“In a heartbeat.”
“But you could be deemed a rogue shifter.”
“I. Don’t. Care. I’d rather live with you and the cubs as a rogue shifter than live in the shifter world without you or them.”
Tears flooded Xias’s eyes even as the fear that had overwhelmed him started to recede.
“I’m in, too,” Tao said from beside them. “If you go, I go. We’re a clan and clan sticks together.”
Xias swallowed the lump in his throat. “Thank you,” he whispered, overcome by the loyalty in two men he had known for such a small amount of time. They showed more allegiance than people he had known for years. “We’re going to have a good clan.”
How could they not?
Zhuang smiled. “You ready now, babe?”
Xias nodded. He was as ready as he ever would be. He still wanted to leave, but he didn’t feel as if he couldn’t breathe anymore.
When they started moving again, they were led down a long hallway to a set of large wooden doors. The butler knocked once and then pushed the doors open before standing back. Zhuang walked in as though he had been here a hundred times before. Xias was a little more hesitant, stopping just inside the doors. He could feel Tao stop behind him.
“Zhuang, son,” an older man said as he stood and walked out from behind his desk. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you at council headquarters. Is everything okay?”
While Xias could see the difference in ages due to the man’s graying hair and the lines around his eyes, the elder still looked almost exactly like his son. Maybe a bit shorter and a touch rounder.
“Father.” Zhuang gave the man a quick handshake before turning and holding his hand out. “I’d like you to meet my mate, Xias.”
Elder Shen’s eyebrows rose. “You’ve mated, son?”
“I have.”
“Well, that’s wonderful news.” The elder smiled widely. “Your mother will be ecstatic.”
“Well, there’s a problem, Father.”
Elder Shen lifted one eyebrow as he glanced between Zhuang and Xias. “Problem?”
Zhuang glanced at Tao. “Close the doors.”
Tao nodded once before shutting the doors and standing in front of them.
“You remember Tao, Father?”
“I do.” The elder glanced at the man. “It’s good to see you again, Tao.”
Tao nodded once. “Sir.”
“I’ve made Tao my beta,” Zhuang said.
Elder Shen paused. “You’ve decided to establish a clan, son?”
“I have. I’ll be taking over that bit of land Grandfather bequeathed to me.”
The corners of Elder Shen’s eyes scrunched up as he frowned. “I don’t see the problem, son. Your grandfather’s land is yours and always has been.”
“Xias is an omega.”
Xias shrank back against Zhuang when the elder’s gaze snapped to him.
“He’s also an unregistered omega,” Zhuang continued. “In fact, until I claimed him for my clan, he didn’t officially belong to a clan, even though he was in the same clan he was born into.”
