Alex sat stiff as a board as he listened to his father rant about duty and the clans and war. Seeking his parents’ counsel had seemed like a good idea, but…maybe not.

“You don’t seem to understand this is so much bigger than your or her happiness,” Tier Fairchild shouted for the fifth time.

“I do, Father—“

His father’s sharp glare silenced him.

“It’s really not that complicated, Alex. Your pairing works for the greater good, and that’s all that matters. Do you think anyone outside your family cares if either of you are happy?”

And maybe not those inside the family, Alex thought bitterly.

“Answer me!” Tier Fairchild roared.

Alex couldn’t recall ever seeing the man so worked up. Fangs protruded from his snarling and slightly elongated mouth. This wasn’t his father — this was a Tier sensing danger to the clan he ruled. He would do anything to anyone to save his clan.

“No, sir,” Alex answered. “No one would or should care about our happiness. But Katrina cares, sir. She cares enough that she’s threatening to leave.”

“Don’t let her, simple as that.”

“I can’t keep her prisoner in her own home, sir.” Alex refused to admit to his father how close he’d come to just that.

“Of course you can. Have I taught you nothing about taking a mate?”

“Well, you taught me to be respectful on dates—“

“I’m not talking about dates,” his father roared. Alex winced and wished he brought earplugs. “I’m talking about a male bear taking a mate and letting the she-bear know he is in charge of the household, of the marriage, and of her. No man should have to worry his wife is unhappy because no real man — no real bear — would allow his mate to be unhappy. Tell her what to do and she’ll live a long and happy life.”

Alex glanced at his mother, who sat placidly on the sofa, hands in her lap and a soft smile on her lips. He’d never seen this kind of dominance at home, and he couldn’t imagine her reaction to being told what to do.

Alex sighed deeply. As much as he hated to, he had to admit the truth.

“Father, I tried. After the attack, I—“ he cleared his throat “—I told her she wasn’t to leave the apartment without an escort.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw his mother drop her head into her hand. This entire day confused him.

“She, um… She didn’t take that very well. She wants to move out now and I don’t see how I can stop her.”

“You stop her by putting her in her place!” Alex’s father had almost fully shifted and towered over him. “You make her listen. You make her obey. A she-bear wouldn’t dare disobey her mate. Establish your dominance and the rest will go smoothly. She’ll be happy, once she remembers her place.”

He couldn’t believe he was really hearing this neanderthal bunk from his own father. Alex had never seen him treat his mother with anything but love and respect. It made no sense.

“I don’t know…”

Tier Fairchild resumed his human form and sat across from Alex. As calm as he seemed, Alex sensed even more danger than when he was almost fully a bear.

“Only the contract matters, Alex. Only peace. You two will remain married. I don’t care if you have to put her in shackles to make that happen.”

Alex shuddered at the suggestion.

“In a few years,” his father continued, “when the arrangement has been accepted as permanent by both clans, you can move her into her own apartment. As long as she gives you cubs, she can travel the world or do whatever she wants. And you can find a nice mistress, as long as you’re discreet.”

Alex’s mother listened with a placid expression. Clearly, the suggestion that a husband might take a mistress didn’t bother her for some reason. It certainly bothered Alex.

“In the meantime,” Tier Fairchild said as he stood, all but dismissing his son, “you keep her in line. She’ll like it, trust me. A woman wants a strong man, someone who will show her who’s boss. And if she doesn’t like it… Well, who gives a damn. Get her pregnant and the rest will take care of itself.”

He strode from the room without a backward glance, leaving Alex staring after him. After a moment, his mother patted the spot next to her.

“Come sit with me, dear.”

Numbness creeped into Alex’s bones as he moved next to her. When she pulled him into a hug, he fell into it. He was transported back in time to when he was a cub and skinned a knee or got stung by a bee. His mother’s love always comforted, always soothed.

“Do you remember the time we went on a camping trip to Alaska, just the three of us?” she asked, her voice gentle.

Alex nodded, smiling a little at the memory. His mother stroked his hair as she continued.

“Remember when the hikers startled your father while he was shaving and he shifted out of instinct? The shaving cream remained on his muzzle and the hikers thought he was rabid.”

In spite of himself, Alex laughed. “We had to keep our human forms for three days while rangers searched for the rabid bear. What’s your point, Mother?”

“My point is…” she pulled away and smiled at him, “sometimes your father is a total idiot.”

Alex would have laughed if he hadn’t been so shocked. His mother never spoke like that, especially about her husband.

“Don’t look at me that way. I didn’t say I didn’t love or respect him. I do — very much. But if he actually ran his marriage the way he just told you to run yours… Let’s just say you never would have been born, I promise you that.”

Now that made sense. His father’s diatribe sounded like caveman thinking, and he had no intention of treating Kat like a piece of property, no matter how much he wanted to protect her from harm.

“Perhaps if you were both full bears,” she continued, “it would be that easy. As bears, our requirements are quite simple when it comes to mates. A she-bear wants a male to provide for her, protect her and give her cubs. And Katrina wants that too, at least part of her does. But Katrina isn’t all bear. She’s also a woman. A strong, intelligent, self-sufficient woman. A woman like that wants a man who appreciates her capabilities. She wants a partner. Someone who trusts her as much as she trusts him.”

That sounded exactly like Kat. His heart swelled with pride for his mate.

“Tell me honestly, Alex. Would you really want a woman who was happy to lie down before you and do whatever you said? To never disagree with you, question you, challenge you?”

Alex didn’t hesitate. “No, I wouldn’t. I’ve had plenty of those types of women in my life — before Kat — and they bored me to death.”

“Precisely.”

“So now what? When I gave her the space she asked for, she seemed to dislike me even more than when I tried to dominate her.”

Women really were impossible to understand. This love thing seemed so simple to him. Love, mate, have babies, live happily ever after. What was so hard about that?

“Dear, you must remember that neither of you are all-bear or all-human. Katrina needs a man who considers her an equal partner, but also a ferocious bear who will protect her at all costs.”

“That’s exactly who I am, Mother, but she won’t — or can’t — believe it.”

“Telling her means nothing, son. You must show her. I honestly believe it isn’t too late, otherwise she would have left already. I also see the way she looks at you when you’re not watching. You just need to show her. Make her believe she’s your mate forever, and that you are hers and only hers.”

His mother gave him a sharp, knowing look. It should have made him uncomfortable having his mother know about his love life, but he was so grateful for her advice he could only smile.

“I am hers, Mother. Entirely and utterly hers.”

“Good. Now figure out how to show that to her. And be quick about it!”