Devon eased out of Carolline’s front door reluctantly and a bit stunned. There was a part of him that didn’t know what the hell just happened. He was jittery and unnerved. It wasn't how he should feel. Ever! The other part of his being, the part ruled by his tiger, was pretty damn pleased at having a mate with a backbone. It preened and glanced around, head held high like it was the luckiest motherfucker around. It was proud knowing she could take care of their children and stand up to him when the situation warranted. Which she'd clearly done, and it had been imprinted on his tiger's mind. Stamped there forever to be remembered. It looked forward to rising to any challenge she brought and bringing her down in the most delicious ways.

He was a bit torn on what to do now. He’d told his parents he wouldn’t come home without her, yet he saw no way to convince her to leave. He believed her when she said she could take care of herself. Could see the steely determination stiffening her spine and the stubborn set of her shoulders. So used to being the protector and alpha in any relationship, it was a foreign concept to have someone, his mate mostly, take the role.

He was, in turn, irrationally turned-on and irritated that she didn’t fall over her feet to throw herself at him. A small bit of his pride had been hurt.

Standing in her home. Smelling her scent as it wrapped around him had been insane, and it had taken all his focus, the kind he reserved for work, to keep from taking her down where she stood and scent the hell out of her like his animal wanted. To mix what made up her intoxicating lure with his musk. To mark her and claim her as part of his family. It had been a monumental shock to realize he wanted that with every fiber of his body.

His attraction to her was on a scale he'd never felt before. Not even to his beautiful, docile, deceased wife.

Matthews stepped out seconds after he had and locked the door behind them. The man grunted and thrust his keys into his pocket. He seemed as thrown off as Devon felt. “Not how I expected that to go. I know she’s stubborn, but that,” he waved in the direction where they came from. “That's more stubborn than I’ve ever seen her, and that includes the time I tried to take her out to a sushi bar back in PA. She hates that shit, which is surprising for a shifter. Raw fish isn't much different than taking down a deer and gnawing on it.”

Devon did his best to pay attention to what the other man was rambling on about; instead, the tiger in him was bristling at the idea that this man had a key to her house. Hated that he could get in whenever he wanted and yet Devon, whose human side was still hesitant to admit he was Carolline’s mate, couldn’t. He reassured the beast, his mate was locked inside and safe for the moment. That's what they needed to focus on and he would take that.

Maybe.

For now.

The Sheriff brushed by him, walking to the vehicle sitting in the driveway across the street. It took long, painful minutes after that for Devon to move. He pushed one foot in front of the other, forcing himself to make his way to his SUV. The conflict warring within him about leaving her side or staying was a battle he didn't think he could deal with at the moment. It was probably best for him to retreat and regroup.

What was it his father used to say when they talked about the war that almost took place with the Purists? It is better to bide your time and take the lay of the land before scaling the wall leading to the unknown.

He didn't know if it applied to this situation, he just didn't have anything else to make him feel better.

Devon slid into his SUV and shut the door. He gazed at the front of the house, eyes focused on the large bay window he'd stared out of earlier. He waited to see the flutter of a curtain. The soft features of Carolline looking out at them, whether to ensure they left or hope with bated breath he would come back, it didn't matter. He wanted another glance at her. Some sign she was as conflicted as he was about what was developing between.

There was no flutter or face, though. The place looked to be locked in slumber. No lights. No movement. No sign that she was tormented as well.

Still, what did you expect? His inner voice sneered. She's exhausted. Probably has been for a while. Her recovery is slow. Her mate, it snorted, left her high and dry to take care of herself, and basically rejected her. Why would she be tormented by not being near you? She's already been dealing with that for days on end. Combined with the pain she'd been in, you're probably her last thought.

"Or the only thing on her mind and full of anger," he said into the silence in the vehicle. With a sigh, Devon threw the SUV in gear and eased out of her driveway.

The Sheriff stood on the sidewalk expectantly. Easing up next to him, Devon lowered the passenger window, allowing the man to lean in.

"Listen, I know that didn't go as planned, just don't give up on her. Too many people have, and she'll expect the same of you."

Devon frowned. He’d never heard of anything about her personal background. All the things he’d heard or read said she was an outstanding doctor. Patients and hospitals praised her and thought highly of her. There had been no stories of abandonment. "What do you mean?"

"That is something she'll have to tell you. It’s her story, not mine, and even then, I don’t know much. Just know that her life hasn't been lush like yours. She didn't grow up with the same understanding and love surrounding her. She isn't going to see what you two might have together as a gift that not many people get." Ben stopped speaking and tilted his head in thought. "Or maybe they do. In our world, the hybrid world, we don't. Add on top that we don't get the same treatment in general, and she's bound to be wary of your intentions, seeing how you never reacted to her before, even if nature was telling her you’re mates. We just don't see things the way you do."

Devon nodded as he mulled over what the man said. It was apparent he needed to look more into her background. Dig deeper than the easily referenced articles and letters of recommendation. "I'll keep that in mind."

"See that you do. Now head home to those sweet kids of yours. I've got an officer monitoring her and the house, and I have some work back at the office I need to get to. The tech guys are supposed to get back to me later today about the break-in at her office."

"Keep me in the loop. I want to know what you find."

Ben snorted and crossed his massive arms over his chest. Devon would be lying if he said he didn't find it intimidating. "How about you let me handle the police stuff, and if there's something I deem significant, I'll let you know? You need to be concentrating on coming up with a plan to win over that woman in there, and ensuring your kids know you're there for them and they're safe. If I was in your position, that’s what I would be focusing on."

Before Devon had a chance to respond, Ben saluted him quickly and spun away. He climbed into his cruiser and took off.

Devon did the same, only at a slower rate. With each mile he put between he and Carolline, the harder it was to handle. His chest ached and his mind spun. His no longer dormant tiger bumped and pushed along his psyche. It yowled to go back. To find a way into her home and convince her to leave with them. It knew better than the human side did that they should be together, and that leaving her on her own would make it harder on them both.

Devon was happily in denial of it for the time being. He would deal with reality when the time came.

For now, he needed to figure out what he would tell his parents when he showed up empty-handed, and he needed to do it fast.

Pulling to a stop in front of his house, the hot unsettling weight of dread balled up in his stomach. How long did he think he could sit out there without anyone noticing? Not long probably. The entire house was on alert.

True to that thought, his father appeared on the walkway and headed straight for him.

On a deep sigh, Devon got out of the SUV. He nodded to his dad, who looked at him with expectation written all over his face.

He shook his head, and his father frowned.

“It wasn’t a good time. She’s still pretty banged up and needs more rest.”

“She could have done that here in the safety of your home.”

“She’s stubborn,” he commented with a reluctant smile tugging at his lips.

His dad snorted in amusement. “That could be a good thing for you. Sasha never argued or put up a fight, even when she should have. I loved the girl, it’s that I always felt she was too meek for you.”

“Dad,” he warned. He loved Sasha madly. Still did, even with her gone.

“Don’t get your shorts in a twist, son. We’ve walked around on eggshells since she passed, and I think it’s time to let the poor girl rest. Yes, she will always have a place in our hearts; but you need to move on. You were all but ready to last year with Mary Jane. It shouldn’t be any different now that you have a true mate.”

“It is though. I wasn’t prepared for this. I didn’t ever expect this to happen. This wasn’t part of my plan.”

His father chuckled and clapped him on the back, gently pushing him in the direction of the house. “It never is, son, and that’s what makes it so exciting and special. What you need to do, since your mate seems to be rather strong-willed and reluctant to just fall at your feet, is court the woman and the tigon. One might be easier to sway than the other.”

“It certainly isn’t going to be the human side,” he grumbled as he opened the front door. If the morning’s interaction with her was anything to go by, then the woman would be the hardest to conquer.

Was he up for that? Did he have the time or inclination to claim what could be his? His tiger gave an overly enthusiastic chuff he was choosing to interpret as yes. It wanted what it knew to be theirs, and with it rearing to life like never before and not knowing how to handle the beast, Devon was hard pressed to go against his tiger’s nature.