Wolf Haven, Oklahoma

“Well, ain’t this some anti-climactic bullshit.”

“Aunt Tu…” Knud speaks signs at the same time Qim signs, “Mom.” And Jandro signs, “Grandma…” Grady only shakes his head as if he’s given up on trying to reign in his wife.

“I’m just saying… We went through all this…let a bunch of humans into Wolf Haven…and she can’t even remember you!” Tu speak-signs back. Her eyes narrow in the direction of the closed clinic door where Knud left Layla and her parents after they requested to “talk privately.”

Layla only asked for the room, but Knud, knowing a few things about wolf hearing that she didn’t, decided to give her the whole building.

Which is where he found Tu, Grady, Qim, and Jandro…all waiting outside in matching track suits and matching expressions of worry.

“You guys have nothing to worry about,” he spoke signed to them. “Believe me, all the illegal stuff you did to get Jandro here is the last thing on her mind right now.”

Tu let out an audible sigh of relief…right before taking Knud’s reprieve as her cue to run commentary on the latest complication in what had started out as a simple NSA relationship.

“And that overstepping family of hers can just miss me,” she complains now, glaring at the human guard posted outside the clinic.

“You’re angry because they have more money than us and more power,” Qim signs, teasing his mom with laughing eyes.

“NO…” Grady signs in seeming defense of his wife. “She angry because she choke in front Eva Rustanov. I NEVER see her no able to TALK. I was afraid she might FAINT.”

“The only reason I’m not throwing cuss fingers at both you now is because of J-Blessing,” Tu signs back with a grouchy look on her face. But then her shoulders sag as she signs, “I can’t believe I choke. But she so beautiful. Like angel. I must try talk to her again.”

“Mom, this isn’t about you talking to L-heart’s mother,” Qim reminds her with gentle signs. “We’re here for K-Thunder.”

Then, proving why he was handed the keys to his kingdom earlier than most, Qim turns to Knud to ask, “What can we do? How can we help?”

“Yes, want help you like you help us,” Jandro agrees, proving why this street kid would probably end up with the keys to the kingdom, too. The boy already seemed like he was part of the family—and not just because of the track suit. He looked healthier. And though Knud doubted the shadows from his eyes would fully clear until he’d been seeing his therapist for a year or two, at least they no longer appeared sunken in and hopeless.

Happy. He’s happy here.

Even if Layla didn’t remember Jandro, he knows she’ll feel the same as him. That saving this kid was worth it. Worth everything they’ve been through.

Everything they’re still going through.

Which is maybe why it feels more true than sappy when Knud speak-signs back, “Trust me, J-Blessing, you did enough by agreeing to be part of our family. But thanks for the offer.”

“His word speak exact truth,” Qim signed to Jandro. Then he made a point of carefully signing “Gracias” in LSM.

Jandro beams, perhaps beginning to believe he deserves to be part of this family. He thumbs his chin in return, “De nada.”

A sudden commotion at the clinic’s front door interrupts the warm moment.

They turn as one to see the former First Family walking out together. Layla’s hand is wrapped inside Eva’s, like a child being guided by her mother, and they head toward the small drone now sitting in the field between the kingdom house and Wolf Haven.

Knud flew here with her parents in the drone, but he already has a feeling they won’t be leaving that way. And though Knud is happy to see the relationship with her mother is on the mend, his heart sinks knowing what’s coming next.

Beside him, Tu frantically speak signs, “No, no! They don’t just get to take her away. You’re her MATE. There are LAWS.”

“Yeah, laws we can’t truly enforce with their kind,” Knud reminds her.

“That’s bullshit,” Tu says. Then she speak signs, “This is our land! OUR kingdomland. We can forbid them from launching their drone.”

“Or arrest them for trespassing without an order from the sitting president,” Qim adds. “Whatever you need, we’ve got your back.”

Yes, they did. And not for the first time does Knud realizes just how stupid he’s been to keep his family at a distance for so long. But in this case…

“Thank you. But I’m not going to stop her from leaving. She doesn’t remember me, and she sent me away five minutes after meeting me.”

“Wait—” Tu starts, hands readying for a tsunami of signs.

“No, Aunt Tu. She’s had a lifetime of playing the part of perfect First Daughter.” With a shake of his head, he recalls all the research he did on Layla before going into the Texas compound. Because of her father’s place of birth and his complete lack of interest in running a political office, she’d had to step up at the age of 12 and do double duty. Not only had she undergone heavy media training, she’d campaigned tirelessly for her mother and even took over the office of First Spouse during her mother’s second term in office.

While Knud had been blindly following Rafes’ often fatal orders all over the world, Layla had given up everything, including her own sense of self, to be the person her mother needed to secure and successfully keep her presidency. No, Knud couldn’t ask her to do the same for an unworthy wolf she didn’t even remember.

“If she doesn’t want to play the part of my mate, I’m not going to make her. Our lawyers will figure out the custody arrangement, and she’ll be happy. That’s all that matters.”

Tu considers his words, then drops her hands with a sigh—only to stiffen again and squint into the distance.

Knud follows her gaze to see Alexei Rustanov headed their way.

“Stay calm,” he signs to both Qim, Grady, and Tu.

But his family makes no promises. Tu and Grady flank one side of him, while Qim and Jandro fall in on the other. They cross their arms over their chests...there if Knud needs them.

But he doesn’t have time to be grateful for their support because he’s too busy bracing himself for what Alexei Rustanov will say.

The larger man stops about a foot away from them, his cold grey gaze finding Knud with the precision of a laser. “You will listen carefully to my words. I do not care that you are a Nightwolf, or from some protected tribe my wife cannot tell me about. If anything else happens to my Layla, I will kill you. You understand this, da?”

“Yeah,” Knud answers. “I get it. You don’t have to worry about me harassing her. I wouldn’t do that, especially in her condition. If she doesn’t want to see me again, she doesn’t have to. But there are a few conditions that need to be met before I let her go…”

Trying to think like Rafes, Knud starts to compile a mental list of what Layla will need given her condition.

“What do you mean, ‘let her go?’” Alexei asks with a sneer. “I am not threatening you to stay away from her. I am threatening you because she has decided to return to Kansas with you.”

Knud’s heart stops at Alexei’s words. Beside him Tu says, “No way! Are you shitting us?”

“No, I am not ‘shitting’ you,” Alexei answers Tu with a scornful look. He then sneers at Knud. “She has chosen you. I suggest you do not, as my son Aaron says, fuck it up this time.”