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

And who would they have it with? Had they met her yet, or were their mates girls who lived outside their village? Or humans, even? That still happened once in a while.
    Arizona shook Canyon’s hand, and Stone clapped him on the back. “Congratulations,” said Stone, still ogling Fiera.
    “Your tongue’s hanging out,” said Canyon.
    While Arizona laughed, Stone looked appropriately embarrassed and shifted his gaze.
    “So is yours,” said Canyon.
    “Yeah, but she’s his cousin !” said Arizona.
    “Doesn’t mean I can’t think she’s hot,” said Stone, giving him a dark look.
    As Cash strode toward the group, Canyon’s friends stepped in front of him. Fiera’s father wore an expression of fear and red hot anger. What the hell had Hawke and his father said to this man?
    “Why did you do it?” Cash raised one gnarled finger and shook it. “ Why ? Why did you do this to my daughter?”
    “She’s my mate, sir.” Canyon moved away from the group, hoping Cash would follow. He didn’t want Cash directing that anger toward Fiera, because Canyon really did not want to have to fight her father in front of her. But he would if necessary.
    “Well she is now, but you knew Hawke had made a claim as well.”
    “Which we declared unfounded,” said Avery, his voice loud enough to stop Cash from speaking again. Cash eyed him like he’d forgotten whose home he was in for a moment.
    “You don’t know the full story, Avery.”
    Canyon wasn’t sure which story Cash meant, but he suddenly realized his own father didn’t even know the whole story, so he spoke up quickly.
    “No, they don’t.” He told everyone what Fiera had said to him about the direct threats the Medinas had made against Cash and Fiera.
    Avery eyed Fiera suspiciously, and it took every ounce of willpower Canyon possessed not to punch the man. “Why is this the first time we’re hearing about it?”
    “I was afraid.”
    “Did they file a complaint with you regarding Cash?” asked his father, in a voice that told Canyon how pissed off he was.
    Before Avery could answer, Cash interrupted. “But what about the business? Amasa said he can save it. My brothers have ruined it.”
    “Remember, Cash?” His father used the same gentle voice he did with Canyon’s sisters. “We talked about this on the way over.”
    A nasty shiver ran down Canyon’s spine as he watched the emotions and confusion cross Cash’s face. So that was the reason for his reaction. It wasn’t because Hawke or Amasa had said something else to him that Canyon wasn’t aware of. Exactly how bad was his mental state? Did Fiera know even realize much her father had deteriorated, or was she too close to see the truth?
    Canyon risked a quick glance around the room at the faces of the others, and his worst suspicions were confirmed. Everyone in this room, with the exception of Fiera, saw how far gone Cash’s memory and powers of concentration were. No wonder Hawke had been able to convince him that persuading Fiera to mate with him was a good idea.
    “Yes. I remember now,” said Cash, his voice filled with defeat.
    At those words, Fiera looked so distraught Canyon only wanted to shield her from all this.
    “We talked about Amasa’s intentions, too.” Canyon’s father placed a hand on Cash’s shoulder. “He’s not trying to save it. He’s trying to buy it out from under you and your brothers.”
    “You have no proof of that,” said Alex, his voice cold and hard.
    “Not yet we don’t, but we will.”
    “Your son was just telling us the same thing,” said Darren, “but until we see proof, we cannot accept that as a legitimate reason for what he did.”
    “Are you saying you won’t let them sign the papers and make this official?” Canyon’s father gave the three Elders a murderous look.
    “That’s not what we’re saying at all,” said Avery. “But we will not publicly support their decision to sneak away and mate in this way. There hasn’t been a ceremony.