Page 24 of The Alpha Grizzly's Mate

“I’ll agree, but I have a condition of my own. I get your trust, and you and the cubs are safe. But…you also owe me a favor of my choice for each of the dead men their escape cost me.”

I didn’t count how many there were, but even one favor to my father was one too many.

“Those favors can have nothing to do with my den or any of my friends.”

“Agreed. They’ll be work favors and work alone.”

“Fine. Deal. The day my trust matures, I’ll sign it over to you. Every last penny.”

I didn’t need money. I had something better than that. I had the love of a true mate. And five little ones who counted on me to protect them from people like him.

My father pulled me in for a hug, ignoring my current state. “The deal is done.”

I spit on the ground and saw the bodyguard put his hand on his holster. But he wasn’t gonna mess with me. Not over spitting, anyway. “The deal is done. Now leave, Father.”

He gave a single nod and walked away. I watched as he climbed into the car and drove away.

I shifted back and went home. I had a mate to hold and a family to check on.

Chapter Fifteen

Levi

My wolf woke me in the dead of night. I extended my arm along the other side of the bed, expecting to find the silken skin and taut body of my omega. Instead, there was nothing but a cold spot on the sheets and a pillow with no sleeper.

I sat up on my elbows. Colson had to be using the restroom or maybe up for a glass of water, but I heard no movement in the house, and his warming, amber scent had dissipated some time ago.

My heart seized as I threw off the sheet that covered only my groin.

“Colson!” I called out only to hear no reply.

We were newly mated, and I had faith and trust in him, but I couldn’t help the million doom-filled thoughts took over my brain at that moment. Maybe he’d run away. My life was in chaos and, even though he’d never been pregnant, we had five cubs to look after. My hours as an alpha were packed, and sometimes I didn’t have as much time with him as I wanted.

“Levi?” my mate called out, followed by the click of our front door closing.

“I’m here.”

When I reached him, my wolf instantly picked up the scent of another wolf. A male. An alpha. That scent mixed with the outside smells of grass and trees clung to him. I stilled my wolf. He wanted to go outside and slaughter whatever alpha thought it was okay to be alone with my mate.

My human side won over, telling my wolf that above all, we had to trust our omega.

With my jaw clenched, I asked him, “Please tell me why there’s another alpha’s scent on you.”

“I assure you, it’s nothing seedy. Well, it might be. Let’s sit down. Please, Levi.”

I pulled out a chair for my mate and then one for myself from under the dining room table. We sat down, listening to be sure the cubs were still resting. “Colson, talk to me before my bear goes nuts.”

“My father was outside. I went to get some fresh air and scented him. He wanted to talk to me.”

“About what? Did he hurt you?” I searched my mate for any sign of harm.

“No. My father is a lot of things but he would never harm me. He…wanted to talk about you and me and me leaving the compound and where I was. He also wanted me to know that he is aware of what you and the team did to his men.”

“Is he planning revenge?” I asked.

“No. Mostly, it was a father checking on his son.”

I nodded. My anger still made my insides tremble but not at my mate—at his father. Meeting him here, in the dead of night. Anything could’ve happened. “I’m not happy you put yourself in danger, omega. I wouldn’t know how to live without you now.”

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