The Alpha's Taboo Mate (Blood Moon Lynx Book 1) by Ravenna Tate Page A

hadn’t expected men he’d known all his life, and who had always respected him and his family, to react this way. Especially after they’d made a formal decision that Fiera was his true mate. What had they expected him to do? Wait until Hawke could make good on his threat?
    When Fiera finished reading first, Canyon pretended he had as well. There was nothing earth-shattering in the contract. It was a standard marriage contract, similar to a human marriage license but a lot more detailed because it also outlined their pack law regarding mates. Since he and Fiera both had been born into shifter families, they were as familiar with this particular law as they were with their own names.
    Before Avery took his seat between Alex and Darren, he placed a tray in the center of the table containing a teapot and cups. “Help yourselves. Your fathers should be here shortly.”
    No one reached for the tea. Canyon heard a clock tick somewhere in the cabin. There were so many things he wanted to say to these men, but none of them would help this situation. He knew his father wasn’t angry because he’d already known about Canyon’s plan, but it had never occurred to him that the Elders would prevent him from telling the village about the threats the Medinas had made to Fiera and her father.
    And he definitely didn’t expect that Cash would have preferred Fiera to accept Hawke. Canyon wished he’d known about that before bringing her here. He didn’t like being blindsided. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze, hoping he could make this right somehow. This was going to be difficult enough without the support of her father.
    “Have you planned the ceremony yet?” asked Alex.
    “No,” said Canyon.
    The three exchanged a glance that left no doubt what they thought of that answer. Canyon released Fiera’s hand and poured himself a cup of tea. Not because he wanted any, but because he’d never been so uncomfortable in a group of men he’d known all his life, and he needed something to kill time until his and Fiera’s fathers arrived.
    Once he did, Fiera poured herself a cup as well, but Canyon couldn’t help noticing how much her hands shook. He only wanted to pull her into his arms at that moment and hold her. He needed to stroke her hair, and remind her that he had everything under control. This would be all right.
    After taking a sip, she placed the cup back on the saucer. Glancing around the table, she asked if she could pour a cup for each of the Elders, but only Darren nodded. Once Darren had his tea, Fiera kept her gaze on her own cup. Canyon felt her apprehension, and hated that there wasn’t one damn thing he could do about it.
    As he eyed each of the men in turn, he held their gazes long enough to let them know he wasn’t about to be intimidated by their disapproval. He hadn’t reached the same age as they each were, and he hadn’t been voted onto the Council, but he was still a grown man. He was an alpha lynx, the same as each of them.
    He had a home and a job. He would care for and provide for Fiera. When they had children, he’d care for and provide for them as well. He didn’t deserve to be treated like a child who had defied his parents and done something wrong. Especially not in front of his brand new mate.
    Finally, the front door opened again and everyone rose. Fiera and Canyon followed the Elders into the main room as Canyon’s father walked into the cabin, accompanied by Cash, Stone, and Arizona. Canyon’s two friends wore huge grins on their faces. Their gazes immediately went to Fiera, and Canyon couldn’t fault them for looking at her like dogs in heat. She was a beautiful woman, and his two friends weren’t yet mated.
    Since the three of them were old enough to understand what their penises had been made for, other than urinating, all they’d talked about was sex. What was it really like? How old would each of them be when they first had it? Was it really as awesome as everyone said it was?