Werewolves as far as the eye could see. Everywhere I looked, another familiar face stared back.

“Reagan,” Lucy laughed as she forced her way through the crowd. She threw her arms around my neck and dragged me in for a bone-crushing hug. “Girl, never pull that shit again.”

“I hope I’ll never have to,” I said while patting her back. It felt damn good to be surrounded by my pack again.

“Gabriel is gonna want to talk to you. So, I’ll wait for you outside, sound good?”

“You sure? It might be awhile.”

A shadow whisked across her face and she shot a sly glance toward Jerrik. “Yeah, I’ll wait for you.”

Appreciation had my arms tightening around her. God, what would I do without this woman in my life? She knew today might end disastrously for me, but she was here for me no matter what. Hell, the whole pack could probably sense my nerves. Killing Benjamin had been the easy part compared to what lay ahead.

“All of you. Out.”

I lifted my head at the sound of my father’s gruff voice, my pulse thundering in my head. Here came the moment of truth. Gabriel wasn’t in any position to challenge Jerrik. But I knew my father. That wouldn’t stop him from trying.

Quite a few stopped to pat me on the back and shoot Jerrik a curious glance before filing out the back door and into their cars.

“Not you,” my father growled when David started for the door.

Even I caught David’s wince before he turned and slunk back into the house.

Eventually Jerrik, David, Gabriel, and I were all that remained. With space to move around, Jerrik crossed the room and stood next to me, our hands brushing. My father’s eyes zeroed in on the gesture, his jaw tightening.

Still, he chose not to question us. Instead, he limped toward me and held out his arms. Gabriel was a tough son of a bitch, but in private, he’d always shown me the love and adoration a father reserved for his daughter.

With a watery laugh, I walked into his arms and sank into the embrace. “I almost didn’t make it in time.”

“I’m fine, honey. I’m just so relieved to see you alive. Yesterday…” He shuddered. “I never want to think about that day again.”

I’d heard some talk already, but the most telling evidence was the demolished state of my father’s house. Picture frames torn from the clawed-up walls, the dining room table shattered into pieces…the place was a downright mess.

“You’re going to need to call a designer I think.”

Even he laughed. “The house needs a remodeling anyway.”

Sure. We could pretend that.

“All right, baby girl. Let’s start from the top.”

And so I did. I started with the club and launched into meeting Jerrik, though I kept the conversation PG. My father didn’t need to hear about the night we spent together. By the time I’d finished, my father had moved to the couch and now sat with his head clutched between his hands. I knew he had to be tired. Otherwise he never would have sat in front of Jerrik and David while they stood.

“I understand why you did what you did,” he said. “I just wish you would have come to me first.”

“I was trying to prevent a war. I knew if we killed Benjamin without proof, things would descend into chaos.”

“Christian’s alive, thankfully. I received a call after the healer finished bandaging me—one of his wolves found him in his hotel room, unconscious. Benjamin tried to kill him but failed.”

I nodded, relieved. “At least they still have their alpha.”

“And I’m still alive, as is our entire pack. I’m grateful for what you did. I just wish it hadn’t come to all this.”

I sat down next to Gabriel and rested my head on his shoulder. “Me too. I’m just glad you’re alive.”

Gabriel patted my knee, then lifted his gaze and stared at David. “And you?”

David snapped to attention, a little fear dancing in his eyes.

“I believe my daughter gave you twenty-four hours to get the hell out. Might want to get started on that.”

“Yes, sir,” David mumbled. Without another word, he turned and ducked through the back door, vanishing from sight.

“I don’t think we’ll see him again. Not in his lifetime, anyway.”

That sounded ominous. “Gabriel…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll give him a head start.”

“No. I swore to him. He could have fought me or escaped during all the chaos, he didn’t. Promise me you’ll keep my end of the bargain.”

My father sighed but eventually nodded. “Fine. The things I do for you.”

“Right, about that…”

He leaned back and laughed softly. “You know, of all the reckless things I expected of you, this is by far the worst. You know who he is?”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course I know who he is. The question is, do you?”

“Sweetheart, you don’t forget the ones who nearly kill you. Much like I’ll never forget Benjamin, I’ll never forget the shadow wolf.”

Well, they hadn’t tried to kill each other yet. That was something, right? Course, Jerrik also hadn’t spoken yet. Who knew the thoughts churning in that head of his? He leaned against the wall across from us, his expression fathomless.

My father rested his hands against his thighs and pushed to his feet, a little slower than normal. “Tell me, boy. Do you remember when last we met?”

Boy. Jerrik had centuries on him. Sometimes Gabriel astounded me.

A taunting smile chased across Jerrik’s lips. “You don’t forget the men you almost kill.”

Wow. “Was that really necessary?”

“It’s fine,” my father commented aimlessly. “You know, when you and I first met, I never would have imagined this moment. I always thought you’d come sniffing around the pack, and when that day came, I honestly suspected I’d have to hand the pack over to you. But not my daughter.”

“I don’t want your pack,” Jerrik said.

“But you do want Reagan.”

My heartbeat sped up. “Gabriel—”

He held up a hand. “No. This answer must come from him.”

“Does it matter?” Jerrik grumbled.

“It does to me,” Gabriel said.

And it did to me. But I refused to force him into this answer. No one liked being put on the spot like that. “Gabriel, just let him—”

A sharp growl silenced me. I sighed and dropped my head into my palms. Jerrik and I had known each other for a few days, nothing more. Granted, those days felt like a lifetime right now, but that didn’t mean he was ready to answer such a question. Nor was I ready to hear the answer. Trust Gabriel to force our hands.

“It doesn’t matter what I want,” Jerrik snapped. “I know you, Gabriel. I know how you think, how you operate. I’ve seen you at your worst, which is generally the moment people show their true faces. You would never let me join your pack, and I refuse to take Reagan’s last living parent from her.”

Wait, what?

I slowly lifted my head and stared at Jerrik. He caught my gaze and offered a sad smile. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you in the bar. I’ve heard other werewolves talk about finding their mates and how they knew the moment they met. That moment hit me the second I stepped into that bar and caught your scent.” He pushed off the wall and crouched in front of me, taking my hands in his. “When I first saw you, my entire world flipped. I knew right then and there. But I also knew nothing permanent would come of us because your father would challenge me the second he laid eyes on me. I have no place in your pack. And I won’t take your father from you. I would never do that to you.”

Tears pricked my eyes. So that was why he’d hesitated whenever I’d asked if he’d stay. “I knew the second you bought me that shot,” I said with a watery laugh.

He cupped my face, then leaned forward and brushed a kiss across my brow. I bit back a sob. It felt like he was saying goodbye, and I wasn’t ready for that.

“Has anyone thought to ask me what I think about all this?” Gabriel asked.

I knuckled a few sneaky tears away from my cheeks and glanced at him. “We all know what you think.”

“Clearly not. I think you two are perfect for each other.”

I froze, my eyes narrowing on my father. Had Benjamin knocked something loose in his head? Rattled that brain of his around a little too hard?

He caught my expression and chuckled. “You look so much like your mother when you glare at me like that. Sometimes I forget what it’s like to care for someone. And you’re hardly a child anymore. I knew the moment Jerrik dove into the fight to protect you from Benjamin that he felt something real for you. So, here’s my offer.”

An offer? What? I’d never known Gabriel to make a concession for anyone. Those who stood in his way, he killed. He’d taken over the pack and led them to a new world, and no one had ever come close to taking it from him. Until today.

“Jerrik may join our pack. The shadow wolf may not.”

“I don’t understand.” Weren’t they the same person?

“As it stands, no one knows the shadow wolf’s real identity. I will allow Jerrik to join our pack on the condition that he find himself a new day job. And that no one in the pack learn of his other identity.”

I blinked at my father. Was he serious? He couldn’t be. Gabriel didn’t understand how to compromise. He never had. Not with my mother. Not with anyone.

He walked toward me and held out his hands. I slid my fingers over his palms and stood.

“Consider this my gift to you. When I thought you were dead, I would have given anything to have you back. If Jerrik truly has no intentions of challenging me, then I can agree to do the same. But the shadow wolf dies.” He glanced behind me. “Give me your word. I won’t have my daughter mated to some lowlife assassin.”

“You have my word,” Jerrik said without hesitation.

My head spun. Of all the scenarios I’d imagined, this hadn’t even crossed my mind. The darkest part of my brain had pictured them tearing into one another, as alpha werewolves often did. This was unprecedented.

“The pack will sense Jerrik is stronger than you,” I said. “Can you live with that?”

“They’ll see that we came to an agreement. I’m serious, though. No one hears that he’s the shadow wolf. Understood?”

I nodded, completely flabbergasted.

“I’ll leave you two be now. I’m sure you have some things to discuss.” Gabriel dragged me into his chest for another suffocating hug, then left out the back door.

I stood there, my mind blank. I had no clue how to respond.

Jerrik’s hand brushed mine and I turned toward him. “I…” I shook my head, at a loss for words. “I really don’t know what just happened.”

He grinned at me and cupped my face. “Do you want to be with me? Just me?”

“Are you kidding me?”

He shook his head.

“Of course I do.”

“My past doesn’t bother you? What I did, who I am?”

This time, I shook my head. I understood his reasons now that I knew more of his past. Hard to blame him for killing what he thought were monsters. “We both have our pasts. It’s our future I care about. But are you okay with giving up who you are? Walking away from the shadow wolf?”

“He died the second I saw you in that club,” he said. Without another word, he swooped down and claimed my mouth in a soul searing kiss. When we broke apart, he leaned back and smoothed my hair away from my cheeks. “This is it then, I’m yours.”

“And I’m yours.”

“Forever.”

I stretched up onto my tiptoes and kissed him again. “Forever and always, my Viking wolf.”