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the compound. For once, papa and I agree that it’s the wrong move
until we have this sorted out. But if I were you, brother, I’d begin preparing
your mate to meet the family.”
    “You’ll call once
you’ve got more info on the device?” Lucas asked , changing the subject back to work, a mission he could control.
    “Yes. There’s other
events changing and they might all coincide. I’ll be back in touch within the
day. Get some rest.”
    “Madden,” Lucas cleared
his throat, “thanks, brother.”
    “Nothing
to thank me for. We’ll talk later.”
    Madden disconnected and
left Lucas with nothing to do but return to his mate. For the first time since
that first day, he worried about her reaction to him. Ella had been distant
when he fed her right after the surgery. He hoped her time alone had helped.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter
Four
     
    “Why? Why are you
making me do this? Is there not anywhere else for us to go?” Ella demanded.
Getting the news she would meet her mate’s family hadn’t made her happy. She
wasn’t ready. Terrified might be the best way to describe the turmoil
threatening to eject her breakfast. Tears hovered on the rims of her eyes
preparing to spill out even as she fought them back.
    Lucas put down the box
he was carrying and took her into his arms. He held her firmly even while she
fought to get free. “Don’t push me away, Ella. I know you’re frightened. You’ve
not been with people in such a long time. I won’t lie to you and say this won’t
be overwhelming but it is unavoidable. I need you to be safe.” He stroked her
back to settle her as he spoke. “ Sei tutto per me . You are everything
to me, my world.”
    “And there’s nowhere
else?”
    “I’ve explained that
our security force’s compound is there, not just my family home. It’s the
safest, most secure place you could be.”
    “And you’ll stay with
me? You won’t leave me?” Ella couldn’t help the worried shiver in her voice.
    “I will never leave
you. We’ll be together always now and I’ll be able to show you our home. Each
of us, Madden, Gage and I have a home in the compound so we can stay close to
our parents.”
    “That’s not what I mean.
I don’t want you to leave me in a room with people I don’t know.”
    “I won’t do that
either. I’ll be by your side until you get so tired of me, you tell me to go
away,” Lucas promised, placing a kiss on the top of her head and smiling. She’d
calmed down and it was obvious by Lucas’s reaction that she’d conformed to his
plan. Goddess help her, she was going to put on her
big-girl panties and meet her new family.
    “What was in the box?
Our food usually comes in the reusable bags,” Ella inquired, curious now that
her mind had cleared from her other worries.
    He stepped back out of
her embrace to see her. “Anton sent clothes for you. He thought you’d prefer to
meet everyone in something a bit less casual.” They both looked over her
current attire of leggings and Lucas’s shirt and laughed. Though she was
comfortable, she wasn’t presentable for meeting new people.
    Blushing, Ella nodded.
“That’s a good thought. I suspect I’ll like Anton.”
    “Everyone likes Anton.
He’s been our family’s assistant for years though it’s a bit different now that
he’s also Madden’s Tre Adoro ,” Lucas
confirmed.
    “Right. So your brother Madden is mated with Layla and Anton. Everyone is all right
with this?”
    “It’s a sacred bond,
not found very often at all, so yes, everyone is thrilled about it… and the
baby on the way.” Lucas grinned and raised his eyebrows.
    “A baby? We hadn’t
talked about how that works in your culture.”
    “It’s our culture, mi amo . After
a couple completes the Claiming through the Pronouncement–the sacred blessing
much like a human’s wedding-and they’re fully blood bonded, it can happen at
any time. Sometimes it takes years but Layla got pregnant right away.”
    Ella furrowed her brow
in