Page 3 of Torin

I close my eyes for a beat.

“Hannah,” my father hisses.

I turn as Cade crosses the room.

People move automatically as he passes. Somebody reaches out to clap him on the shoulder, then thinks better of it halfway through.

He’s wearing dark jeans and a black button-down with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. His hair is pulled back at the nape of his neck.

His eyes land on me immediately. Slowly, he smiles. “Look at you.”

I hold his gaze. Looking away would feel worse.

When he reaches me, he nods appreciatively. “Tasha did a decent job after all.”

“She’ll be thrilled to hear it.”

A couple of people nearby laugh.

Then his gaze drops to my dress. Lingers. “Turn around.”

I stare at him. “What?”

“So everybody can see the dress.”

His smile is fixed.

Beside me, my father says, “Honey.”

I turn, slowly, the fabric winding around my legs. When I face Cade again, his hand rests at the base of my spine.

He looks pleased.

Then he bends until his mouth is beside my ear. “You smell scared.” A pause. “I like it.”

I freeze, a cold prickle running down my back.

Then he steers me toward the far end of the room.

A fire burns in the enormous stone hearth, and the crowd gathers into a semicircle around it.

An older man waits in front of the flames. He must be seventy, but he looks strong enough to drag a truck uphill. Gray hair hangs down his back in a thick braid. Silver rings cover his fingers, and his forearms are corded with muscle.

He watches as Cade brings me forward.

My father takes his place behind us. That almost makes me laugh. Dad spent my entire life telling me to stay away from men like Cade. Now he’s standing behind me while one of them claims me in front of half a biker gang.

The old man raises one broad hand, and the room falls silent.

“Tonight,” he says, “Cade Walker claims his mate before his entire clan.”

He turns to me and takes me by the wrist. “This woman comes untouched into her mate’s keeping.”

A murmur of approval runs through the room.

I stare into the fire.

“You’ll feed him before yourself. Warm his side of the bed before your own. Carry his scent, his cubs and his name.” His gaze settles on me. “Your body belongs to your mate. Your loyalty belongs to his house.”