He knew something was wrong as soon as he found Diablo in the living room, slouched on the couch. Reese rubbed his chest, wondering why his bond to Diablo felt diluted. It wasn’t as deep as it should have been. “What did you do?”

  Diablo looked up at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Was that a bottle of Red Spanking in his mate’s hand? Was Diablo drunk? Was that the reason their connection was dulled? Reese had never heard of such a thing happening, but then again, he was newly mated.

  “Is this how you deal with your problems?” Reese walked over and snatched the bottle away.

  “How else, Reese? Tell me exactly what to do to stop people from hating me, to stop them from hating you? Tell me how in the hell to live my life without assholes coming after me, from them challenging me for bragging rights. Look at me. I’m massive in size. Take Diablo down and you’re king shit.”

  Reese set the bottle on the shelf by him then dropped down next to his mate. “I don’t have the answers, Diablo. I’m winging this as it happens. But the one thing I’m not doing is giving up on you. Fuck the world if they can’t accept you.”

  “Easy for you to say,” Diablo said with a slight slur. “You weren’t raised by an uncaring mother who ridiculed you for your weaknesses. Who turned her back when others wanted to make you their omega. You don’t live in constant fear some jagoff is coming after you just because he detests your kind.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I love you, but I never should have revealed myself to anyone. I should have never mated you and turned your life to shit.”

  Reese refused to take that personally, but it still hurt. He couldn’t imagine what Diablo had been through, the bullshit he’d taken for so long. One day and Reese was fuming. He couldn’t imagine a lifetime of that.

  He started to get up so he could pour Diablo into their bed when he noticed he didn’t smell hellhound on his mate. He sniffed deeply, but Reese couldn’t detect an ounce of shifter.

  “What did you do?” He turned to face his mate.

  “What I had to do to keep you safe.” Diablo closed his eyes. “What I should have kept doing this entire time.”

  “Where is it?” Reese demanded. “Give me the damn bottle.”

  “Not gonna let anyone hurt you.” Moments later, Diablo was snoring.

  Reese patted him down, but the bottle wasn’t on him. He got up and searched, but hell if his mate hadn’t been good at hiding the elixir.

  Damn Diablo and his need to protect him. He’d dulled their bond, and that pissed him off. Something had to give. They couldn’t keep living like this. Diablo couldn’t keep taking that elixir, and the residents needed to give the guy a chance.

  Reese was stumped. How could he change anyone’s mind if no one was willing to listen?

  Just as Reese was about to put Diablo to bed, his phone rang. It was his mother calling. Reese hadn’t even told her he’d found his mate. He hadn’t had the time. With a sigh, he answered. “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hey, baby boy,” she said. “I haven’t heard from you in over a week. Is everything okay?”

  His parents didn’t live in Willow Point. They lived in Pride Pack Valley. It wasn’t that far, maybe a forty-minute drive, and Reese usually visited them on Sundays when the clinic was closed.

  “Just busy,” he said as he sat back, listening to Diablo snore. “How are you and Dad?”

  “Your father is getting restless. He wants to go on vacation, but I told him it’s too cold to travel. We’re not getting any younger, and the cold affects my bones.”

  Reese rubbed his eyes with his thumb and middle finger. He didn’t want to think about how old his parents were getting, not on top of everything else he was dealing with.

  “Maybe warmer weather will do you both some good.”

  “Ha! You have to get me to leave the house first.” She laughed then sobered. “A mother knows when something is wrong, Reese. Talk to me. Besides, I hear heavy snoring. Either you have man problems or one of your pets is staying upstairs with you.”

  Reese chuckled. “Why do you immediately jump to man troubles?”

  She clucked her tongue. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

  That was one thing about his mom. It was as if she’d developed some kind of son radar when Reese was born. Anytime he was having difficulties, no matter how hard he tried to hide it, she was like a bloodhound that could sniff it out.

  “I found my mate.”

  “So why don’t you sound happy about it?”

  Reese sighed. “Diablo is part hellhound.”

  His mother grew quiet. If she went on a rant about that, Reese would lose all hope in humanity. She was his rock, always giving him great advise. His mom didn’t have a hateful bone in her tiny body.

  “Okay, part hellhound,” she said. “Tell me what that entails, son.”

  He explained that Diablo couldn’t drain anyone’s happiness but he had the mark behind his ear. “He’s a good guy, Mom. He’s just dealt with a lot of crap his entire life. Now I have clients who are dropping me because of him.” Then Reese told her how Diablo had been Luke’s dog for two years and about the elixir. “He’s taken it again, and our bond has weakened.”

  “Murray! We’re going on vacation,” his mother shouted. “We’re going to see Reese!”

  “Mom, you don’t have to come. I know how much you hate the cold.”

  “Try and stop me,” she said. “My boys need me, so I’m coming.”

  Boys? Had she just included Diablo without meeting him? He knew she was a freaking peach, and he loved her even more.

  “We’ll stay at the local motel since you two are still in your honeymoon period, but your father and I want to meet Diablo and give him our support.” She clucked her tongue again. She only did that when she was holding in her temper. Reese couldn’t count how many times he’d heard her do that as he was growing up. “And if anyone has a problem with my son-in-law, they’ll deal with me.”

  Reese smiled. “Be careful driving here. Let me know when you make it.”

  “Love you.” His mom hung up. If anyone could get through to Diablo, it was Mary Freeman.

  “Come on, baby.” Reese pulled Diablo from the couch, slung his mate’s arm over his shoulder, and walked him to the bedroom. Reese was glad he was a shifter because if he hadn’t been, there was no way he could have carried Diablo’s massive form.

  “You’re so handsome,” Diablo slurred.

  “Not half bad yourself.” He poured his mate into the bed. Reese took off Diablo’s shoes, set them aside, then undressed him. “Sleep tight. And when you wake up, you’re telling me where that elixir is. You’re done taking it.”

  Chapter Ten

  Diablo stared at the tiny woman in front of him. She couldn’t be any more than five feet tall and about a hundred pounds soaking wet. She had light brown hair and brown eyes, just like Reese.

  The guy was a different story. Reese’s father was well over six feet, muscular, with the same color hair and eyes, a hard jaw, and an assessing gaze, as if nothing got past him.

  “Welcome to the family,” Mary said as she hugged him. Diablo stood there stiffly, unsure if he should hug her back. Since his mother was a true hellhound without a single once of compassion in her, he didn’t exactly have a role model to tell him what to do in this type of situation.

  “Relax,” Reese whispered in his ear.

  Like that was going to happen. Reese’s parents were there, and Diablo was terrified he’d say or do something wrong. He’d never had in-laws before, and he wanted to make a good impression for Reese’s sake.

  “Welcome, son.” Murray shook Diablo’s hand as Mary finally stopped clinging to him like some kind of spider monkey.

  “Thanks.” Diablo took a step back. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

  “So, tell me about yourself.” Mary grabbed Diablo’s hand and led him to the couch. Diablo looked over his shoulder at his mate for help, but Reese just stood there with a goofed-up grin on his face.

  Did they know he was part hellhound? Should Diablo say anything about that? He’d taken the elixir, so he knew they couldn’t smell it on him. He’d also noticed how his bond with Reese had dulled, and Diablo hated that fact. Hated that he didn’t feel that deep connection to the man he loved. But what else was he supposed to do? Let everyone keep shitting on Reese because of him?

  “Mary, go easy on him,” Murray warned with a wink.

  “I just want to get to know him,” Mary shot back. “He’s family now.”

  That single word nearly buckled Diablo’s knees. Family. Like he was a part of something now that he’d been denied for centuries. This didn’t seem real. It felt as if he was walking through some dream.

  “Fine, I’ll start lunch.” She got up and left the living room, enabling Diablo to breathe again.

  “Can I have a word with you?” Murray asked.

  Diablo got up, looking at Reese again, but his mate shrugged and headed into the kitchen. Diablo wanted to run, to hide until they were gone, but he wasn’t a coward. If Reese’s dad wanted to lambast him for being a hellhound, Diablo would brace for the blows.

  They walked outside to the crisp, sunny day. Diablo walked down behind Murray as they entered the exercise area. “Cold as shit out.”

  Diablo nodded. “Surprised we haven’t had snow yet.”

  “It’s that damn climate change everyone is trying to deny.” Murray led him farther into the yard. “So Reese tells us you’re part hellhound.”

  Diablo stopped walking, bracing himself. If there was anyone Diablo didn’t want confronting him, it was Reese’s father. From the way his mate had reacted when his parents had shown up, he adored them, and Diablo didn’t want any tension between him and anyone here.

  “I get it.” Murray looked up toward the cloudless sky. “Misfit. I know all about that.”

  With a frown, Diablo said, “You do?”

  “Yep.” Murray shoved his hands into his front pockets. He looked like a warrior standing there, older, wiser, with just a touch of grey at his temples. “Did Reese tell you his lineage has jaguar in it?”

  Diablo shook his head.

  “Mary’s mother.”

  “Then why don’t I smell that on either of them?” Diablo asked.

  “DNA is a funny thing. Sometimes traits skip a generation or two. Her father was a wolf, her mother a jaguar. They were mates, but when my father found out Mary was part cat, he blew his lid. He’d forbidden me to be with her, but she refused to deny me. I refused to deny her. We were shunned and forced to leave our home. A few years later, my father called a hunt on us.”

  “No disrespect, but it’s not the same,” Diablo said. Being shunned and being hunted your entire life were nothing alike. Although Diablo felt for them and what they’d gone through, it was nothing compared to the past few centuries he’d endured.

  Centuries, not a single hunt. A lifetime of being hunted.

  “Are we speaking the same language?” Murray asked. “It’s exactly the same thing. Shunned and hunted. What we were. What you are. Sounds the same to me.”

  Murray lowered his head and glanced at him. “She was hated for her lineage even though she had no power over it. I fought those who came after us, killed every last guy. After that, my father disowned me. He said I was dead to him. A man who raised me with love and understanding. A guy who everyone looked up to. A man I’d worshiped and loved until he turned on me.”

  Maybe they did have things in common, but he still didn’t think a single hunt equated with what Diablo had gone through for centuries and was still going through.

  “At least you had decades with him before he turned psycho. My mother was a bitch from the word go.”

  “We can’t pick our family, but sometimes family picks us. You’re a part of the Freeman family now, son. We have no qualms about what you are. As long as you treat Reese right.”

  “I have enemies,” Diablo confessed, “and Reese lost clients because of me.”

  “I guess you’re always going to find hate no matter where you live.” Murray squeezed Diablo’s arm. “Don’t hide who you are. Don’t take that elixir to keep Reese safe. He can handle himself, Diablo. You two just need to weather through this. Sooner or later people will see the kind of man you are.”

  Diablo snorted. “I doubt that. I’ve never been anywhere where people welcomed me.” He chewed his bottom lip. “Now I’ve pulled Reese into my world, and he’s seeing firsthand how shitty it is.”

  “We kept Reese sheltered a lot. After what I went through with my father, I didn’t want my son feeling that same kind of hate. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “You were just trying to protect your child.”

  Murray nodded. “Yeah, I was. Now you two have to protect each other. Just stick it out, Diablo. Reese is a good man, and from what I see, so are you.”

  Diablo wasn’t sure about any of what Murray was saying. The folks in Willow Point had made it clear he wasn’t welcome. Even the alpha had judged him. Diablo felt adrift, with nothing to anchor him. He wanted to settle down and enjoy life, but how could he when people were acting like assnoodles?

  Diablo smiled at that word.

  “Your father, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  Diablo shrugged. “One-night stand that didn’t bother sticking around.”

  “Well, you got me now.” He turned toward the stairs. “It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here. Let’s go back inside.”

  Relief washed over Diablo that Murray hadn’t brought him outside to chew him out or degrade him. Now he saw where Reese got his kindheartedness from. Murray was a quiet strength, and this could have gone either way. If Murray had protested their mating, what would Diablo have done? What would Reese have done? Thankfully that was a worry Diablo could put to rest.

  When they walked back into the apartment, Diablo inhaled the deep smells from the kitchen, which made his stomach growl.

  Reese popped his head around the corner. “Tacos for lunch.”

  Murray rubbed his stomach. “Good, because I’m starving.”

  Now that he’d had that talk with Reese’s dad, Diablo felt more at ease. Enough to enjoy lunch, laughing at stories Reese told about growing up, the mischief he’d gotten into and how his father had tanned his hide a time or two.

  All in all, it was hands-down the best lunch Diablo had ever had.

  * * * *

  Something jerked Reese awake. He rubbed his eyes before looking around. The apartment was quiet. His parents had left late in the evening to go back to the motel, even though Reese had tried to insist they take the guest bedroom.

  After listening for a few moments and not hearing anything, Reese whipped back the covers and got out of bed. He was thirsty and also needed to use the bathroom. He looked back at the bed to find Diablo fast asleep, snoring.

  Smiling and shaking his head, Reese headed into the bathroom. When he was done, he walked into the kitchen then froze.

  A stranger he’d never seen before was leaning against his counter, biting into an apple. Reese’s canines and claws lengthened as he took a step back. “Who in the fuck are you?”

  “Your worst nightmare if you interfere.” The guy tossed the half-eaten apple toward the trash can. He fully turned toward Reese, and Reese saw a scar over the man’s eye.

  Xylem.

  “Hand Diablo over and I’ll let you live.” Xylem pushed away from the counter. He held up a hand, palm up, and tiny webs of electricity appeared. It was in the shape of a ball, and Xylem bounced the ball of electricity as he glared at Reese. “Stop me and I’ll fry you from the inside out.”

  “Who said Diablo was even here?”

  Xylem snorted. “I’ve been watching this place for days, dodging those mutts keeping an eye on you two. Try to lie to me again and I’ll give you a taste of what I can do.”

  Reese took another step back. He was no match for a demon with powers but fuck if he was going to let the guy get anywhere near Diablo. “From what I was told, you came after him first.”

  Xylem pointed at his face. “I didn’t deserve this!”

  “And Diablo didn’t deserve you fucking with him in the first place. For what? Bragging rights? The chance to prove you could take down a hellhound? A half hellhound at that.” Reese gave a chuckle he didn’t feel. “You didn’t even have the balls to go after a full-blooded one.”

  “Abominations shouldn’t exist,” Xylem snarled. “They’re an affront to our kind.”

  “Who are you to pass judgment?” Reese asked. “Who are you to say who gets to live and who doesn’t? You think half-breeds are an abomination, but some think that same thing about demons. Does that mean your kind should be wiped out?”

  Reese felt another presence. Somewhere close by. He was still trying to figure out how to defeat Xylem, and a little help would be appreciated. Reese just hoped it wasn’t Diablo, but with their dulled bond, he couldn’t be sure. He would have scented the air, but one, that would have given away the fact someone else was there.

  Two, although Diablo had masked his scent as a shifter, that smell still lingered in the apartment, along with Diablo’s human scent, so that wasn’t going to help to determine if it was his mate approaching them.

  A shadow moved behind Xylem, past the back door. Someone was out there. The wolves Grey had watching the place? How would they know the demon was there? Xylem could have used the shadows to emerge into Reese’s home. If he had, how would the wolves know he was even there?

  Did it really freaking matter?

  “Stand aside,” Xylem demanded.

  Reese shook his head. “I’ll never give you Diablo.”

  Why spice things up by telling Xylem that Diablo was his mate? That might give the demon a bigger boner to torture Reese just to watch Diablo suffer.

  The kitchen door crashed open. Reese used the distraction to shift and attack the demon. But Xylem wasn’t as easy to take down as Rochester. He rolled and was back on his feet before Reese could do any real damage.