“Alpha,” he says slowly like he’s testing my reaction, “I appreciate you letting us come today and hope you’ll let us appeal to stay for good.”

“GET ON WITH IT!” I roar. He drops his eyes. I know he doesn’t understand my behavior, we’ve been friends for years. He answers with a stammer, “I met the group close to your territory. They’re trouble. I think they are planning on challenging you, but I think there’s something more. The leader, Saul, he’s so confident, like he knows something that will help him win the challenge. They asked us to join them, said that when he takes over, he needs people he can trust. I told them we already belonged to a pack, and we’re just visiting family. I thought they would keep us from leaving, but they let us leave. There are nine males and six females that I saw. I’m sorry, Alpha, that’s all I know.”

As he finishes, the front door opens, and I know it’s her. Every head swivels in her direction. The men all straightened to their full height. The one female looks her over with envy. My beautiful Mate has no idea how striking she truly is. Her curvy figure is a rarity among shifters. Females are usually tall and slender, breasts small, hips narrow. Her long, dark hair waves behind her. Her large amber eyes find me quickly, and I can tell she is worried, that her worry for me has overridden how I made her feel this morning. When she starts to walk over, I hear Gavin and the two men he’s with take deep breaths, pulling in her scent. Michael moves between her and the men now watching her as she makes her way to me. “Masen?” The southern drawl in her voice clear. She comes close but not close enough to touch.

“She’s the one,” I hear one of the men whisper. The female with the group huffs.

I close the remaining gap between us, picking her up. She automatically wraps her legs around my waist. She’s so soft and sweet it floors me that after the way I treated her she’s still willing to let me touch her. My anger evaporates immediately and is replaced with remorse. “I’m so sorry, Little One,” I whisper close to her ear. “I was angry at myself, never you, baby. I handled it so wrong. Please forgive me,” I beg, and I don’t care who’s witnessing this tender moment.

She runs her hands through my hair and shushes me. “Masen, I overreacted. So much has happened lately I just mashed it all up. I’m a little emotional,” she says with a shrug and a big smile, like it’s no big deal. Her voice has been quiet, just for the two of us, but now she speaks louder so everyone can hear, “What has you so mad? Which one of them should I kill to make you feel better. I hope it’s her, I don’t like the way she’s looking at you.” Her voice is serious like she would tear them to pieces right now if I just say the word. Her eyes narrow at the female watching us.