Yao chuckled. “My son, the alpha’s mate.”
“Bet you never thought you’d say that.”
“I couldn’t be prouder of you, Xias. You’ve fulfilled every dream I ever had for you.”
Xias swallowed tightly as a ball of emotion welled up in his throat. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Your mom will be excited to learn I talked to you when she gets back from the grocery store. She’s going to be so upset she missed you.”
“I can call back and talk to Mom.” Xias glanced toward the door. He thought Zhuang would be back by now. “I’m going to go find out what’s keeping Zhuang. I’ll call you back just as soon as I know something. In the meantime, if you need to get in touch with me, you can call this number. It’s Zhuang’s private cell phone.”
“Do you really need to go, son?”
“Yes, I do.” Xias chuckled. “It’s getting close to feeding time, and your grandkids are not very patient cubs.”
“Okay. Well, call me when you can.”
“I will, Dad.” Xias hated to hang up. This had been the first time in ages he had actually been able to speak to his father. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, too, son.”
“Bye.” Tears flooded Xias’s eyes as he slid his finger across the screen, ending the phone call. He pressed the edge of the phone to his lips, gripping it tightly in his hand as he tried to fight off his need to cry. As much as he enjoyed talking to his father on the phone, he desperately wanted to see him in person, both of his parents.
Xias glanced up when a shadow passed by the window. The curtains were closed, but he knew he had seen something, a shadowy form, walk right past the window. When the hairs on the back of his neck rose, he stood and walked over to the window. He nudged the edge of the cream-colored curtain aside and glanced outside.
He quickly jumped back and let the curtain fall back into place. His heart raced with fear, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to do. It wasn’t just Osamu he saw outside his window, but an army of shifters. They were under attack and even with all the council guards, Xias wasn’t sure they’d get out alive.
“Zhuang!”Xias screamed through their link as he ran out of the room. “We’re under attack.”
“What?”Zhuang asked. “What are you talking about? Attack from who? Where?”
At least he didn’t dismiss Xias’s words.
“Osamu and his enforcers. I saw them outside my window.”
“Get to my father’s office. Now!”
“Already on my way.”Just as fast as his feet would carry him. “Please tell Tao to be on guard. If anything happens to the cubs…”
“Already done, mate.”
Zhuang knew him so well, and in such a small amount of time. It gave Xias a warm feeling deep inside, which was odd considering how scared he was.
He turned to run down the hallway leading to Elder Shen’s office just as the front door crashed open. Xias slipped on the marble floor when he spun around. He slammed his hand against the wall to keep from falling.
Xias swallowed tightly as he stared at the man standing in the doorway. “He’s here.”
* * * *
Zhuang felt Xias’s fear like a burn along his skin. He gritted his teeth and growled as he stalked through the mansion, heading for his mate. He’d be damned if he’d let Osamu get to Xias now. Not when they were so close to having a life he had only dreamed of.
When a shifter jumped out at him from the shadows, Zhuang swung his fist as hard as he could, funneling all of his anger into the hit. He was already walking away by the time the shifter hit the floor. He knew not all of his enemies would be that easy.
When he heard Xias scream, Zhuang shifted, tore out of his ripped clothes, and took off running. He rounded the corner just in time to see Osamu dragging Xias out the front door. Zhuang roared as he put on an extra burst of speed.
“Xias!”
“Help, Zhuang, Osamu has me!”
