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D evon waited through the silence, expecting his fathers’ anger, and his brothers’ disappointment.

He braced himself for the onslaught of negative emotions, planning his diplomatic exit.

What he received was concern. Acceptance.

He felt the lump in his throat. He’d never eaten a crow, but he was pretty sure this was what it tasted like.

Talen gave his head a quick shake. “Wow, Devon. You sure know how to silence a room.” He winked at his brother.

Devon knew then that his family was behind him despite his stupidity and differences.

Nothing mattered. Just Family. He had his mate to thank for this.

He wouldn’t have confronted his father or brothers.

The truth would never have come out and his relationship would have continued to deteriorate. He needed to get back to her.

Galen turned to Marie. “Sweetie will you make us some tea. The boys and I have some things to work out.” Marie kissed her mate and left. Galen cleared his throat. “We need to discuss bringing her over to our world. Between her being a Marksmen, and a Park Ranger, we have our work cut out for us.”

Luca leaned forward. “Anyone can quit a job. The issue is her father. Is she close to him?”

Devon shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. She doesn’t seem to think much of him. She has turned down multiple offers to work for him. She wants nothing to do with his businesses.”

Luca scratched his neck. “Did she say why? I mean sure, he’s a bastard when it comes to poaching, but his import/export business is legit isn’t it?”

“I had thought so, but with his connection to Kevin Kallan, who knows. Sarah isn’t convinced Kallan is involved. She grew up with Kevin in her life. She wants to question her father before making any assumptions.”

Galen sat down and leaned forward. “She may have a rocky relationship with Brian Marksmen, but she is his only living child. I can’t see him giving her up.”

Brock interrupted. “Sarah had a sibling?”

Hunter huffed. “Are you kidding me, man? Donald Marksman. Brian’s, pride and joy because the little prick was just as bad as him. You don’t remember?”

“No. Like I would give a fuck what happens to a Marksmen.” He paused before looking at Devon. “Sorry man I didn’t mean to...”

Devon waved his hand. “Don’t. I’m struggling with her parentage myself.”

Hunter leaned forward. “It was about five years ago. Don was hunting lions with his old man when one snuck up behind him and attacked. Brian killed the king of the pride, but the damage was done. Donald died the next day.”

“I have to get back to Sarah.”

Hunter stood, rubbing his chin. “Has she started the transition yet?”

It was a diplomatic way of asking if he’d claimed her. “She was bitten by Cyril on the arm. I think she has started, but it’s slow. I haven’t had a chance to fully explain the transition to her. Brian’s arrival threw her off. She wanted me out of the way while she questioned him.”

“Shit,” Hunter said. “She bitten by Cyril too? There’s no way this is a coincidence, right?”

“I don’t think so. She was bitten at Kallan Corp while meeting her father. She was told that Cyril had escaped a psychiatric facility.”

“I know that Marksmen imports for Kallan, but he does that for a lot of people. That’s his business. Is Sarah’s attack an accident? Was it a coincidence? Or did Brian throw his only daughter under the bus?”

Devon shrugged. “That’s the question she is asking him right now.”

“Fuck me. I thought we had family drama. We look like the Brady Bunch next to the Marksmen family.”

Devon’s cougar continued to push him to return to its mate. He sensed no fear from Sarah, only apprehension. He was thankful she was armed. He looked at his father.

Galen’s face was scrutinizing. “Will she tell him about us?” He asked calmly.

“No. She agreed to talk to him and then me before any type of report.”

Galen continued. “She said she would report to her office? Not her father?”

“Yes. I don’t think she trusts him. I don’t know why.”

Hunter huffed. “Because he’s a murdering bastard and even his daughter knows it.”

Devon didn’t want to defend Brian Marksmen. No animal lover could. “That Bastard produced my mate so no matter what happens, I owe him that.”

“Ah fuck,” Hunter said.

“Boys!” Galen said. “We need to know if Marksmen is involved with Kallan on this. He may be a poacher, but this is different.”

Devon nodded. “I’ll talk to Sarah and call you immediately.”

Galen shook his head. “You need to give her more time. If you barge back in, she loses her advantage. She’s a ranger. Give her a bit of credit, son.”

“I know what she is, but my cougar is riding me. I have to go.”

Galen stood. “Then go, but don’t interfere until you know she has the information she needs and take Hunter with you.”

Devon shook his head. “I’ll do what you ask, but I’m going alone. My cougar is growling with impatience.” While he felt Sarah’s uneasiness, she wasn’t afraid. As he moved towards the door his father spoke.

“Wait just a moment, Devon.”

His cougar snarled at the interruption. He owed his father a moment of his time. He had no definite reason for his cougar’s agitation. He nodded to his father, afraid if he spoke his voice would betray his mood.

Hunter sat back down and turned to Galen. “Did you contact Daniel’s lair?”

“Yes, he was taking a few years away to search for his mate. He was the oldest. They didn’t expect him back for a month or so.”

“No communication from him in years and they didn’t question?” Luca said.

“That’s the thing. They were getting periodic texts from him. Once a month or so. They believed they were in contact,” Galen replied.

Hunter grumbled. “Yeah, there lies the downside to texting. You can’t be sure who you’re texting.”

Luca noticed Devon’s impatience. “So, we all go out for years looking for our mates and except for Talen we don’t find them.” He raised his eyebrows at Devon. “Yet Devon’s drives right up to his door. Lucky.”

He looked away, feeling ashamed. Luca was right. He was the only Cascade not to go looking for his mate. He hadn’t believed he had one. He’d believed a crossbreed shouldn’t.

Galen interrupted. “Devon is there anyone else Sarah might talk to besides her father and her office. A close friend?”

“She has a roommate, Gerry, that she’s close to. A guy she grew up with, but her best friend disappeared four years ago.”

He hadn’t planned to bring Racheal up, but he wouldn’t withhold information from his family again.

Hunter leaned back. “Jeez, your mate has had a rough go, hasn’t she?”

“Yes,” Devon said.

Liam was usually so quiet that all heads turned when he spoke. “You don’t mean Gerry Kallan, do you?”

Devon’s cougar lunged. He felt like he’d been punched in the heart. “All she said was they grew up together. Gerry is Kevin Kallan’s son?”

Liam nodded. “I met him at a party in Salem a year ago. His date called him Gerry, but he was introduced to me as Gerald.”

“Fuck!” All heads turned back to Devon. “I should have made that connection. I didn’t even know Kevin had a son.”

Liam rubbed his neck. “I didn’t get the impression they were close. He made a few disparaging comments about his father, but he was pretty drunk.”

How should Devon approach Sarah with this? Gerry was the only friend she mentioned other than Racheal. Was there a chance that Gerry was an innocent in this? His only crime, an accident of birth. Was Mother Nature kicking him in the balls for his stupidity because it sure felt like it?

Regardless of his apprehension, he needed to get some answers. “I’m leaving.”

* * *

Devon had driven like a crazy man. His apprehension hadn’t dissipated, knowing his mate was on the other side of the door. He knew he was supposed to give her time. He could crash down the door in a split second yet his cougar continued to push him to get to Sarah immediately.

Brian Marksmen’s voice was raised. “I’m not telling you again. It’s time for you to come home. Give up this ranger nonsense. We both know it’s just to get my attention.”

Sarah huffed. “That’s typical. You think everything is about you.”

“You pretend to be looking for Racheal, but you entered the police academy before Rachael disappeared. You decided to become a ranger after that false lead she was doing research on the Cascade wildlife.”

“She researched lots of areas.”

“She had nothing to do with you becoming a cop. You did that to spite ME,” Brian yelled.

“What if I did? Would it be so terrible that I wanted to give back to my community? One that you have been siphoning for years.”

Brian spoke in disgust. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“All the animals that you and Donny killed, and for what?” She jeered.

“Don’t you dare talk about him. He was everything. You are nothing!”

Sarah’s voice was calm. “That’s the first honest thing you’ve said to me in years. Goodbye.”

“No wait,” Brian said. “Sarah, I’m sorry. His death was difficult. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“You never wanted anything to do with me until after Donny died. Why would you think you have any say in my life now?”

“I just want to be a part of your life. Is that so wrong?” His voice was cajoling.

Devon heard Sarah move some papers on her table. “Would you stop?”

“Stop what?” Brian asked.

“Stop the black-market animal trade. I am not just talking about the ones you stuff, but the ones you cut up and sell in pieces,” she said furiously.

Devon felt her disgust. He realized she felt obligated to atone for the sins of her father and brother. She had done nothing, but was trying to set it right. His heart reached for hers.

He’d expected to want his mate. Need her. He’d never expected to admire her. He wanted to be in the room so badly his chest hurt. She had everything under control. He tried to calm his cougar as he heard a door unlock.

* * *