CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

As Emmet Pierson sat hemming and hawing at the menu the next afternoon, Dominic exchanged an impatient look with Trey. The human had chosen the restaurant as a meeting place, and it was fairly busy. Servers walked back and forth carrying steaming trays of food to the many booths and tables. It served everything from simple burgers to ethnic-inspired dishes. Music played softly in the background, combining with the sounds of voices murmuring, food sizzling, and silverware clinking. The cool air wafting from the vents eased the warmth coming from the low-hanging lights.

Going by the brittle smile the waitress shot him, Emmet was a regular there and not well liked. Dominic wondered if he was someone who complained a lot or who skimped on the tip.

Dominic sipped his coffee and then set it on the coaster. The human was the only one at the table ordering food. Any other time, the scents of grilled meat, spices, and fragrant steam would have made Dominic’s stomach rumble. But he, Trey, Taryn, and Dante had eaten well before they came.

After finally placing his order, Emmet raised a brow at them. “Are you sure you don’t wish to order anything?”

“No, thanks,” said Taryn while the others shook their heads.

Emmet snapped the menu shut and handed it to the waitress, who then walked off. He adjusted his tie, his eyes on Dominic. “I believe you know my daughter, Rosemary.”

“Vaguely,” Dominic allowed.

“Vaguely,” Emmet echoed, his lips thinning. “She may have mentioned to you that she was married until last year. Her husband of nine years divorced her when she was unable to conceive a child. Bastard,” he added under his breath.

Rosemary had briefly mentioned the divorce, but she hadn’t gone into any detail. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“We have shifter blood in the family. My great-great-grandmother was half shifter. None of her children had an inner animal, nor did any descendants from the following generations. We don’t have enhanced strength or accelerated healing either. Rosemary, however, has always believed that she possesses an inner wolf. As a child, she would say that it was ‘sleeping.’ I thought it was a child’s imagination. But she still swears she can feel it inside her. Swears that she feels its presence, though it remains asleep.”

Trey’s brow furrowed. “And it’s never once woken?”

“No.” Emmet unrolled his pristine white napkin, took out the silverware, and examined it. Apparently unsatisfied, he began to wipe his fork with the napkin. “From what I understand of shifters, they are only able to produce children with whomever they form a mating bond.”

“That’s true,” Trey granted.

“Which means it could very well explain why she wasn’t able to have children with her husband,” said Emmet. “As a shifter, she requires a mate.”

Lips pursed, Trey shook his head. “I doubt that’s the issue here. Her shifter blood is simply far too diluted for that to be a factor.”

“But she has an inner wolf.” Emmet shifted his gaze to Dominic, and his perceptive eyes narrowed. “You don’t believe that, do you?”

No, Dominic didn’t. “If she had a wolf, I would have sensed her. My wolf would have sensed her.” Plus, the woman smelled purely human.

Emmet’s jaw hardened. “As Rosemary said, the animal is sleeping. ‘Latent,’ I believe you call such a thing.”

“‘Latent’ is when the animal hasn’t surfaced,” said Taryn. “It isn’t asleep, though. It’s very much alert; it’s a big presence within the person.”

Impatience flitted across Emmet’s expression as he looked at the Alpha female. “Perhaps that’s the case in some situations, like with yours, but not in this one.”

Trey stiffened. “And what is it exactly that you know about my mate?”

“It’s not uncommon knowledge that she was a latent shifter until you mated with her. That brought out the wolf.” Emmet looked at Dominic. “I want you to do the same for Rosemary.”

Dominic did a slow blink. “Say again?” He had to have misheard the guy.

“If you mate with her, you can bring out her wolf. Allow her to have children.” Like it was really that simple. “You had a relationship with her until recently, so I’m sure it wouldn’t be a chore for you to simply bite her.”

Relationship? Dominic straightened in his chair, unable to believe he was truly fucking hearing this. “I don’t know what your daughter told you—”

“She told me everything. How you met at a supermarket, how you swept her off her feet, how loving and attentive you were, how you spent most nights at her apartment and spoke of moving her onto your territory. I don’t know what led to the argument you had, she wouldn’t speak of it. But these things can be worked out.”

What the fuck? Dominic’s wolf growled, enraged that the female had falsely alleged that she had some sort of claim to him. “You’re far off base here, Pierson,” Dominic told him, keeping his tone carefully controlled. Still, his voice deepened in anger. “I was not in a relationship with your daughter. Far from it, in fact. Regardless, mating with someone isn’t simply a case of biting them.”

Emmet waved that away. “I’ve read up on shifters, I know how it works. You bite the female to make your claim on her. That mark makes her your mate. A bond then forms between you. A bond that gives the human added strength, accelerated healing, and enables her to have children. And you were, in fact, in a relationship with her; she told me all about it.

“If you don’t think the mating will work in the long run, fine, end it at some point. But at least keep her as your mate until she becomes pregnant and her wolf has surfaced. She’ll have no issue with you having contact with the child.”

Dominic could only stare at the human. The guy was either fucking deluded, like his daughter, or he was vastly uneducated on the ways of shifters.

Taryn sighed. “There’s a great deal of misinformation out there about mating bonds, Mr. Pierson, and—”

“You cannot claim that you weren’t latent,” clipped Emmet.

Trey bristled. “As a matter of fact, we can claim whatever the fuck we want—we don’t owe you any explanation about anything. But yes, it’s common knowledge that my mate was latent until we mated. However, I’ve yet to hear of another latent shifter whose animal surfaced upon mating.”

“That doesn’t mean it won’t happen for my daughter,” said Emmet, not in the least bit deterred.

“A bite won’t cause a mating bond to form,” Dante told the human. “It doesn’t work that way. It certainly wouldn’t grant your daughter added strength or any other shifter abilities. And even if Dominic did mate with your daughter, it wouldn’t be something either of them could walk away from once she had what she wanted.”

Emmet scoffed. “No one truly believes that mating bonds are mystical connections or that their mates are predestined.”

“Surely you heard stories about the bond your great-great-grandmother shared with her mate,” said Dominic.

“She was a kooky woman who was also convinced that the wind spoke to her.” Emmet shook his head, incredulous. “If you wanted to get out of a mating, you could. Anyone could.”

Oh, you could walk away, but not without facing potentially dire consequences. Keeping a distance from your true mate could lead to one or both individuals turning rogue. When Dominic’s mother left, his father’s wolf had not only turned rogue, he’d also killed three people before the Alpha and Beta of Dominic’s old pack managed to take the wolf down.

Lincoln hadn’t deserved that ending to his life. He hadn’t been evil, hadn’t even known what he was doing. And it just went to show that the mating bond wasn’t always the pretty, shiny thing it was perceived to be.

Dominic lifted his chin. “I can’t give you or your daughter what she wants.”

“Maybe this will change your mind.” Emmet fished something out of his pocket and then slid it across the table. A check for $50,000. No one touched it. “All I’m asking you to do is temporarily take Rosemary as your mate. Once her animal has surfaced and she’s pregnant, you can walk away from the relationship.”

Dominic had to clamp his jaw shut to bite back a curse. The human was just not fucking listening.

Emmet’s gaze cut to Trey. “I’m a good ally to have. That’s what shifters like, isn’t it? Allies. It can be very beneficial to have good human connections. I can give you those.” He looked at Dominic, clearly expecting him to agree.

Dominic didn’t. “If Rosemary really has an inner animal, it’s possible that she has a true mate waiting for her. I wish her good luck in finding him. That male is not me. She and I were not in a relationship. We met at a bar, we had a one-night stand, and I left before morning—that’s it. There was nothing more to it than that, which she knows perfectly well.” No, it wasn’t nice to tell this guy that he’d had a one-night stand with his daughter, but this human wasn’t getting the message.

Flushing, Emmet placed his hands flat on the table. “As I said, I’m a good ally to have. I can also make a very bad enemy.”

Trey gave him a shark’s grin. “You can’t make a worse enemy than I can.”

Emmet’s eyes flickered. “Don’t be so sure of that. You have a son. Is there anything you wouldn’t do to secure his happiness? Could you really sit by and watch him suffer?” He banged his fist on the table. “Dammit, you didn’t see how Rosemary fell apart after her ex-husband left her. He tossed her aside like she was nothing. Ever since she was a child, all she ever wanted was a child of her own.”

Pierson looked at Dominic. “You say you can’t force her wolf to surface. Fine. But you can at least give her that sense of worth back that her ex-husband took from her. I’m offering you fifty thousand dollars. All you have to do is bite her, claim her as yours, and then impregnate her—all of which you could probably do in one evening.”

“I’m sorry for what your daughter went through,” Taryn said to him. “I truly am. And I can understand that you love her and just want to make everything better for her. But we’ve explained to you that what you’re asking for can’t be done. Mating bonds are complex things that cannot be forced, bought, or simply willed into existence. If you don’t believe us on that, talk to other shifters. Offer the same deal to them. They’ll tell you the same thing.”

“She doesn’t want other shifters, she wants your pack mate. She loves him.” Emmet looked at Dominic. “Not that you deserve her, considering you won’t even admit to having had a relationship with her.”

“There was no relationship,” Dominic told him as he and his pack mates got to their feet. “And there never will be. Take my Alpha female’s advice—consult other shifters and offer that check to them. You’ll soon come to realize that you’re asking for something I can’t give her.”

With that, the four wolves stalked out of the restaurant and headed to the pack’s vehicle.

Riding shotgun, Dominic rubbed at his nape. “I did not see that coming.”

“Rosemary never hinted at you mating with her?” Trey asked him from the rear seat, his arm draped around Taryn.

“No.” Dominic clicked on his seat belt. “She said she was divorced, that the guy was a complete asshole, and that she envied shifters for having predestined mates. She didn’t mention that she believed she had an inner animal.”

“Because she was sure you’d know that to be untrue.” Dante switched on the ignition and reversed out of the parking space. “I’m guessing she thought Daddy could get her what she wanted. Money talks in the world of humans. In our world? Not so much.”

“Although I feel bad that she can’t have kids, I also want to wring her neck for feeding her father all those lies,” said Taryn. “She clearly lives in a fantasy world. Be careful, Dominic. People like that don’t give up easily. They can cling to their beliefs for a long time. She apparently sees you as the answer to all her problems.”

Driving out of the lot, Dante sighed at him. “Don’t you know better than to sleep with unhinged humans, Dom?”

“Hey, she didn’t let her crazy flag fly when I was around her,” Dominic defended himself. “She seemed normal enough.”

“See, this is what happens when you skip the getting-to-know-the-girl phase—you miss learning she’s a living, breathing shit-storm heading your way.” Dante met Trey’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “Do you think her father will try to cause problems for the pack?”

“I doubt it,” replied Trey. “He probably threatened us because he was pissed. Besides, I don’t see what kind of trouble Pierson could cause us anyway. He’s probably still hoping that Dominic will change his mind. Whatever the case, it’s possible that Dominic hasn’t seen the last of Rosemary. She won’t like that she didn’t get what she wanted.”

Dominic snickered. “Well, she’ll just have to deal with it.”

Shoving her pasta around the lunch container with her fork, Mila sighed. She’d known that her parents wouldn’t take the whole “arranged mating” thing well. Known they wouldn’t want her to take a mate who’d only looked her way because he wanted an alliance with the Ivanov wolverines. Known they’d hate that mating Maksim would mean her staying permanently in Russia. Although she’d been braced for their disappointment, the weight of it still hurt.

Her mother was beyond furious. Her mouth tight, Valentina was sharply striding around the barbershop’s break room cleaning in fast-forward—wiping coffee grounds from the counter, cleaning mug rings from the table, tidying the newspapers, washing cups, and even wiping the screen of the wall-mounted TV.

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” said James, sitting on the couch with his elbows braced on his thighs and his hand clenched around a porcelain mug. “You’re the last person I ever thought would enter into an arranged mating.”

“It sounds cold, I know, but I like the guy, Dad.” Mila leaned back in the plastic chair. “It’s not official yet. I haven’t allowed Maksim to lay any claim on me—not even a temporary one. We’ll get to know each other better when I return to Russia. I’m not rushing into anything—I can’t rush, since the visa application process takes time. It’s not like I’m leaving next week or anything.”

“Arranged matings can be disastrous if the couple never imprints on each other.”

“Which is why I won’t go through with the mating ceremony unless we imprint. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll walk away. But there are many instances where such matings do go well.”

“Oh, couples can grow to care for each other, sure, and the bonds they form can be strong. But not always strong enough that their happiness is long lasting.”

“What about my grandparents?” she challenged, referring to Valentina’s parents. “They entered into an arranged mating, and they’re happy.”

James flicked his hand. “Skeletor and her man-slave don’t count.”

“Why not?”

“Because they’re both highly dysfunctional.”

Considering her grandfather did odd shit like pretend to be agoraphobic so that her grandmother wouldn’t make him go shopping, Mila couldn’t argue with that. She dumped her fork in the plastic tub, and her mother instantly snatched it up, along with James’s cup. “Mom, sit down, I’ll clean them.” But Valentina went ahead and did it herself as if Mila hadn’t spoken. Wiping her hands on a napkin, Mila turned back to her father. “I’m sorry that this isn’t a decision you can support or respect, I truly am, but—”

“I want to support you,” he said. “I just can’t support you shortchanging yourself. Just because you can’t be with your true mate doesn’t mean that an arranged mating is your only option. It doesn’t mean you can’t find real happiness with someone else.”

“I know that. But who says I can’t find it with Maksim?”

“That is not your father’s point.” Valentina dried her hands on a dish towel and tossed it aside. “You can do better than an arranged mating, Mila.”

“It was more like your brothers did a little matchmaking than it was a business transaction,” said Mila.

“But your mating the Alpha’s son would solidify an alliance; that makes it business.” Valentina pointed at her. “You deserve better. You can do better. You have a life here, Mila.”

“I enjoy my jobs, but they’re not jobs I can’t do elsewhere.” She’d miss this place, though. She’d worked at Blade and Spice Barbershop since she was a teenager. She loved it here. Loved its rustic charm and relaxed atmosphere. Loved that each day was different and that she could help others feel their best. Offering cuts, shaves, facials, and other services, it was a popular place.

The barbershop belonged to her uncle Vinnie, just as all the other nearby businesses did. Unlike most species of shifter, pallas cats kept the existence of their breed secret from humans and didn’t claim territories. They did, however, often group together for protection. The pride owned every store on both sides of the street—some they used themselves; others Vinnie rented out.

Her pride mates didn’t work in every store, though. Humans ran the bookstore, and a shifter-witch hybrid ran the herbalist store. The pride hired humans and even lone shifters.

Vinnie also owned two nearby apartment buildings, where many members of the pride lived. The cats working and living so close together was similar to a pack hanging out on its territory. The pride might not have claimed the land and segregated themselves from the public, but they liked to stay near each other.

“What about us?” demanded Valentina, returning dishware to cupboards. “You would leave us—your own parents?”

Ah, here came the emotional blackmail. Her mother could wield it like a pro. “You’ve been globe-trotters ever since I turned eighteen. If I leave here, I’ll still see you about as much as I do now.”

“What about your brother? He is your twin. You cannot leave your twin.”

“Alex is always roaming, and he goes to Russia a lot.”

“And what about your friends? Hmm?”

“If they’re real friends, they’ll get off their asses and come visit me.”

With a little growl, Valentina mule-kicked a cupboard door, slamming it shut. “I blame Adele and Joel for this. I will make them pay.”

Mila held up a calming hand. “I don’t begrudge them what they have, nor do I resent them for what they’re building. But my cat does, and I don’t know how to help her.” Even hearing Joel’s name was enough to make her cat curl back her upper lip.

James scrubbed a hand down his face. “I can understand why you’d want to put space between you and them if your cat’s struggling so much. But moving to Russia? That’s a hell of a distance.”

“Like I told you, it’ll depend on how things go between me and Maksim,” Mila reminded him. “He seems like a nice guy. You’d like him.”

James snorted. “No, I won’t. Not if he takes my baby girl from me.”

Valentina planted her hands on her hips. “And if things do not work out between you and this Maksim, you will come home. Yes?”

“If my cat manages to work through her shit, yeah.” But Mila didn’t see that happening in a hurry.

“Honey,” began James, his voice gentle, “it’s unlikely that she’ll ever forgive Joel.”

“I know.” Mila swallowed. “But if she found happiness with someone else, she might be able to look at Joel without wanting to slit him from throat to sternum.”

James winced. “That bad, huh?”

Mila nodded. “That bad.”

A stream of Russian curses flew out of Valentina’s mouth, her voice so loud that it bounced off the walls of the small room. “He should be the one to leave. Not you.”

“Joel hasn’t done anything wrong,” said Mila.

Valentina’s nostrils flared. “But he was not born in this pride. You were.”

“So was Adele,” Mila pointed out. “She has just as much of a right to be here as I do.”

“Bah,” scoffed Valentina. “She is too weak to be pallas cat. Sweet. Delicate. Needy. Eager to please. Your kind are fierce and strong. She is like lost puppy.”

In some ways, yeah, she was. Mila’s cat thought of the other female as weak too. But. “She’s Joel’s choice.”

“Then he is stupid and does not deserve my girl.” Eyes shiny, Valentina turned away and shut a drawer so hard the cutlery rattled.

As her mother worked to close the crooked drawer that seemed determined to remain open, Mila said, “Watch that drawer, Mom. It’s stuck and—” But it shut easily for her mother, as if it didn’t dare risk her wrath.

“Mila, your client’s here!” Archie, the senior barber and manager, yelled from the shop floor.

Standing, Mila straightened her shirt, relieved to escape the break room and the conversation. “I have to go now. My break’s over, and it’s Archie’s turn to take his.”

“We are not done, Mila. You will come have dinner with me and your father tonight so that we can talk more,” Valentina declared. “I will make Chocolate Spartak Cake.”

Mila’s mouth curved slightly. “I’ll be there.”

With a gentle smile, James squeezed Mila’s hand. “See you later, sweetheart. Love you.”

“Love ya too.” Walking out of the break room and into the barbershop, she gave her parents one last wave as they left.

Archie stood at the counter operating the antique brass cash register as his freshly groomed client chatted away to him. The other barber, Evander—who was Archie’s son—was getting shaving products together while his client relaxed in a chair with a steaming cloth over his face.

The individual stations each featured a padded swivel chair, a large framed mirror, and a small shelf on which lay combs, shears, scissors, and other tools. Additional glass shelves were stacked with shaving creams, rolled-up towels, gels, waxes, and other products. Framed vintage photos of old barbershops hung on the brick walls, along with a “Don’t worry, it’ll grow back eventually” sign. At the center of the back wall, just above the door that led to the break room, was a black decal of the business logo.

Mila crossed to her station and caught the eye of the male in the waiting area. He was sitting on the black leather couch with a little boy on his lap. The bobcat shifter, Dean, and his nephew, Finley, were fairly new clients of hers. “Hi,” she greeted simply.

Dean stood with a smile. “Hey,” he said. “Finley needs another trim, as you can see.”

Mila looked at the little boy. “Ready?”

As usual, Finley wrapped his arms around Dean’s leg. The kid never liked getting his hair cut.

“I saved some strawberry lollipops for you,” said Mila. Finley’s head snapped up, eyes wide with interest, and she smiled.