a's

in what had happened between her father and me. The words

ually," I finally managed, my

?" she

ther," I said, the words feeling surreal even as I spoke them. I b

e most permanent way possible. I'd stepped into her mothe

nt, her express

worst. "Chloe, I'm sorry

r face. "Jasper is going to lose his absolute mind. You just mated with the most powerful,

wilderment. Why was s

he's your dad and now I'm your... your stepmom.

my life. If it wasn't for you finding me in those woods and healing me, I

n't expected this acceptance, this easy

" she crowed, dancing around m

topped and gave me

e word with obvious delight. "Should I

oked. "Abso

y stepmom now," she teased

cheeks. "Home and everywhere else, we're still ju

"But you have to admit, it would be pretty funny to see everyone's face

phone chimed with a text message. She pulled it out, glanced at t

denly grabbing my hand and tug

mbling to keep up with h

cally, her eyes bright with excitemen

happened today, I'm not sure I

g faster. "This one's different.

-

an's

her slender figure disappearing around the cor

protect her, claim her properly. With considerable effort, I r

ly called for Ethan and Taylor

the north, known throughout werewolf circles as an incorr

ccessfully courted his Mate against impossible odds-his emoti

into my office, Taylor close behind him. "I was in the m

he words feeling strange on my tong

an froze mid-stride, while Taylor's usual st

aged, dropping heavily into one o

. "She's a friend of Chloe's from university. And I need yo

ound your Mate, married her, and now you're a

plicated. We're legally married, but she doesn't kn

"Being Mates is sacred-it's a gift from the Moon Goddess herself. No

entioned. "She was betrayed by someone she loved, and she's only agreed to this marriage to escape her past. If

sharply. "Choose her, I m

ng yet vulnerable. Kind but not weak. I want to know everything about her, protect her from

or exchanged s

I won't pressure Lina into bearing children unless both she and Ch

given me twenty years ago. I'd been just eighteen

promise never to let anyone into our lives

g about her was diff

upting my thoughts. I

secured the property. The mountain lodge outside White

satisfaction. "A

kwood was also bidding on it. Aggressively.

the phone. "Alpha Jas

ame was on the c

's childhood home confirmed what I'd suspected-his feelings for her went far

d Taylor, grabbing my jacket. "

aylor asked, alarmed

I said simply, already heading for the door

ponse, hurrying out to my c

took to make him see th