Mate Claimed (Shifters Unbound #4)(88)
Author: Jennifer Ashley

“Not so much joint as you don’t step on my toes, I don’t step on yours. I’m leader over my Lupine clans, and you don’t mess with that. And I won’t tell your Shifters what to do. I don’t want to have to deal with a bunch of f**king Felines and crazy-ass bears anyway.”

He trailed off into growls, and Eric stuck out his hand. “Done.”

“Done.”

Graham shook his hand in the human way, but their hands remained clasped, sinews working as each tried to out-crush the other.

Iona stopped herself rolling her eyes and smiled at the young woman. “I’m Iona. Shifter males are rude. I’ll never know your name if you don’t tell me.”

“Misty. Misty Granger. It’s Melissa, but everyone calls me Misty. Do you like the garland? Graham said I should do it for you—I own a flower shop on Flamingo.”

“Yes.” Iona touched it. “It’s beautiful.” The garland had been delivered to the front door that afternoon, but Iona and Cassidy had been so busy getting ready for the ceremony that Iona hadn’t noticed where it had come from.

“I thought white roses and baby’s breath, since it was a moon ceremony.” Misty studied it critically. “Came out well, I think.”

Eric and Graham finally let go of each other’s hands, the testosterone contest ending in a draw. Eric slid his arm around Iona’s waist.

“It is beautiful,” Eric said, giving Misty one of his warm smiles. “Thank you. Now, I have another surprise for my mate.”

Eric led Iona away from Graham, who showed all his teeth in a grin as he watched them go.

Eric walked with her toward the largest bonfire built in the center of the yards, but before they reached it, Iona saw her mother break away from Diego, Cassidy, and Amanda, and walk, her body taut, to a Shifter male who stood a little outside the circle of firelight.

The Shifter was as tall as Eric but not so bulked. He had jet-black hair that was just going gray at the temples and a hard face that softened as he watched Penny approach him.

Her mother kept moving to him, bewildered. When Penny stopped in front of him, the Shifter looked down at her for a long moment, then his face crumpled, and he pressed his hands over it. Penny gently took the man’s hands, lowered them from his face, and raised them to her lips.

Iona’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. “Eric, who is…”

Eric took her hand and started to walk her toward him. “I found your dad, Iona. Well, Xav and my Guardian did.”

Iona stumbled. Eric’s strong grip kept her upright, encouraging her along until they reached the Shifter and Penny.

The Shifter turned and looked at Iona, stunned. His eyes, Iona saw, were the same blue as hers, and in them she read pain, fear, loneliness, and shame. “I’m sorry, lass,” the man said, his Highland Scots accent thick. “Iona, my daughter, I am so sorry.”

“He didn’t know about you,” Eric said, his voice a warm rumble. “He was one of the first Shifters rounded up, and has been living in a Shiftertown in Idaho ever since.”

“You could have tried to find me,” Penny said, tears in her voice. “You knew who I was. You could have tried.”

“You were married, lass,” Ross McRae said. “You married the man you truly loved, and were happy. How could I take that from you?”

“But he died,” Penny said. “And I was alone.” She still had his hands, holding them as though she never wanted to let go.

“And I was a Shifter with a Collar. Life with a Shifter is hard, and I couldn’t force you to live it. And I had no idea that one of your bairns was mine.”

“I didn’t know how to find you to tell you.”

Iona’s eyes burned as she listened to them. With a moan that wrenched from her heart, she pushed past her mother and flung her arms around her father.

Ross McRae’s face streamed with tears as he swept Iona up into a tight hug. He held her there, shaking, while Eric’s strong hand on Iona’s back warmed her through.

“You can start making it up now, I think,” Eric said. “I’ve put the procedures in motion to move you to this Shiftertown, if that’s what you want.”

Ross lifted his head, his cheeks wet. “Do you want that, Pen?”

Penny nodded. “I think so.”

Ross wrapped one arm around Penny while keeping Iona within the embrace of the other. “Thank you, Eric Warden,” he said.

“My pleasure. Welcome to the family, Ross McRae. I love your daughter with all my heart. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, lad,” Ross said, trying to smile.

The look Eric bent on Iona had her heart speeding. “And now, if you don’t mind,” he said, “it’s our full moon ceremony. Which means we have lots to do.”

Ross relinquished Iona to him with a bit of reluctance. Eric instantly slid his arm around Iona as though he intended to be touching her in some way the rest of their lives.

Iona looked back as they started for the house. Her mother and Ross had turned to each other again, Ross enclosing Penny’s hands in his.

“How did you do that?” Iona asked. “Find him for us?”

“The Guardian Network. Don’t ask—I don’t understand it all myself. Guardians are the keepers of information, and once Neal had a place to start, he found Ross fairly quickly. I think he’s here to stay.”

“Thank you,” Iona said, heartfelt. “Thank you so much, Eric.”

They’d reached the house. Eric pulled Iona inside its stuffy darkness and warmed her lips with his kiss. “I’m your mate. I do everything for you now.”

Eric’s hard body came against hers, his wanting obvious. Their kiss was quiet, the solitude of the house a soothing contrast to the wildness outside. Eric’s firm, hot hands slid down Iona’s back, and she scented his frenzy rising.

“Wait,” she whispered. “Be careful. What if the pain comes?”

“It won’t.” Eric nipped her neck. “Not as long as I’m with you.”

“What did you find out about it? That was why you went to see this Murdock, didn’t you? Cassidy told me who he was.”

“Come with me.” Eric took Iona’s hands and tugged her down the hall to Jace’s bedroom—which was now theirs—but instead of making for the bed, he opened the secret door that led downstairs.

Eric took her into the stairwell and locked the door behind her, then led her down, not bothering with the lights, both of them seeing fine in the darkness.