I watched as she studied the Warriors while they trained underneath her hard gaze. Her red hair glowed auburn underneath the setting sun, and I couldn't help but feel guilty for what I was about to put her through.

She moved with such grace and power, and I loved how she corrected the Warrior in front of her before looking my way. Her green/silver eyes stared into my green eyes, a small smile appearing on her lips. "You are dismissed," she called out to her Warriors, keeping an eye on me. "Good work today."

The Warriors bowed their heads in respect to their Luna before moving away. Some came in my direction and bowed their heads to me. "Alpha," some said, and I nodded in greeting.

My mate, Bethany Ann, walked over to me, her hips swaying from side to side. She had no idea how hard it was for me not to pin her to the ground and make her feel loved. She knew what I was thinking by the fact that her eyes turned a bit more silver before turning mostly green. "What is it?" she asked, arching an eyebrow when she was near me.

"Couldn't I say hello to my beautiful mate and watch as she trains the warriors?" I asked. I pulled her into my arms and kissed the top of her head, loving the fact that she stopped tensing when I pulled her into a hug. I chuckled when she shoved me back and placed a hand on her hip. "I take that as a no?"

She scowled. "Damion, if you don't want to talk to me, then I could just call the Warriors back and have them train some more... or I could go into our house and lock you out."

"You can't lock me out of the whole house," I said, and the eyebrow arched higher. "Or maybe you can..." I cleared my throat and rubbed the back of my neck. "We are being asked to help out a pack in need," I said, finally getting down to business.

She cocked her head, her eyes telling me to go on.

I sighed and ran a hand over my face, feeling exhausted. I hated this. I hated putting her into a position that could mean she would hate me forever. However, I had to follow orders and the promise that my father had set out for this pack. That was one thing that I wished I didn't have to do, but I knew that I had to do it for the safety of the pack. "The man is your father," I said, finally. "Or it seems like it. He kept asking questions about you and looks a bit like you."

***

Fear. That was one thing that was evident on Bethany Ann's face when I told her that. Her heart sped up, and I could tell that all she wanted to do was run. She wanted to run and hide, and my heart broke as I watched this strong female break in front of me. "I-I-"

I took hold of her and held her close. "Breathe," I soothed, running a hand through her hair. "I will not let anything happen to you." I kissed the side of her head and waited patiently for her heart to beat at a gentler pace.

Bethany Ann hugged me tightly. She closed her eyes, and I knew that she was praying that this was all a dream. "Did he give my mother's name?" she asked, her voice cracking. "How do you know that it is him?"

My heart broke. All I wanted to do was lie, but I knew that my mate didn't deserve to be lied to. She was my mate and my Luna, and she needed to know what was happening. "I don't know if it is him or not," I said, finally and being honest. "However, something in me is telling me that he is your father, and I should just prepare you for the worse."

Bethany Ann sighed and nodded her head. She pulled away and looked at me, letting me see the insecurity and fear surrounding this brave female. She touched the tip of the scar on her face before nodding her head again, coming to some sort of agreement with herself. "All right," she said, finally, pulling herself back together. "I don't think I can trust him, but I trust you enough to watch out for me."

I couldn't help but smile and peck her lips. "Thank you," I whispered, pecking them. "Thank you for being brave for me."

She pulled away and had this dazed look in her eyes. She cleared her throat, a blush appearing on her face. A small smile appeared on her lips, and she nodded her head. "Let's just hope that it isn't a bad thing..."

And for her sake, I prayed that it wasn't either.