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Alpha Ryan’s glare snagged on mine. We stared at each other, the tension palpable. I’d take this bastard down, and by the look in his eye, he damn well knew it. Around us, warriors drew closer, as if sensing the volatile air between us as alphas.

“Alpha Ryan…” Sasha pushed her way in between us. I growled for her to move, but she shot me a scowl. “We didn’t come here to insult you or cause any trouble for the pack. Alpha Damon is my mate. Where I go, he goes.”

Alpha Ryan’s lips curled, but undeterred, Sasha continued on. “We’ve come here regarding the investigation.”

A spark of interest flared to life in Alpha Ryan’s dark gaze. “Then I presume you’ve uncovered who the culprit is, if it’s not the bears?”

Sasha nodded. She looked at me to continue and relay the information I gave her that morning.

I nodded. “The Dark Fae is responsible for the killings. One of my bears, Rick, was in league with a Dark Fae Lord by the name of Dargon Vensteel. Rick confessed to the plans during torture.”

“Of course, a bear would align himself with the Dark Fae,” Alpha Ryan muttered.

Sasha snarled a warning, but the alpha werewolf said nothing further. I recounted the information Rick had given me.

“Where is your proof?”

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a vial of blood tainted with dark purple essence.

“This is the blood of one of the rogues that attacked Sasha’s camp.

My bears collected samples and tested them to see if they contained any essence of Dark Fae.

” I tossed the vial at Alpha Ryan, to which he caught.

“You’ll find it tests positive for Dark Fae manipulation.

Now Rick’s allegiance tainted the rogues, giving them enhanced strength and speed.

But Rick admitted they gave the tonic infused with fae power to Werekind at bars and clubs to induce them to kill humans. ”

Alpha Ryan eyed the vial. Finally, he said, “I will send it to my labs to test for any otherworldly properties.” He fastened a grudging look at Sasha. “You are all free to stay within the den until the results come back. They should take an hour at most.”

Sasha and I nodded. Alpha Ryan strode off.

I exchanged glances with my clan mates and Sasha’s before turning to my mate. I nodded at her. “You decide what we do from here.”

Sasha went to open her mouth when another voice sounded. “I know what you can do from here.”

Eyes widening, Sasha whirled around to face a female werewolf with chestnut brown hair and skin as pale as moonbeams. Hands on her hips, she glared at our group.

“Mom?” Sasha exclaimed.

My brows shot up. My head whipped to Sasha. Mom…

I inhaled and captured the scents in the air. Sasha and the woman shared an underlying familial scent.

Sasha’s mother approached, her eyes bright with anger. “Care to explain?” Her words held a sharp bite to them.

A small ball of amusement settled in my gut.

This female was only about five foot four but had Sasha near cowering under her glare.

Her mother’s glare swung at me. And I realized just how unamusing and grave this scene was.

This female reminded me of my own mother when she was angry. I swallowed hard.

“Mom…” Sasha said, gesturing toward me. “This is Damon. My mate.” Sasha met my stare. “Damon, this is my mother, Lara Havens.”

Lara fastened critical eyes on me, her gaze roving the length of my body. Behind me, I heard muffled chuckles from my clan mates. They shut up when Lara’s amber eyes pierced them.

“Do you love my daughter?” Lara asked me.

I knew whatever I said next would make or break my relationship with Sasha’s mother. Looking down at the sprite of a woman, I realized I wanted to know her better, wanted her a part of my life and Sasha’s.

I rolled my shoulders back and smiled. “Sasha means as much to me as my own life. She is my entire world.”

Heartbeats passed, Lara’s gaze holding my own. Then her features softened, and I saw a ghost of a smile. Turning to her daughter, she said, “I approve.” A slight frown tugged at her lips. “Though you didn’t give me a choice to disapprove before mating him.”

“Mom,” Sasha groaned.

Lara padded down the tunnel. “Come along.” She motioned for us to follow.

“Where are we going?” Sasha glanced at me, shrugging.

“I think you know, dear.”

Sasha’s face paled. “Oh, no.”

I blinked. “What?”

“She’s taking you to my father.”

I clenched my jaw at that. After following Lara through the bend in the tunnels, we finally came across a door built into the smooth stone of the mountain. Lara opened it and swept inside. Sasha and I followed, with our warriors at our rear.

I took in the surrounding space. The living space had a more modernized decor compared to the cabins of Stoneclaw, yet it retained its homey atmosphere.

Though a crystallized chandelier hung from the ceiling and a glass table made up the dining area, as well as an ivory sectional outfitted the room.

Family pictures framed the gray walls and various children’s arts and crafts stood propped on top of the cabinets.

The home exuding love. Sasha’s soft smile and observant gaze indicated she was greatly loved during her formative years.

“Nick, dear,” Lara called out. “We have company.”

A door opened at the back of the room, and a tall, broad-shouldered male emerged. His hazel eyes swept over our group before settling on Lara. “What is this?” He jerked his chin toward me.

Lara smiled up at him. “You know who this is. Alpha Damon.”

“Why is he here?”

Sasha explained why we had come, and the testing that was being conducted on the Dark Fae vial.

The male gave a nod. As Beta of the Silverfang pack, he was always kept up to date on our investigation and the alliance the Hopecrest and Stoneclaw pack had created.

He faced me and folded corded arms across a solid chest. “What I want to know is why my daughter’s scent lingers on you?”

Sasha slapped a palm to her mouth. “Ye gods,” she groaned, her cheeks flushed.

Lara turned, waiting for the explanation. All eyes landed on me.

Undeterred, I grabbed hold of Sasha’s hand and declared, “We are mated.”

Silence descended. The entire room went mute, as if everyone held their breaths and awaited the beta’s response.

Nick Havens remained predatory still. His eyes hardened. He jerked his chin toward me. “You. Me. Outside.”

I felt the irritation from my bears at having their alpha given an order by a beta. But I saw it for what it was: a father concerned about his daughter. I would give him leeway for that. I showed respect by dipping my head and then followed the older male out of the den.

We stepped out into the open, the late afternoon sun sinking toward the horizon. Nick led me toward a hillside nestled under a copse of oaks. He leaned his broad back against a trunk, his eyes pinioning me.

“My daughter mated with you?” he asked.

I leaned my own back up against a nearby trunk, facing him. “Yes. I was lucky she took my ass back.”

Nick’s brows lowered. “And what does that mean?” His words sounded dipped in ice.

I went about retelling the entire story of how Sasha and I met during the battle.

About how I rejected her at first, but years later we partnered up to investigate the werebears’ killing spree.

Warmth bloomed inside my chest as my mind slipped back into the past. In her office, Sasha displayed her determined and fiery nature.

She gave me a strict ultimatum of three minutes to speak or face physical harm.

It took a long time and a near-death experience for her to warm up to me, for us to see each other in a new light.

“Even when she thought I had betrayed her,” I said.

“She still heard me out. When I’d dropped to my knees that night and bared my throat, she could’ve ripped it out—no questions asked.

” I lowered my head, a smile of wonder crinkled my cheeks.

“But she didn’t. Instead, she listened as I declared my love for her before my clan and her pack, and then she took me to her bed—invited me.

We’ve been mates since yesterday. Officially. Not just fated mates.”

A pregnant pause blanketed the two of us as Nick mulled over my account. He took a deep breath. “Though I’m sure you know it’s unconventional for a wolf to mate a bear, I’m not one to stand in the way of my daughter’s happiness.”

My head whipped up, eyes wide.

A slow smirk touched the curly, dark-haired male’s lips. “If she believes you are good enough to be her mate, then you’re her mate.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s as simple as that.”

I blinked, my mouth opening, yet no words coming out. What could I say to that? I had expected a hostile male that was ready to flay my hide and instead I got a father that had his daughter’s back and accepted me.

Nick’s eyes grew slitted, the hazel shining pure gold. “If you ever hurt her again, if you ever even make her shed one tear, I will find you and end you. Are we clear?”

And there was the overprotective, hostile father.

I gave him a decisive nod. “Understood, Sir.”

He nodded in a gruff manner, appearing satisfied.

Upon returning to the den, Lara had whipped up a quick meal and gathered Sasha’s siblings—Ty and Sky. She seated my bears at the table, their mouths slathering as they eyed the steaming ribs and bread rolls on the platters.

“Took you long enough!” Lara glanced at her husband, placing fresh jars of lemonade on the table. “Now, come on and eat before the food goes cold.”

“How the hell did she get this food going so fast?” I whispered to Nick.

Nick gave a hearty chuckle. “Leftovers.”

“Ah.”

Lara scowled, and everyone found their seats.