“You barely know me, Mabel. You’ve spent a great deal of time apart from all of us.”
She sighed and pushed some hair off her face. “I know, but that doesn’t mean my parents didn’t tell me what was going on. They always wanted me to come back and reconcile with you. To give this a chance. I was just too stubborn.”
“Or you were hurt. I don’t like to think you stayed away out of stubbornness.”
She chuckled. “You’re right. I didn’t. I stayed away because I was hurt. I felt like I was being punished, and I couldn’t figure out what I did wrong. I’d ask how things were getting on with you. In passing. My parents said you had a rough start in the beginning. You made several mistakes, but slowly, they started to see a change in you.”
“I guess knowing who your mate is and having her run out on you to go live in a big city would do that to you. With you gone, I missed you so much. It gave me a lot of time to reflect.”
“And in all that time you didn’t think about being with anyone else?” she asked.
“Other females promised they could take the pain of your abandonment away, but I didn’t want them. I had to suffer. This was what I needed to do to survive. I never lost hope that one day I might be able to reach you. For us to be able to find some peace between us.”
They came to a stop outside her home.
“I still believe if we give each other the chance, we can find happiness.”
She stared into his eyes. She didn’t know what had changed, she just believed it. “Okay. Do you want to come in for some dinner?”
Lucas looked up at the house. “Later. I’ll go and shower and come back after?”
“I’ve got a shower upstairs.”
He groaned and kissed her lips. “I know, but I don’t have any clothes.”
She was tempted to offer him some clothes, but she didn’t think he wanted to use her father’s. Going onto her toes, she brushed her lips against his. “I’ll see you soon.”
“That you will.” He gripped her arms and pulled her in close. “Soon.”
She made her way back into the house, giving him a final wave before closing the door. Leaning against it, she put a hand to her chest and smiled.
This was … perfect.
“Don’t hurt him.”
She let out a cry and looked to see the Alpha was already in her parents’ house.
“Alpha,” she said. “Er, how did you get in?”
“Your parents gave me a spare key. My son was a total ass to you. I get that. I imagine it has been hard living with him, but I know Lucas. In the past three years, all that boy has done was find out every single little detail he can about you.”
“What?”
“You heard me. He’s fallen in love with you. It wasn’t the mating. That just opened his eyes. For three years, he would talk to anyone who had anything to say about you. Pictures, he’d taken them, and I’d find him staring at them for moments at a time. All he wants is to be a good mate and husband to you. Someone worthy of your love because he feels like he doesn’t deserve it. I’m asking you to give him a chance.”
“I think Lucas and I can work this out ourselves.”
“Mabel, if you decide you cannot stand to be mated to my son, I will cast you out.”
She gasped. “What?”
“You heard me. I will not have my son hurt.”
“Dad, stop it!”
Mabel glanced over Duke’s shoulder to see Lucas had entered her house, and it looked like he’d come in the back.
“I’m doing what I must to protect my son.”
“I don’t need that kind of protection. If Mabel doesn’t want me, she can stay. I will not have her fearing for her place in the world if she doesn’t love me.” Lucas turned toward her. “I hope dinner is still on offer?”
She nodded.
“Please, forget what my father said.” He grabbed his father by the arm, and it was such a shock to see the Alpha pulled out of her house. She didn’t say a word.
****
They’d been back on the island for two days now.
Two glorious days without saying a word about what he’d stumbled upon. He’d watched Mabel go into the house, but the scent of his father was so clear and heavy in the air, he’d just known his father was going to try something.
He stared down at the photograph album he’d created of Mabel while she’d been away. Each photograph told a tale, and while she’d been gone, it had helped him to survive, to build a clear picture of her.
Every single person in town, all the pack, and even a few human civilians, had nothing but nice things to say about the girl he’d bullied. Her sweet, kind nature was so opposite to the way he’d treated her. He’d been cruel while she’d been lovely.