I wasn’t sure how long my tattoo had taken. I was just a child.

But it had to be a shorter time period than three hours. That, coupled with my father’s incessant pacing and the random checks to make sure the door that my mate went behind was still locked, told me it was taking longer than anyone expected.

“What is taking so long, wolf?” Our alpha’s question was directed to the Kasun pack’s alpha, who didn’t look distressed in the slightest.

“I’m not sure, Emilian. In a hurry?”

My dad hated the Kasun clan more than he hated most other supernaturals in Havenwood Falls, and that was saying something. Though I’d never heard my father specifically say anything to support the theory, I thought that maybe he had been running from someone or something when he decided to come to Havenwood Falls. I knew that his father had been run out of several other places for his rigidity and callous rule over the bears, but he had never been replaced.

Also, my father hated humans in general, and Havenwood Falls seemed like a place he could avoid them.

“We have business to attend to. I’m sure my son would like to have his mate back as well.”

Just as I thought I might have to step in between the two of them and completely embarrass myself, the three women came through the door.

They were . . . embracing.

My father would not be pleased.

“What is this, a tattooing or girls’ night out? Let’s go now.”

Saundra whispered something into Atlas’s ear that caused her to stroke her newly inked neck. I tried to make out what the tattoo was, but she pulled on her coat, and my chance was gone.

Hopefully, she would give me another chance to see it.

Outside City Hall, through the door marked with the mountain and moon, my father clenched and unclenched his fists all the way to the car before he turned on us with a smirk.

“Made friends, did we, Divine?”

He spoke to my mother, called her by name, but his eyes were targeted on Atlas. I knew that look. My father was about to attempt one of his passive-aggressive lessons.

“Saundra has known us since we came to Havenwood Falls, my dear. Of course we are friends. And I was so honored to be with Atlas during her tattoo. It was a chance for me to bond with my daughter-in-law.”

“Those people hate us. They don’t approve of us, and if it were up to them, the humans that visit this town would walk right up to the castle’s front door to greet us, along with those lessers.”

Fuck it all. I thought with Atlas as my mate, he would at least have the decency to keep his lesser bear hate concealed.

My father’s paranoia about the Court was his own, and not even close to the truth. The Court would never expose our castle to humans. They wouldn’t want any humans to discover any of the supernatural powers in this place. It would destroy everything they’d worked to protect.

Atlas blurted, “Why don’t we leave this place then, Alpha? The tattoo is done. There is no need for me or any of us to be around these people any longer. Don’t you agree, Harrison?”

I was almost speechless. Plus, I was a little frustrated. Didn’t she know she was going to get herself in trouble?

“I agree. Father, I’d like very much to get my mate back home again.”

“Let’s go. I also want to get my female home. Get the stench of the Court from her skin.”

There was no stench. Saundra simply smelled like magic. My father was being overly dramatic about a feud that I knew was solely in his mind.

As soon as the door closed on the car, Atlas started speaking. I didn’t let her finish.

“No, Atlas. Didn’t you listen to me? You don’t understand his temper. You don’t understand what he could do. What if he hurt you? What if he took you away?”

Fuck, I sounded too desperate.

I couldn’t help myself. After biting her, having her life force in my body, there had to be a change of plans. Even if I was never to be alpha, she had to remain mine.

“Fine. I’ll try. That’s all I can promise. So we’re stuck in the castle again?”

“For a time. Until my father goes out of town in the morning. Then we can roam. The people of Havenwood Falls, well, the supernatural ones, don’t tell my father or his spies when they see me in town. They will keep us safe.”

Atlas was looking out the window, still with her collar pulled up. I was dying to see her marking.

She stayed still and silent the rest of the ride home.

“Wait!” she said before we exited the car.

“What?” I actually looked her up and down like an idiot to see what was wrong with her.

“Can we have some kind of signal? Like you can signal me when it’s okay for me to be myself?”

That was actually smart and would help me keep her safe.

She continued, “What if you touch your nose or something?”

“I never touch my nose. My father would notice. What if I just held your hand? Squeezed when we are safe, when you are safe.”

I took her hand and squeezed to show her.

She blushed before whispering, “That’s good.”

We got out of the car, and she didn’t let go.