arms around her, resting his hands on her ass –

hey thought they saw. She realised now that if they hadn't done things this way, no one would ever have bought it. "I don't

on why you would lie about being mated, but they wo

e surface. She had to refrain from flinching when he released a menacing growl. If she, the female his wolf saw as his own, showed him any fea

was Cassian looking back at her. His wolf was satisfied enough to retreat for now. But Cassian wasn't surprised by his wolf's jealous reaction to the

o understand how difficult it was to reign in his wolf's animal instinct when he lived so close to the su

coming more certain she wasn't the submissive female she pretended to be. For starters, submissive females didn't challenge high ranked pack members and despite Italia being an Alpha female, she should still

sh of that if she was seen as submissive? But the interrogator in him couldn't settle. He had to get

ou alone for just a moment?" Italia guessed that Aria thought she might think more clearly if s

idea," he told her. "Especially when

ped mid-sentence and Italia k

rted from her to Cassian. "What the hell is this?" Then he saw the mark on her neck and

e." Italia declare

tonelessly. "What are y

earest?" she pouted, although she

ow she isn't your mate. What woul

ely patient voice, not liking the der

her for some of m

ed some of your territory, Furrows, I'd have challenged

true mates finding each other." Relief washed over Italia as she saw ma

a and pointed at her hard. "You're doing

d a step towards Marcus. "Be very, v

thoritative tone that her dad had actually resisted the urge to snap back

is what caused this. You're doing this to get out of mating with Rayden."

"She is already mated

that had been true, I wouldn'

on that. And so do I. she's coming home with me." He sign

s eyes flashing with anger. "I can guarantee you won't

g for?" Marcus snapp

said, we saw what happened

d. "There's somethin

ou would have found this easy enough to accept, Daddy Dearest. According to you,

snicker. "I don't even know why R

g his wolf from surfacing and doing just that. He hadn't wanted any violence, but Italia was right. Although they weren't true mates, his wolf didn't care. His

ective, until the Seer within the pack told his dad that Cassian would usurp his position as Alpha. So at the age of just seven,

e hell

. "No ones going to help you. Unlike you, they know better than to try and get in between

my da

me. No one insults her. And no one – and I mean no o

narled Marcus. "Are you that desperate for a

l. "Didn't I just fucking tell you that no one insults my mate? You're not very

s Cassian, cocking her head at her father. "What's your issue, father? You can't stand the sight of me so why aren't you plea

ly expect me to believe he isn't trying to use you, Italia? He's playing a

which was ironic, because she wasn't and it was his fault she was like thi

Revenge? You know how b

an alliance with me woul

practically see the wheels turning in his head as her father considered the benefit of having a

potential alliance with Cassian before they agreed to one. "Cassian, just leave him." But Cassian didn't

urrows. Italia is my mate, she is now part of my pack, and Rayden West will not touch her ever again. If he has any kind o

ing concern and horror on their faces, Italia