End of Story

Everyone outside the manor within range had felt the impact of Aubrianne's aura. They were all at the front entrance of the mansion. Bright led lights from above lit up the surrounding area.

At his mate's move, Zayne had never wanted to rip someone's clothes off as much as he wanted to right now.

He was instantly turned on by his mate's sheer power and dominance. She was hot, and she was taking a stand for him. She had his back, defending him against her father's wishes for him.

A smile threatened the corner of his lips at her words. However, he did not want to provoke the situation.

While Jada, on the other hand, squealed in excitement and shouted at no one in particular. But Aubrianne heard her and almost broke her focus, "Ooooooh, that's my girl!"

While everyone else wore an amazed smile except Theo and Daniel.

Theo stepped forward, "Sweetie, you don't understand this..." Theo gestured to Zayne, and his lips curled in a scowl.

"This does not belong anywhere near my baby girl." Theo reached out, coaxing Aubrianne.

"Why? Hmm? Because he escaped the Airport?" Aubrianne had no intentions of backing off and letting her mate be taken away to any dungeons.

"It's because of him I am here," she spat contemptuously. How could her father even think of treating the person who got her back here safely this way?

Her father should be thanking Zayne, not sending him to the dungeons. Well, to her, it was the truth because if he had not come when he did, she might still have been there listening to Ron's wild imagination until she got bored and ended the night.

They would settle this right now because, like it or not, her mate was staying in HER wing. Else she was leaving TONIGHT.

Yes, she knew somewhere in the back of her mind she was taking things to the extreme, but she was just preparing for the worst-case scenario.

One thing about Aubrianne: she loved her father, he made her the happiest daughter in the world, and she did not want to lose him after only finding out he existed.

She knew that much. However, she also knew that her mate was her mate. End of story.

Zayne was her other half. As such, she held hopes that her father would accept him.

But if not, she had survived without him for twenty-two years, and right now, she could see the life she could have with her mate. Aubrianne got a glimpse of her mate's love and cared for her in this short space of time.

She felt it immensely through the bond.

And as much as she hated that he came so soon and interrupted her vacation, she loved that he came after her the way he did.

A wolf ran down a car. How unbelievable. But he came for her. HE came even if she was not in danger.

And not only did he come after her, but he also did so while he was also being hunted. She was all he could think of at that moment to save her despite everything he was dealing with, so it was her turn to save him.

Theo recoiled at the look of disgust in his daughter's eyes when he said urgently and pleadingly, "Honey, please let's talk about this. They can take him there while we discuss things."

"I SAID NO ONE TOUCHES HIM." Aubrianne roared, seeing that her father was still trying to talk about sending him there.

And Zayne's hands reached out to calm his mate. He reached for her waist, and he pulled her to him.

Aubrianne's body erupted in warmth and comfort. Only then did she put back on her necklace, close her eyes, embrace the sensations flowing through her, and melt into her mate.

Zayne leaned down and kissed the top of her head as he drew circles on her lower back.

Aubrianne and Leia instantly calmed down at their mate's touch and comfort.

A few things happened during the display of their affection and connection. Daniel stormed away. He could not watch anymore.

He was simply grateful that Aubrianne was ok, but he could not continue to look at the happy couple and how she defended her mate with such ferocity, ready to go against her father.

While Jada squealed again and clapped, still hanging on to Ivan or more, Ivan had difficulty letting her go. "Aww, my little baby is growing up." She cooed.

While Shawn and Kirrah bask in each other's embrace, knowing exactly how they feel. And they were both happy for Aubrianne.

They already looked like they were moving in sync with each other as one.

"Bri, he is NOT from a good family. His father got in bed with the worst set of people you could think of. I do not want my daughter around that life." Theo interrupted, deciding to try again.

However, Aubrianne heard what her father said, and she asked, "Are they still in bed with these people?"

Theo could not answer, and Aubrianne was not stupid. Her father and Zayne's father had a history, not her father and Zayne directly. Why was he hell-bent on classing Zayne under that umbrella?

"Sweetie, it does not matter. They are all the same." Theo spoke, getting very agitated that his daughter was being difficult.

Aubrianne's eyes widened, "No, Dad, they are not." Though she honestly did not know that.

"Listen, sue me, but I prefer my baby girl to be with someone well respected and from a good family, not some punk from a disgraced community. He is not worthy of you, princess."

"Ok, that is it, I have heard enough," Everyone then turned to a quiet Rafael, none knowing who he was except for Zayne and Theo.

"Listen to me, you bastard, you see this Alpha right here." Rafael pointed a shaky finger toward Zayne.

Rafael snapped out of his trance and awe of Aubrianne. She was alluring, and her aura amazed him. He was enthralled.

Rafael now stared down Alpha Thornton, he was afraid of Theo and was more fearful of making things worse for his Alpha, but he had something to get off his chest because he knew his Alpha would never defend himself the way he needed to be supported.

Zayne was not the type to go about puffing his chest out. His actions spoke for him.

Plus, Rafael knew if Mekhi were there, he would not stand for anyone disrespecting his Alpha. As such, he had to be Mekhi on this trip.

And there were things these people needed to know, and he was not about to stand there and have this man judge his Alpha on his father's past sins.

"Rafael, don't," Zayne spoke, knowing exactly where Rafael was going with this, but he was a little worried about his mate's reaction. He wanted to tell her and show her everything himself.

However, Aubrianne wanted to hear this, so she turned and looked into her mate's eyes, and her hand rested on his chest, pleading, "Please, let me hear what he has to say."

Her voice held a hint of curiosity and concern. And Zayne instantly melted, then nodded to Rafael to proceed while he held his breath.

"He is a better man and Alpha than you, or anyone of you, could ever be," Rafael pointed at all of them in front of him, then took a flash drive from his pocket and thrust it into Theo's hands.

"You, Mr. High and Mighty take a look at that." Rafael held up another copy he had.

"This Alpha that you are so quick to disgrace and hell-bent on keeping away from your precious daughter is the best wolf your daughter could find herself mated to."

"This Alpha right here was a God among mere petty men, such as yourself."

"Zayne has single-handedly taken on his shoulders a fight that is not his alone to fight. This entity that is on the rise affects all of the werewolf kind."

"This entity has been trampling wolf communities for over ten years now, and three of those ten, it was Alpha Zayne, who fought against them every chance he got."

"And do you know why many men willingly followed him into a battle that was not theirs alone to fight?"

"No, you would not know. A man like you may never understand that kind of loyalty from your people," Rafael realized he was straying a bit, but he was angry at this man.

He had watched Zayne try to reach him for help for years to no avail.