Quinn was stunned as he watched Abigail’s dad storm out from behind the desk he was sitting behind while he kept his eyes on their hands holding onto each other.

“This is not supposed to be how things worked out.  You were supposed to meet a nice boy with an adventurous streak that I could train to take over from me.  Not this …” he waved his hand between the two of them before marching up to stand right in front of Abigail.  “How serious is this?”

Quinn felt like bursting with pride when she pulled her shoulders up and looked her father squarely in the eyes.

“He is my boyfriend Daddy and I would really like to see where this could go.”

Quinn squeezed her hand and smiled at her encouragingly.  She might not be committing to anything yet; but he was immensely grateful that she was still prepared to give him an opportunity to prove to her that he would be there for the long haul.

Abigail’s mom watched her husband as he paced the floor while he quietly muttered to himself.  This was a huge surprise that neither one of them would ever have thought possible and she was waiting for him to go berserk at any moment now.

“My daughter is not a toy to while your time away on young man.”

Quinn was unable to stop the low growl from building up within him at the harsh and adamant tone in the older man’s voice.  It was only the slight increase to the gentle pressure from her hand that kept him from exploding.  He took a deep calming breath before he spoke.  “I would never treat her with any kind of disrespect Sir.  Never!”

Turning away from Quinn as if he had not spoken he faced his daughter again.  “Abby, do you really want to get involved with this … this …” He forced a frustrated huff out as if he could not find a word vile enough to describe Quinn.

“Dad!”  Abigail felt like screaming out in frustration.  What was wrong with her father?  He had met all the other so called boyfriends before and he had never behaved so rudely before.  At least not what she knew about.  Her previous so-called boyfriends had always been very politely shown out the door by an extremely cordial father after they had a little ‘chat’.  So what was the matter with him right now?  When she saw he was still waiting for her speak up, she became slightly irritated with him.  “I really like Quinn dad, a lot; and you had better not mess around this time.”

“Abigail; I would not have ‘messed around’ with those silly boys if they had been half as serious about you as you were about them.”

Hearing those words had anger flash up inside Quinn and he had to bite back a growl at the thought of her being even remotely serious with someone else.  He decided that he should rather concentrate on the fact that she had never interceded for any of the previous boys before; yet here she was: arguing with her father about him.  Flashing a brilliant smile at her he squeezed her hand slightly to show his appreciation.

Abigail’s father saw the small exchange and deflated.  With his anger gone only concern for his little girl was etched in the lines on his face.  He gathered his thoughts as he walked to sit behind his desk, the reports he was working on completely forgotten.

‘This is weird.’  Quinn thought as he watched the man as he sat down.  He got the feeling that Abigail’s dad would bang his head on the table any moment now.  Instead, he just sighed deeply and closed his eyes for a minute.  When he opened them his eyes zoomed in on Quinn.

“Is she your mate?”

As shock flashed through him like lightning, he heard Abigail gasp loudly.  Passing her hand from his one hand to the other, he drew her closer to his body with a hand that was still warm from holding onto her.  Being so attuned to her the sound of her heart beating rapidly worried him.  When after a while of watching her not taking a single breath, he bent down to place his lips close to her ear.  “Honey; come on, breathe for me.”  After one deep breath her heart rate slowed down and he could feel her taking slow breaths to help calm herself.

“Well, is she?”

Feeling annoyed he lifted his head to face her father, but when he saw the half defeated look on the man’s face, he calmed down, slightly.

“Yes sir, she is.”

Abigail couldn’t understand why her father was reacting the way he was, and how on earth did he know about mates?  “Daddy?”  Her voice was not as strong and clear as it normally was due to the stress she was experiencing at the moment.  “What is going on?”

The moment Quinn felt her try to move closer to her father he dropped his arms but managed to lace his fingers in hers before she managed to walk away from him and he shuffled behind her until they were standing right in front of the desk.

Her father huffed impatiently at her question.  “Why are you asking ME?  You’re the one who ended up with a mate!”  He sighed again before looking at his wife.  “I think you should let the others know that we will not be around until later and then …” He paused and shook his head as if to clear it from a whole bunch of cobwebs.  “No, I will let them know if you can get us something to drink.”

Biting her bottom lip Abigail remembered that Mandy and Tyler were still waiting for them outside.  “Maybe I should get Mandy and Tyler to come in; they are still waiting outside for us?”

Abigail’s mom had already left the room and her dad had a telephone against his ear.  He did nod at Abigail but motioned Quinn and Abigail into a chair.

Abigail only left to call her friends after Quinn gave her an encouraging nod.  He tried not to listen to the very short conversation but it did not matter.  All that her father said was that something had come up that needed to be sorted out but that they would be there later on.

“So,” her father stated as he leaned back into the chair, “you’re Quinn?”

“Yes, Quinn Grey sir.”

Abigail’s father frowned slightly at him.  “Your parents are Dennis and Amanda, from Yellow Horn?”

Although he was stunned that Abigail’s father knew this much about him and his parents, he kept the expression on his face neutral.  “Yes sir, that is correct.”

“And when does your father plan on handing the pack over to you?”

“Not for a while I hope!”

The stern looking man behind the desk smiled at the quick and heated reply, then asked the most logical next question.  “Why?”

Quinn shrugged.  “My dad is still in very good health and is really enjoying being in charge; I would hate to do him in.  Besides, I was hoping that my mate and I would be able to settle into our own lives with our own kids before I have to take over.”

Quinn watched the older man lean forward.  “And when did you plan on starting that family of yours?”

“Not for a while yet sir, I am helping Tyler with … a project and I will need to spend quite a bit of time on that.  It would not be fair to start anything now if I am not able to devote as much time to a new family as I should.”

There was no time for any further discussions as Abigail walked into the open office door with her mother, Mandy and Tyler trailing behind her; Tyler with a tray in his hands.

[What’s up?]  Tyler asked as he put the tray down on the desk as he was indicated to do.  Quinn had linked in with Tyler as soon as it became clear that Abigail’s family knew a whole lot more about shifters than they should.

[Does everybody in this town of yours know about werewolves?]

Although the question was more of a joke, Tyler still heard the seriousness behind it.  [No.]  He shot Abigail’s dad a quick look before looking back at Quinn.  [At least they shouldn’t.]

[Well he does; and by the sound of it, he knows all about our families.]

“Please have a seat.”  Mr. Mathews invited them all when they were all standing with something to drink.  He moved over to the more ‘informal’ part of his office where a group of comfortable chairs were placed to one side.

“Daddy, what is going on?”

‘Daddy’ sighed, and then pasted a bright smile on his face.  “How about some introductions first?”

 Quinn watched as his mate bit back a hasty reply to her father’s words.  “You all know Mandy by now,” she started sarcastically but after a scathing glance from her mother, she continued in a more civil manner; “you met Tyler a while ago in the mall.”  Her parents nodded their agreement and she moved on to the next person.  “This is Quinn Grey, Tyler’s cousin.”

Quinn nearly melted at the soft tone of her voice and he didn’t miss the smirk on Tyler’s face either but chose to ignore it for now.

Abigail then motioned with her hand to indicate her parents where they were sitting next to each other.  “My parents, Henry and Marion Mathews.”

The guys all stood up to shake hands.  As Mr. Mathews shook hands with Quinn, he spoke.  “Please call me Henry.  This Mrs. and Mr. business makes us feel way too old.”  His wife nodded her agreement at his words.

“You are old dad.”  Abigail spoke with a small grin on her face.

“I’ll show you old on your backside missy.”

A sudden growl made everybody look at a red-faced Quinn in surprise.  “I am so sorry.”  He spluttered in apology while he felt like kicking Tyler’s rear end for laughing at him.

“Hmm.”  Henry said dryly.  “I will see it over this once, but please refrain from making it a habit.  We would never harm our daughter.”

“I know sir.”  He said defensively.  “This is just very new to both parts of me and it will take a while until both sides settle into knowing when I can tone down the protectiveness.”

Abigail and Marion both snickered while Mandy had a big smile on her face.

Henry flashed a bright smile at his wife.

Before anybody else could say anything, Tyler cleared his throat.  “If I may ask Henry, how do you know about us?”

“You may ask away as much as you like young man, I am not exactly in a position to answer any of your questions.”  Henry debated his words for a while.  “Or at least that particular question.”

Tyler frowned.  “But you are not supposed to know about werewolves.”

“But it is my job to know about werewolves.”  Henry assured him quickly.

“What job?”

“That is one of the questions I am not able to answer.”

Tyler growled in frustration as he started to worry.  How may people outside of the shifter communities know about their world?

“Don’t growl at me young man!  I am not trying to be difficult here.  Believe me, if I was you would not be sitting here.”

[Relax Tyler.  Ask him the right questions; questions he can answer.]  Mandy took his hand and squeezed it firmly as if she was trying to hold him back.

[You’re right as always Mandy, thanks.]  Absentmindedly he kissed her hand as he thought hard about how he would ask his questions.  He decided to go for easy and obvious.  “How much do you know about us?”

“As much as I need to know to do my job properly, which would mean…” Henry paused for effect as well as to give Tyler a huge grin; “almost everything.”

“You’re not a hunter or anything like that?”  As soon as Tyler asked the question the other two shifters tensed.

“Oh goodness no!”  Henry exclaimed hastily.  “There are no such things.”  Then he paused as he tried to figure something out before speaking again.  “Obviously there are hunters, but they are the regular kind.  I think I can safely say that there are no werewolf hunters because our … ‘group’ exists.”

“What group?”  Tyler shot the question off before Henry could add anything else to his short explanation.

Henry and Marion smiled broadly at them.  “Can’t tell you that.”  Marion said as she scooted her chair closer to her husband.

It was quiet in the study for a while; but only a short while until Abigail could not keep it in anymore.  “I would love to know what on earth is going on here?”  She shot a frantic look to Mandy.  “I know about werewolves because Mandy had permission to tell me, but how do you know about them?  And so much too?”  And then, not giving either parent an opportunity to speak, she sent an imploring look to all three shifters.  “I didn’t tell them anything; I promise!”

Mandy reached towards her and patted her on her arm the same instant Quinn drew her closer to him.

“Off course you didn’t.” Quinn reassured his mate.

“I know you wouldn’t do that Abigail.”  Tyler was also quick to add his two cents worth.  “If Mandy had any reason to doubt that you could keep a secret; she would not have even asked for permission.”

Henry sat quietly watching as the youngsters put his daughter’s mind at ease.  He would not admit it out loud just yet; but they had touched him deeply with their concern for Abigail; and their unconditional trust in her.  In some small way, it made him feel lousy that he was not able to tell them what they wanted to know.  He peeked at his wife.

“We can’t Henry.”  Marion touched her husband lightly on his arm.  “As much as both of us would like to tell them everything; we would also need permission first.”

Henry scowled darkly as he thought long and hard.  “Family members are allowed to know.”

Tyler did not miss the flash of Henry’s eyes as they quickly passed Quinn and Abigail and he had to hold back a grin.  It would seem that Henry was well aware of how permanent Quinn’s feelings were towards his daughter.  At this point in time, it was Abigail’s feelings for Quinn that were unsure.

Quinn was stunned to say the least.  He had also caught the fleeting glance Henry sent his way and it made him so thankful that he would not be getting too much hassles from his future in-laws.  Or was he just being too optimistic?  He heard Marion gasp in surprise and his eyes switched to watching her.

“Now you just hang on a second right there!”  Planting her fists into her sides she stared at her husband.  “This is getting out of control.  This is the first word I heard about a boyfriend and you want to make allowances for him as ‘family’?”  Marion threw her hands up in the air dramatically before planting them back on her hips as she stared at her husband in disbelief.

“Now hang on there sugar-pie;” Henry drew her rigid body closer to him.  “That was just a wild thought.  Although, you must admit, it would make things so much easier.  You know; with all the extra activity and all.”

Marion stubbornly refused to give in and tried to move away from Henry with a huff.

Henry sighed; but at the same time a small smile tickled one side of his mouth.  “Perhaps we should rather talk about Abby and her pet wolf instead?”

Quinn nearly choked, Tyler bit back a growl, and Mandy snickered while Abigail only rolled her eyes.  “Dad!  Honestly?  Could you be serious just for once?”

Henry flashed Quinn an unapologetic grin knowing that he had managed to upset the younger man.  “Oh alright.  Now, tell me all about this boyfriend thing.”

Quinn squirmed in his seat.  He was still feeling a tad more than a little bit ticked off at being called a ‘pet wolf’.  When he had been quiet for too long Abigail jabbed him in the side with a pointy elbow and he sent her pout.

Abigail pretended to shudder.  “That is just so wrong Quinn; please, never try to do that again.”

“Hey!  That’s not what my mother says!”

“Well your mother is biased.”  Abigail stated firmly.  Quinn started shaking his head before she even finished speaking so she quickly added carried on before he could interrupt her.  “You mother might think that it is cute when …” Abigail’s eyes suddenly grew as big as saucers.  “She knows.”

“Of course she knows how adorable I am.”  Quinn said as he attempted another pout, feeling slightly put out because she so obviously doubted his ability to be ‘cute’ when he wanted.

“No,” Abigail said softly with wide eyes; “she knows I am your mate.”  Then she frowned at him as she realized that she was most likely the last to know and she turned her frown onto Mandy.  “Did you know this too?”

Mandy grimaced.  She should have known that her friend would be upset that she had not told her.  “Abby, honestly; it was not that hard to guess at all the way he suddenly started acting around you.”

Abigail opened and closed her mouth a few times without a sound escaping her mouth.  Quinn reached for her but she twisted away from him and crossed her arms in front of her with a deep scowl etched in her forehead.  “This is so not fair!  Nobody ever tells me anything!”

Quinn, Mandy, Henry and Marion all started speaking at the same time.

“Now that is simply not true Abigail.”

“Hang on there!”

“Oh honey, that’s not true.”

Abigail held up one hand and faced Quinn.  “You should have told me right from the beginning.”  Quinn tried to say something but she shook her head.  “You should have.  When all your family came to visit that one time you let me think that your mother was crazy-weird with the way she was carrying on.”

Quinn gave her a solemn nod and a wry smile.  “She was rather crazy-weird wasn’t she?  But you will be the next alpha female of the pack and she was very excited to meet you.”

“Crazy!”  Abigail insisted with a shake of her head and then waited for him to try and disagree with her.  When he wisely decided not to say anything else, she turned to Mandy.

“And you are supposed to be my best friend!  How could you keep something like that from me?”  As soon as she saw Tyler frowning at her she planted her fists in her side.  “And don’t you even think about saying a word considering how badly you messed up with Mandy.”

Tyler bit back an angry reply, she was right about him messing it up with Mandy; but she had no reason to be mad at Mandy.

“Do you have any idea what I went through?  Knowing that no matter how much I liked him that he would end up leaving me for his mate?”

Abigail swung around and looked sternly at her mother who in turn held up both hands in the air.  “I knew nothing about you being his mate.”

“Maybe not about that; but you know all about this ‘group’ thing.  How come you never told me anything?”