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Her distress continued. He wasn’t sure if it was because of what happened to his mother or if she was uncomfortable being around his family.

Either way, she had to overcome her feelings about being in the lair.

This was her home now. “I’m not comfortable leaving you alone.

Would you mind going over to Talen’s? Sasha is there.

Perhaps you and Lucy could play with the puppies? ”

Sarah’s head came up. “I forgot about Sasha. I’d be happy to go there and play with her. I wouldn’t mind asking Lucy a few questions anyway.”

Her apprehension had to do with his parents, then. He would have to find out why later. For now, he was happy she loved Sasha and was looking forward to meeting Lucy. He picked her up, cradling her in his arms as he jogged back to the house.

* * *

He got her in the shower and helped lather her body. He saw speculative interest in her eyes. He kneeled down as he washed her legs. “Don’t get any ideas, Sarah. You’re going to Talen’s. Then you’ll park yourself on the couch with my brother’s very pregnant mate, and take it easy.”

She turned. His face was confronted by the perfect globes of her ass. His cock reacted instantly. “Minx,” he said as he lathered her rear.

After showering they dressed and went to Talen’s.

He felt Sarah’s unease as they approached the door.

They walked in and were assailed by the overenthusiastic Sasha.

The pup wiggled and tried to jump up on Sarah.

“Down Sasha,” Devon said firmly. Sasha dropped down to all fours, but continued to rub against both of them

Sarah leaned over to pet the dog. “She seems to listen well.”

Devon shrugged. “You just have to assert your dominance if you want a female to listen to you.”

Sarah stood and gave him an exasperated look. “You keep telling yourself that big guy.”

He had forgotten what teasing was. He smiled as Lucy came into the living room. Her face lit up immediately.

She ran over and hugged the startled Sarah. “I’m so happy to meet you. We need a little more estrogen in this place.” She winked.

Sarah smiled. “It does look like the boys have us outnumbered.”

Lucy returned the smile. “Talen says you’re a Park Ranger,” she said brightly.

Sarah continued to smile yet her emotions surged. “Yes.”

“I love to shoot. I don’t like hunting, but I love shooting targets. My mom taught me when I was young and have always enjoyed it. Maybe we could set up some targets some time,” she said happily.

Sarah looked at Devon. “I like her.”

Talen strolled into the room with one of the male pups sleeping in his arms. “Let’s wait until after my boys are born shall we.” He kissed Lucy on the cheek as soon as he reached her.

Devon felt Sarah soften. “I agree. We should wait till after your pregnancy. Some of my rifles have quite a recoil,” she winked at Lucy. “After though, I will teach you how to shoot all the guns your mother wouldn’t.”

Talen’s face took on a pained expression. Lucy laughed. “Yup. I like her.” She hooked her arm around Sarah, let’s go play with Sadi and the pups.

Devon watched as the girls left, chatting. He turned to his brother.

Talen petted the sleeping dog in his arms. “I’m not sure it bodes well for either of us that our mates are proficient with weapons.”

Devon scratched his neck. “At least yours doesn’t hunt.” He admitted to himself he didn’t like Sarah in the line of fire.

“Lucy may not be willing to kill, but she had no problem shooting Cyril.”

Devon realized his brother was trying to reassure him Sarah was a welcome member to the family. “Strong women. Strong lair.”

Talen smacked him affectionately on the shoulder. “Damn straight brother.”

“Is Sarah okay here for a little while?”

“Of course. Where are you going?”

“I need to have a talk with Dad.”

* * *

Devon opened his parent’s door. His Mother, greeting him with a welcoming smile and a warm hug, brimming with love. “Devon, it’s wonderful to see you.”

Galen leaned against the door jamb, his arms crossed, with a curious look on his face. Devon tested his emotions, finding a sense of peace. Relief.

“Father,” Devon said respectfully.

Galen raised an eyebrow. “So formal today,” he said with amusement.

“I haven’t given you the respect you deserve,” Devon replied seriously.

Galen straightened and walked over. “You have nothing to apologize for, son. You were an innocent victim. We should have told you and your brothers long ago. That was my mistake, not yours.”

Marie shook her head. “No. That was me. I was embarrassed and angry. Not at your father, at myself. I asked Galen to wait until you boys were adults before we told them. Then, when you were, there seemed no reason to dredge up painful memories. We didn’t think you needed that burden.”

Galen put his arm around his wife. “I could have pushed to tell them. I didn’t.”

Marie put her hand on Galen’s face gently. “There is no I, Galen. There is only us.”

Devon felt the love his father had for his mother. It was absolute. He hoped he could inspire the same devotion in his own mate.

“You see why I love her so much,” Galen said smiling.

“Yes. I do.”

Devon handed Galen the bag he had been holding. “I brought you this. I made it for you a long time ago. I should have given it to you sooner.”

Galen unwrapped a wood carving polished to a smooth glossy finish.

His eyes widened when he saw the details.

His fingers brushed over the delicate lines of his and Marie’s face immortalized in wood.

Eight Cougars of various ages sat, playing or laying, at their feet.

The cats were perfect replicas of him and his brothers. Marie’s hand rested on Talen’s ears.

“Oh, Devon.” Marie hugged him again with tears in her eyes. “I knew you were talented like your father, but this...”

Devon felt his father’s sense of pride. Although all the brothers had their strengths. Devon was the only carver. He made furniture as well, though he’d never confided that to his family.

Galen looked at his teary wife. “It’s time.”

Marie nodded smiling. “It is.”

Galen put his hand on Devon’s shoulder. “Devon, I want you to partner with me in the furniture business. Once you learn everything. You’ll take over.”

Devon was shocked. “What?”

“You’re the only one with the ability to make the customized orders. We have a business manager to take care of the monetary details, but you will eventually oversee those as well.”

Devon knew that a shifter offloading his responsibilities was a bad sign. “You love sculpting, making furniture. Why would you want to give that up?”

“I’m not giving it up. I’m just cutting back. You’ll help me with the specialized orders. The demand is so high right now I can’t keep up. Once you can handle them on your own, I will retire.”

“You’re a shifter in your prime. What do you plan to do?”

Marie put her hand on Devon’s face gently.

“Sweetheart, we’re not in our prime anymore.

Your father and I started aging a few years ago.

You know how our life cycle works. We knew that you and your brothers would start mating.

Our time is coming to an end, but not before we have at least a dozen cubs at our feet. ”

“No,” Devon said harshly. He had just gotten his parents back. Now they were dying.

Galen linked his fingers with his mates.

“Devon, aging isn’t a death sentence. We have a good thirty years to see our grandbabies born and into their early years.

Having the opportunity to grow old with the woman you love.

To watch your children, grow and become better men than you.

These things are a reward, not a penalty.

Mother nature keeps a balance. Due to my brothers being killed I had more children than most. She has been kind to me. ”

Devon heard every word as the truth. He had forgotten his father had lost most of his family. He’d never considered that Mother Nature had intervened by ensuring those cougars were replaced.

He swallowed hard. “Do any of the others know?”

“No. I’ll tell them soon, but I want to give Talen time to focus on his new mate, his new babies, and those ridiculously cute puppies.”

Devon smiled. “I won’t say anything. I’ll start helping you with the special orders as soon as we get Racheal back. I’m concerned Sarah will do something on her own if we don’t.”

“Understood. Hunter, Luca, and Liam are tracking Kallan’s men as we speak. They are hoping that wherever his military force is holed up will be the same place, he is keeping the doctor.”

“Makes sense. This operation seems to be his primary goal. He has a lot of money, but research is expensive. Someone should be checking out his other businesses. He has to be funneling money from them. If we follow his money, we will eventually find him.”

Galen rubbed his chin. “That’s an excellent idea. Get Dylan and Nicholas to coordinate with Cade’s brother Garrett in the Canadian lair. He’s a genius. He takes care of the monetary exchanges we don’t want tracking back to us.”

Devon knew Galen had to take precautions to protect the lair. Some of those precautions attracted undue attention.

“I don’t want Sarah involved in the rescue.”

Galen agreed. “Of course not. The women are to be protected.”

Marie sighed. “When are you going to bring her over to meet me?”

Devon kissed his mother’s cheek. “I will as soon as this issue gets resolved,” he turned back to his father. “What would you like me to do while we wait for Hunter to report back?”

“I want you to go home and chase that pretty new mate of yours around the bedroom. I want lots of cubs at my feet in the coming years.”

“GALEN.” Marie chided laughing.

Devon laughed. It felt so good to joke with his parents. “She shifted tonight. The transformation was quick, even more so than Lucy’s. It was hard on her.”

Galen shook his head. “The transformation is hard enough. If Kallan is doing something to accelerate it, then it will only be a matter of time before a female is killed because of it. We have to shut him down. You go and spend some time with your woman. I’ll call you as soon as we hear back from Hunter. ”

Marie hugged him. “I’m so happy for you, honey.”

He said his goodbyes to his parents feeling better than he had in decades. He had a mate and a family. He just had to get Racheal back to make it complete.

He was still within the glow of his parent’s porch light when Razel stepped out from behind a tree.

“Hello, son.”

Devon’s cougar raged in anger and confusion.

It couldn’t scent Razel. Cyril had been given a compound that temporarily masked his scent, but Razel showed no signs of disease.

His immediate thought was to eradicate the disgusting coyote once and for all.

A few days ago, that’s exactly what he would have done.

Now, his mate came first. If there was a chance Razel had access to the scent masking compound he needed to know what it was.

Devon was never big on small talk. “I can’t smell you,” he said.

“A gift from a friend,” Razel smirked.

“Who?”

“You will find out soon enough. It’s time for you to take your rightful place at my side,” he demanded.

“I’m not your son,” Devon growled.

“You ARE. I took your mother.”

“Obviously, math isn’t your strong suit.

I was born eight and a half months after your despicable attack.

You raped a pregnant woman you piece of shit.

” Devon could barely contain his cougar’s need to kill.

He felt the red haze of blistering hatred coming from his beast. His own emotions amplified his cat’s.

“Your mine. My only heir. Galen has seven others!” he shouted.

Devon felt Razel’s madness. He was intent in his belief. He looked around like he expected company, keeping his body partially covered by the tree.

“You’re disgusting.”

“She was supposed to be mine. She is of no use to me now, but you will be,” Razel said.

“I’m done talking.” He rushed the startled coyote.

Devon felt a knife rip his T-shirt at belly level. He whirled, grabbing Razel’s wrist to twist the knife out of his hands. Razel grunted as the blade dropped from his fingers.

Razel dropped low and scissor-kicked Devon, sending him to the ground hard. Razel managed a few hard punches before Devon kicked his knee, sending him to the earth with a thud.

Razel returned to a crouching position, eyes glowing, before standing and backing up towards the tree.

Devon didn’t wait for Razel to shift. He reached for his enraged cat, feeling the welcome pain of reforming bone and sliding fur.

His cougar growled viciously at the intruder in its territory.

Razel smiled, the glow in his eyes fading.

“It works so much better when you’re in animal form.” He grabbed the tranquilizer gun from behind the tree.

Devon sprang away, knowing he wasn’t fast enough.

He felt the dart hit him in the side. He only took a few steps before his cat stumbled. He turned and hissed at Razel.

Razel huffed. “You may have your mother’s form, but you’re still mine.”

Devon had it in his mind to lunge. He tried to fight the haze overcoming his thoughts.

He felt his cat’s head slam to the earth. Unable to open his eyes, he sucked in his last conscious breath.