Drantos Read online

  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?”

  “Nothing worthwhile ever is. It will be fine.”

  She wanted to believe him.

  Drantos wanted to pull Dusti into his arms and carry her to bed. The instinct to protect her was strong. The clan could go to hell, but he knew that kind of thinking was what his father feared most. Dusti would have an easier time if she were accepted by everyone.

  “It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks.” He wanted her to know she was his main concern.

  “These are the people you care about.”

  “I love you. You’re my mate. You are always my priority.”

  She smiled. “Thank you. I know you mean that. We’ll make this work. I wasn’t just blowing smoke up your father’s ass. I get that we’re in your world so I need to play nice with the natives.”

  He laughed. She always amused him with the way she spoke. “They’ll get to know you and see how wonderful you are.”

  She nodded. “I guess that means we should get ready and leave the house if I’m to be put on display.”

  “Don’t look at it that way.” He could sense she was worried. “It’s just a new place. Deep down we’re basically the same as you.”

  “Okay.”

  “We are, Dusti. Don’t let the fact that we’re not human convince you otherwise. We have bad days and good. Dreams and disappointments. You love your sister the way we love our siblings.”

  “I understand. It’s just going to take some time for me to adjust to the idea of living with a bunch of people who grow claws and fangs, but I will. I’m going to shower. Do you want to join me?”

  He would make love to her and they’d never leave the house. He admitted as much. “I’ll go eat since you already did. It will be a quick trip out and then we’ll have the rest of the day to bond. We’ll go to the gathering later this afternoon. My shift won’t start until about ten tonight.”

  “Got it. Horse and pony show first, then the good stuff. I like that plan. It’s like being rewarded after doing something that I know is going to be tough. Then we’ll face off against your entire clan at this dinner.”

  Her words made his chest hurt. “I’m sorry this is difficult for you.” He meant it. He tried to put himself in her shoes. It would be drastically different for him if he attempted to join her world. He at least knew how hers worked. She hadn’t known his existed before he’d come into her life. “You’re very brave.”

  She flashed him a grin that brightened her eyes. “It’s a good thing you’re seriously hot.”

  He laughed. “I’ll make it up to you.”

  “I’m counting on it. On that note, I’m going to shower.”

  He watched her disappear into his room and his mood darkened. His parents were going to be a pain the ass. It would be simpler if Kraven were home. His brother had a way of finding solutions and dealing with their parents better than he ever could. He also was mating to Dusti’s sister. It would give their parents two targets to focus on instead of just him.

  He strode over to the front door and twisted the bolts. That was one thing that would change, regardless of how anyone felt about it. He didn’t want everyone just walking into their home. A few minutes more and they would have been caught having sex on the couch. Father or not, he would have wanted to rip out the throat of any man who saw that much of Dusti.

  He fixed a quick bowl of cereal, more than aware of the sound of running water down the hallway. He wanted to go to her. His dick throbbed. It wasn’t natural to refrain from sex while their mating bond still formed. Then again, the clan was on high alert thanks to Decker’s bullshit.

  He might understand that he was needed, but that didn’t mean he didn’t regret it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Dusti knew the people in the town of Howl would be curious about her, and she had to admit she wasn’t immune to the feeling either. She peered at every face they passed and noticed how closely they studied her. Drantos clutched her hand tighter. She lifted her chin to give him a worried glance.

  “Are they all VampLycans? The whole town?”

  “At night, yes, with a few Lycans thrown in. During the day like now, not always. There’s a main highway just a few miles away. There’s a sign that leads people here but not a lot of them come. Tourists visit but we refused to build a motel. We want to keep humans from staying too long.”

  “Why allow them at all?”

  He brought her to a brief halt. “A lot of travelers need food and fuel in this remote area, and that earns us a little income. It also makes humans less suspicious