Lucas shook his head. “I don’t believe that. You’ve got be willing to give us a chance. If you’re willing to grant her the option to sever our mating, then fine, but first … you have to give me the year.”

“What?” she asked.

“Under pack law, it states that I should be given the chance to try to mate with you. You haven’t given me anything. Not one sliver of a chance, and what’s more, the entire pack knows it. Since our mating, you avoid me like I’m the fucking plague. I’m your mate, and I demand to be given the chance to make this work.”

Tears filled her eyes as she watched him. “I don’t want this,” she said.

“I’m afraid…” Duke sighed. “Under pack law, I have no choice. Miss Little, you and Lucas will have to take the time for one year to see if it is even possible for you to remain as mates. However…” He stopped and looked at her then at Lucas. “Due to the nature of your mating, as the Alpha, I demand that you both be given the year, together, with no interruptions on our island.”

This was even worse.

The island was a place for mated couples to have no interference. Only two people. Tears filled her eyes as she shook her head. “No.”

“My word is law. Tomorrow, you both leave. I will not be defied.”

Angry, Mabel stormed out of the town hall. She had to get out of town. There was no way she was going to spend a year alone with Lucas. It wasn’t fair.

“Mabel, damn it, slow down.” Lucas chased after her, and she spun around to glare at him.

“Why?” she asked. “I’m surprised you’re not happy that I would ask for this. I don’t want to … I don’t want any of this.”

“Then you should have given me the chance.”

“I don’t need to give you anything, and now, a year.”

“Mabel.” He moved toward her and she shook her head.

“No. Stay away from me.”

“You know if you run away, they will find you. You’ve got no choice but to see this through. Alpha law is the only way to follow.”

Gritting her teeth, the last thing she wanted to do was even look at him, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of running away. She turned to look at him. “Yes, and seeing as he’s your daddy, you get everything you fucking want, don’t you? Like always. It is always daddy. Ugh. Leave me the hell alone. I can do a year, but afterward, you will leave me alone.” She stormed away.

There was no way she could do a year with him.

“Look at it, it’s miss fat cakes. Have you ever heard of a diet?”

“Whoa, get off me, lard, you almost squashed me.”