Page 11 of The Alpha Grizzly's Mate

“How could you make this happen?” My father was livid.

“I didn’t. I just came here and did the deliveries like I was supposed to.”

I was so glad I wasn’t face-to-face with him. He’d have seen the lie in my expression. He always could. It was my biggest weakness.

“You weren’t supposed to be there this week.”

“I’m supposed to be there every week, Dad.”Please let him buy it.

He growled. If he was here, he’d probably have clawed my face. He was pissed, but it wasn’t his betrayal growl, so I was calling it good.

“You probably led them there when you went last week.” As if I didn’t already have enough guilt. “You were supposed to follow a schedule. I gave you this job out of kindness. You saidyou would handle it.” His beast was so close to the surface, he barely sounded human. “I let you keep yourself clean, and what did you do? You have the blood of my people on your hands.”

I remained silent. When he got like this, that was always the best option.

“Do not come home until everything there is cleaned up—all of it. Do not leave there until it is as if nothing ever happened.”

And with that, he hung up.

There was no way of getting around my father when he was like this. There was no point in even pretending. I was going to be here for days. Arguing would only prolong it.

Before I could do a single thing to try to help the poor omegas and children, I had to clean this up. I was no use to them dead, and at his rage level, going home would’ve made that a very real possibility.

Goddess, please help.

Chapter Seven

Levi

“Let’s think slow, Levi,” my brother said from my right side. I had the dragon at my left. That fucker and I had bonded almost immediately in a brotherly, friend way, and he insisted on coming along with me for this mission.

Claimed the mission of finding your omega was the most important of all. He said his mate grounded him, calmed him. Centered his dragon in a way he’d never been before.

My bear just wanted my mate in my arms. In the twenty-four hours since finding my uncle and the kids here, we’d learned that this place was grand central for a crime family so deep in blood and broken laws, we were surprised the human authorities hadn’t put them away yet.

Then again, human law enforcement could be paid off to look the other way.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“What’s your plan?”

I hadn’t really done much planning. My bear had one focus. Find my omega. Immediately.

Movement on my left caught my eye. I saw a tall, lean male shutting the door to a van. He scrubbed his hand down his face, revealing worry lines.

Closing my eyes to focus more and reach for my bear, I inhaled deeply, taking in as much of his scent as I could from this distance. My bear let out a growl so loud, I almost had to cover my human ears from the power of it.

I opened my eyes to find the male had stilled. Keys still in his hands.

Eyes wide with wonder and surprise.

My breaths became short and tense as I reined in my bear. That damned beast wanted to take over my consciousness and prowl in front of my mate, needing him to see our powerful body.

The fool.

I held up my hands, showing I was harmless, at least to him. “I’m Levi.”

The male swallowed. I watched his Adam’s apple bob in his throat, wishing I could press my mouth to his skin and taste him. “I…I’m Colson. I…mate.”

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