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The truck rolled to a stop outside the house, and I jumped out, strode to the front door, and banged on it. It opened a second later as if someone had been there waiting.

Daisy. Iris’s mother looked up at me, and she wasn’t happy.

“I need to speak with Iris.”

“She doesn’t want to see you.”

“I need to speak with my mate, Daisy. You can’t stop me from taking her home,” I said as calmly as I could, though with a lot more growl than I’d intended.

Daisy shook her head. “You’re not taking her anywhere. She is home.”

If I had to drag my mate out of there, kicking and screaming, I would. If that’s what it would take for her to listen to me, I’d do it. “She’s mine and you know it, the council—”

“You had your chance, and you blew it. You don’t get another one, alpha. You put her through all of that, then you just…tossed her aside.”

“That’s not what happened.”

“I don’t need all the details. I know how she looked when she walked in here last night. I never want to see pain like that in her eyes ever again.” She started to shut the door.

I shoved my hand against it. “She’s my mate. Nothing you or the council say can change that. We’re bound in a way that is irrevocable.”

“I’ll see about that.”

“No. You won’t do a damned thing. There’s nothing you can do.”

Daisy stared up at me with contempt. “Has she planted the vervain?”

“What?” I growled. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“The little pot she got before she left. Has she planted it at the keep yet?”

I wanted to fucking snarl. What did that have to do with my mate coming home? “No.”

Daisy seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Why was she wasting my time with this? “Just get Iris.”

Daisy crossed her arms. “No. If she wanted to be with you, she would have planted the herb.”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“A witch plants it when she moves into her new home. But more importantly, when she feels like she’s home. That herb gives us everything we need to take care of our families. She didn’t plant it, Draven, because you are not her family.”

I stared down at her, wanting to fucking roar in pain and frustration.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Iris said from behind her mother.

My gaze shot to my mate, and it took everything in me not to shove my way inside and snatch her up.

Daisy stiffened, then finally made eye contact with her daughter. At Iris’s nod, she backed away. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” Then she left us alone, after sending one last scowl my way.

I took Iris in, and my fucking legs almost gave out. The relief at seeing her was so fierce. “Iris…please. I need you to listen to me. I wasn’t thinking clearly. It was just a shock, seeing what you did. That spell, it’s what Charity used on me…back then, and I just…”

“Stop,” Iris said, her expression blank. “I saw your face after it happened. You were afraid I’d turn on you as well.”

“No…no, that’s not true…”

“You took a step back from me, Draven. God, how else am I supposed to interpret that?”