Luke heard Marigold shout for Quinn to wait. He caught up to her at the stairs. “I’ll go after her.” He handed Marigold the phones he’d collected from the Orson women. “Take these to Rick to clean.”

Getting Alisa to give up her phone had been as difficult as getting a piece of steak away from a pit bull. He was lucky he still had his fingers.

He heard Quinn’s door slam, and he knocked before entering. “Can I come in?”

“Yes,” he heard her say from the bathroom along with some colorful expletives. The toilet flushed.

“Are you okay?”

“No,” she said as came into the bedroom again. “I can’t believe how freaking vulnerable I am. He watched me and listened to me, and now I found out that not even my phone was safe. I feel gross, like scrubbing myself down with bleach wouldn’t get me clean.”

“He had no right,” Luke snarled. “I swear to Loki, I will rip him apart with my bare hands.”

“If only you had bear hands.” Quinn sighed. “He knows, Luke. If he read my text, he knows you’re not a bear shifter.”

“Not a what?” Melody stormed into the bedroom. She waved her hands. “Never mind, I don’t want to know. The first guest has arrived.”

“The party doesn’t start for an hour.”

“I know that,” Melody said frantically. “Don’t you think I know that? I sent out the invitations. But it’s Geraldine Wilder, and I’m not about to turn her away at the door for being early. Oh, and she’s brought a human woman along with her. I need you to get dressed and get downstairs, Quinn Ann. Now.”

Luke was glad to hear Gerri Wilder had arrived. The woman obviously knew something about Trey’s plans, or she wouldn’t have gone through all the trouble of disguising Luke. When Melody rushed out as quickly as she had rushed in, Luke walked over to Quinn.

“You look beautiful,” he said. He kissed her cheek and inhaled her deeply. A memory that would sustain him overseas. “Whatever happens tonight, you will get through it. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”

“Luke,” Quinn said.

Marigold knocked at the open door. “Bad timing? I can wait out in the hall.”

“Good timing,” Luke said. He stepped back from Quinn and felt like he was stepping back from life itself. Even though his heart was breaking, he offered her a gentle smile. “I’ll see you down stairs.”

After he had left Quinn’s bedroom, he bee-lined for the first floor ballroom. That’s where Melody would have put the honored guests. The vetted bartenders and caterers were still setting up, but the place was lavish with a full hot buffet, trays of finger foods, elaborate flower arrangements, and a classical string quartet warmed their fingers. Mrs. Wilder stood by a plate of hors d'oeuvres, and Luke heard her telling her companion, a short, dark haired woman in a conservative, yet attractive black evening dress, how mini quiches were overrated as a party snack.

He strolled across the large room, and when Gerri saw him, she smiled. “Luke, so nice to see you.”

Her human companion turned around, and Luke immediately recognized her. Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Dashwood. “Mom? What are you doing here?”

“I would have told you I was coming if you’d have bothered to answer any of my phone calls.”

Luke blanched. She wasn’t wrong. “I’m busy with an assignment right now. You didn’t have to arrange a ruse to see me.”

“This isn’t a ruse. Gerri invited me to the party. That’s all. I thought it might be fun. I don’t get out often.”

Mrs. Wilder tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear. “Your mother is my friend. I’m not allowed to bring a friend?” The corner of her mouth tugged up in a side smile.

What could Luke say that wouldn’t make himself sound or look worse? Nothing. He had behaved abominably toward his mother, the quintessential bad son. “I should have called you.”

“Yes,” Ronnie agreed.

“Who is this?” Quinn asked.

Luke jumped. He hadn’t even realized she was behind him. When he saw her, his heart stopped beating, his breath ceased, and his whole existence was turned upside down on its head. She wore a gown of white with silver beads and crystals that hugged Quinn’s every sensual curve. Luke’s mouth went dry as he tried to form words. “Uhm, Quinn, this is my mom, Ronnie. Mom this is Quinn.”

“The woman of the hour,” Ronnie said. “You are lovely.”

Mrs. Wilder grinned. “One hot mamma,” she said. “In that dress, you’d make men give up whole nations.”

Luke disagreed. In or out of that dress, Quinn could make men give up the world. “Did you bring Quinn’s mate?” The words were bitter on his tongue. “I’ve kept her safe. I hope you’ve done the same.”

“Luke,” Quinn said. “Don’t. It just makes it harder.”

“Her match is already here,” Mrs. Wilder said. “You’ll have to ask him yourself if you want to know if he’s worthy for of a queen.”

“Where?” Quinn asked.

Apprehension and anxiety were evident, even if he couldn’t smell it on her. That fucking bear scent. He hated hiding. Especially now that he was about to face Quinn’s future. One that didn’t include him.

“Where is he?” Luke demanded when Gerri didn’t answer Quinn.

“Right in front of me.” Her expression softened. “Ask yourself, Luke. Are you worthy of a queen?”

His wolf bayed with frustration. This had to be some kind of trick. What was Mrs. Wilder playing at? Quinn’s clan was at stake. “I don’t understand.”

“How can I take Luke as a mate?” She turned to Luke. He saw her hope—and her confusion.

“The mate you need isn’t always the one you think is right.”

“But you’re wrong, Mrs. Wilder,” Quinn said. “I need Luke, and I think he’s the right one. But he’s a wolf shifter. Not a bear. You know this. So why throw us together?”

The older woman took her hand. “Do you love him, Quinn?”

Luke held his breath.

“Yes,” Quinn finally said.

Luke let out his breath.

“Then you will take him as a mate,” Melody Orson said.

Damn, those Orson women were stealthy! Luke turned and faced Quinn’s mother. Melody’s expression was one of love and concern.

“But you’ll lose everything, Mom,” said Quinn softly.

“No, I won’t. You and your sisters are more important to me than this house and all the possessions in it. Quinn, I loved your father, not for his position or his wealth, but for his heart. He was the kindest man I’ve ever met, and he led the Orsino clan with both wisdom and strength.” Melody clasped her daughter’s hands. “Neither of us would want you to choose misery disguised as duty.”

Melody took Luke’s hand and placed it over Quinn’s. “I’ve seen the way you two have been mooning over each other all week. If you took anyone else as a mate, you’d ruin three lives.”

“And the clan? What will become of them?”

“The only way to free them from Trey’s rule would be to buy their way out, but the price is steep. I don’t know how we would get the money.”

“I have money,” Ronnie said.

“What?” Luke felt euphoric and a bit confused. Was he really going to get the only thing in the world he truly wanted? Could any of this be real?

“I have money,” his mother repeated. “I have the payout from your father’s life insurance that the army paid me when he died. I’ve invested wisely, and I have a sizeable nest egg that I’d been saving for you if you ever decided to settle down.”

“How much?” Melody asked, suddenly very interested.

“Several million,” Ronnie responded.

Quinn’s mom turned to Luke and smiled. “You have my blessing to marry my daughter. I’m very happy for you both.”

Luke was still trying to process what had happened when Quinn grabbed his hand and said, “Come with me, now.”