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The imposing man stared at Mercer, but didn’t speak. He looked vaguely familiar. He must have been one of the pack members who had taken them prisoner.
“And this is my daughter, Shay.” King leaned closer to his young offspring. “Are you sure about this?”
She released a small chuckle that nearly stopped Mercer’s heart. “For the last time, yes.”
King rolled his eyes. “Shay is a therapist and she’s asked me to allow her to conduct sessions with the five of you.”
Mercer blinked. That was not what he’d been expecting.
He looked at Shay. Beauty and brains. Fuck, that was more of a turn on than he’d been expecting.
“I have begrudgingly agreed.” King glared at Mercer first, and then the rest of them. “But there are conditions.”
“First, you will be respectful. Any lewd or hurtful comments toward my daughter will not be tolerated. She is doing you a kindness and if you ruin that with vulgarity, you will lose privileges. And if you attempt to hurt her physically in any way, then you forfeit your lives and I’ll send your heads to Thatcher in a box. Am I clear?”
“Crystal,” Mercer spoke for the first time. He was tempted to provide a snide comeback, but he bit his tongue.
Shay looked up at her father. His stern expression melted when he turned to her. “If they try anything–”
Laughing once more, Shay replied, “They’re locked up. What are they going to do?”
King cupped her cheeks and rested his forehead against hers. “Don’t let them get in your head.” Mercer barely heard the whisper.
“I’m smarter than that, Dad.”
Nodding, King left. The beta stayed behind, silently watching Mercer. “Mateo,” King called, “are you through?”
Mateo cleared his throat. “Yes. Yes, sir.”
Moments later, the loud door opened and closed, leaving Shay, the guard, and the prisoners.
Shay put her hand on the guard’s arm. “I’ll call you if I need you.”
The guard looked skeptical, but agreed. “Shout if you need me.”
“I will.” Shay nodded. “Thank you.”
He gave them all a warning glare before lumbering off to his desk in the other room.
Alone, Shay and Mercer stared at one another.
Approaching the bars, Mercer wrapped his hands around the metal. “Come closer.”
For a moment she didn’t respond, then she snorted. Crossing her arms and tilting her head to the side, she looked him up and down. “I don’t think so.”
It was his turn to chuckle. “You said it yourself. I’m locked up. What can I do?”
Dark hair, layered but straight, fell ending inches below her shoulders. Brown eyes and a wide smile called to him.
She took two steps closer but she still wasn’t within reach, not that he would have tried to grab her. Gaining her trust at this point was far more important that feeling that first mating bond touch.
“I’m Shay.” She took a breath. “And I have no idea why I’m really here. I needed to see you, to make sure you were alright. I’m not sure how to move forward from this.”
“That makes two of us.” Mercer’s posture relaxed. “You’re the reason we got caught, you know.”
“I figured. You likely smelled the same thing I did.”
“What happens next?”
