Leo's POV

Found my mate.

And she wants nothing to do with me.

I'm beyond pissed.

What's her problem with me?

Look at William - face blank but hurting bad. Finally sees his kid and she shuts him down cold. Don't know the whole story, but it's gotta be rough.

"Sorry, Leo," he says quietly, barely looking at me before cracking a tiny smile.

"You good, William?" I ask. He's blank. "About what went down at the cafe... I'm sorry."

He nods. The guilt's rolling off him in waves.

After a long pause, he sighs. "Gotta talk to your dad back at the pack house. But do me a solid - don't tell him about Ava being your mate yet."

That throws me. Why keep it from Dad? His best friend's daughter - well, long-lost daughter - is my mate. That's huge.

"Why not? He'd be stoked."

His face says it all - there's way more to this story.

"Yeah, eventually he'll be happy it's my daughter, but there's stuff you don't know. That's why we need to talk first. Might help you get why Ava's anti-mate."

I'm shocked, but pull it together quick.

"Fine, I'll keep quiet. But William - why does she hate you that much?" Instant regret asking.

Shame hits him hard. "I hurt her mom. Bad. Plus... never claimed her as my mate." Barely a whisper. "I'll explain everything with your dad."

I look at this guy who stepped up when Dad was too busy training me. His kids Henry and Stella? They're like my own family now. We fight like real siblings.

Man, if Ava'd been around... Even in PJs, she's something else. Couldn't tell her exact shape but who cares? Those blue eyes, brown messy bun, pink lips - driving me crazy. When her eyes went green and her panther surfaced? That power was insane.

The power coming off her matched her emotions - waves of pure anger and rage.

Quiet ride. We're stuck in traffic heading to the pack house.

I mind-link Dad: "Heading back with the cakes. Heads up - there was drama... Ava's back."

"Yeah, heard about that. William jumped the gun - told him to give her space," Dad growls back.

"'Drama' doesn't cover it. She was furious. William wants to meet with you."

Dad goes quiet, then: "You better be there too - future Alpha needs to hear this."

"Twenty minutes out," I reply, keeping my mouth shut about the mate thing.

Finally pull up to the pack house twenty minutes later. We pile out.

Jacob's waiting - my future gamma. Bet he's here about Olivia nearly getting herself killed mouthing off to me.

"My bad about Olivia, Alpha. She's protective of her mom," he mind-links me. I nod. "I'll apologize later."

He gives me this look. "Don't. She's still learning pack life. They've been nomads since losing their pack years ago." Glances at William, who's totally zoned out. "He shouldn't have shown up there." Pauses. "Olivia told me most of it. It's pretty bad."

That floors me. "Hopefully getting the full story from Dad," I link back, then cut the connection.

He nods and takes off for his place with Olivia. Poor guy's probably missing her. Olivia mentioned wanting to tell Ava about him but is scared of how she'll take the news about mates.

Has to be a reason she's so anti-mate.

Axel growls in my head: "She'll come around. Just gotta take it slow."

That stops me cold. My wolf's been obsessed with finding his mate forever, but he's never been this... gentle. Usually he's all possessive. But thinking about it, Axel just wants what's best for Ava, even if that means backing off.

"What's up with you? You've barely made a peep since you ID'd Ava as our mate."

He takes a minute. "Look, seeing her old man after all this time got her fired up. And that panther of hers? Crazy powerful. Her emotions feed right into it, plus I think the cat's got its own feelings about everything. We need the full story here."

"You might be onto something. Let's see what we're dealing with."