Rory stared at her, his wolf in his eyes. She bravely held his gaze for a few seconds before lowering her stare to the floor, baring her throat in an act of submission. He considered her unfinished statement and remembered all the suspicions Shayla had about this woman-child.
Then he thought about what it must have been like being raised with Laurie Bell as a mother, knowing what he did about the woman now. Ashley’s life must have been a living hell.
He sighed and felt the wolf retreat. “The past is the past. Thank you for the warning. You’re a beautiful young lady. One day you’ll be a formidable woman. Go show the Arizona pack and MacDougal what you’re made of.”
She gave him a brilliant smile. “Thank you, alpha.”
“Go on. Your mate’s waiting for you.”
Ashley hesitated before giving him a quick hug and a peck on the cheek. Then she was out the door. MacDougal and Ashley. He was still reeling. But the two were gone now, and Rory pushed them out of his mind to return to his mountain of invoices and contracts.
That evening, as Rory thought over all that had happened today, he realized his only unfinished business was his mate and her procrastination in telling her parents of their mating. Rory allowed another month to go by before taking matters into his own hands.
While she slept, he eased out of bed, took her cell phone off the bedside table, and went downstairs to his office. An hour later, a smile on his face, he shook Shay by the shoulder. “Shay, your mom’s on the phone.”
She groggily held out a hand, asking, “What time is it?”
“Eight. I’ll go get breakfast started.” As he left the room he heard her say, “Morning, Mommy. What’s up?”
He’d just cleared the bottom stair tread when his mate bellowed, “Rory McFelan! Your ass is mine!”
His laughter rang out while his mate continued to heap recriminations on his head, turning the air blue. Claiming Shayla was the best move he’d ever made.
