“Damiano, honestly! Why can’t you do anything we ask of you? Hell, why can’t you just do the right thing, period?” his father, Thor, questioned.

“I’m a grown man. Why do I still need to be home by three a.m.? What sense does that make?” Damian ground out. His head was pounding from lack of sleep.

“Son, you live in our house. That means, no matter how old you are, you have to live by our rules. If I tell you to be in at two in the morning, I expect you to walk through the doors at that time,” Thor said.

“That’s not even reasonable, Father! You have antiquated ways and beliefs. And, honestly, you have no right asking me to follow such ridiculous requests.”

“I have every right in the world! This is my house, my pack, and you’re my son!” Thor hollered back. “And did I hear correctly? You were keeping company with Pumas? Are you trying to start a war with their pack? You don’t think at all, do you?” Thor thundered.

“They were from out of town. They weren’t part of big mean kitty’s pack,” Damian said, followed by a low chuckle.

“Respect, son! Stop with your ridiculous nicknames. The Mountain Lion Alpha’s name is Xavier. Be respectful and refer to him by his proper name.” Thor stared at Damian. “Don’t ever let me hear you be disrespectful toward him again.”

“I’m not allowed to have any fun behind doors where no one can hear me. Oh, and I have to follow your old-fashioned rules and come in the house at the time a child would. Am I getting this right, Father?”

Thor’s Beta, Jude, entered the room and stared at the two men who were facing each other. Thor, with his hands on his hips and eyes trained on his son, didn’t flinch. Damian stood with his hands in his jeans pockets and glanced in Jude’s direction before returning his gaze to his father.

Jude asked Thor through their link, What’s going on?

“That’s where you’re wrong, son. And frankly, I’m sick of having these conversations with you. If you don’t want to follow our rules, it’s time for you to move on and find your own place to live.”

Thor replied to Jude, My brat of a son is being a disrespectful shit again.

Damian crossed his arms and widened his stance. His eyes were locked on his father. “That’s your answer to everything, isn’t it? Just say you want me to leave! Just tell me to get out. Fucking say it.” Damian’s voice cracked.

“Watch the way you talk to me, Damiano! My patience has been worn incredibly thin by your insolence already today.”

Jude sent another message, Thor, he’s over twenty-five. When will you let him have more freedom?

Thor replied, He can have all the freedom he wants when he’s on his own.

“I’m tired, and tired of talking to you. Every time it’s the same thing: ‘Damiano do this, Damiano do that, Damiano you’re late, Damiano, Damiano, Damiano’. I’m so sick of being treated like a child, Father!” Damian huffed.

Damian’s mother, Calista, entered the room. “Why are you both screaming? I can hear you all the way outside.”

Damian stared at his father. “It’s him, again.”

“I have a name, Damiano. Don’t ever forget that. I’m not him, I’m your father. And I’m the Pack Alpha and head of this house, period.”

“Yeah, yeah. You tell me that all the time.”

“You don’t listen very well, then, do you?”

Damian turned his head away from his father and looked at his mother. “And I guess Mother has no power or say-so either, like me, right?”

“Don’t try to drag your mother into this. You have no idea what you’re talking about. Your mother is my Alpha-mate. You, my son, are Omega, until you succeed in sending me to my early grave. Then, and only then, will you become Alpha of this pack,” Thor said. “You have two strikes, boy, don’t get a third and force my hand.” His aggravation from having the same conversation over and over with Damian was evident with the pinched scowl on his face and his eyes reduced to mere slits.

Jude watched, and wanted to send another message to Thor. He kept opening the link, then closing it. He wanted to tell him to walk away, but he knew his best friend would never just walk away from a confrontation, especially one with his son.

Thor growled, then sent a message to Jude, What do you want? Do you have something to say?

Jude swallowed hard. No, Thor. He’s your son. You must handle the situation as you see fit.

The two towering men didn’t give up any ground. Their eyes stayed on each other. Calista walked between them and held up her palm toward each of them.

“Enough, Thor. Please,” she said.

“Calista, my dear, I didn’t start this, but I will end it. And please, love, don’t stand between us.” Thor’s tone was even, but deadly serious.

“Damian,” Calista said.

“Mother, I’m sorry. I’m not a child and I’m not going to allow Father to treat me like one. This has gone on long enough.”

“I’m glad we agree on one thing, at least,” Thor scoffed. He rolled his eyes and inhaled deeply.

Jude sent a message to Thor, This can get really ugly, especially with your mate between the two of you. Be careful, my friend.

Thank you, but it’ll be fine. My son has gotten too big for his britches and needs to understand he’s not the one in charge. Not in my house, and not in this Pack, Thor replied.

Calista dropped her arms and lowered her head, then backed away from her position. She knew the day would come when her two stubborn Alpha men would butt heads like rams, until the death. She just prayed to the Goddess this wasn’t the day.

Damian’s vigilant stare-down with his father was interrupted as he shifted his attention to his mother. She glanced in his direction and raised her eyebrows, silently pleading with him to disengage. When she saw no reaction from him, she shook her head and left the room.

With the eye contact broken, Thor dismissed his son, and signaled for Jude to follow him. The two moved into the office to discuss Pack business.

“Thor, we’ve been friends for how long now? Years, right?”

“Of course we have, and I hope nothing comes between us, my friend.”

“What I’m going to tell you will certainly make your blood boil hotter than before. But I have an obligation as a friend and your Beta to keep you informed of Pack rumblings.” Jude swallowed hard. “There’s talk that Damian is positioning himself to take over the Pack. There are some who are questioning your position of power with your own child.” Jude looked at the floor. “A couple in the pack believe you’re on your way out, and no longer have the strength to overtake your son.”

“We both know that’s a load of bullshit. I won’t reply to the rumors, but I will keep a closer eye on Damiano. I sense his desire for power is becoming too great, and I will not stand idly by and allow a mutiny.”

Jude exhaled in relief. “Perfect. If there’s anything I can assist with, I’m always here for you.”

Thor rose from his seat and began to pace. Jude knew that wasn’t a good sign. He was frustrated and on edge. “Is there anything else?” Thor bellowed.

“You’re already aware of the Mountain Lion situation. I trust you’ll address that with Damian if you already haven’t.”

Thor shook his head and continued to pace. “That boy is going to be the death of me, I swear.”

“One other thing. Fortunately, not about Damian.”

Thor sat back down. The two continued to talk for another thirty minutes before they heard a slight knock on the door.

Thor made his way to the door and opened it to see his beautiful soul-mate.

“Yes, my darling,” he said.

“Thor, I need to have a talk with you when you’re done. I don’t want to interrupt, but it is important nonetheless.”

Jude stood and walked over to where the two were standing. “We’re finished, Calista. He’s all yours.” He clapped Thor on the back, “Thor, my friend, we’ll talk later. Attend to your beautiful mate. I’ll let myself out.”

“Thank you, Jude.”

Jude stepped through the doorway and Thor ushered Calista in to join him. He intertwined his fingers with hers and pulled her over by his chair, where he sat and pulled her onto his lap.

“What can I do for you, my sweet?” Thor asked.

Her fingers threaded in his hair and traced down the chiseled lines of his face until they stopped at his shoulders.

“Thor, it’s eating me up inside to watch you and Damian argue. I don’t mean to be a pest, but is there any way this can all be put to rest?”

“Calista, sweetheart, I’d love nothing more than to never fight with the boy again. I think he enjoys pissing me off. He has always pushed me to the point of damn near no return. I’m certain he won’t be satisfied until that happens.”

She leaned in close to her mate, letting her mouth brush against his. Her eyes opened and she gazed into his brown pools of sexiness. “There has to be a better way to deal with him.”

Her mouth closed on his before he had a chance to reply. His tongue collided with hers. One of his large hands splayed on her back while the other caressed her breast through her shirt. His low growl mixed with her soft mewls.

“I see you want to push me to the point of no return, too, my dear,” Thor whispered. “But the boy is home.”

“He’s asleep. We have this time to ourselves. I suggest you take full advantage of it.” She slowly unbuttoned her blouse, then unclasped her front-closure bra, exposing her breasts.

“Only a fool would say no to you. And, darling, I’m no fool.”

They both chuckled. Thor lifted Calista from his lap, pressed his pants down and off his legs, and then hefted her back up so she was straddling him. With a quick snap, he ripped her panties from her body. She moaned as she rocked her hips across his thick length, then she lolled her head back as she pressed back down, letting him glide into her heat.