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"I wouldn’t object if your cat did," Shaya muttered

"So if you’re determined to dislike me, Fern, fine--I can’t say I care if you do or you don’t But get the idea out of your head that Jesse has to justify his decisions to you He’s a grown male who doesn’t need or require your approval If you push him on this, you’ll push him away He lost one mate because fate can be a cruel bitch If you make him lose another, you’ll be the cruel bitch I know you love your son, so I can’t iine you want to hurt hi you just aslare "My daughter--"

"You don’t get to play the Mia card, Fern Your daughter was a junkie before I met her and she continued to be a junkie after I left her life Like you, I tried to help her Like you, I failed But we didn’t fail her; she failed herself Keep blaet to use her to drive a wedge between s for Mia to make him feel bad It’s not fair to him, and it’s not fair to her She’d hate you for it"

So Harley couldn’t quite identify flashed in Fern’s eyes She tried to pass Harley and get to Jesse, but Harley blocked her path and hissed "No I don’t trust you around him"

"I’ his head, Julian calad to see you’re so protective of my son, Harley That’s how it should be" Words seehed Maybe souy and taken pity on hi in outrage, sliced to Jesse "Are you going to let her stand between you and your own parents?" she demanded

Jesse didn’t even need to think about it "Yeah In her position, I’d do the same"

Fern sneered "Her parents are worthless--"

"They both accepted the ," he said "Even Lily, despite her love of drama, didn’t cause this much of a scene" His mother flinched, but he didn’t back down "When you’re prepared to accept my choice and, more importantly, accept Harley, come back and we’ll talk Until then, stay away"

Fern ain Harley blocked her path "Nu-uh You heard what he said"

Sighing, Julian put a hand on his mate’s shoulder "Fern, this conversation has been unpleasant enough Let’s go before so is said that can’t be taken back"

For once in a long tie without a word to anyone, though his father did give both Jesse and Harley a weak sh as he heard their car drive away That hen his rabbed his ar, sensing that she was not in a chatty e still siy He wordlessly followed her outside and to their lodge