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“Thank you,” she says, squeezing her. Elaine brushes her fingers through her hair before Emily lets go, dropping back onto the step next to her father.

“But after what I’ve done, I—” Leo starts, but I cut him off.

“I’ll take care of it,” I tell him. He peers up at me, and I suck in a breath, knowing I just promised him no repercussions for killing my mother.

“Please, Dad?” Emily begs, glancing at Elaine and Charles. Leo sighs, looking conflicted.

“And you’re sure?” he asks Charles.

“Just shut up before I change my mind,” Charles tells him.

“You were always a tough prick,” Leo chuckles.

“And now I’m yours. Now give me your neck,” Charles orders. “I’m not going to be your bitch, Leo. You agree, and you submit to me,” Charles tells him, and Leo swallows.

“Please,” Emily begs her father, clutching his hands.

“Submit!” Charles orders, smashing Leo with his aura. After losing his mate bond, Leo’s aura is practically nonexistent. He’s too weak to fight Charles’s. It will kill him if he tries. So, Leo must choose: submit and live or refuse and die. Leo growls but bares his neck. Charles doesn’t hesitate, sinking his teeth in.

I swallow as Charles orders Leo to mark him back. He does before he turns to look at Elaine. Leo’s color has already returned. It always amazes me how tying our lives to our mates’ is a cure for most things. Emily breaks down crying, knowing she won’t lose her father anytime soon. Leo sits up, now having enough strength to do it himself. Charles moves toward Elaine, no doubt knowing Leo will knock her out when he marks her.

Elaine drops to her knees before Leo, sinking her teeth into his neck. Leo marks her back, and as expected, his bite overwhelms her system. She sways, but Charles is there, waiting to catch her. Leo holds her for a few seconds before looking at Charles. Charles nods once. This will be an adjustment for them. It certainly is for me.

“Thank you,” Leo says, staring at Elaine with concern. Charles scoops her up, and Leo lets him. I watch as Charles kisses her cheek, before walking back inside to lay her down. Emily crashes against her father, clutching onto him.

“I’m not going anywhere now,” he breathes. His eyes flick to me, and I nod to him before getting up.

“Where are you going?” Harlow asks, her hand gripping mine. I give hers a soft squeeze.

“I need to go take care of a few things,” I tell her, leaning down and brushing my lips against hers before walking inside to change.

Chapter Fifty

Harlow

Thane’s in a weird mood when he returns later. He didn’t tell us where he was going or why, just left abruptly after Elaine and Charles marked Leo. Thane has wanted vengeance for his mother’s death for a long time. He blamed me for years, and he punished me for it, only to learn I was innocent; that Corbin’s pack, Leo specifically, were the ones responsible.

I know it is hard for him to accept Leo and forgive him for what Corbin ordered him to do. Thane swore vengeance on those responsible. Instead, he is choosing to set himself free by forgiving his mother’s murderer and one of the men responsible for framing me.

I want to go home, desperately so, and Thane looks relieved when I ask him if we can go back. We help clean and pack everything before setting up the car seat for Scarlett. I sit in the back with her, and Leon and Raidon follow behind us in Rhen’s car.

Thane remains quiet, watchful, and contemplative. His mood, however, makes me glance at him nervously.

“I have an emergency hearing tomorrow with the council,” he says. His eyes flick to mine in the rearview mirror before going back to the road.

It doesn’t answer the question of where he went earlier, but I can guess after he said that. “Okay,” I tell him.

“I need you to come with me. I need witness statements and will need you to give yours,” Thane tells me.

“For Leo?” I ask, watching the way his hands grip the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles pressing beneath the skin. Rhen glances at him nervously when he finally speaks again.

“Yes, for Leo, but that isn’t why I’m telling you this,” he says, glancing at me again. “I want you to mark the rest of our mates tonight, please. I know what you went through with Corbin’s pack, and that you might not feel up for it, but I need you to do this, Harlow. I don’t want you leaving the house unmarked. I won’t have you vulnerable again,” Thane tells me, and my lips tug up at the corners.

“I can do that,” I chuckle. Rhen looks over at me, giving me a wink. They have been treating me like glass since I got back. It’s annoying because I want things to go back to how they were before.

“That means them remarking you, too. We need to solidify the bond, Harlow,” Thane adds. I suck in a breath. That does frighten me a little, remembering how it felt when Corbin’s pack forced their marks on me, leaving behind so much marred skin. “Low?”

“Yes, I understand,” I tell him.