Mia didn't just lead me; she swept me through the corridors like a gale force wind. I barely had time to register the velvet textures and gold accents of the suite before she shoved me into the attached bathroom. "Use whatever you want! Take a hot shower!" she chirped, already backing out. "I'm getting our things ready for the mall. Don't be long!" The door clicked shut before I could even draw breath. Immediately, the sound of drawers slamming and hangers sliding echoed from the bedroom. I stared at my reflection. Mia was a character—loud, bossy, and entirely too much—but for the first time in years, the prospect of a friend didn't feel like a threat. I let a small, tentative smile touch my lips.
I decided to take her up on her offer of a shower. It had been ages since I'd felt the luxury of hot water sliding over my skin. On the run, "bathing" usually meant plunging into a freezing, silt-heavy river, all while scanning the shadows for anyone who might recognize me—or worse, betray me. Here, the steam rose in thick, almost suffocating clouds, curling around me like a protective shroud. The water was a scorching caress, pounding away the grime and fear I had carried like a second skin. I let it wash over me slowly, deliberately, until my skin flushed pink and my muscles, knotted from endless tension, began to unwind. I stayed far longer than I should have, letting the heat seep into me, letting the rhythm of the water drown out my racing thoughts. For the first time in months, I allowed myself to simply exist—to feel my own body without fear, without expectation. Outside the bathroom door, the world still waited, but for a few precious minutes, it could not touch me.
I had just stepped out, wrapping a towel around my damp hair and body, when the door burst open. I didn't even have a chance to step out of the shower before Mia walked in, completely unfazed. She smiled at me. "Perfect timing. I just finished getting your outfit ready for the mall." She went to the sink, opened the cupboard underneath, and pulled something out. Holding it up as if she'd just won a grand prize, she grinned. "I just needed to grab this." It was a black hair dryer—apparently a remarkable feat.
I raised an eyebrow, my expression saying everything I didn't need words for—reminding her where we were and just how little we actually knew each other. She either didn't notice or didn't care. Her smile stayed firmly in place as she turned toward the door. Just before leaving, she glanced back at me. "Come on, we need to get you ready so we can make it to the mall in time to see everything," she said, then spun on her heel and walked out, leaving the door wide open as if expecting me to follow immediately.
I sighed, wondering exactly what I'd gotten myself into, and glanced down at the pile of clothes on the floor. As if sensing what I was thinking or what I was about to do, Mia suddenly shouted from the other room. "Just leave your clothes in the bathroom, it's fine." I grabbed them anyway and carried them back into the bedroom. The moment she saw me, Mia rushed over, grabbed my arm, and dragged me to the vanity mirror, practically pushing me into the chair. A dozen different makeup products were spread out on the table. She had me turn to face her and studied my face for a long, deliberate moment, a smile playing on her lips.
Before I could even ask what she was doing, Mia said, "You truly are beautiful. Your complexion is perfect—I'll hardly need to put any makeup on you." I blinked, confused. "Thanks, but I don't need any makeup right now." She waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I've got it all handled." I sighed, "That's not what I mean. I—" I started, but Mia cut me off. "I know what you mean," she said, "but it's not every day you get to do someone's makeup who's as beautiful as you. So indulge me just this once. I probably won't get another chance to do your makeup like this for a while—at least, not until you're accepted by our pack and complete your Luna ceremony."
I sighed and said nothing, letting Mia do whatever she wanted. I just sat there as she applied my makeup, then moved on to my hair—blow-drying it, brushing it, and finally pulling it into a high ponytail. When she finished, she handed me some clothes. "Here, go ahead and change into these. They should fit—you might be a little tighter in some places than I am, but they'll do for now. Once we get to the mall, we can find you some actual clothes that fit properly." Without waiting for a response, she spun around and walked out the door, leaving me to change.
I stared at the door in disbelief, then looked down at the clothes in my lap. Mia certainly was a strange person. Not wanting to think about it too much, I decided to go ahead and change. The moment I stood, my towel slipped. Since I was about to get dressed anyway, I let it fall in a soft pile at my feet. Just then, the bedroom door burst open. Mia's voice announced her presence before I even saw her: "Oh, I almost forgot to—" She froze. I turned to see why, and her face went deathly pale. Her eyes were wide, filled with sadness—and something else, a sharp hint of pain.
I was completely taken aback and confused by her reaction. I turned slightly toward her and raised an eyebrow. "I don't think seeing my naked body warrants that kind of reaction. I'm not horrifying—let alone ugly," I said. Her expression shifted to confusion, and she shook her head. "That's not it." She quickly closed the door and approached me carefully, almost as if she feared I might bolt. When she was just a few feet away, she stopped and stared at me for a long moment. Her eyes were filled with immense sadness. She brought her hand to her mouth and whispered, "Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell us you were hurt?" My confusion deepened. Then she reached out toward my back—and in that instant, it all came back. The fight in the cell, the two men, everything that happened in that cramped, awful space.
I turned toward the mirror to get a better look at my back, and the moment I saw it, I winced at how bad the bruising truly was. Two massive, jagged diagonal streaks of deep violet and sickly yellow blossomed across my shoulder blades and down the center of my back—near-perfect, brutal imprints left by the iron bars I'd been slammed against. Against my pale skin, the injury looked like a dark storm cloud. I turned back to face Mia. She was watching me with open concern, her expression heavy with sadness, as if she were feeling the pain herself instead of me.
"I'm used to it," I shrugged, then hissed as the movement pulled at the bruised muscle. Her eyes darkened with a fierce, protective light. "Well, you don't have to be used to it here." She shoved the underwear she was carrying into my hands. "Get dressed. We're going to the mall, but I'm buying you the softest fabrics they have. And if Kayden sees this... those men are dead."
"I'll be fine. Besides, I'll heal soon enough," I said. The moment the words left my mouth, she gasped and stepped forward, her hand hovering near my skin, afraid to touch. "It'll take days," she snapped. "Just because we heal fast doesn't mean the nerves don't scream. You were walking around like nothing happened while your back looks like... like that." I smiled softly. "Trust me, I'm fine. I've handled worse than this before, and I recover faster than most." She looked like she was about to argue more, but I raised a hand. "I appreciate your concern. I really do. But I need to get dressed so we can move on and do what needs to be done. And while I don't personally mind being naked, walking into a mall like this would be illegal."
She looked me up and down, her eyes widening as if noticing for the first time that I was completely naked. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen," she said, holding something out. "I just wanted to give you this—I forgot your underwear." I took it from her, and she immediately turned toward the door. Just as she reached it, she paused. "Don't worry—they're brand new, never worn. The underwear should fit, though the bra might be a little small. But it's better than nothing." She carefully opened the door just enough to slip out, then closed it behind her.
I looked down at the underwear in my hand. The bra was definitely too small, so I tossed it on her bed and slipped on the underwear—still with the tag on it. No matter; I wasn't worried about the bra. I'd rather go without than wear something that didn't fit. After all, animal shifters' bodies are always in peak condition. Science shows that human bodies are at their peak in the mid-twenties to early thirties, after which gravity and age start taking their toll. But shifters hardly ever age after reaching peak form. Fat rarely accumulates, since our metabolism runs fast enough to sustain both our human and animal forms. That's why shifters eat far more than the average person. Growing up as a shifter, you quickly learn to be comfortable in your own skin. Any time you shift between animal and human forms, you're completely naked. Clothes made for your human form rarely survive a transformation—they're not built to stretch over a large, muscular animal body.
I turned to the mirror, studying my reflection. I've never seen an ugly animal shifter in my life, which is probably thanks to the magic that made us what we are. But even among them, I've never seen anyone who looked as unique—or as mythical—as me. My long silver hair seemed to shimmer whenever the light hit it just right. Vast blue eyes glimmered like the ocean itself, framed by long silver lashes that made them impossible to ignore. My skin was flawless, creamy white, untouched by blemish or scar. And my body... well, it drew attention wherever I went. Curvy yet muscular, strong yet graceful, every line and movement seemed perfectly balanced. Many had stared in awe, admiring the mythical, almost otherworldly figure I cut.
I sighed as a million thoughts raced through my mind about my past and everything I'd endured to get here. My unique appearance had always caused problems, but I pushed the memories aside and focused on the task at hand. I picked up the black tank top and slid it on. It hugged my body perfectly, landing just above my navel. Next came the underwear, followed by the black, ripped skinny jeans that rested on my hips and hugged every curve. Just as I finished, a soft knock sounded at the door. Mia's voice called from behind it. "Is it alright if I come in?" I smiled softly. "Yes, you can come in now. I'm dressed, if that's what you mean."
Mia opened the door slightly. When she saw me, she smiled sheepishly, a subtle blush coloring her cheeks. "Sorry about earlier," she said. I smiled and shook my head. "It's fine. I wasn't upset—never was." Her smile brightened. "That's good to know. I hope we can be friends—I'd hate to think I ruined it with my insensitive behavior." "Don't worry. It's already forgotten," I reassured her.
Her eyes twinkled as she fully opened the door. I noticed she was holding black combat boots. She walked over and handed them to me. "Hopefully these fit. They should be more comfortable than the other shoes I could find." I smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate it." She looked me up and down. "I knew you'd look nice in that." Her gaze shifted to the bed, then back to me. "I take it the bra didn't fit?" I shrugged and sat down to put on the shoes. "It's not like I really need it."
"True, but it'll definitely be noticeable if you get cold," she said. I chuckled. "Yeah, but so what?" Mia rolled her eyes. Just as I was about to put the shoe on, she placed her hand on it, stopping me. I looked up and saw she was holding a pair of black socks. I grinned sheepishly and took them. "Thanks." She smiled back, then turned and walked toward another door in her room. When she opened it, I noticed it led to a walk-in closet.
The moment I finished putting on the shoes, Mia stepped into her closet. I stood as she emerged, holding a black leather jacket. She walked over and held it out to me. "Here, this should help. Plus, I think it'll look amazing on you." I smiled and took the jacket, slipping it on. "Thanks, I appreciate it. That's very sweet of you." She smiled back and nodded. "You're welcome. You look perfect now. Okay, ready to go to the mall?" I chuckled. "As ready as I'll ever be." Her hand extended toward me, and when I took it, she began leading me out of the room. I sighed, wondering just what I had gotten myself into.
*
*
I sat in my office chair, in the same spot I'd been in when my mate left with Mia, trying—and failing—to focus on work. The folder Mia had placed on my desk felt like it was watching me, practically daring me to open it. I already knew, from the way she'd spoken, that whatever was inside would piss me off. And knowing it involved my mate only made it worse. My mind drifted back to earlier—to the way my mate had flinched when I touched her, the brief flash of pain she hadn't managed to hide. Anger flared in my chest at the memory. I'd been seconds away from demanding answers when Mia walked in and derailed everything, pushing my questions aside before I could voice them. Now, staring at the folder, I knew this was where those answers were hiding. Whatever was in those files would tell me exactly what had happened—and how badly she'd been hurt.
With a slow breath, I reached for the folder. Curiosity wasn't the right word anymore. It was a necessity. I opened it and began reading, pressing play on the recording as I worked through the written statements. Their voices filled the room, recounting the incident from their perspective. Mia's notes were scattered throughout—observations, timelines, and her own thoughts—each one adding context, each one tightening the knot in my chest as the full picture began to form.
It took everything in me not to crush the recorder in my hand or tear the papers apart in pure rage. Hearing them call my mate a bitch—saying she deserved what happened to her, that she was lucky she wasn't dead—made my blood boil. They truly believed we would execute her at judgment. In their twisted minds, they were only "venting their frustration" on her for what she'd done to their brother before she was killed. As their voices droned on, recounting the events in sickening detail, I struggled to keep my temper in check. The sheer stupidity of it all was almost as infuriating as the cruelty. They had disobeyed my direct orders and somehow convinced themselves they could get away with it with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. I don't know how I managed it, but I listened to the entire recording without completely losing control—at least until it finally ended.
The moment the recording ended, my control snapped. I grabbed the first thing within reach and hurled it across the room. Glass shattered against the wall beside the door, the sound barely registering through the roar of fury in my head. I swept everything off my desk in one violent motion and surged to my feet. Papers, objects—none of it mattered. My hands slammed down on the edge of the desk as I leaned over it, a low, vicious growl tearing from my chest. My wolf surged forward, claws scraping at the inside of my mind, demanding release. Rage pulsed through me, hot and feral. I breathed hard, teeth clenched, fighting the instinct to let him loose—to tear, to punish, to end this. Then the office door burst open. Luca stood in the doorway, frozen, his expression a mix of shock and concern as he took in the destruction—and me.
The moment Luca stepped into the room, he started to speak. "Alpha, is everything alright? I heard—" He cut himself off when he took in the state of the office—and me. At the sight of him standing in the doorway, my wolf and I growled in unison. The sound was deep, guttural, almost demonic, echoing off the walls. I saw Luca stiffen, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes before he masked it. He raised his hands slowly, palms facing me in a placating gesture. "Whoa, easy there, Kayden," he said carefully. "What happened?"
I clenched my teeth, fighting to keep my wolf restrained. The pressure in my head was unbearable. After a tense pause, Luca spoke again—his tone shifting, suspicion creeping in. "Does that tiger have something to do with this?" he asked. "I heard she escaped." My blood boiled. "Did she kill one of our pack members?" he continued. "I told you tiger shifters can't be trusted. We should've killed her the moment we saw her. Fated mate or not."
The moment he mentioned my mate—suggested harming her—I snapped my head up and locked my gaze on him. Rage surged violently through me. My lips peeled back from my teeth as a low, vicious growl rumbled from my chest, my wolf surging closer to the surface, hungry and furious. Luca flinched, clearly startled by my reaction. "Don't," I snarled. "You. Dare. Talk about her like that." My voice came out deep and husky, barely human—thick with the beast straining for control. My wolf was right there, clawing at my mind, desperate to break free and rip apart anyone who dared threaten our mate. Luca immediately dropped his gaze, bowing his head in submission. "Sorry, Alpha," he said quickly. "It won't happen again."
Luca's submission momentarily appeased my wolf, but it did nothing to extinguish the fury burning through me—or his relentless desire to tear apart the men who had hurt our mate. The urge to let him take control pulsed violently beneath my skin. A frustrated growl tore from my throat as I turned and drove my fist into the nearest wall. Concrete cracked beneath the blow, my knuckles punching straight through it with ease. I heard Luca gasp behind me, but I ignored him, striking the wall again. And again. And again—until the rage had somewhere to go. By the fourth punch, the pressure in my chest finally began to ease. I stepped back, flexing my hand as I forced myself to slow down. Deep breath in. Slow breath out. I shut out everything around me and focused on my breathing, grounding myself the way my mother had taught my siblings and me when we were children.
Only when my wolf fully retreated to the back of my mind did I finally regain control—of myself and my emotions. The anger hadn't disappeared; it simply felt like it belonged to me again, no longer amplified by the beast's fury. That was when I opened my eyes. My thoughts were clearer now, no longer drowned by rage. Luca stood in the center of the room, watching me closely. Concern was etched across his features, but beneath it lingered tension—like a man ready to bolt at the first sign that I might lose control again.
When he noticed I was watching him, Luca hesitated before asking, "Are you alright, Alpha? Should I call someone for you?" I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. "I'm fine now, Luca. There's no need for any of that." He studied me for a moment, disbelief flickering in his eyes. "Are you certain?" I rolled my eyes as I walked back to my desk and sat down. "Yes, Luca, I'm certain. You can drop the honorifics—and you can stop looking like a scared rabbit about to be eaten." He scoffed and rolled his eyes in return. "I did not look like a scared rabbit."
I chuckled at his offended expression and smirked, raising an amused eyebrow. "No... sorry. My bad. You're right. You don't look like a scared rabbit." I paused just long enough to enjoy the relief on his face. "You look like a scared pup about to wet himself. Is that better?" He shot me a glare as he turned to inspect the damage I'd done to the wall. "No. That's not any better." He studied the cracked concrete and sighed. "You really did a number on this wall. We're going to have to get someone to fix it," he added, clearly trying to change the subject. My smirk widened at his visible displeasure. Even his attempt at deflection only amused me more. He caught the look and knew I'd noticed. With a huff, he rolled his eyes.
I noticed Luca's expression darken, concern flickering across his face. When I followed his gaze, I saw what had caught his attention—my knuckles, split and bleeding from where I'd struck the wall. "I should call the pack doctor," Luca said immediately. Before he could take a step, I raised a hand. "That's unnecessary. I'll be fine." His eyes widened slightly. "You really should have the doctor look at that—just to be safe." I narrowed my eyes. "I said I'm fine." He sighed, clearly unhappy, but didn't push it further as he walked toward my desk. "Fine. But at least tell me what happened to make you lose control like that. It's been years since I've seen you this angry."
I raised an eyebrow. "I thought your mate would've told you what happened today already." He shook his head as he knelt down, beginning to pick up the items I'd thrown earlier. "She probably would have—if I'd seen her. I was busy taking over patrols and making sure everything was in order so you could focus on finding your mate." He glanced up at me. "Which brings me to something else. I still haven't figured out how she escaped in the first place. Did you learn anything from the two men found in her cage that might explain how she got out?"
I gritted my teeth at the mention of those men and shook my head. "No, nothing like that. But you're welcome to read the report yourself—I don't feel like repeating it." He rolled his eyes. "And how am I supposed to find that report in this mess?" I smirked. "You can start by picking it up." He let out a long sigh. "I should've known you were going to say that." I chuckled. "Yeah, you should have." He shot me another exasperated look. "But what if I can't tell it apart from all the other papers?"
I smirked. "Oh? Are you saying you can tell an incident report from the pack bills or a regular report? If that's the case, you really are slacking as my beta. Should I tell Mia you can't keep up?" The moment I mentioned his mate, his glare sharpened—and I couldn't help smiling at the little burst of anger. "Besides," I added, leaning on my elbows and resting my chin on my interlocked fingers, "you'd think by now you'd know the difference, considering how you and your mate love piling my desk high with these papers." He rolled his eyes and snorted. "You're such an ass." I grinned, pressing the tease home. "Well, I can't let you think I've gone soft on you. Now, can we?" He rolled his eyes again, shaking his head, and began picking up the fallen papers, stacking them neatly on my desk.
We sat in silence as Luca picked up the papers. Even after he finished and started going over the incident report, I tried to focus on my own work. But my mind kept drifting to my mate, and concentration was impossible. I noticed him reaching for the recording, just like I had done earlier. Just before he pressed play, I growled, low and sharp. He froze and looked at me instantly. "Unless you want my wolf to go on another furious rampage," I warned, my voice husky, "I wouldn't do that if I were you." His face went pale. The memory of my uncontrolled anger coursing through the office again clearly terrified him. He set the device down without another word. I snorted, lowering my head back to the papers. I doubted I'd get much work done until I saw my mate again—until I knew she was truly alright.
The moment Luca finished reading the report, he set it down on his lap, shaking his head as he muttered a curse under his breath. Then he looked up at me. "So," he asked, "what are you going to do?" I raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to punish those who thought they had the right to punish anyone in my domain without my say—especially after directly disobeying my orders. Those men acted on their own, and they will answer for it."
I leaned back slightly, my voice hardening. "I'm also going to find out who broke my order of absolute silence. Those two weren't even guards—they had no business knowing my mate was being held in those cells. And whoever let them in?" My jaw tightened. "They'll be punished as well. Every last one of them will learn what it means to defy their alpha." Luca nodded slowly. "I figured as much." After a brief pause, he added, more carefully, "But what are you going to do about your mate?"
"What about her?" Luca's brows knitted together, confusion flashing across his face. "What do you mean, what about her? She's a tiger shifter. Have you decided what to do with her yet?" I shrugged, deliberately casual. "There's nothing to decide. She's an innocent victim in all of this. They targeted her—she didn't start it." His eyes widened. "You can't be serious. She still attacked our men. If anything, she should be just as guilty—if not more so—than they are."
I narrowed my eyes, fixing him with a hard stare. "Luca, when have we ever punished someone for defending themselves? And why would we start now?" My voice dropped, dangerous in its calm. "Just because she's a tiger doesn't make her lesser than us. She did nothing wrong, and you know it." Luca huffed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But what about when she first got here? She attacked half the guards."
"Did she attack first," I asked evenly, "or was it you and your men?" The anger in Luca's eyes flared as he stared at me, aghast. "You can't be serious!" he snapped. I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest, unbothered by his outburst. "I am. And I will be," I said coldly. "She showed no signs of hostility. She only fought back after you allowed the pack to provoke her."
"I didn't allow them to attack her," he said defensively. "They disobeyed my orders." I nearly raised an eyebrow. "If you can't control your men, then it's no different than allowing it to happen under your watch—and that's just as bad." My voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. "You're not here to be their friend. You're here to make them fall in line. If they think there are no consequences, they'll keep pushing boundaries. And next time, it could be your head on the line."
His jaw tightened, anger flashing in his eyes as I continued. "The battlefield has no room for weakness or cowardice. You know that. If you don't command their respect, you won't have it. And don't mistake our friendship for immunity," I said coldly. "You are my beta because I trust you—but if you can't handle the role, I will remove you." Silence stretched between us before he finally snapped, "Fine. But are you at least going to do something about her trespassing on our land?" I scoffed. "You're reaching now. Trying to find anything to pin on her." His eyes burned. "And why are you so determined to excuse everything she's done? Just because she's your mate doesn't mean she's innocent. She's a tiger shifter, for Christ's sake."
"I'm fully aware she's a tiger shifter," I said evenly. "But being one doesn't automatically make her a criminal." He scoffed. "Have you ever met one that hasn't tried to kill our kind?" I rolled my eyes. "Have you ever even met a tiger shifter before my mate showed up? Let alone seen one?" I paused pointedly. "Because unless you did so without my knowledge, I highly doubt it." He opened his mouth to argue—then shut it again. A frustrated huff escaped him. "Touché. But that still doesn't excuse her for being on our land."
"We don't punish accidental trespass," I shot back. "You know that. We issue a warning and escort them out if they didn't know where they were. We only attack if they refuse to leave—or if they harm the pack." I leaned forward slightly, locking my gaze on him. "And last I checked, she didn't."
Luca threw his hands up. "If she had attacked our pack members first, then yes—she would have been in the wrong. But no, you couldn't keep your men under control and allowed them to attack her first. That makes you the one in the wrong, not her. Plus, she could have easily killed those pack members, but she didn't. She won't be punished for defending herself. And she didn't know she was crossing our pack lands, so she can't be penalized for that either."
"And how do you know she didn't know she was entering our borders?" he demanded. I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. "Because our pack isn't on most maps. And besides... she said she didn't know there was a pack here."
"How do you know she wasn't lying?" I rolled my eyes. "Are you serious right now, Luca? If you stopped being a prejudiced child and used your brain for once, you'd realize I'm right—and you could figure it out yourself." He glared at me, arms crossing over his chest as he opened his mouth to argue. I lifted a hand, cutting him off before he could say a word. "Enough," I said coldly. "I'm growing tired of this conversation. If you have nothing else to say that actually matters, I don't want to hear it. And it would be in your best interest not to push me any further." He scoffed. "You're impossible," I smirked. "You're just realizing that now?" Luca rolled his eyes, then sighed. "Fine. But are you going to reject her? I know you weren't sure how to handle her before." I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. "Yes," I said. "I have."
Luca suddenly sprang to his feet, a wide grin spreading across his face. "So you decided to do the right thing and reject her," he said, clearly pleased with himself. "I knew you would. Since you don't plan on charging her with anything, are we just going to send her on her way?" He scoffed. "Because personally, I think that would be a mistake. She knows where our pack is now. She could come back with a group of tiger shifters and wipe us all out."
His rambling sparked a dull ache in my chest, gnawing at my patience. Each word drove it deeper—especially the way he spoke about my mate, as if she were nothing more than a threat waiting to strike. A low growl rumbled in my chest. "Luca," I warned, my voice dropping into something darker, "if you don't shut up right now, you won't get to blame me for what happens next." His mouth snapped shut instantly.
I rubbed my forehead, willing the headache away. "I swear to the goddess, you are doing everything in your power to piss me off today." I lowered my hand and fixed him with a hard stare. "For the rest of the day, it would be wise for you to keep your opinions about my mate to yourself. Otherwise, you might find my fist in your face before nightfall." His eyes widened in shock. "You can't be serious."
"I can, and I am. And if you're not careful, l'll make you my sparring partner for the next month."
"But she-" I cut him off. "No, I'm not joking; I will do it. Don't make me," I growled. "How would you feel if I started talking about your mate like that?"
"That's not fair. Mia is Mia—we've known her forever. She, on the other hand—"
I cut him off sharply. "No. It's not different at all. And you wouldn't be saying any of this if she were any other kind of shifter." My gaze hardened. "Neither of us knows her well enough to judge her, and I won't stand here and listen to you talk about her like she's already guilty of something." He stared at me, mouth opening and closing like a fish, shock written plainly across his face. "You decided to keep her as your mate," he said slowly. "That's the only reason you'd be this defensive, isn't it?"
I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Seriously, Luca—why are you acting like such a child today?" I paused, then added, "But yes, if you must know, I took your mate's advice. I'm doing what any normal, newly mated pair would do—getting to know her before deciding whether to accept or reject her." He dragged a hand through his hair and groaned, beginning to pace in front of my desk. "Mia... how could she," he muttered to himself. "We talked about this. She knew how I felt." Then he stopped abruptly and looked at me, betrayal flashing across his face. "Why didn't you talk to me before deciding this?"
"What are you—my wife?" I snapped. "Since when do I need your permission to make decisions, especially when they concern my mate?" He scoffed. "Because your decisions affect the entire pack, not just you." My hands curled into fists at my sides. "Every decision I make affects the pack. My father didn't need approval to accept his mate—and neither do I." He dragged his palms down his face, frustration bleeding through his control. "That's because his mate wasn't a tiger shifter," he shot back. "The sworn enemy of werewolves everywhere. Or have you forgotten that part?"
I growled, puffing out my chest as my voice rose with anger. "I am the alpha of this pack! That tiger shifter you're so eager to condemn is my mate—and your future Luna. You will remember that. You will treat her with respect, or I will strip you of your position as my beta. Do I make myself clear?" Luca glared at me for a moment, then placed a hand over his chest and bowed his head softly. "Yes, Alpha." I narrowed my eyes, then nodded. "Good. Now leave. I don't want to hear another word from you all day unless it's important." He lowered his head further. "Yes, Alpha." Without another word, he turned and left, closing the door behind him. I exhaled slowly, letting some of the tension drain from my body as I rested my head in my hands, cursing his stubbornness under my breath.
He may be my best friend, but once Luca gets an idea in his head, it's nearly impossible to change—and it frustrates me endlessly. I pinched the bridge of my nose as a tension headache throbbed. Glancing at the clock, I realized they should be well into their shopping trip by now. I cringed at the thought of what horrors Mia was probably putting my mate through—she had always been shamelessly impulsive with a shopping spree. Just imagining the bill made my wallet ache, but if it made my mate happy, I could live with it. The thought of her returning brought a smile to my lips... and then a stab of worry reminded me of her injuries. I should message Mia, see if she'd noticed anything, or find out how my mate was holding up. Not being there gnawed at me. I also considered sending a few men to pick them up, just to be safe. And knowing Mia, there probably wouldn't be enough room in her car for everything she planned to buy anyway.