“And what of your clan? She will make you antisocial. We’re a community that depends on each other for our survival. That includes her, now that you’ve brought her home.”

Dusti had her own doubts about how she’d live with VampLycans but a sense of sadness filled her. She stared up at Drantos, watching him regard his father with a stern expression—and it sunk in that it wasn’t all about her.

She felt a little selfish in that moment. She’d been fixated on how her life would be affected but not really about the consequences he’d face for taking her as a mate. She loved Drantos. His people, not so much, but they needed to live with the clan.

“I’ll think of something,” Dusti swore.

Velder frowned. “Excuse me?”

“I’ll learn more about your people and figure it out. I get that it’s important that everyone accepts me. I’ll think of something,” she repeated.

“It’s not important.” Drantos put his arm around her. “You’re my mate. They will have no choice but to accept you. No one can possibly expect you to be a VampLycan. You’re not blooded enough to shift.”

“It is important,” Velder argued. “You’re going to lead this clan one day and she’s your mate. I couldn’t do my job effectively without your mother’s support. We’re a team. It brings balance to our people.”

And I don’t have claws or fangs, Dusti silently acknowledged. She wouldn’t be beating up women like Drantos’s mother had admitting to doing the night before. She saw the problem. Velder had made it very clear.

“I can fit in,” she stated with a firmer tone. “I just need to figure out how to make it work.”

Velder sighed. “I hope so. For your sake and for his.”

“Father, enough.” Drantos shook his head. “It’s not Dusti’s problem how others react to her. I’m not taking over the clan for a long time. They’ll get to know her as I do and she’ll make friends. You’re making too much out of this.”

“It’s my job to always think of the clan first.” Velder paused. “You’re thinking of your mate first.”

“Mother is always your priority. Don’t deny it.”

“I took a mate who was easily accepted by the clan.”

“You would have taken her even if she’d been a GarLycan. I know you were with one before you met Mother. What if she’d been your mate? You would have claimed her, consequences be damned.”

“True.”

Dusti was stunned. She couldn’t imagine a female version of Aveoth—or Velder dating her. She assumed “with one” meant they’d been an item. “Would a GarLycan be accepted easier than I would be, with my mostly human blood?” She was curious.

Velder shook his head. “No. They are known to be more difficult to bond with and they are fiercely loyal to their own clan. Trust would always be an issue. Our clan would also have had doubts about the ability of any children I’d had with a GarLycan to lead the clan in the future. GarLycans can make cold decisions that don’t involve their hearts. It’s more about logic with them.”

“Everyone in that clan is military minded,” Drantos explained. “We’re geared more toward protecting our family and friends.”

“Well, there’s a bright side. I’m not a GarLycan. Score one for me.”

Drantos chuckled.

Velder scowled. “I don’t see the humor.”

“I’m all about making decisions with my heart. I mated to Drantos. I also pointed out I don’t even know how to shoot a gun. I’m obviously not military minded. See where I’m going with this?” Dusti forced a smile.

Velder closed his eyes.

“Ease up, Father,” Drantos rasped.

Velder opened his eyes, glowering at his son. “You need to take this more seriously and so does she.”

“It’s her first day in the clan. Cut her some slack.”

“Second day,” Velder corrected. “She attacked a Lycan elder on her first and made it clear she holds no respect for our laws or how they’re carried out. I cringe thinking about how day two will go once you take her from your home. Perhaps you should just keep her hidden. Out of sight, out of mind might be the best plan of action.”

The front door opened and Crayla entered. She wore a blue sarong wrapped around her body that started just above her breasts and fell to mid-thigh. She sniffed the air, closing the door behind her. “The tension is so thick in here I can smell it. What’s going on?”

Great, now I get to deal with Drantos’s scary mom. It was annoying how his parents just walked into their home as if they owned the place. They really needed to start locking the door. She made a mental note to bring up that subject with Drantos later.

“Father is being rude to my mate.”

Crayla looked amused. “I see.” She walked up to Velder and leaned against his chest, rubbing her cheek with his. She turned her head, staring at Dusti. “We’re not sure what to do with you.”

“You’ll do nothing,” Drantos growled.

Crayla chuckled. “Calm down. Your mate is safe. We’re worried about how the clan will accept her.”

“She doesn’t like the sight of blood and doesn’t know how to use a weapon,” Velder muttered. “I am out of ideas.”

“Well, that’s why this is a problem for me to sort out. She’s a female and they are mine to take under my wing.” Crayla grinned at her mate. “Stop being grumpy and annoying our son. Don’t you remember how it was when I first arrived? Be nice to his mate. We’ll figure this out. They can mingle at the roast and then I’ll come here tonight while Drantos is on patrol. I’ll talk to her and see where we stand then. She’s got to be useful in some way.”

“Fantastic.” Dusti hoped the sarcasm didn’t sound in her voice when that word popped out.

Crayla laughed again. “She has potential. She’s not cowering behind our son. Let’s leave them alone for now. I know you wanted him to take her out today to show her off to the clan. They can’t do that while we’re still here.”

The couple strolled out holding hands, closing the door behind them.

Dusti sighed, peering up at Drantos. “This isn’t going to be easy, is it?”