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Holly had heard enough. She rushed to Natalie’s side and pulled her in for a hug. “I’ve got you.”
“I had no one to turn to. Who would believe me?” She started to sob, and Holly held her, feeling so helpless for the other woman.
****
Christopher grabbed the chair and threw it across the town hall where it shattered as it hit the wall.
“Dad?” Holly said.
“I should have known. There is no way a woman, a mated female in my pack, should have ever suffered, Holly. I’m a failure.”
“No one knew.”
“But I should have. He had alpha qualities. I knew he was always quick to temper, but I had no idea the true extent of his person. I failed Natalie.”
“She didn’t lure the hunters,” Damon said.
They’d taken Natalie to his home for Henry to keep an eye on her.
“No. She was used by her mate to bring the hunters. He was killed, right?” Christopher asked.
“Yes. He didn’t make it after the attack.”
Damon went to his mate’s side and gripped her shoulders tightly. “I’ve got you.” He felt her pain.
“We should have known,” Holly said. “We’re not the kind of pack that leaves people alone.”
He chuckled. “You’re stalkers?”
Holly smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“I do, but you can’t blame yourself for what happened.” He pressed a kiss to her temple.
He hated seeing her like this. So lost and broken. It was up to him to bring her back, to repair her.
“What do we do now?” Christopher said.
This was the part he doubted his mate or the alpha was going to like.
“I’m going hunting,” Damon said. “Natalie said the person her husband forced her to be with was the leader. I’m guessing he’s not going to pass up the opportunity to have a wolf in his bed. Natalie already carries his child.”
“That’s insane,” Holly said. “There’s no way you can go hunting for him.”
“Why not? One day soon, he’s going to come here and I’m not willing to risk it. I’m not willing to risk you or anyone else. If it was my woman with my kid, I’d do whatever I could to make them safe again.”
“This is all a little too much,” Holly said, pulling away. “You can’t go.”
“You’re not going to stop me.”
“I’m your mate.”
“Exactly. It’s why I’m doing this.” He turned to Christopher. “I know you will take care of her if anything was to happen. The pack needs you. They don’t need me. I’m expendable.”
“This is insane!” Holly stamped her foot. “You’re not going.”
“I leave tomorrow,” Damon said.
He looked at the alpha, who eventually nodded.
“Dad!”
“I don’t like this, Holly, but we’ve got no choice. There’s no way I’m going to allow Natalie to be hurt again, or anyone else in the pack.”
She shook her head. “So sending my mate out to a bunch of hunters. That’s all fine, right?”
“No. It’s not fine, but we both know Damon can handle himself.”
“I’ll be coming back.”
Holly shook her head, spun on her heel, and left the town hall.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” Christopher asked.
“Yes.”
“She loves you,” he said.
“She hasn’t said anything,” Damon said.
“My daughter is a stubborn woman. It is going to take more than just a mating to admit her feelings.”
Damon smiled. “She was quick to tell me she hated me.”
“Most women are. Damon, I have no doubt you’re going to handle this, and for that, I will be in your debt. Anything you want, it is yours.”
Damon stared at his father-in-law. It wasn’t official yet, but one day he hoped to make it so.
“I don’t want to lose Holly. I’m in love with her. I can’t imagine a life without her in it, and to be frank, I don’t want to. She owns my heart. I know she’d leave the pack for me, but I don’t want to ask that of her. Her place is here. I … I’ve only ever known pain and suffering within a pack, but I’d like to learn to be part of it. It has been a long time since I’ve ever bowed down to an alpha.”
“You won’t need to bow down to me, Damon. You want to join the pack to be with my daughter, then we will find a way to make it work. After this, the pack will be indebted to you, and you’d have earned your place by my side. I will not betray your trust.” He held out his hand and Damon shook it.
They didn’t try to crush each other’s hands either. Just a mutual shake. Two men coming together.
“I better go to Holly.”
His mate waited for him inside the car.
Her arms were folded and she was royally pissed off.
Climbing behind the wheel, he turned over the ignition and began the journey up to his home.
“Holly?” he asked.
“Don’t speak to me. I’m not talking to you.”
