Sheer willpower keeps me at my table. I want to follow Mya. Her mated status doesn’t dim my yearning for her. Neither does knowing she’s pregnant or already has little ones. Her kids would be a bonus. I never thought I’d have any children in my life. Or find my true mate. Meeting Mya gave me those things. Meeting Todd ripped them away from me.

Mating law gives Todd the right to take my head if I get involved with Mya and walk away scot-free for my murder. Once linked by a breeding or soul-bond, a female belongs to her male. Exclusively.

The risk of dying isn’t what’s keeping my ass in this seat. It’s the vow I took to enforce and uphold the laws as recognized by Shifter Affairs. According to those, the bond linking breeding partners is sacred. Interfering with it is prohibited. The only reason I didn’t land myself in shifter prison or lose my life the last time I interceded was the female’s age. It’s illegal to mate an immature female. At least according to our laws. In practicality, I’m supposed to turn a blind eye to it.

I’m also supposed to ignore the abuse Mya’s suffering. Todd has every right to inflict it as he sees fit. Short of killing her, of course.

My instincts, however, demand I save Mya. Free her.

I’m torn. No matter what choice I make, I’ll fail. Betraying Mya by allowing her to remain in an abusive relationship will destroy my honor and label me a coward. Breaking my vow to Shifter Affairs a second time will land me in jail or outright end my life. If either of those fates happen, I won’t be able to protect Mya or love her.

If she even wants me.

“Rick.” Ella snaps her fingers in my face. “Are you in there?”

I blink hard and focus on Ella’s face. She has makeup on today. She never wears any. Then again, I’ve never seen her outside the office. Maybe she wears it when she goes out. With or without cosmetics drawing attention to her features, she’s pretty. I wonder if she knows how the men in this bar are watching her every move. She doesn’t act like it. She’s been talking nonstop about work since I sat down. At least I think it was about work.

“What did you say?” I should know. As the agent at our office with the most experience, I’m supposed to be an active participant in training and implementing Shifter Affairs’ directives. I can’t exactly do that if I don’t know what our plans are.

Ella smacks the file closed. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”

“Probably not. He’s been distracted ever since we walked into the bar.” Uri folds his arms over his chest as if my behavior is inexcusable, but it’s the perceptive look in his eyes I don’t like. He knows where my attention has been.

Hell, anyone watching me could probably figure it out. My gaze kept drifting to where Mya sat with Josh and Ilan. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t hear their conversation. They were too far away and the music in this place is too loud. She appeared stressed, though. I hope Todd’s not the reason. Then again, even if he was the source of her anxiety, my hands are tied.

Unless I betray my vow.

Ella flicks her gaze to Uri. “By what?”

“Don’t you think you should ask—”

“A female.” Uri interrupts me. “Even made up some excuse to get her address from me yesterday.”

“My personal life is none of your business.” I lean toward Uri and lower my voice, but it doesn’t dim the growl to it. I sound barely leashed, an animal ready to attack. “And if you interrupt me again, we can meet in the woods for a little—”

“Enough.” Ella slams her hand against the table, rattling the soda glasses and yanking both Uri’s and my gaze to her. She glares at first Uri, then me. “There is no room for your dominance bullshit in my unit. From either of you.”

“Interrupting a—”

“Is not a reason to fight with your partner.” Ella cuts me off. She bends close to me, her long blonde hair falling forward and hiding her face from anyone who might be watching. “You should fight for each other. Die for each other. That’s the vow you took. You know this. So, don’t even give me an excuse about dominance and hierarchy. I’ve made sure to pair agents of equal strength together. The only thing Uri should be deferring to you for is experience as an agent, and even then, he’s lived a lot longer than you have. Time adds insight to situations experience sometimes can’t.”

I dip my chin, accepting her words as truth, but I can’t speak yet. Just because I understand her point doesn’t mean I like Uri sticking his nose in my personal business. Not being able to claim Mya doesn’t make me less protective of her.

“She’s another male’s breeding partner. You know that, don’t you?” Uri drops his arms, losing the condescending attitude. “And she has kids.”

She’s going to have more soon. I can’t help wonder if they’ll be boys or girls, or even how many babies she’s carrying. Todd implied more than one. Multiples are more common for Royals, but strong single animal shifters tend to give birth to twins or more, rather than one baby. And my true mate is very strong. Her kids are probably gorgeous too. I want to meet them, letting myself pretend for just a moment they’re mine.

“Kids?” Ella turns her concerned gaze to me. “You have to stay away from her. Her breeding partner could kill you if you decide to pursue this woman.”

“I know that.” And if there was a way I could get around it, I would. Short of kidnapping Mya and her kids and moving them someplace Todd would never find us, I don’t have any options.

“That’s why he’s miserable. Sucks when life kicks you in the balls.” Uri looks angry for me. It makes me wonder if he’s experienced something similar. Or knows someone who has found a mate he couldn’t claim.

Ella’s gaze maps my face. Her lips press into a thin line. “Do you need to be reassigned to a different district?”

And never see Mya again? “No. I’m fine. I’ll deal with it.”

“There’s no shame in running. Especially if Mya means more to you than just a female who’s triggered your lust,” Uri says.

Ella whips her head to face Uri. “Mya? You mean Mya Ammon?”

“Yes.” Uri turns his attention to me. “Mya’s mated to Todd Silverman of the Jager pack. Ammon is her birth pack’s name. She goes by that.”

“Is Mya your true mate?”

Ella’s question cuts me, widening the wound festering in my chest. The ache is going to consume me if I’m not careful. Actually, I’m surprised it hasn’t already, but there’s still time. Once Uri and Ella leave, there’s nothing stopping me from drinking myself into oblivion. Only the anticipation of coming to the Black Widow and seeing Mya stopped me from breaking out the booze as soon as I left Todd’s place.

“Yes.” I don’t hesitate in answering. This might be the one and only time I can announce to the world Mya’s mine.

“Dammit.” Ella shifts her gaze to where her fisted hands are trembling with her anger. I know she’s mad. I can smell the change in her scent. At me or the situation? Likely she knows about my past and why I left Shifter Affairs last time.

“I’m not going to betray my vow.” If I can’t live by it, I’ll resign. Before I kill Todd.

Ella shakes her head but doesn’t speak. I focus on Uri. It’s time to change the subject. “Have we heard back from the coroner yet?”

“No. She asked me to meet her first thing Monday morning. Apparently, she doesn’t work on weekends.” Uri grunts. The annoyed expression is back on his face.

“She?” Well, isn’t that interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever met a female coroner. It’s not exactly a field women flock to. “I thought this county’s coroner was a man.”

“She’s not a coroner, exactly.” Uri moves his soda closer to him, then turns the glass ninety degrees before leaving it untouched. “She’s a human doctor who knows about shifters and helps out when needed.”

“Lyla is amazing too.” Ella’s knuckles crack as she flexes her hands. “She’s intelligent, beautiful, sweet, and dedicated. I’ve been trying to recruit her for months.”

“She’s also stubborn. Instead of an impressive salary and relocation package, she’d rather live in North Charleston where she risks getting assaulted every time she walks to her run-down clinic.”

Brow cocked, Ella glances at Uri. “And you made that conclusion after meeting her for the ten minutes we saw her when we dropped Ben’s body off?”

“Yes.” Uri shrugs. “It’s instinctual, just like how I know Rick’s going to end up killing himself if he stays around here and has to watch how Todd treats Mya and her girls.”

I lean forward. “Mya has daughters? How many?”

“Two. Peyton and Rey will be turning six in a couple weeks. They’re beautiful and sweet, just like their mother. At least according to Josh. I haven’t met them yet.”

Uri supplies the answer I desperately crave. Despite not being able to claim Mya, I want to know about her life. If I have to learn about it secondhand, then so be it.

“They look like Mya, then?” Maybe I can get a picture of the three of them. I’d like to carry it around.

Ella’s sigh draws my gaze to her. Instead of staring at her fisted hands, she’s focused on where they’re splayed on the table. “You should know that Josh opened a case on her behalf, seeking protective custody and relocation for Mya, Peyton, and Rey. I’ve taken it on, and once I have all the evidence documented, I’ll be approaching her in an effort to convince her to accept our help.”

My wolf rises from the depths of my psyche. I share his concern. You don’t seek protective custody for a breeding partner. They’re possessions in the eyes of the law, not individuals with wants and needs.

“Why?” Ella better tell me too. If she doesn’t, I’ll tear her office apart looking for the case file on Mya. One way or another, I’m finding out.

Ella glances around our table. There are a few humans laughing and carrying on a couple of tables over, but most of the customers are close to the bar. They’ll gravitate toward where we’re seated by the dance area once the live band that’s playing tonight sets up. For now, this is the most privacy we’ll get here, unless we sit in the back where Mya was talking to Josh and Ilan. That section, however, is closed to the public, according to the hostess who greeted me at the door.

Ella shakes her head. “This isn’t the place to talk about it.”

Her evasion spikes my worry. Mya’s strength enhances her healing ability. Unless Todd is breaking bones or worse, any evidence of beatings would disappear fairly quickly. The only reason Shifter Affairs might get involved is if his beatings are drawing the attention of the humans. They can’t know how quickly we can heal. They can’t know about us at all.

“If he’s been hurting Mya, I’ll—”

Ella grips my wrist. “Wait a minute, Rick.”

I hadn’t realized I’d gotten out of my seat. I drop my ass back down. “Then tell me why.”

Ella releases me and lowers her voice to a near whisper, guaranteeing only Uri and I would be able to hear her. “Todd made Mya his breeding partner against her will.”

Todd implied that. He’s a bastard for taking the choice out of her hands, but according to our culture and law, it’s his right. I hate it. There’s not a damn thing I can do about it.

Except walk away from Shifter Affairs again and convince Mya to run away with me.

The solution has been teasing my mind since I left Todd’s place. Seeing the way Mya looked at me today makes it a real possibility. She feels our connection. I can use that to my advantage. I just can’t decide if it’s wrong of me to do so. Todd’s the only man who can give her children. She might want that more than being with me. Hell, I wouldn’t blame her if she did. I’m not exactly a prize. I’m also older than her. She’ll likely outlive me by at least a century.

“Todd made Mya his against her will a day before she was legally considered an adult.” Disgust darkens Ella’s words.

Rage stirs within me. Single shifters are considered mature adults on the night of the full moon following their twenty-fifth birthday. Females, however, tend to shift into their animal form months before the ceremonial night that’s often met with a celebration among the entire pack. It’s also the first night a female can legally be bound to a male, according to shifter law. Biologically, it can happen earlier, much earlier.

The teenager I saved is proof.

“He broke our laws.” I sit up straighter. I don’t know what that means for me and Mya. The lecture from the Shifter Council is still fresh in my mind.

“Yes.” Ella taps the folder she’d brought against the tabletop, straightening the papers inside, then slips the folder into her computer bag. “But according to Josh, Mya’s reluctant to pursue it.”

The “why” leaves me with a sick feeling. Todd might hate Mya, but that doesn’t mean she feels the same. Being true mates doesn’t automatically make people love each other. It just makes it easier. Mya might already be in love. If so, her attraction to me probably leaves her feeling guilty. Damn, that would explain why she ran from me.

Shit. What am I doing?

Assuming is the worst thing an agent can do on a case. It doesn’t make it better when it’s my personal life. I need to talk to Mya. Tonight.

“Illegal or not, many people would side with Todd, including the Council. You’d be taking your life in your hands, partner.” Uri narrows his eyes. “That obligates me to cover your ass.”

“Not if I leave with Mya.” I stand. I need to go over to her place and talk to her.

Ella grabs my wrist a second time. “I have a call scheduled with my contact on the Council to discuss the legalities of Mya’s case. I’ll let you know what I find out, but there’s a decent chance they’ll side with her. There’s been a change in leadership. It’s showing in their rulings. Three similar cases have gone before them over the past year. They sided with the females in all but one case, but he was a leader of his group.”

The elders who make up the Shifter Council, the group who creates and enforces shifter law, is made up of single shifters and Royals of all the shifter groups. Some are more liberal than others.

“Is that necessary?” I’d almost rather the Council not know about Mya in case they rule against her.

“It is if you want to make sure the Council’s enforcers don’t show up at Mya’s door one day to drag her back home to Todd.” Ella lets go of me. “My contact is likely to be sympathetic to Mya’s case since she’s from this area. He’ll fight for her.”

“Who’s your contact?” Although the membership is always in flux as the backstabbing among Council members is often physical rather than implied, I do know many of the members personally.

“My older cousin, Anton Alexander.” Uri answers before Ella can.

I exhale in relief. Despite having lived for over a millennium, Anton is known for his progressive and modern thinking. “Let me know what he says. Okay?”

Ella nods.

Uri crosses his arms over his chest again, assuming the “I’m a better agent” pose. “I suppose I’m to interview Ethan Jager tonight alone and get the list of suspects from him.”

I forgot about the meeting. Dammit. As much as I’d like to ignore everything and go after Mya, I have an obligation to this case.

“No. We’ll head over now.” As soon as we’re done, I’m cornering Mya. Then? I guess it all depends on Mya. It’s her choice who she wants to be with. I’ll respect her decision, even if it kills me.