The Mate Mistake(The Woolven Secret 3)(54)

Parker found Tirigan in the bowels of Aphelion. His red eyes glowed in the dark like twin comets.

The effect was pretty fucking creepy.

Even for a werewolf who was used to such things.

"Damn, turn off your brights, man."

"Man?" Tirigan snorted. "I'm a god. Your overfamiliarity displeases me."

"At least I didn't call you Dad."

Tirigan coughed. "And I can't end you. My daughter would never speak to me again."

"Nope," Parker said cheerfully. "You're stuck with me."

"Was there something you wanted, puppy?"

He'd been called a puppy his whole life, so hearing it from this guy wasn't anything new. "Actually, there was."

"Oh, hell, it's not one of those bonding things, is it? I don't like feelings. I have a hard enough time dealing with those I have for my own child. They're uncomfortable. I don't want to like you."

"Yes, you do. Come on, it'll all be so much easier. Or, you know, you could get lucky. With Remus moving on Aphelion, I might die in the attack, and you'll be rid of me." He'd meant it to be cavalier, because that's how Parker dealt with things that were ugly and uncomfortable.

But Tirigan was on him in an instant and all predator. He slammed him against the wall, hard, his fangs descended.

"Don't say that. Don't even think it. I forbid it." His voice had taken on that quality of gargling glass again.

"I thought you didn't like me?" Parker sniffed.

"Bah. You know my daughter loves you, so I suppose I must love you, too."

"Good. Glad we got that settled."

Tirigan sniffed him.

"Quit that. It tickles." Parker pushed him off.

"You don't smell afraid. Are you really not afraid of me? I don't know how I feel about that. First David, now you. I'm losing it. It's time to go to ground. I can't even inspire fear and terror in the male chasing my daughter."

"Uh," Parker began. He wasn't sure how or if he should correct him, but barged ahead anyway, because that was just Parker. "I've already caught her, I'm afraid."

Tirigan growled and he sounded kind of like a werewolf.

"Listen, I guess I wouldn't like it either. But here's the thing. This is what I wanted to talk to about. I'm not just some rando chasing sniffing after your precious cargo. She is my mate. My one true, okay? My forever."

"That actually does make me feel a lot better. It explains why you did what you did in the alley, too. I don't want to eviscerate you… As much."

"Has my brother talked to you about what's coming for us?"

"Yes."

"You don't have to stay. This isn't your fight."

"Well, that's not what I expected you to say."

"Well, you should. You know why? Because I want her safe. I don't know what they have in their arsenal. When this started, I was convinced I could protect her, but now I'm not so sure."

"A wolf admitting he can't do something?"

"Hey, I don't have time for Alpha preening bullshit. Not that Blake ever really preens, but you know what I mean. The only thing I care about is her saf—" Parker sensed there was something wrong. "Fuck. It's started."

"What? How did you—?"

That's when they heard it. The sound of a roar that was unlike any other. An Asakku battle cry.

"There is no leaving now, Baby Woolven. There is only the battle to come. My daughter has chosen to her role."

For the first time, he understood the allure of taking that choice away. Of locking her up so nothing could touch her. He knew she was strong. He knew she was capable. But that didn't matter. He needed to know she was safe.

The panic must've shown on his face. "This is what you've fought for. This is what she's fought for. Now that I've given it, you doubt?"

"I don't doubt her. I just..."

"Then you do understand. Stop making me enjoy you, pup."

With a laugh he didn't feel, Parker said, "Well, you know it'll make her happy if we get along."

"Bah."

"I guess it is time for that father-in-law bonding time. Nothing will make us closer than spilling blood together."

"Indeed, puppy."

Parker swallowed hard, and he wasn't sure he was ready to face this. It wasn't whatever Remus had brought to their door that made him afraid. It was losing the people he loved. It was the idea that anything could hurt them.

He simply couldn't let that happen.

Parker called to his beast, and he answered his mate with a roar of his own that shook the foundations.

She'd let out her monster.

And they were at war.

Parker forgot about everything in that moment except joining the fight. He took the stairs two at a time and found that the world around him had exploded into a bloody battle.