician but resisted because it would cause your mate harm.”

Obsidian more than remembered—he’d done it countless times.

“It’s going to kind of be like that. Seem cool and controlled, reasonable when you aren’t, and we will be able to have her returned to you.”

“We aren’t your enemy. That’s something you need to learn. You made everyone afraid and now you need to show them you aren’t so damaged that you can’t fit in with your own people. We’re family, Obsidian. I know you’re enraged but the only way you’re going to get Alli back is by fitting in. It’s not fair, it wasn’t our decision, but that’s the truth.”

“It is,” Moon agreed. “Think about it. Learn control while the drugs work their way out of your system. How you get out of that bed is going to determine if you live or die.”

Breeze nodded. “We want you to have Alli.

She is depending on you to do this so they will return her. She didn’t want to leave you but they made her. She’s terrified you will die. You should have seen her tears. I promised her that we’d do anything to help you survive. Don’t let her down.”

That statement made him close his eyes. Is she being hurt? Who has her? Where is she? Is she afraid? He hated the helplessness he felt.

A masculine hand gripped his shoulder and he snapped his eyes open and stared at Moon. “Are you worried about her? She’s safe. No one would dare harm her. She just isn’t here anymore. No one is keeping her prisoner or abusing her. She’ll be given housing similar to what she has now.

Relax. Prove you’re not deadly and no one will feel the need to protect her from you.”

He’d never harm his Alli.

“We’ll get her back,” Breeze swore softly.

“She’s my friend and you’re going to be one too.

You may be stubborn but so am I.”

His eyes closed again. He needed to think.

Chapter Nineteen

Three months later

“He looks really good.” Alli hugged her waist, overcome with so many emotions she wasn’t sure which one was the strongest. Obsidian played soccer with over a dozen males on the side yard next to the men’s dorm. His hair was down, the silky strands blew in the wind, and her fingers flexed from the desire to touch him.

He’d filled out more, judging by his arms and chest, which were displayed in the red tank top that also accented his tanner skin. He ran across the grass barefoot, kicked the ball and it made it past the goalie. He turned—she was sure he smiled and high-fived another male wearing the same-colored shirt.

“He’s healthier and stronger,” Breeze agreed.

“He’s not as lean as when you last saw him. I told you all this when you arrived. Do you believe me now? Why are we hiding inside Smiley’s room spying on your male?”

That was the problem. Is he still mine? Fear wrapped its icy tentacles around her heart. She’d been a mess since she’d received the call three hours before from Homeland. They’d offered her the option to visit Obsidian. It had been a dream come true but at the same time, worry had nearly given her an ulcer.

Sixteen weeks and three days had passed since she’d been escorted by a few members of the NSO task force to one of their vans. Fuller Prison was less than an hour’s drive from Homeland.

The new boss had been an asshole with a Napoleon complex—she’d barely tolerated him. The entire facility had been contained by high walls similar to Homeland but it was a lot smaller. The job sucked but she’d endured treating the prisoners, hoping to get “the call” saying she could see Obsidian.

“Allison?”

She refused to look away from the man she loved as he ran the length of the yard. “Yeah?”

“Are you well? Was it bad at Fuller?”

“I thought about him every day. It helped battle the loneliness.”

“You didn’t make new friends?” Breeze’s voice drew closer.

“No.” She pushed back unpleasant memories of the time she’d spent away. “It was a coin toss whether the prisoners or the guards were more offensive.”

“Did they offer to share sex with you?”

Too many times to count. The question did make her curious enough to turn her head and stare at her friend. “I was the only woman working there. What do you think?”

Breeze sniffed loudly. “I don’t smell a male on you. Is that it? Did you form a bond with someone else?”

“Hell no.” She took a calming breath, the sharp retort revealing too much of her anger. “Sorry.

Let’s just say it isn’t the best job in the world. I’d be a billionaire if I got a dollar for every time one of them hit on me.” She gazed back out the window of the third-floor apartment to locate Obsidian. “Has he missed me?” Hope flared while she watched him kick the ball.

“He doesn’t speak of you at all.”

Ouch. The jab to her heart felt as though a knife had been shoved into it.

“He did at first, maybe two weeks. After that he stopped.”

“Oh.”

“I think it made him too angry.”

Alli glanced back. “At me?”

“At you being gone. He knows you didn’t abandon him. I left no doubt in his mind that you had no choice. Moon and I were very blunt with him.” She lowered her voice. “Although I wanted to break it to him more gently.”

“What does that mean?”

Breeze moved close enough to peer outside.

“Moon and I had different ideas of the best way to handle Obsidian. It worked out well though.

He’s made friends and has a job.”

“Really?” That was good news.