Page 287 of Primal Bonds

“I know.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “I remember when you were teething—we all took turns walking with you at night.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah. You were the cutest thing, and usually all smiles. But when you weren’t happy, the whole family knew it.”

She chuckled. “Sorry. At least Brisa has a mom who’s a healer.”

“Sim. And a full belly.”

Their eyes met, and she knew they were both recalling the years when the clan was poor and hungry, the children too thin, sickly. Rosana might have been a pup, but she hadn’t forgotten how hard Dion had worked to save the clan, even while their papai was still alpha.

And then their parents had gone missing, and Dion had had to step in and raise both Rosana and their brother Tiago while also leading the search for Nisio and Ula. Then, when it became clear their parents had either died or been ensnared by the fae, he’d taken over as the new alpha.

For the first time, she realized how hard it must have been on him. He’d become both a father and alpha, all within a few months.

“Brisa’s a lucky girl,” Rosana said. “She has you and Cleia for parents.”

“You really think so?” A strange, almost diffident look crossed his face.

She gave an emphatic nod. “I know so.”

“Obrigado.” Dion stifled a yawn.

“No need to thank me. It’s the truth.” She made to stand up. “But I should let you get to bed.”

“Sit.” A soft command.

She sank back onto the couch, spine stiff.

“You were in Baltimore.”

She lifted her chin. “So?”

“Davi was here earlier. He said you were talking to Lord Adric. That the two of you looked…involved.”

Her jaw tightened. On the way home from Baltimore, she’d toyed with the idea of telling Dion straight out about her and Adric. Now she was glad she’d kept her mouth shut.

“Davi should mind his own business.” He was an ambitious young tenente who was only interested in her because she was the alpha’s sister.

“He didn’t have to tell me. I can smell Adric on you.”

Her chin jutted. “So?”

“Rosana.” Dion’s tone made her feel like a pup again. “The man’s a sneaky S.O.B. He wants Rock Run territory for his own clan. He tricked his way inside once—how do you know he’s not trying to do it again?”

She stared down at her hands. They’d curled into fists. She straightened them out. She was not going to fight with Dion. He might have raised her from the time she was six, but she was an adult now.

“That was years ago. When was the last time you had any problems with him?”

“Doesn’t mean he isn’t planning something.” Dion’s mouth turned down. “The man doesn’t have control of his own clan. In the last year alone, he and that sister of his have taken out two of his cousins.”

She gritted her teeth. Dion was so certain he knew Adric, and sure, he’d done some bad things in the past. But Adric had changed. She knew he had.

“He’s doing the best he can. It’s not his fault he inherited a mess from that uncle of his. If he killed his cousins, then he had a good reason.”

“And then there’s his uncle. He didn’t even have the balls to challenge him—Leron Savonett just disappeared. The man has no honor, and he wants Rock Run’s territory. Don’t forget Tiago. Adric played him like a fucking violin—and we almost lost the base because of it. The bastard will do anything to take me down, and you’re my sister.”

“So he can’t want me for myself?” she asked evenly.

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