Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Mia
I was off the podium and making my way toward the two males who meant everything to me.
“Stop,” I said, pleading, hating that I sounded weak at this moment. I felt sick to my stomach, this roiling nausea that wouldn't stop and in fact kept getting worse the longer I stood here.
Watching. Waiting.
These two wolves thought they were right, who thought they were defending my honor, when in reality they were making things worse. Although I knew they wouldn't fight to the death, the fight that was moments from exploding would be one of dominance. But even if my father reigned supreme, I knew Tucker still wouldn't back down. He’d still fight for me, for the right to claim me.
Any male who found their fated mate would.
So why my father was doing this when every shifter knew this as well confused the hell out of me.
I didn't want either male to get hurt. I didn’t want egos to be wounded, bodies to be bruised, but most of all, I didn’t want them or anyone thinking I couldn’t handle my own life.
“This is ridiculous,'' I said, proud of the strength in my voice. When neither male looked at me, I growled myself. “I’m right here, talking to both of you.”
Tucker was the first to look at me, his eyes brightening, the mating scent pouring off of him even harder. He gave me this gentle smile, and I felt the pull toward him increase until it was hard as hell not going to him and pressing my body to his.
“I’m a grown woman.” I felt my father look my way too and addressed him next. “I can make my own decisions.” I felt strength pour into me. I might not have been able to shift, might never be as strong as a male shifter, but I had my own power simmering beneath the surface. “I am not this weak female you two think me to be.”
“I don’t think that,” my father said, and I shook my head.
“You do think that, or you wouldn’t be acting like a caveman.” I looked at Tucker. “And you.” I pointed at him then. “I am not some piece of property you need to fight to claim. That’s not how this works.” I looked between the two of them again. “That’s not how any of this works.”
“He should have come to me, talked to me, sweetheart?—”
“No, Dad. He shouldn't have. He didn’t need to. You’d never expect that from any other mated male, so why him?” My father opened his mouth, but no words came out. “Because you see me—maybe always will—as some little girl. But I’m grown. I want to live my own life.” I felt my heart softening before I said the next part. “I know you still hurt because of Mom.” I instantly saw the anguish on his face and hated bringing this up. But it would be the only way to get through to him. “I know you worry I’ll be taken from you too. But I won’t. I’m here and not going anywhere, but I want to see where things go with Tucker.”
“You do?” There was so much hope and happiness in my mate’s voice.
I smiled and nodded, feeling shy all of a sudden. “I do, but I don’t want you two fighting about this, because in the end, this is my decision.”
Tucker nodded, and his grin widened. “I don’t want to challenge the Alpha.” His expression sobered, and he looked at my father. “I don’t want to challenge you, Aidan, but…” He took a steadying breath before continuing. “I will if it means letting you know I won’t give her up. Every male dreams of finding their fated mate, and I found that with Mia. I was gifted in the most incredible way, and I’ll fight to the death to keep her.”
The Alpha was silent for long moments, and when he exhaled roughly, I hoped that meant he understood and receded.
“Mia,” my father said in an anguished voice, and I felt my mouth go dry at the emotion I heard in his tone. He didn’t speak for long seconds, and despite the roomful of shifters watching this play out, everything else faded away as I saw the raw pain reflected on my father’s face. “When a shifter finds their mate, it truly is as if the gods have given them the greatest gift. We are finally whole.” He looked down at the floor and ran a hand over the back of his short, dark hair. “But then having them taken away…” He slowly shook his head and looked back up at me. “It’s not something most shifters survive.”
But my father had, and I knew it was because of me. He had to be strong, had to rule the pack and take care of his child.
“And you were the reason I went on, and I loved every minute of it. I loved that I had purpose. You made me so happy. You make me truly happy, and I know your mother would be so proud of you.” He reached out and cupped my cheek. “I know I am, but I can also admit I’m pushy and arrogant and far too overprotective.”
I felt Tucker move beside me, and I was thankful for his silent strength and support. He didn’t touch me, but he let me know with his very presence that he was here for me.
“I want to experience what you and Mom had.” I looked to the side and up at Tucker. He already watched me, his gaze soft and giving. He was an alpha through and through, publicly challenging the Alpha of Black Wolf for me. No one had ever done that. No one would have survived something so blatant. But he did it for me, because he saw a future for us.
And I wanted that too.
“I know, sweetheart.”
When I looked away from Tucker, I could see the sorrow on my father’s face and knew it was for me, that he finally realized he’d almost gone too far in protecting me. And for a long moment, he said nothing. No one did. My father just stared at me, then exhaled in almost defeat. I sensed that as well enough as if he’d come out and said he was backing down. And just like that, the tension in the room faded.
“My little girl isn’t so little anymore. She’s found her mate.” When he looked at Tucker again, I held my breath, waiting to see if there was any more of that anger in him. But all I saw and felt was his acceptance. “And if I disconnect the fatherly side of me wanting to watch over and protect my baby girl, I can see clearly. I can see that if I would have her mated with anyone, I couldn’t have picked a better male than my very own Beta.”
I swore Tucker’s chest puffed out. “I’ll protect her with my life,” he growled. “No other male will even look at her without facing my wrath.”
I felt my face heat in embarrassment at his proclamation. It was a little over the top and possessive, but then again… I liked it.
My father didn’t laugh at that, didn’t scoff. He grunted and nodded in agreement, as if he’d have it no other way.
“Good,” he finally said, but I could still see so much tension and anxiety radiating off him.
“I know this will take time and is an adjustment.” I waited until his eyes locked on me, ones that were bright-blue and identical to mine. “But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” I reached out and twined my fingers through Tucker’s, the first time I’d willingly sought him out. And it felt incredible. It felt like I’d been missing out on so much with just that small touch. “Tucker and I are here for you. For good.” I felt my mate’s agreement and approval at my words, and it solidified how right this was and how foolish I’d been to fight this.
My father exhaled and nodded once more. “I know, and I’ll come to terms with it. I only want your happiness.” He slowly looked at Tucker—so slowly that I actually tensed in preparation for him to lose his shit. But instead, he held his hand out. My mate instantly clasped his with the Alpha’s. “If you don’t take care of her?—”
“I’d kill myself before I ever hurt my mate.”
I shivered at the hard determination and truth in Tucker’s words.
“She’s the greatest thing to ever happen to me, and even if I proved that to her for the rest of my life, it still wouldn’t be enough.”
I felt myself softening further for my male. To hear those words spoken with such conviction had any kind of worry or confusion I had over mating him fade away.
“Good” was all my father said, and then he turned to look at the pack.
I felt myself lean against my mate. He wrapped his arm around me, and it felt so… right.
“Well, now that the dramatics are done, let’s finish our meal and enjoy the new longhouse.”
The pack went wild with shouting and clapping, whistles and laughing.
And just like that, everything felt normal once more. Well, as normal as it could feel with being newly mated and feeling like all you wanted to do was tear your mate’s clothes off.
Tucker pulled me to the side, and I found myself gladly going with him. He took me to a quiet corner, where the thick wooden beams were a good place to “hide” from everyone around us. And then we faced each other, him looking down at me, me staring up at him, the noise and chaos fading away.
“ Mia .” He said my name on a damn near groan, and I felt it to my toes. He took my hands in his and just stared at where we were connected. I felt the tightening of his fingers on mine, and then a second later, he closed his eyes, his massive body shuddering slightly. “Just having you close,” he growled and opened his eyes, then brought my hands to his mouth and kissed my knuckles, all the while staring into my eyes. “I’m sorry about all that. I’m sorry you had to be put in the middle of it.”
I slowly shook my head. I didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t anyone's fault, not mine or Tucker’s for not revealing we were mates right away—because that was our business and no one else's. And not my father’s for not being able to control his worry because he was overprotective—because he was in a dark place and had been for a long time.
It was just the way things landed, but the situation had been diverted from something that was potentially awful to something that was far better than I could have imagined.
“Everything will be fine. I’m just glad no fights broke out.” And no blood was spilled. I didn’t want to think about the Alpha and Beta fighting, especially not over me. There were far greater things that needed the attention of the Alpha and his council, and a rift between him and his second-in-command could rock the very foundation of the pack.
“Crisis averted,” I mumbled.
Tucker was silent for so long I wondered if he’d say anything at all or just watch me with this need I felt in every erogenous zone in my body.
“I can’t lose you,” he said so softly I was shocked I heard him. “Not when you’ve just really come into my life, Mia.” He took a step closer, and I held my breath as all kinds of sensations slammed into me until I felt dizzy from them. He cupped my face and leaned down so we were eye-level.
Kiss me , the words repeated in my head, but I was too much of a chicken to say them aloud.
And he kept glancing at my lips enough times that I knew he wanted to. But he didn’t. He straightened, a small smile playing across his lips, and I felt all my worries fade away in the moment as pure pleasure washed through me.
It was weird how easily things had seemed to click into place after all this, as if the confusion just melted away, because in the grand scheme of things, this wasn’t anything bad. It was the priorities and the realization that life was what we made of it.
This wasn't something I had to fight.
I just had to accept this could be the very best thing in my life.