I’d fucked up. Somehow or other I'd managed to put distance between Preston and myself. Even if I were too stupid to read it in his eyes—I could feel it across the bond. The problem was, I didn't know what I'd done.

Did I claim him too soon? But, that couldn’t be it. As I recalled—Preston was the first to bite. If I hadn't given the answering claim bite, we both would've gone slowly mad from a partial claim. Surely he knew that… No… It was something else. It had to be...

From the moment my guys had shown up at the cabin, something had been off—but fuck if I knew what it was. As much as I would've loved to stay in that honeymoonish bubble, the mission had to be handled first.

Which is why—despite my better judgment—I was taking him home to his father, instead of with me. While I was off finishing the mission and ensuring his future safety, I figured Preston could pack whatever he wanted to bring when I picked him up again to take him home… to our home. But in the meantime, his father's security guards would keep him safer than he’d be in my empty apartment.

"Bossboy, Senator Tierney’s secretary just messaged. He'll be waiting for us when we arrive."

I nodded my thanks to Levi, then flicked my eyes to Preston's reflection in the rearview mirror. "We won't be able to stay long at your house before we leave you. But then, you probably have some catching up to do with your father after all this anyway."

Preston wouldn't make eye contact, preferring instead to stare at his lap. "Trust me, the only catching up I'll be doing is with the four walls of my bedroom. I'm probably going to be on house arrest again—especially if Dad had to pay a big ransom. But don't worry about me, you do you, Beef Jerk."

Something about his nonchalant tone wasn't ringing right, but I couldn't read him. Somehow or another, the little shit was blocking me across the bond and all I was feeling from him was white noise.

Zeke met my eyes in the mirror with an expression full of silent reprimand, but I still had no idea what the fuck the problem was. I bit back a sigh and wished my papa were here. He'd be able to read the room and tell me what I'd done and how to fix it. I cleared my throat and turned my attention to Ezra.

"Ez, you'll accompany me inside while we drop off Preston and update his father."

"Aw, does that mean the rest of us have to sit out in the car because we might embarrass you?" Levi asked playfully.

"That's exactly why. Ezra is the only one of you fuckers that's housebroken enough to take into a nice place like Tierney Hall—not to mention the fact that their security detail might be a little put off by all of us walking in. It will go much smoother with just the two of us and Preston."

Before the guys could talk anymore shit, we were pulling through the guarded gates of Preston's home. Holy shit. The gates closed behind us automatically, and my eyes darted from the wide, perfectly manicured lawn to the giant fucking fountain to the three story columns fronting the house. Excuse me, mansion. There was no way I would ever be able to keep my mate happy if he was used to this kind of opulence—and I hadn't even been inside yet.

I tried to catch Preston's hand as he slipped out of the car, but he shoved it into his pocket and completely blocked me. Ignoring the taunts I would get later from my team, I moved in closer and spoke softly.

"Is something wrong, Princess? I feel like we should talk or something before you go inside, especially since I have to leave right away."

Preston bristled as he looked up at me, his eyes flashing with a mixture of hurt and anger. "Fuck talking, alpha. You said all you needed to say back at the cabin and I'm pretty sure we covered or something last night—mate. And quit calling me Princess… it’s disrespectful.”

I watched with dismay as he pushed past me and strode up the steps of the family mansion with a stiff back. He may as well have been flashing a neon sign telling me to fuck off. I scratched my head and tried to focus on the matter at hand rather than Preston's confusing signals.

Was he pissed that we'd mated? Embarrassed to be taking me home to his father? Or had I said or done something wrong? Was it as simple as him pouting over not getting to take a shower earlier? Surely he wasn't that spoiled, though...

"I don't know what the fuck you did to that boy, but you need to fix it and fast. What the hell did you say or do, Noah?" Ez asked softly enough that we wouldn't be overheard as we followed Preston up the steps.

"If you figure it out, I'd like to know the answer because your guess is as good as mine." I grunted as the door swung open to reveal a beefy alpha wearing a wireless headset and shoulder holster. Ah, good. Actual security. I hadn’t been able to tell if the guys outside were just rent-a-cops or what. I felt better already about leaving my mate here.

Our shoes echoed on the tile floor as we walked into a cavernous foyer. Everything was white with gold accents—but rather than looking luxurious, it felt cold and impersonal—like a museum. I winced as Ezra bumped against a large vase on a rickety looking side table that was probably older than the Constitution.

As if reading my mind, Preston glanced over at Ezra with a grin while the security guard took up a stance against the opposite wall. "Watch it, big guy. You don't want to break one of Dad’s precious antiquities—trust me, they are worth more than either of us to him."

Before I could unpack that statement, a set of double doors swung open on the far left side of the foyer. Senator Tierney came striding through the doors, his broad smile oozing with false charm.

"You must be Ray's boy. I just got off the phone with him twenty minutes ago." Senator Tierney was an older, smoother copy of Preston, with the same white and gold theme as his home, and just as impersonable. He disregarded Preston completely, focusing only on Ezra and myself as he waved toward the room behind him. "Please, come on into my office where you can update me on the case."

Turning to Preston, his voice grew chilly as the charm disappeared. "And as for you, get your ass in here—I've solved my problems. Your little adventure this weekend cost me five million, but that's fine because you'll be somebody else's issue to deal with now."

Had he already noticed Preston’s mating scar? A cold knot of something unpleasant bloomed in my gut. Senator Tierney turned and strode back into his office as though expecting us to follow in his wake. Ezra and I shrugged at each other and followed him, with Preston slinking along beside Ezra and still refusing to meet my eyes.

Alarms were already going off in my mind about leaving my mate here, and I wondered if maybe I should even have him pack a bag and come with me now.

But fuck, I didn't really have time to take him to Chicago while we were on mission. I mean, he didn't have to stay at my apartment. He could stay with my dads—the problem was taking the time away from the mission to deliver him there.

I'd been so deep in thought, I didn't immediately notice the other alpha in the room until I heard the senator speak.

"Preston, let's get you handled first before we alphas have our conversation. Like I said, I'm done with you and your bullshit. You have two options here today—you can marry Tristan here or you can go into a six-month rehab facility. Either way, you're out of my hands now."

The other alpha—a smarmy looking guy in his late thirties who smelled like some sort of cat shifter—stood from where he'd been seated. His face pinched with disgust as he had the balls to look my mate up and down before turning back to the senator, his face flushed with anger.

"What the hell are you trying to pull here, Tierney? I was willing to put up with your kid’s loose reputation given how pretty he is and for the political benefits you’re offering for my company, but you failed to mention that your son was already mated and pregnant to boot. I can handle a slutty omega, but I'll be damned if I'm going to raise another man's bastard."

My fist clenched as I pulled my elbow back and took a step toward the piece of shit, but as Ezra held me back with a steely grip on my forearm and a quiet shake of his head.

Senator Tierney's jaw dropped open as he stared at his son while the other alpha quickly left the room. The sound of his footsteps echoed from where he crossed the tile floor, his angry departure punctuated a moment later by the slamming of their front door.

"I didn't notice that mark on your neck, boy. But thank fuck we had a cat shifter here—those dickheads can smell pregnancy almost as soon as an omega’s taken. We'll talk about this mating shit later, I'm assuming it was with someone at that fucking party you attended? Unbelievable. Obviously you’ll be getting an abortion—now get out of my sight and go to your room while I talk to these alphas. I'll deal with your mangy ass later."

I was shaking with repressed anger. I couldn't even find words to tell this powerful man that I was the one who’d mated his son and that we were bonded… not to mention that no abortion would be happening. Before I could find my voice, Preston had stormed out of the room and was gone.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, gritting my teeth while I counted to ten before speaking to my mate's father. Once I'd calmed myself enough that I could handle speaking without wanting to rip this man limb from limb, I turned my attention to the senator.

"Your son didn't mate with some random alpha at that party—he's bonded to me, sir. We’re fated mates and caught each other’s scents. There will be no abortion, and I would appreciate it if you'd not talk to my mate like that again. I brought him here for your safekeeping while I finish this mission for you. Rest assured that when I return, Preston will be coming with me."

Senator Tierney looked at me with amused distaste. "Oh, I don't think so. While I don't much care what my son chooses to do with himself, having him mated to a damn soldier just isn't going to do it for me. You'll get yourself killed eventually and I'll find myself stuck with him all over again, this time with a baby in tow. No, that will not be happening, son."

I got up in the senator's face, stopping within spitting distance. "With all due respect, sir—don't call me son. Until you can treat your own son with a modicum of respect, I don't know that I care for you to call me anything at all. And as for Preston? You have no say anymore where he’s concerned—he's wearing my mark and carrying my child. No shifter on earth will choose your side over mine on that."

A supercilious smile crossed his face as he smirked at me. "Yes, but we live by human laws, don’t we? Not those of our shifterkin, hmm? You are not married to my son, therefore you have no claim over him legally. And although he's of age, his track record shows that he is incapable of proper decision-making. I'll have no problems having my son committed or put in rehab. Don't push me—son."

My wolf surged to the surface as Ezra pulled me back with a pinch hold on my shoulder. He firmly took over and spoke in my stead.

"Let's table this for now, gentlemen. The important thing right now is the mission and retrieving the files that will blow the good senator's cover as a human." Pushing me toward the door, Ezra nodded to Senator Tierney with an icy smile. "We have your contact information, sir. We'll be in touch once the data has been retrieved or destroyed. Please let your son know that his mate will return for him once the mission is complete."

With that, Ezra shoved me into the foyer and pulled me toward the front door. He didn't speak again until we were making our way down the steps.

"Listen, bossboy. I’ll agree with anyone who claims that man is a complete piece of shit and a disgusting excuse for a father—however, he has the political clout to shut down our unit and destroy everything your fathers have built. You have to play the game, Noah. You just gotta, man. I’m sorry, but that's how it is… You know that as well as I do."

I nodded tersely, unable to speak above the primal pounding in my head that was urging me to run back in there and grab my mate. I glanced back up at the house as I forced myself to get into the Jeep, only to see Preston watching me silently from a room on the second floor. With a wistful expression on his face that belied his irritation on the way here, Preston pressed a hand to the glass as if bidding me farewell.

Blowing my mate a kiss, I winked jauntily as though the weight of the whole world wasn't pressing on my shoulders and reluctantly slid into the vehicle. This fucking mausoleum might be cold as hell, but at least he'd be safe here until I returned for him.

At least, that's what I told myself—despite my misgivings—as we pulled away.