Chapter Eight #2
By the time Arrow finished knotting his tie, the sun had fully risen. He checked his reflection one last time, smoothed down a stray hair, and headed for his car.
The agency’s Helena office occupied five floors of a modern building downtown. Arrow flashed his badge, nodded at security, and rode the elevator to the fourth floor, where Patterson kept his office.
Patterson’s assistant looked up from her computer. “Agent Arrow. Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but I need to speak with him. It’s important.”
She frowned but picked up her phone. After a brief conversation, she gestured toward the door. “He can give you fifteen minutes.”
Patterson sat behind his massive desk, reading something on his tablet. He didn’t look up when Arrow entered. “This better be good. I’ve got a conference call in twenty minutes.”
“I met my mate.”
That got Patterson’s attention. He set down the tablet and leaned back in his chair, studying Arrow with sharp eyes. “Congratulations. I assume this is why you’ve been acting like a rabid dog for the past two weeks?”
Arrow’s jaw clenched. “Yes, sir.”
“So what do you need from me? Time off for a claiming ceremony? We can arrange that.”
“Actually, I wanted to discuss a transfer.” Arrow forced himself to stand still, to project confidence he didn’t feel.
“My mate lives near Bozeman. I was hoping the agency might have an opening there, something in cybercrimes or even general investigations. I’m willing to take a demotion if necessary. ”
Patterson’s eyebrows rose. “Bozeman? There’s no agency office in Bozeman, Arrow. The closest one is here in Helena, and even that’s barely staffed. We’re not exactly swimming in resources.”
The words hit like a physical blow. Arrow had known it was a long shot, but hearing the confirmation made his stomach drop. “I see.”
“Look, I get it. The mate pull is intense, especially early on. But your mate can relocate, can’t they? They can come here, move in with you, and adjust to city life. That’s what usually happens - the omega follows the alpha to where the work is.”
Something hot and ugly twisted in Arrow’s chest. The automatic assumption that Flint would be the one to give up everything, to uproot his entire life, because Arrow’s job was somehow more important.
He’s the agency’s best sniper. Flint saved trafficked children.
He rid the world of rogue vampires, corrupt politicians, and predators who hurt the vulnerable.
His work mattered just as much as Arrow’s, probably more.
And beyond that, Flint had a home. A real one, with people who loved him, and a greenhouse full of plants he’d grown from seeds, and roots in a community that needed him.
Arrow had an expensive box overlooking the city lights and a job arresting white-collar criminals.
“He’s a field operative,” Arrow said quietly. “An assassin, actually. Based out of Big Sky. He can’t relocate.”
Patterson’s expression shifted, something calculating entering his eyes. “An assassin? One of the private contractors? The one you spent so much time chasing an address for?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Interesting.” Patterson drummed his fingers on the desk.
“Those guys make decent money. He could probably support you both if you wanted to quit and move out there. You could be a kept man, let your mate take care of you while you...” He waved a hand dismissively.
“I don’t know, garden or whatever omegas do when they’re not working. ”
Arrow’s wolf snarled. The casual disrespect, the assumption that Arrow would be the submissive partner, that he’d give up his career to be supported…It was that assumption he’d been running from his entire life - the idea that someone would see him as weak and dismiss him.
But something had shifted during those three days in the sawmill, listening to Wren and Pax describe how Flint had cried - how small and worthless Arrow had made him feel.
Arrow had spent his whole life afraid of being diminished.
So he’d turned around and done exactly that to the person who mattered most.
“Actually,” Patterson continued, leaning forward with a smirk, “I probably shouldn’t have said that.
You’ll probably be the one wearing the pants in your mating anyway.
I can’t imagine an assassin would want a submissive partner.
Those firecrackers need someone strong, someone who can handle them, so it shouldn’t take long for you to get your mate under control, establish proper dominance, then he’ll see reason about relocating.
You just need a bit of time, and I understand that. ”
The words echoed in Arrow’s skull. Get your mate under control. As if Flint were a problem to be managed, a subordinate to be commanded, rather than an equal partner. As if the answer to meeting a fated mate was to break them down until they fit the shape a wolf might want.
Exactly how I thought two weeks ago. He had seen Flint and immediately started strategizing how to control the narrative, how to make sure everyone knew Arrow was in charge. He’d been so terrified of being seen as weak that he’d tried to crush the strongest person he’d ever met.
Arrow moved slowly. His hands were steady as he reached into his jacket and pulled out his badge, setting it on Patterson’s desk with a soft click.
“What are you doing?” Patterson frowned.
“I quit.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re upset, I get it, but throwing away your career over some…”
“I quit,” Arrow repeated, louder this time. “Effective immediately. I’ll submit formal paperwork by the end of the week, but I’m done.”
Patterson’s face reddened. “You’re making a huge mistake. Do you know how many wolves would kill for your position? The connections you’re throwing away? And for what? Some renegade assassin who’s probably going to get himself killed on a job within the year?”
Arrow turned and walked toward the door.
“Arrow!” Patterson stood, slamming his hand on the desk. “If you walk out that door, you’re done. No references, no coming back when this doesn’t work out. You’ll be finished in this city.”
Arrow paused with his hand on the doorknob. “Good.”
He walked out and didn’t look back. He had a few other things he needed to do before he went on his date.