If Aaron Raines thinks he’s going to keep me from my mate, he has another thinging. He may not know she’s my mate, but


    every other father in this pack would be thrilled that | wanted to take their daughter out.


    | wait until | hear the shower running before grabbing a pair of shorts hidden in the trees for when we shift and going to her front


    door. | knock, waiting. When the door opens, it’s her father.


    “Mr. Raines.” He steps outside, closing the door.


    “Clint Nelson. What are you doing here?”


    “| wanted to speak to you about dating your daughter.”


    “Stay away from my daughter.” He says, turning around and mming the door in my face. What the...?


    As soon as | leave, | go to find Anders. | find him in his room. | don’t bother with pleasantries. “I need your help.”


    He stands up, seeing that I’m irritated, pacing in his room.


    “Whatever you need Clint.” He says,ing to put a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down.


    “Aaron Raines doesn’t want Lily going out with me.” | can see the tips of his lips pulling up as he tries not tough at my


    situation. |, however, can’t find the humor in it. She’s my fucking mate and NO ONE will keep me from her.


    “Nevermind, I''ll figure it out myself.” | snarl, turning to walk out.


    He grabs my arm, holding me in ce. There is no evidence of a smile now. “I never said | wouldn’t help you, Clint. You''ve


    always been my friend first, my brother. | would do anything in my power to help you and this is in my power. Why don’t we go


    down to dinner and you can fill me in. I''ll make a call afterward and straighten this all out.


    And this is why Anders will make a good Alpha. Unlike me, that can go off all hot- headed, he keeps his wits about him and


    thinks things through, strategizing the best way to handle something.


    I nod. “Thanks man.”


    He puts his arm around my shoulders, leading me out of his room. “That''s what we do, right? We help each other.”


    +25 BONUS


    Over dinner, | exin everything to Anders. He whistles appreciatively. “I can help you with her dad, but you need to/


    things out with Lily. Are you sure you want me to intervene? It might cause more problems between you and her.”


    “I''ll figure that out, but yes, please do this for me.”


    “Okay, just know | won’t interfere if Lily kicks your ass for this.” He says and we walk back up to his room.


    He dials the phone, and | can hear when Aaron answers.


    “Aaron, this is Alpha Anders. How are you this evening?”


    | hear Aaron respond, before Anders continues.


    “I''m wondering if you can help me with something.” He says. Nice. Get him to agree toply before telling him what it is you


    want from him.


    “| understand you don’t want your daughter seeing my Guardian. Is that correct?


    I snort when Aaron says he meant no disrespect.


    “So, you won’t stand in the way of Clint taking Lily out this Sunday as nned?”


    | breathe a sigh of relief when | hear him say he won’t stand in the way, not that he would go against Anders, but he could as


    Lily''s father.


    “If you have any concerns about my Guardian seeing your daughter, please bring them to me or my father, we will be happy to


    mediate a discussion to resolve any issues.”


    When he hangs up, he looks at me. “You should consider telling him that you are. Lily’s mate. It may change his mind about


    you.”Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    I''m shaking my head before he finishes. “I don’t want anyone knowing before she does. There’s no way her parents won’t act


    differently and she’s smart enough to figure it out.”


    That night, | go online and order a guitar. | have an idea for something special for Lily, but it will take some time, especially since


    | don’t know how to y the guitar. At all.


    The next morning, we pick up Lily and Calista outside Calista’s house. When | step out of the car to open the door for Lily, | see


    her father standing at the window of their house, watching me. | nod my head at him, but he turns and walks away without


    acknowledging me. Whatever, it’s his daughter that needs to like me. | can work on the parentster.


    However, | realize quickly that Anders was right. Lily is furious with me. She


    +25 BONUS


    barely speaks to me on the car ride to school and when | follow her to her locker, she pulls me into a hallway beforeshing out.


    “How dare you! How dare you go to Anders and have him call my father.”


    | cross my arms over my chest. “I told you | wasn’t going to sneak around, Lily.”