Page 18 of The Right to Bear Claws
"You could say that." Elias hung his keys on their designated hook, muscle memory keeping him functional while his thoughts churned. "Where's Dad?"
"Office, going over the invoices," Finn called from beneath the hood of their work truck. "But judging by the look on your face, this isn't about billing disputes."
Magnus emerged from the office trailer, drawn by some paternal instinct that had always amazed his sons. He still commanded attention without effort.
"Son," he said simply, studying Elias's face with the kind of penetrating gaze that had seen through childhood lies and teenage schemes with equal ease. "What's happened?"
"The threat to Kaia is real," Elias said without preamble. "And it's worse than we thought."
The workshop went quiet. Thorin set down his blueprints while Finn slid out from under the truck, both brothers giving him their full attention. Magnus gestured toward the cluster of chairs they kept for family meetings, settling his considerable bulk into the one that had molded itself to his shape over the years.
"Tell us everything," he said.
So Elias did. The nightmares growing stronger, the entity that knew Kaia's name, the Halloween deadline that hung over them like a sword. His brothers listened without interruption, but he could see the protective fury building in their expressions as he described the shadow creature's claims on his mate.
"A childhood bargain," Thorin said finally, his voice tight with controlled anger. "That's not legally binding by any supernatural law I know."
"Doesn't matter if it's legal," Finn growled. "Matters if this thing believes it has a claim on her."
"And it does," Magnus said quietly, his weathered face grave. "In the dream realm, belief shapes reality. If this entity has convinced itself that Kaia belongs to it, that conviction becomes a form of supernatural contract."
The words sent ice down Elias's spine. "So we can't fight it legally?"
"Legal challenges won't help here," his father confirmed. "But there are other ways to break unwanted bonds. The question is whether Kaia's strong enough to withstand the process."
"She's stronger than she knows," Elias said with fierce conviction. "But she's also been running and hiding for so long that she doesn't trust her own power."
"Then you need to help her find that trust," Magnus said. "And the best way to do that is through a mate bond that gives her an anchor in the physical world."
Thorin leaned forward in his chair. "You're talking about claiming her."
"I'm talking about courting her properly first," Magnus corrected. "A forced claim, even with good intentions, could shatter what's left of her psychological defenses. She needs to choose the bond freely, understand what it means, and trust that Elias won't use it to control her."
"How long do we have?" Finn asked practically.
"Halloween's in two weeks," Elias said, calculating rapidly. "And according to her dreams, that's when this thing plans to collect."
"Two weeks to court a traumatized mate who doesn't fully understand supernatural bonds," Thorin summarized. "No pressure there."
"It's enough time," Magnus said firmly. "If you do it right. No grand gestures, no overwhelming displays of alpha dominance.Just steady presence, consistent care, and giving her space to realize she's safe with you."
This was why he'd come to his family first, before panic could override good judgment. The Vanes had been making successful matches for generations, and Magnus had guided more than one of his sons through the delicate process of supernatural courtship.
"What about the clan?" he asked. "How do we handle integrating her when she's still learning to trust?"
"Same way we've been handling it," Thorin said with a slight smile. "Include her naturally, don't make a big production out of acceptance. Sunday dinners, casual invitations to family events, treating her like she's already one of us."
"Which she is," Finn added. "Mate bond or no mate bond, she's family now. Anyone who threatens her threatens all of us."
The simple declaration made Elias's bear rumble with satisfaction. This was pack behavior at its finest, the instinctive protection of the clan extending to cover his chosen mate without question or hesitation.
"I'll need backup," he said, thinking through the practical challenges ahead. "If this entity can reach her through dreams, then she's vulnerable every time she sleeps. The Night Guard rotations?—"
"Already covered," Magnus interrupted. "Lucien stopped by yesterday evening, updated me on the supernatural threat assessment. We've coordinated with the Council to ensure round-the-clock protection without making it obvious we're babysitting her."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning there will always be a Vane or a Guard member somewhere nearby, but disguised as normal town business." Thorin pulled out a tablet, showing him a schedule that covered the next two weeks. "Construction projects near the inn, supplydeliveries to neighboring businesses, patrol routes that happen to include regular check-ins."
