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“Whoa. What the fuck? Is that where you’ve been? With her? What the fuck Christoph, you’re not helping yourself right now.” Anger radiated off Jackson, and his eyes turned red and a hint of smoke escaped his nostrils.

“I plan to mate Bell and you, asshole. But I need to wrap up several loose ends. Defying my father means I will be exiled from my Pride.” Sadness overwhelmed him. Yes, his parents’ greed and desire for power had turned most members of their Pride into shells of their former self. From the time he’d been a young cub, he intended to restore his family’s Pride to where they had once been. A strong, righteous family with standing. Going against their wishes and mating, Bell would kill his dream and cause him to forsake his people.

“Son of a bitch.” Jackson placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I did. To Rapier. He’s been helping me get everything in place and is offering me a position within his Pride. Everything has to be in place before I inform my parents. I can’t let them hurt my—our son. I believe his mother has already been killed. It’s all so fucked up.”

“Okay. When Bell arrives, you’re going to fill us in on everything.” Sympathy filled the other man’s eyes.

“I will, I’m sorry, Jackson. I’ve fucked up so bad. So fucking bad.” Disgust filled him again. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact his parents wanted him to mate a baby. Nor the fact his father probably killed Keandra the same day he scared Isaac. It was all too much.

“And?” The impatient dragon folded his arms over his chest. “What about the girl?”

“She’s sixteen and abused by her father. He’ll kill her if we don’t mate.”

“Are you sure, Christoph?” He didn’t miss the doubt in Jackson’s tone. He had his own doubts for a while that perhaps they’d played him. Until Rapier handed him the digital file a little while ago from Kalkin Raftery, Bell and Hayden’s uncle. His parents had nothing on the Osaka Alpha, who often used both mental and physical punishment on his pride. The pictures Rapier provided had turned his stomach. He couldn’t leave Aislinn to suffer because of him.

“I’m 100 percent sure. Rapier has proof. A file filled with pictures and evidence of the Osaka’s atrocities committed on those within and outside of his pride. I didn’t ask how anyone could get the information, but I believe it.”

“What a clusterfuck.” More smoke seeped from Jackson’s nose. At least this time, his anger hadn’t been directed at him.

“I cannot. I will not leave her to suffer for my choices. Rapier and I believe her father will retaliate against her. Aislinn fears the same,” Christoph said.

“Aislinn? That’s your betrothed?”

“Yes,” he answered. “A baby, Jackson. Tiny and slight and unable to protect herself. Even if I don’t have a Pride, it is my responsibility to protect the weaker.”

“Relax. You don’t have to sell me on her protection. I’m not an Alpha, but I know right from wrong. What’s the game plan?”

“Simply to remove her from her parents. Rapier has planned to hide her within his Pride. She will be given a new identity with a chance to mature and live a life of freedom. Isaac will go to Jasmine. I assume that is Rapier’s mate to live with his grandparents, as Rapier said.”

“Time frame?”

He shrugged. “Unsure. Monday at the earliest. I can only hold everyone off for so long. I gave her my phone with instructions to not respond or answer to anyone but Jackson Dalco. When the time is right, we will take her.”

“You make it sound so damn simple.” Jackson shook his head.

“It’s not. I, along with Rapier and Kalkin, will spend countless hours making sure we can pull this off without a hitch.Ifsomeone finds out who has taken her, I’ve effectively pulled my mate’s family into an all-out war. Bell could be at risk. Hell,” he growled, rubbing his hand through his hair. “All the Dryer females could be at risk. Even you too, Jackson.”

“From what I can tell, Rapier Dryer isn’t the type of man to put his family or his Pride in any unnecessary risks.”

“I agree, but there is always a chance.”

“We need to tell Bell,” Jackson stated. “Everything.”

“We?” Surprise filled Christoph.

“Yes, we.” A sense of belonging, something he never experienced with his parents, raged to life within Christoph while Jackson lifted his chin. “FYI. She looks pissed.”

Bell marched down the steps and headed toward them. Yeah, she did. Her gaze swept through the yard and landed directly on Christoph. Her jeans hugged her softly rounded hips. His dick, always half-hard whenever he thought about her, pushed insistently against his zipper. Her dark-blue sweatshirt had paint splatter all over it, and her hair had been pulled into a tight ponytail. She looked very un-Bell-like, but still beautiful.

“Do you want my protection?” Jackson mumbled behind him, joking.

“Maybe. But I deserve it.”

“No, you don’t. You forget. Our mate’s father is an Alpha. She’ll be disappointed you didn’t tell her, but she’ll understand.”

“I hope.”