“That’s all in the past. We—” Seb began, but I cut him off.
“I’m sorry. It’s not in the past. This person and his parents lied and defamed my mate and caused a rift between you and your son. How can you, as his father, allow them in your house? Is it because you’re in love with your ‘best friend’? I’ve noticed how you’ve been looking at him,” I said, nodding to Mark’s father.
“What are you talking about?” Graham growled.
“How dare you!” Seb exploded, standing up in fury.
“No, how dare you! You call yourself a father. I’ve seen the worst of the worst behave better than you. You treat this piece of shit like a prince and your own son like crap,” I retorted, my temper flaring.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Mark demanded, puffing up in his seat.
I smirked and allowed some of my demonic nature to break free, revealing my long, black horns. “Someone who can deal with all of you. Don’t mess with me, cat. You owe my mates an apology.”
More gasps filled the room, and Mark jerked back, causing the chair to squeak across the floor.
“Calm down, babe. Please,” Talon said, touching my arm.
I released a long breath and internally counted to ten. I couldn’t vaporize anyone, even though I longed to do so. My horns retreated, and I turned back to Talon. “Sorry,” I whispered.
“It’s okay,” he reassured me.
“Aren’t you going to do something? He threatened your family,” Seb yelled.
“Not only am I going to allow him to, I’m going to stand by him. You made my life hell over false accusations. And what, you want me to play happy family and forget?” Talon looked around the table at his entire family. “None of you stood by me. None of you.”
Talon rose from his seat. “This is pointless.” He gazed down at Lucas and me. “Let’s go home.”
Lucas and I quickly rose to our feet. We’d defend and back our mate through anything.
Quickly leaving the table, we made it down the hall and to the front door, but stopped at Talon’s mother’s words.
“Talon, please don’t leave like this,” she pleaded, her voice breaking with emotion.
Talon paused at the door, his back still turned to her. I held my breath; the tension was so palpable. I wanted my mate to hear out his mother, but at the same time, she had remained silent for so long.
Talon turned slowly, meeting his mother’s tearful gaze. There was a momentary softness in his eyes, a fleeting glimpse of the pain he felt.
“I’m sorry, Mom, but I’m done. Goodbye,” Talon said, his voice resolute yet thick with a mixture of regret and relief.
Without waiting for a reply, he stepped outside. Lucas followed immediately, and I lingered for a brief second, placing a comforting hand on Mira’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Mira,” I whispered before joining my mates, closing the door gently behind me. The cool evening air hit us, a stark contrast to the stifling tension we had left behind. The quiet walk to the car was contemplative, each of us lost in our thoughts.
Once inside the car, Talon started the engine, his hands steady despite the turmoil. We pulled away from the house, the warm glow of its lights dimming in the rearview mirror. The car was silent until Talon finally broke it, his voice low but unwavering.
“It’s for the best.”
Part of me wondered if it really was for the best, but regardless, I’d stand by my duša.
Say What?
Lucas
Thearomaoffreshlybrewed coffee filled the kitchen, a comforting scent that made the tumultuous events of the past weeks seem distant. I leaned against the counter, sipping my coffee, while Brian tinkered with the coffeemaker. It had been two weeks since the disastrous dinner at Talon’s family home, and although life at the Pride house had resumed a semblance of normalcy, the echoes of that night lingered.
“How’s mated life been?” Brian asked as he pressed the button, starting the other pot.
Grinning, I thought about the whirlwind adventures my mates and I had been on. Mating a demon had its perks; Dominic had taken us to places I’d only dreamed of visiting. Last night, we had dinner atop the Eiffel Tower; I mused silently, still awestruck by the experience.
