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“You know our clans trade romantic partners back and forth,” he said. “Pillow talk is what it is, and gossip gets around, especially when it resembles a secret. Who is she?”

Shit.Emma wasn’t under wraps anymore. The news had gotten out much faster than I’d anticipated. I’dhoped we’d have a week before I had to start lying to anybody and everybody about Emma’s purpose in our clan.

“She’s my mate.”

“Is she?” His expression implied he knew my lie for what it was.

“Of course. Why else would I have brought her back to the alpha manor in the middle of the night, naked, and tucked her into my bed?”

“And then left her alone all night?” His challenge hung in the air, and he plucked a long branch from the ground, twirling it around his arms. “Unlikely.”

Whoever had been feeding information to Marcus had been around when we had carried Emma into the house. Maybe it was the shifters who had helped us carry her upstairs or maybe someone at the breakfast table. I made a mental note to have Olivia investigate. She had a good nose for identifying weaknesses and strengths in people.

Icy needles of fear pricked at my heart. Her safety depended on my ability to sell the myth that she was my mate, possibly even my fated mate. Surely, I hadn’t been fated to the multimorph.

I crossed my arms and took on a nonchalant smirk. “I wore her out, so I let her sleep it off. I’m a gentleman when the situation calls for it.”

“I see.” He tossed the stick aside. “I intend to meet her. The infamous bachelor alpha brought a woman home to his family, so I’m certain she’s worth meeting.”

“I’ll bring her to the Hunter’s Moon Conclave… when we’re all in the non-aggression zone.” I didn’t trust him around Emma before then. The weight of hundreds of years of established, reinforced treaties and tradition would keep her mostly safe.

“That’s not soon enough, Logan,” he said, his voice taking on a feline yowl. “I must meet her as soon as possible.”

I straightened and took a menacing step toward him. “It’s the limit of what I can offer.”

For long moments, he glared at me, his shoulders hunched, his feet working back and forth, so much a cat ready to pounce.

A raven called overhead, and deep huffing sounded from inside the forest.

“We’re not the only ones here,” I said. “Sounds like the ravens and maybe the bears have taken an interest in our meeting.”

Marcus’s muscled unwound, and the tension drained from him. “So they are. Shouldn’t be surprised they’d be interested in whatever we have to talk about.”

I barked a laugh. “They’d all shit themselves if we managed to band together and became allies.”

His hand twitched against his leg. “They wouldn’t know whether to be terrified or elated.”

“How so?”

Marcus’s upper lip curled to reveal a row of pointed teeth. “We’d either tear each other apart from the inside or…”

“Or?” I prompted.

“Or we’d conquer the world.” He turned away and strolled into the woods, choosing the direction that would lead him most directly back to his territory. “Hunter’s Moon is too far away, Logan. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

On my return trip to the manor, my walkie-talkie rang, and I yanked it from my belt, furious someone had the balls to interrupt me when I’d forbidden it. “Yeah?”

“Sorry to disturb you, Alpha, but Dr. Wise is here, and she says you sent for her.”

I tamped down my fury. That had been the only reason I’d given them permission to reach out.

“ETA: eight minutes,” I answered, hooking it back on my belt.

“10-4.”

Eight minutes later, I rolled down the long drive and parked the four-wheeler nose-to-nose with Emma’s vehicle. Dr. Wise’s green Subaru rested on the gravel behind it. I hopped off as Emma and Olivia approached from the direction of the training warehouse, chatting amicably.

Something had changed between Emma and Olivia. Maybe they weren’t friends yet, but they weren’t the bitter enemies they’d been when Emma had popped offabout obedience training. Her comment still made me chuckle, but I hid my mirth else they’d ask, and I’d be obligated to explain. Reminding Olivia about Emma’s insubordinate behavior wouldn’t be the best thing for their current peace agreement.