21

I furrowed my brow, determined to understand the full complexity of the situation. "George, I may not fully comprehend the intricacies, but that doesn't mean I can't try. Please explain it to me. Let me help."

George hesitated, his gaze fixed on our intertwined hands. After a moment, he took a deep breath and began to speak. "It's not just about Grace and the child. Grace’s family has some influence, an ancient lineage ingrained with supernatural powers. They have made it clear that if I were to reject Grace as my mate, there would be severe consequences for us and our entire family and pack.”

A sense of dread crept up within me, and I tightened my grip on George's hand. "What kind of consequences?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper.

His voice dropped, filled with fear and resignation. "They made threats, Hallie. They have the power to harm not just me but you, Mom, and Dad as well. I couldn't bear thinking of anything happening to our family because of my mistakes.