He’d run across a couple of Osamu’s clan members who had snuck away in the middle of the night, a woman and her teenage daughter. Osamu had had the mother beaten when she’d refused to allow him to take her daughter as one of his concubines. The daughter had been fifteen at the time.
Zhuang had reported the problem to his father and gotten the two women somewhere safe. He’d thought that was the last time he’d hear of the alpha doing this kind of shit. Kind of made him wonder if Osamu had been sanctioned at all.
“Needless to say, that asshole is after Xias and the cubs, and I refuse to let him have them. They belong to me now. I’ve already tangled with this jerk once, hopefully injuring him long enough for us to reach the council, but I doubt it.”
Tao nodded. “I only have the smaller snow CAT, but there’s a narrow bench in the back. I think we can get everyone safely inside.”
“How bad is the storm?” Zhuang asked.
There was an almost apologetic wince on Tao’s when he reached up and scratched the side of his neck. “It’s pretty bad, Zhuang. That’s why I came up here after you. The avalanche danger has skyrocketed with this blizzard. If we don’t leave pretty soon, we might not make it out.”
Zhuang drew in a heavy breath and then slowly blew it out. “Okay. Xias, I have some clothes you can put on. I’ll get the cubs ready to go.” He glanced at his friend. “Tao, can you warm up the CAT?”
“Yeah, sure, man.”
Zhuang waited until the front door closed behind Tao before turning to look at Xias. He didn’t like the anxious frown marring Xias’s face as he stared at the door. “What is it, Xias?”
Xias’s gaze flickered up to Zhuang. “Can we trust him?”
Zhuang smiled. “I’ve known Tao over twenty years, babe. He’s one of the few people I do trust.”
Xias’s relief was apparent when his shoulders relaxed. Zhuang smiled and drew him in for a hug. He pressed Xias’s head down to his chest before sliding his fingers through the man’s soft light-brown hair.
“I would never put you in a dangerous situation, Xias. I know we’ve only known each other a few hours, but you’re my mate, something I have wanted my entire life. You and those cubs mean the world to me.”
“Can it be that easy?” Xias whispered.
“It can be if we want it to be.” Zhuang knew he did.
He was utterly fascinated by Xias, and that wasn’t just because they were mates. The man simply intrigued him. He was so beautiful he made Zhuang’s teeth ache. He was obviously a gentle and kind person. His caring for his cubs proved that. And even as scared as he was, he was still willing to fight for them and protect them.
He was perfect.
“I know we’re just getting into this and the circumstances aren’t exactly stellar, but I couldn’t have picked a better mate if I’d tried. I think we’ll do great things together one day.”
“If we survive,” Xias said.
“Oh, I intend on us surviving.” The thought of a life with Xias and the cubs was just too perfect to give up on. “In fact, I intend on us surviving and living a wonderful life together.”
When Xias lifted his head, a small smile moved across his lips, but it wavered.
“Do you doubt me?” Zhuang asked.
“I don’t doubt your desire, Zhuang, but I don’t think you truly understand just how evil Osamu is. The man eats cruelty for breakfast.” Tears flooded Xias’s eyes. “I don’t want you hurt.”
Zhuang gave a little laugh even as something deep inside of him warmed at Xias’s words. “I don’t want me hurt either, but I’m not going to let that man have you or the cubs. You’re mine now. I won’t give you up, any of you.”
Xias pressed his face into Zhuang’s chest. “I’d die if anything happened to you,” he whispered silently.
“Nothing is going to happen to me, mate.”
“You don’t know that.”
Zhuang sighed.
“No, I don’t,” he admitted reluctantly, “but I can promise to try my best to not get into trouble.” Considering the situation they were currently in, he was kind of surprised Xias didn’t punch him for that statement. “I will do anything to keep you and the cubs safe. I won’t go looking for a fight, but if it finds us, I’ll do what I must to defend my family.”
“I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
