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Tate felt his mouth tip up, touched by her concern. “I didn’t realize you worried they’d consider my claiming a loner a demonstration of weakness. You should have mentioned it. I could have told you that it was a senseless worry—my pride mates don’t have issues with lone shifters. We employ them, we associate with them, and we support Dawn’s shelter. In fact, my pride mates often donate blankets, food, furniture, and clothing to the shelter. I don’t order them to do it. They do it because they want to.”
“I was pretty sure you’d tell me that I was worrying unnecessarily, but I needed to see for myself that that was the case.”
“So you’re good with ruling the pride alongside me now?”
“Yes. Don’t think my not being excited means I’ll do a half-assed job. I won’t shirk my duties, neglect the pride, or leave the main bulk of the responsibilities to you. I’ll be your partner, your equal, your sounding board—whatever you need.”
“I’ve never doubted that you’d be a committed Alpha. You already are one. It’s just that your clan currently consists only of you, Aspen, and Bailey. Camden sort of lingers on the periphery of it. He gives off the lone wolf vibe.”
“I suspect the only thing that keeps him in one place is Aspen.”
Tate felt his brow crease. “I don’t think so. He cares about you and Bailey in his way.”
Havana’s nose wrinkled. “I don’t know if he cares about us per se. It’s more like he cares what happens to us. Aspen’s the only person he’s formed a bond with, from what I can tell. But I don’t know if it’s a healthy bond. It’s just a little too intense. I can’t explain it well.”
“I know what you mean. Something about him is …. off. But I don’t get the sense that he’s cruel or unfeeling.”
“The stuff that happened in his life before he appeared at the center … It’s a doozy of a story, Tate. Maybe it all switched off something inside him, or maybe he’s always lacked a certain something that I can’t quite put my finger on. Corbin said he used to watch Camden very closely when he was a kid, worried he’d go down a dark path. But then Aspen turned up at the center, and Camden connected with her. That seemed to stabilize him somehow.”
“They could be true mates.”
“Maybe. I don’t know if what they feel for each other is actually platonic, though I suspect it isn’t.” She shrugged. “It’s all a bit of a mystery.”
“You’ve never asked Aspen how she feels about him?”
“No. If things are platonic on his part but not hers, she’ll avoid voicing what she wants so that she doesn’t have to be hurt by it. I haven’t raised the subject because if I make her face something she’s subconsciously ignoring, she could start hurting over it, and that could come between them.”
“Then I guess it’s best to leave it be. There’s no sense in fixing what isn’t broken.”
Tate got the impression that Camden liked being a loner, so he wasn’t certain the tiger would accept his invitation to join the pride. Tate just hoped the guy didn’t try to talk Aspen out of joining. Havana wouldn’t truly be happy in the pride if her girls weren’t part of it.
He nuzzled her wet hair. “You know, I was thinking …”
“What?”
“Aspen and Bailey would make good enforcers.”
Havana twisted her head to look up at him, her face a study in surprise.
“They learned a lot of skills during the years they worked for the Movement,” Tate added. “I’d be a fool not to put those skills to good use. Plus, I want you to have your own bodyguards once you take on the position of Alpha female. Who better to guard you than two of the people you trust most?” In actual fact, they were also the people he’d trust most to protect his mate. They adored her with the ferocity that shifters were known for. His cat felt equally comfortable with the idea of them guarding her.
Havana bit her lip. “I can’t be sure whether or not they’d accept your offer, but I do agree that they’d make good enforcers. Will Luke, Farrell, or any of your existing enforcers have an issue with Aspen and Bailey being part of your ranks?”
“No. They’re impressed by what they’ve seen of your girls so far. Even Luke, despite that Bailey watches him like she’s waiting for him to blow a fuse.”
“She said there’s a darker side to your brother. She believes he has a storm inside him.”
“She’s very perceptive.” Tate sighed. “The past six years have been hard for him.”
“Why?”
“Because he never feels close enough to the person he most needs to protect. His mate was twelve when he found her—they recognized each other at first sight. She’s part of the local bush dog pack.”
