Page 59

Now I couldn’t hideit. My mouth dropped open. “What? You and Fatherare…?”

“Your fatherand I were mated to strengthen clan and family bonds, like your brother, Loch,was.”

“You had an arranged marriage?”

“Somewhat.We’d known each other since we wereyoung.”

Iprocessed this.“Father’s paw doesn’t match your mark,” Isaid.

She shook her head.“For a long time, I was convinced that maybe there was someone out there who did. I eventually realized my fantasies weren’t fair to your father, and nor would they be fair to my future children if I wasn’t fully invested. So I forgot about it all. Let it go. And do you know whathappened?”

“What?”

“The mark disappeared.And I moved on, and fell in love with your father. But I think that perhaps, it hurt him quitedeeply.”

“That’swhy he doesn’t believe in them,” I said, and Mothernodded.

“So,I believe what you and Mason share is special, despite him being lowborn. And I’ve been doing what I can to turn your father’s mind aboutit.”

“Hounds of Hell, Mother,”I said softly. “I hope… we haven’t hurt you and Father’smarriage.”

She smiledand squeezed my arm. “Like I said, I’m over all that now. If there had been someone out there who matched my mark, they’re no longer my fated mate. Your father is. And I believe thatentirely.”

Inodded,and then after a brief hesitation, embraced Mother. We both were not used to hugging one another, and she returned the hug, stiffly at first, and then morewarmly.

“Thank you,Mother. You have no idea how much this means to me. I hope Father can come to understand us the same as youdo.”

“Someday,”shesaid.

Idroveto Mason’s house filled with an incredible lightness. I’d been unaware of the weight that’d been on my shoulders, and having Mother’s support had relieved some of it. It’d also given me strength. Not that I’d had any doubt about our relationship at all, but Mother’s story had reminded me just how special Mason and I were. One thing different, and we could’ve ended up missing each other. The scariest part was that I could’ve put Mason in jail or something worse, but the universe had been on our side and brought ustogether.

Mason answeredthe front door and pounced on me, wrapping his legs around my waist. I grabbed him and kissed him and carried him to thecouch.

“Someone’s feisty,”Isaid.

“You’re damn right,”he grinned, pulling me down on top of him. He threw his arms around my neck and kissedme.

“Ilove you,”I toldhim.

“Ilove you too.You seemhappy.”

Inodded.“I am. This day got off on the right paw,surprisingly.”

“Ican say the same thing.”

“Is that right? Tell me.”

“Mm. You go first.”

“Alright.”

Ilay downon the couch and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him against my chest, and then told him what had happened back at the house. To my surprise, Mason’s eyes started to water, and he hid his face in myarmpit.

“What?”I asked. “What’s thematter?”

“That just…It really makes me happy to hear,” he said. “And it’s perfect, Christophe. It’s so perfect for what I learnedtoday.”

“What did you learn?”