"Charlotte, I understand your anxiety but please stop pacing." Grandfather lit his pipe and took a puff while I walked back and forth in his study. "Roxanne will be here soon."

"I still don't understand why I couldn't go get her. I can handle Victor on my own." I chewed on the inside of my cheek.

"We don't know if Victor is a pawn or the gamemaster. Our scouts are trained to handle any threats. If I may be honest, I am not confident in your ability to think clearly if Roxanne was harmed."

I narrowed my eyes at him and resumed pacing. Grandfather arranged for Victor to be brought to us first and Roxie to be sent to Christien for examination, make sure she was all right before I got to see her. Now all I had to do was not eviscerate Victor as soon as I saw him. That was mostly why Grandfather was babysitting me. I smelled my backstabbing, kidnapping, son of a bitch mate long before I saw him and a growl rumbled deep in my chest. When Victor was escorted into the study, I launched myself at him and the only thing that kept me from knocking him to the ground was Grandfather's arms around my waist. Snarling and hissing were halted by Victor who—to my complete and utter shock—started whimpering.

"Hear what he has to say," Grandfather advised gently. "If his answers are not sincere, then you may have at him."

"Fine." I snapped, smoothing my shirt when Grandfather let me go. Glaring at Victor, I said, "Talk."

"We'll give you some privacy." Grandfather gestured for the beta to follow him, closing the door behind them.

"You better have a damn good reason for betraying your family." I glared at him. "For betraying me."

Victor sighed and stepped closer to me, stopping when I hissed at him. "I know you're pissed and I get it. But I was contracted for this job-"

"What was your payment going to be?" I sneered. "A couple hundred whores? Enough Glenn McKenna to pickle your liver? A free pass to kill whoever you wanted?"

"You." Victor's answer cut me off. "And Roxie. I do what they want and I get my mate and cub back."

I stared at him in disbelief and he continued. "My employer gave me bullets that would kill you. She gave me all of them."

"How sweet."

"Listen to me, Charlie." Victor growled. "I can't kill you. I won't kill you. A regular bullet would be a pain to remove but you'd be okay."

"I'm touched. Really I am." I said sarcastically. But his scent was truthful and I couldn't catch any hint of a lie in his eyes. "But you don't get to take my daughter-"

"She's mine too!" Victor shouted. "She is my cub, too. And you're my mate. I ain't sayin' that I'm the best feral—hell, I'm not even close to being the best man in the world but I would never put you in danger. Not intentionally and that goes for Roxie too."

"What about lying to me for all those years? With controlling who I am and taking away a choice that belonged to me and me alone?" I countered.

"I didn't like that anymore than you did." Victor dragged his hand over his short hair, then slapped his palm against his thigh. "Do you really think that I liked having you leave? That I wanted you to think I was dead, kitten?"

"Then why did you?"

"Because I didn't have any damn choice! Stryker threatened you, said you were too dangerous for what we were gonna be doin' and that you were a liability. I was the only one who kept Lynx at bay, kept her under control when she got out."

"What about James?"

Victor scoffed. "Jimmy? He wanted you two to play house and be humans. He wanted to completely forget that he's an animal and wanted you to do the same. I never wanted you to be anything except who you are! You hurt your granddad after you thought I was dead and then your family decided to drug you. They wrote me and told me but I absolutely refused and said that you're my mate, I'd protect you. Couldn't do that if I was dead, though and it was your dad who made that choice for you."

I had a lump in my throat and avoided looking at him in an effort to keep myself from crying. Victor's words, if his scent was to be believed, were honest. I just wanted to clear up one thing. "How did Stryker saying I was dangerous keep you in line?"

"He said he was going to kill you." Victor had closed the space between us and he inhaled my scent deeply. A soft chuckle was followed by a groan when I put my hand against his chest gently, baring my neck in submission to my mate. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and nipped at the skin, his lips brushing my skin when he spoke. "Damn near killed him when he said that."

I felt him kiss my neck more gently than I expected from Victor Creed, one of his hands slipping around my waist and pulling me closer to him. I almost gave in to him but- "I want to see Roxie."

He knew that he'd get nowhere with me until I saw her and knew she was safe so he moved away from me and led me to where Roxie was. I heard her laughter and stood in the doorway of Christien's lab, just looking at her. Then she saw me. "Mommy!"

She jumped off the table and ran toward me on all fours, knocking me to the ground when she barreled into me. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed as tightly as I dared, crying happy tears into her hair. She looked up at me and said, "Don't cry, Mommy. I'm safe."

"I know, baby. I missed you." I smoothed a stray curl into place and kissed her forehead.

"Daddy took me to the park and we got ice cream but I'm hungry now." Roxie said.

"Let's go get a snack, then." I stood and held her hand as we started down the corridor. Roxie paused and turned to look at Victor. "Come on, Daddy."

-0-

I didn't want to let Roxie out of my sight but after dinner, bath, and story time, it was time for Roxie to go to sleep. Grandfather had set up a room for her and I sat with her long after she was snoring softly, just watching her sleep. Grandfather was sitting with me, having been engrossed in his great granddaughter and all of her imaginings. It was pretty clear to see that he had a new jewel of his eye. "Charlotte, you should go to Victor."

"No." I shook my head and kept my voice at a whisper. "I want to sit with her a bit longer."

"She'll be here when you wake up." He smiled at me and put his hand over mine. "Victor was doing what he could to get his family back. Go to him, dearest. Take him as your mate again and be happy."

"I thought you were done trying to push me towards men?" I questioned.

"Men, yes. Your mate who has done the best he knew how to get you back..." His voice trailed off. "He loves you."

"I know."

"I'll sit with her. Nothing will happen to her." He promised.

I kissed her forehead softly and kissed Grandfather's cheek before exiting her room. On the way to my room, I passed Christien's lab and saw Rogue with him. Following Victor's scent, I found him near the lake. He glanced at me as I stood next to him, staring out over the glasslike surface of the water. "I'm still angry that you took her. And I'm still mad that you lied to me."

Victor nodded but didn't say anything.

"I won't deny that seeing James has brought back some feelings but I've missed you. You are Roxie's father and I don't know if you deserve to see her but I'll give you the chance."

Gently (uncharacteristically so for Victor), he entwined their fingers together and they were silent as they listened to the sounds of the night. For tonight, this was enough.

A/N: I'm sorry that this chapter took longer than I wanted. I have no excuse. So, as far as Charlie's romantic partner who do you guys want? Victor or James? Let me know and leave a review!

Sam: I'm glad you're back, dearie. Rogue/Christien will be tricky to play out because they won't be at the estate much longer but hopefully it is satisfactory.

Brigid: awkward tension is the best. :)