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you to believe. Oh, her daddy was on a cussing streak. That meant he was really pissed. A low,
rumbling growl that she felt in her bones came across the line. It s the truth. It s not a gamble, little
cub; it s love. Plain and simple.
And didn t that leave her a lot to think about. Was this thing with Ty lust? Or the beginnings of
love? Was it desire for her or the fact that she had her biological father s blood in her veins? Then
again, all questions paled in comparison to the one spinning in her head.
Is this why she didn t love me?
Oh, little cub, you re breaking my heart. He sniffled, and she pretended not to hear. She
loved you the only way she knew how.
* * *
Ty cradled his head in his hands, begging his bear to take a back seat so he could deal with the
problems in front of him. There was the normal paperwork related to running the clan s businesses
and his job as sheriff, and that was on top of the problem with Griss and Parker. Then there was Mia.
Gorgeous, curvaceous Mia.
Who hadn t reached her peak because his brother had been a sarcastic ass.
Damn, the bear rushed forward again.
Ty? Van eased into his musings, but his beast was still too close to the surface and craved his
brother bear s head on a platter.
Enforcer?
His brother s gulp was audible. Yes, Itan?
Good, at least the man realized his anger still lingered heavily. Normally, Ty wasn t such a hot-
head. But the past twenty-four hours had been nowhere near normal. After a few snatched moments
with Mia, his life irrevocably changed. Shifting cubs and his clan had taken a back seat to all but Mia
and what she cared about. Which meant his world now centered on Mia and Parker. You have one
minute, sixty seconds, to deliver your news. He glanced at his watch. Go.
Griss will be tailed the moment he leaves the jail. Calls to neighboring clans revealed that he
was born into a clan in Cutler, Alabama. Left when he was eighteen. Bounced around a bit until he
showed up here when his brother and sister-in-law died a week ago and he took over looking after
Parker. Things are still murky as to whether he even has a right to the cub, so child services has
placed him in your care for the time being. Linda over there says it s sketchy, but as long as no one
takes a long look at his file, you should be fine. You re not exactly licensed to be a Foster Parent.
Van chuckled, but Ty didn t find the pause amusing.
Why d he leave Cutler?
His parents died unexpectedly. Van s implication was clear. Rumor was Griss killed his
parents.
I see.
And the facts are that Cutler s Itan, Thomas Holmes, is old as hell. He doesn t have any cubs
of his own. His only son was challenged by his friend at sixteen and lost. Thomas s brother, Griss s
father, was in line for the job. Then it was going to go to Griss s brother. Now the only thing standing
between Griss and the position of Itan in Cutler is Parker and the old man.
Ty let his eyes drift closed. So we think Griss is trying to get rid of the cub to give himself a
straight shot to the top.
Yup.
He took a deep breath and let it out nice and slow. Who else knows he s in our territory?
Van shifted in his seat. You, me, and the Cutler Itan. As far as the line of succession, the old
man didn t even know Parker s parents had passed.
Damn it.
I convinced him to stay put for now. I gave him as few details about Parker as possible and
simply told him he s in your household now, but&
Ty finished his brother s thought. But Parker is the next in line and Thomas will want the boy
under his roof so he can be trained. He spat a curse. Mia s going to be upset.
Van cleared his throat, the squeak of leather against leather as he changed position echoed
through the room. About Mia&
And the bear charged forward, anxious to hear his brother s words, ready to shove them down
Van s throat if he didn t like them. Yes?
I heard what you called her.
His beast huffed. And?
She s human, Ty. Van shook his head. You can t have a human Itana. Who s gonna lead us
when your cubs can t shift? Where will the clan be? You have to think of all of us, not just yourself,
man.
Wrong thing to say. Hell, no one should whisper a word about Mia unless it was to praise his
choice. The bear was that defensive of what he claimed as his. Van?
His brother s gulp was audible. His animal even managed to tune into the rapidly increasing
beat of Van s heart. Thump, thump-thump, thump-thump-thump.
Yes, Itan?
I grew up thinking of the clan. I live and breathe for the good of the clan. I sweat, bleed, and
cry for the clan. From the moment I awaken until the second I go to sleep I do nothing without
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