Page 63 of Fetch Me A Mate
"Then give it to her. Stop making choices for her and start making them with her. I assume you may have even told her you would. So start doing it, Rowan."
"The pack won't just give up."
"Course they won't. But they'll respect strength. They'll back down from a wolf who's willing to fight for his territory instead of running from it."
"And if I'm wrong? If they decide to make an example of her?"
Callum stood, moving to stand beside Rowan at the window. "Then you handle it. Together. The way mates are supposed to."
"Together."
"Diana's tougher than you think. She's built something worth defending in that inn, earned the community's respect through competence and determination. You think she did all that by avoiding conflict?"
Rowan watched a hawk circle over the lake, riding thermals with effortless grace. Predator and survivor, claiming its territory without apology.
"She wants to fight alongside me."
"Then let her. Stop treating her like she's fragile and start treating her like she's yours."
"She is mine."
"Then own it. Stop half-measures and make your stand. Show your pack what happens when they threaten what belongs to you."
Rowan felt a tension he'd carried for years finally snapping. All this time, he'd been fighting the wrong battle. Fighting his feelings instead of fighting for them, protecting Diana from choices instead of supporting her through them.
"You're right."
"Course I'm right. Question is what you're going to do about it."
"I'm going to stop running from my past and start fighting for my future."
"Good. What do you need from me?"
"Backup, if it comes to that. Council support for territorial claims."
"You've got both. This community protects its own, and Diana's definitely one of ours now." Callum's smile was sharp with anticipation. "Besides, been too long since we had a good pack war around here."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
"Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Standard operating procedure." Callum returned to his desk, pulling out a regional map marked with territorial boundaries. "Show me where they're likely to make their move."
For the next hour, they planned. Defensive positions, communication protocols, community alert systems. The kind of preparation that acknowledged the reality of supernatural politics while protecting the ordinary humans caught in the crossfire.
"One more thing," Callum said as Rowan prepared to leave. "When you tell Diana about the mate bond, don't make it sound like a burden she has to carry. Make it sound like a gift you want to share."
"What if she doesn't want it?"
"Then you respect her choice and love her anyway. But stop assuming she'll reject something she hasn't been offered yet."
Rowan left the ranger station with purpose burning in his chest and a plan taking shape in his mind. No more half-measures. No more protecting Diana by pushing her away.
Time to stop running from his past and start claiming his future.
Time to show his pack what happened when they threatened his mate.
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DIANA
