don’t know.” Ray sighed. “I don’t. We don’t ask, and we certainly don’t push for information. I cannot even fathom how hard all of this is on her. You better not either. You might be her mate, but you’re not jumping into being mated. You’ve not even asked her out on a proper date, and you just had a sex marathon that ended in her passing out and distressed. You’ll be lucky if she answers your call.”
“Fuck.”
“Oh, you are,” Ray chuckled darkly. “I’d start preparing your groveling now. You were in the doghouse before.”
“Yeah, but we went over that first,” he defended. “And I can’t just ask her out on a date. Did you forget the shit with my family?”
“No, which is why you need to get a mistress charm.”
“I won’t demean her with—”
“Protect her is what you meant to say,” Ray snapped. “It won’t just be your family, idiot. You don’t think the bear council won’t make a play for her if they find out she’s the mate of one of theirs?” He snorted. “Fuck, even dating one of theirs? The councils are losing their shit over her. Protect her and do everything over the top to keep her safe. We are, and sometimes it’s still not enough.”
“Okay, yeah, that’s smart,” Lucca agreed after several minutes of thought. “That means I have to be read in on the threats against her. I need to know more.”
“That’s up to her. She’s the boss of all of us.”
“My bear might not always like that,” Lucca worried. “He’s pretty chill, but still Alpha. I mean, I was the boss now and—”
“Kid, she let you be the boss. Your bear will get it, just like my wolf did. I’m a strong Alpha too, but my mate is stronger. Your mate is much stronger than you. Have her show you a fraction of her power, and your bear will show her his neck, belly—everything.”
Lucca didn’t reply, and I tried to open my eyes to see what was going on with him, curious why that made him quiet.
Ray tried to smother a laugh. “You’re not sure you want her to twist you around her little finger even more, right?”
“That obvious, huh?” Lucca quietly chuckled.
“Just give in.”
“But—”
“Naw, there’s no but, man. Give in. You don’t, and all you will do is lose her. Trust me, I almost did a few times before my mate had to go back. I stood in my own way, trying to protect myself and keep control. You’re used to seeing dominance fights, and that’s just not what it’s like being with someone special. They don’t play mean games or fight like that, as they’re always on top.”
“I hear you, I do.” He cleared his throat and I heard a door open. “What do we tell Izzy?”
“Nothing. That’s Tamsin’s job to tell her friends. Plus, the little witch is crazy smart and intuitive. She’ll put it together when I’m cool with you showering Tamsin.” He snickered. “You better get in with Izzy though, as she was super pissed you guys interrupted their fun, and not only because you upset Tamsin. Izzy was planning to ask a hot girl to dance. Her first time doing it.”
“Oh awesome,” Lucca groaned. “I’m so fucked.”
They brought me upstairs and moments later, Izzy was opening our door, telling Lucca to fuck off.
“What happened to Tams?” she gasped, clueing me in that Ray took off the cloaking charm.
“I’m sure she’ll explain later, but she needs fuel,” Lucca answered. “Can you use my Portal Chow account and order her whatever you guys would want? I’m going to shower her so she doesn’t wake up gross.”
“Why would she be… Ahhh, yeah, give me your phone, Romeo.” She cleared her throat. “I don’t care if she’s your mate. She’s my best friend, and even if you’re a bear, I’ll find a spell to skin you alive if you hurt her again.”
“I didn’t say we were mates.”
Izzy simply snorted. “If you weren’t, you’d be anywhere but here, drowning your sorrows in gallons of booze because you lost out on the golden ticket to a happy life. That’s what you guys won, bear. You won everything by fate mating you to her. Earn it. Deserve it, or her friends won’t support you, and you’ve seen how good we are at keeping people from her. Not to mention, the hobgoblins would burn you alive.”
“I get it. Just give me time to wrap my mind all around it.” He cleared his throat this time. “What