Anson stood outside on the deck of Piper’s parents’ home. They had been surprised to see him behind their daughter when they walked in the door together. Her mother, Cynthia, broke out in a smile assuming he was a new boyfriend. Her father, Angus, gave him a look that was none too friendly.

Piper quickly explained that Anson worked for her and she needed to speak to them privately. Their expressions changed and when Anson had started to follow to help her, she’d turned to him, placing her hand on his chest. “I need to do this on my own.”

He’d nodded and excused himself to the expansive deck that overlooked the Puget Sound. Picking up his phone, he made his first call to his dads. He’d expected his dad Sean to answer. Instead, his Papa Jory picked up.

“Anson, it’s been a while. We thought you must be off on an adventure or doing something top secret.”

“No, Papa, just busy. I’m sorry I haven’t called.”

“Son, you know we’re well aware that you can take care of yourself. We stopped really worrying about you a while ago.”

“Really? You don’t worry about me at all?”

“Fine, we worry a little. But we’d never tell you that,” his father laughed.

“Where’s Dad at?”

“He’s off to see if he can rustle up some salmon for dinner,” Jory laughed.

“Is he catching it or buying it?” Anson always gave his dad a hard time. He was a tiger shifter and had a penchant for sushi. Jory was a bear like him, and they had a special bond because of it.

“Buying it. You know he loves going down to the boats.”

Anson’s parents lived north of Seattle in Kirkland. They had wanted to settle their family outside the city and had moved there when Anson was young. His birth parents, Callie and Jack of Clan Fehu had died tragically in a house fire. It had started fast and his parents had only enough time to throw him out a second-story window. When his grandparents took him in they made the decision with the Clan leader to allow another Clan family to adopt him. It was common practice among heart-bound Kindred, those that mated to other Kindred and couldn’t have children. It allowed the Clan to continue and thrive, and for babies to grow up with loving parents. Anson’s dads always talked about his birth parents. He knew all of their family and visited regularly. He considered himself the luckiest kid with four sets of grandparents.

“I was calling for him, but I think you might have a better take on this.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’ve got a case and it’s affecting me more than I would like.”

“Well, I’m not sure how we can help you out with that.”

“Actually, I was wondering what you’d think about me calling Mary,” Anson asked, letting the question hang in the air.

His papa paused for a minute and it made Anson nervous. “Why would you need to talk to her?”

“How did you know Dad was the one?” It was a very personal question. Most Kindred never asked anyone after they had experienced it themselves. It was too personal. Too private to share with people casually.

“Sean pissed me off. He made me so mad one day that I screamed at him and told him it was over. He screamed back and told me that I couldn’t quit on him because I was mad. Two people in love didn’t get to give up. When he got that angry at me, I heard the call and so did he. I know it’s crazy and doesn’t seem like a good way to find your mate. But for me, his passion brought it out. You know how much I love picking fights with him still. That’s why.”

Anson chuckled. His dads did love to argue. They bickered all the time. It was always loving and often over the top. It made sense with their personalities that they would be connected that way. They were both very passionate, opinionated people.

“So, why would you be bringing this up?”

Anson looked out over the water. “I’m attracted to my client. I’m worried about her. I can’t sleep because I know she’s in danger. She’s beautiful. Like really beautiful. Someone has made her life really tough and it pisses me off.”

“It sounds like you’re doing your job. You might be a little invested, but you’ve always rooted for the underdogs. You never like to see anyone hurt that can’t defend themselves.”

Anson knew his papa was trying to talk him away from an obsession. “There’s that. I can’t seem to think straight around her. She distracts me… I’ve been sleeping on her porch,” he admitted.

“Wow,” Jory laughed. “You are in deep. Maybe this is supposed to be where you’re at. The Great Mother has a plan for us. The more you fight it, the more she’s going to make you have to work for it.”

“So, I shouldn’t worry that all I think about is getting her in my bed?” Anson didn’t mind talking to his dads about this stuff. They had always encouraged open communication and honesty.

“I think that your attraction to her could be just physical. You could always find yourself a willing partner to see if that’s it.”

Anson couldn’t stop the loud growl that rolled out of him.

Jory laughed. “I guess that means you aren’t interested in anyone else. Your answer is in front of you. Just let nature take its course.”

“Do you think I should call Mary?”

“I think your Dad would tell you not to. I’m going to go against that and say go ahead. Just make sure to call me and let me know all about it when you’re done.”

Shaking his head, Anson looked down at his feet and grinned. Papa was always the troublemaker.

“I might just be brave enough. I don’t like not knowing what my next steps are. This isn’t how I like to do things.”

“Then call her and find out. Just be prepared for what you might find out. This might be your mate or it might just be someone you’re supposed to protect. Don’t feel that it is the end of your options for a mate. If she’s important to you, she may just be a good friend.”

Anson let out a relieved breath. “Thanks, I needed to hear that.”

“I’ll tell your dad you called.”

“Thanks. I love you,” he said.”

“Love you too, buddy.”

Anson hung up and dialed the number for Clan Fehu’s Crone. He’d had the number in his phone for a few days. Something had possessed him to look it up the other day, and now he knew why. The phone only rang once.

“Been waiting for your call,” Mary said by way of answering.

“You knew I was going to call?”

“You think I got this job by guessing?”

“So, she’s my mate?” Anson ground out the words. He was mad that Mary didn’t just tell him. A phone call, an email, anything.

“Who? I said I knew you were going to call, not why.”

“Then she’s not my mate.”

There was a long sigh over the phone. “You aren’t real smart, are you? Gaia only gives me signs when I need them. If there is something I need to do to move two people together. Did you ever think that some people have it easier? That they just happen in to each other? Not everything needs a giant blueprint of plans to work out, sheesh.”

That didn’t answer Anson’s question. “I need to know. I’m… confused.”

“Shit, boy, you’re supposed to be confused. If it’s true love then you shouldn’t know which end is up.”

“The human I’m working with is different.”

“Aren’t they all?”

“I’ve met plenty of humans that don’t occupy my thoughts the way she does.”

“Then maybe you need to give the universe a freaking chance! You young ones are so impatient. Everything is on demand. Take a breather and go spank one out if you can’t control yourself.”

The utter horror of their respected Crone telling him to masturbate caught him off guard.

“Uh…” Anson started.

“Oh, don’t be a prude! I’ll tell you if there was something you needed to know. There’s nothing you need to know. So you might as well settle back and enjoy the ride.”

The phone clicked dead and Anson was left standing on the deck, no more sure of his situation with Piper than he had been before.

“Fuck,” he ground out, shoving the phone in his pocket.

“Anson?”

Anson swung around to see a red-eyed Piper standing with her arms wrapped around herself. Past her, through the French doors, he could see her parents in their kitchen opening a bottle of wine. He went straight to her and pulled her into his arms. He’d be damned if he’d leave her hanging out there when she needed someone to help hold herself together.

“How did it go?” he asked softly.

“They’re mad, scared, and disappointed. Pretty much what I expected.”

“They love you,” he assured her.

“They do, that’s why they can’t understand why I kept it from them.”

Anson looked up to see her parents frowning at him. Hugging probably wasn’t what they were used to seeing in the bodyguards they’d seen on television.

Taking a step back, he still kept in her space, providing a buffer if she needed it.

“Should I talk to them? I’d be happy to tell them what we have in place.”

“I told them. They want me to move in here with them.”

“I can see why. But I’m sure you told them no.”

Piper smiled ruefully. “I love them, but I can’t live with them anymore. Besides that ferry ride in the morning is a killer.”

Anson frowned at the word.

“Sorry,” she said.

“It’s fine. I’m glad you have someone else watching out for you.”

“A lot of good they would do. They’re strict pacifists.”

“Well, lucky for you, I’m not.”