Jozlyn placed herself in front of him. “Hello, Arturo. Is Lyric or Syn around?

This is my niece, and well…I just wanted to ask them a favor.”

​

He inhaled deeply, looking up at his unclaimed mate. Even on one knee he was almost eye-to-eye with the woman. “First off, the girls aren’t in tonight. Second, don’t lie to me, hahai, or I’ll tan that fine ass red. Now, let’s start over, shall we?” He gave the little girl he knew was the daughter of the woman sleeping in the clinic a smile. He hoped it would reassure her. “What’s your name, little one?”

​

“Egypt Rose Light, Arturo, and you’re kinda scary,” she answered him.

​

Laughing, he patted her on the head. “Well, Egypt, I know your mama, Asia.” He watched recognition light the dark eyes then tears well in them. “Hey, now, no crying. Your mama wouldn’t like that.”

​

“My mama…is…dead,” she cried, turning her head into his unclaimed mate’s side.

​

Turo looked at Jozlyn and winced. Her dark eyes were spitting bullets at him. If she’d had a gun, he was sure she’d have shot him right then and there. Of course, he’d have recovered. It would’ve just hurt a bit. “Honey, your mama isn’t…she’s here, but she’s pretty tired. Do you want to go see her?”

​

“What’s going on, Turo?” Kellen’s voice thundered behind him.

​

“This little bit is Asia’s daughter, and this is Jozlyn.” He faced his alpha, meeting Kellen’s gaze with a steady stare.

​

The mental link opened. “Why the fuck is there a kid in my club, and why haven’t you claimed your mate?”

​

Turo snorted. “Hello pot said the kettle. How long did you wait to claim your mate? Besides, she’s too young, human, and too…everything for the likes of me.”

​

Kellen’s bright blue eyes flashed. “Is this the reason you were leaving the pack?”

​

He owed it to Kellen to be honest with him. With a nod, he didn’t make excuses, just left it at a nod and held his ground. Kellen may be the alpha, the Iron Wolf, but Turo was not a young pup. He chose to be part of the Iron Wolves. He’d been drawn here. Now he knew why and couldn’t claim his fated mate. Fucking-A fates suck.

​

“I’ll eliminate the reason and then you can stay.” Kellen took a menacing step forward.

​

“Touch one hair on her head, and there will be a war unlike any you’ve ever seen,” he promised, his words coming out low and even through their link.

“That’s what I thought. You’ll be mated and claiming before too long, my friend. Now, back to my original question. What’s doing with kids and unclaimed mates in my club?” He placed his fists on his hips as if Turo hadn’t just threatened him.

Turo shook his head. Kellen was almost as batshit crazy as the Fey Queen.

​

“Well hello, did someone just say my name?” Jenna asked from behind him.

​

He blinked, wondering if the other being was reading his mind. She tapped her temple and smiled. With a grin of his own, he slammed walls in place, making her wince.

​

“Dang, son, that was mean. Now, aren’t you just the spitting image of your mother. I’m sure you hear that all the time. Tsk tsk, who thought it was okay to bring a little girl into a bar?” Jenna pinned Jozlyn with her turquoise gaze. “Oh, aren’t you just lovely. Come along, we’ll chat and get to know each other. You meet my bestie Kellen?” Jenna leaned in toward Jozlyn and Egypt. “He only growls really loudly, but he’s a big softie. Aren’t you? Yes you are. Oh yes, you are,” she cooed as if she were talking to a little kid or a favorite pet.

​

It took all of Turo’s self-control not to burst out laughing as Kellen’s head fell forward, his chin resting on his chest as he muttered must not kill the Fey over and over in a growled whisper.

​

“Kellen, I’ll check on Team Styles while I’m here as well, might as well get r done in one fell swoop.” Jenna tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder, grabbing onto one of Egypt’s hands and then Jozlyn’s.

​

He took a step to follow, pulling up short as Kellen moved into his path. “We need to talk,” Kellen said.

​

Damn, he didn’t want to get into a pissing contest with his alpha. Hell, he’d called the man and asked for his help. Now, it looked as though any thought of leaving the pack had just flown, or in this case, walked in the door with a tiny stranger in tow. Yeah, fate sure had a funny way of slapping you in the face when you least expected it.

​

“I can see the wheels spinning in that monster brain of yours. Let’s have a sit down in my office. I keep the good shit there.” Kellen’s stride didn’t falter as he headed toward his sanctuary in the club.

​

Turo shook his head and then he followed, knowing it was no use to not do as instructed. Kellen would just come find him. Not that he was scared of the Iron Wolf. Of course, the fact the other man could shift into a beast of myth most hadn’t truly believed in until recently, but Turo had also learned much in his years. A lesson learned was, that you didn’t turn down an opportunity to gain important information.

​

“Want one?” Kellen held up a bottle of Makers.

​

“Absolutely,” Turo agreed.

​

Once he had two full glasses, Kellen made his way over to his recliner, handed Turo his glass then sat. “Alright, I’m sure you’re wondering if Jenna has shared anything with me about our mystery woman. Well, the answer is no. However, I need to ask you a few things. First and foremost, what the fuck is going on with you? I knew when you came here there was something different about you, but I wasn’t sure what it was. Now, I’m thinking I should’ve told my father to ask more pointed questions. As the alpha, I’m asking. What’s up with you? And don’t feed me no bullshit line. Where did you come from? What are your origins? I took you as a straight up lone wolf, but I think there’s more to you than that. Where’s your original pack?”

​

Turo looked at the amber liquid, hearing the questions fired at him like bullets from a gun. He’d guessed Kellen would want to know what was what when it came to him. However, he wasn’t sure how much to tell. Taking a long sip, he met the piercing blue gaze of the alpha. “My name is Arturo Anoa’i. I was originally from New Zealand, but my family moved around quite a bit back in the day. When I didn’t find my true mate, I left my pack to search for her. I’ve been searching for hundreds of years.” He watched Kellen’s face to see how his words would affect the alpha.

​

Shock rolled off Kellen in waves. “Holy shit. So, you’re telling me you’re what…a couple hundred years old?”

​

Shrugging, Turo saw no reason to be completely honest. “I stopped counting birthdays after three hundred. It’s been a few decades since I saw my three hundredth birthday.”

​

Kellen slammed the rest of his drink before he spoke again. “Damn, you’re an old motherfucker.”

​

“Yeah, I guess you could say that. However, there’s still life in this old dude.” He tapped his chest. “I don’t know why I’m still kicking when most of my pack, if not all of my former pack, has all died. I’ve went back but could never find them. I assume they’ve all joined the Goddess.” No longer did the loss of his family hurt like it had centuries ago. Hell, even fifteen years ago, until he’d found the Iron Wolves, he’d felt the ache of loss.

​

“Then why were you leaving us?” Kellen stood and went to refill his drink.

​

Turo sighed, thinking of the tiny human named Jozlyn. His unclaimed mate. “You saw her. She’s too fragile for the likes of me. Too young, and fuck all if I’m worthy of the likes of her.”