I look between them and sigh. "Your mother isn't William's true mate," I say carefully. "Panther shifters only have one mate - just one. There were never two mates for William. Only my mother." I see the hurt in their eyes, but this is the truth about panther shifters - it's been this way for generations.

"Ava," Henry says with concern, "you'll need to explain everything to Dad. He didn't know what was going on."

I know I need to talk to William. Yes, I was harsh ...