What? Justus got to spend his rehabilitation with Faythe and Marc, while I got stuck with the Di Carlos?

“You ready?” Marc asked him, as Titus appeared in the doorway.

Titus looked at me, and a world of emotion swirled in his gray-eyed gaze. I wanted to go to him. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and kiss him goodbye, at least. But that would make this so much harder.

Justus nodded. “What do I have to do?”

“Just follow my lead,” Marc said.

I glanced around in confusion to see that Lochlan, Naveen, and Brandt had all filed into the kitchen and stood watching, their expressions carefully blank.

What the hell?

“Justus Anthony Alexander, do you hereby vow to follow orders from your Alphas, to remain loyal to your Pride in all things, and to put nothing before the good of the Pride?”

“I sure as hell do.” Justus looked straight ahead, his formal bearing in contrast with an answer that drew a chuckle from both Marc and Titus.

“Then I hereby accept you as a member of the South-Central Pride, on behalf of myself and of my co-Alpha Faythe Sanders, who is unable to be here, because the doctor said she’s already traveled too much for her seventh month of pregnancy and needs to rest.”

Titus and the other guys laughed.

I stared around the kitchen in absolute astonishment. “What?” I looked at Marc, wide-eyed. “Did you just induct him into your Pride?”

“Yes.” Marc shook Justus’s hand again. “And now that he’s officially a member, he’s guaranteed a trial. A chance to prove himself innocent. No matter what.”

“What?” I turned to Titus, mystified. “What’s going on? What am I not understanding?”

He held up one finger, a small smile haunting the corners of his mouth. “Wait a minute. This is the best part.” Titus pulled his new phone from his pocket and dialed. “Hello, Rick? It’s Titus. I have an answer for you.”

“Um…I don’t understand,” Rick said over the line. “Robyn already gave us an answer.”

“She didn’t have the authority to negotiate on behalf of my brother or me. Justus has just been sworn in as a member of the South-Central Pride. Which guarantees him the right to a fair trial, no matter what happens with my territory, or with Robyn. And since you no longer have any leverage over me, I think Robyn should have a chance to make a more informed decision. Hang on, and I’ll let you talk to her.”

Titus held the phone out to me.

Are you serious? I mouthed.

He nodded with a huge smile.

I looked around the room and found all of the guys—Marc and Justus included—grinning at me. They’d clearly known about this the whole time.

I held the phone up to my ear, my heart pounding deep in my chest. “Rick? Thank you so much for entertaining my earlier proposal, but as I’m not currently a member of one of your Prides, I’m withdrawing my offer in order to join the Mississippi Valley Pride. If you want to keep me under the council’s authority and influence, you’re going to have to acknowledge my Pride and the authority of my Alpha. Titus Alexander. We look forward to hearing from you when you have a decision for us. Bye!” I hung up the phone while Rick Wade sputtered in shock.

I gave Titus back his phone. My head spun. “I can’t believe I just did that.” My hands fell to my sides. “What if they invade?”

“They won’t,” Marc said. “Right about now, Faythe is reminding them that you never officially joined the Southeast, or any other Pride, which means that they have no authority over you. And that if they decide to fight the Mississippi Valley for you, they’ll also be fighting the South-Central Pride. And the Appalachian Pride. They might be willing to go to war with Titus, but they won’t be willing to fight another civil war so soon after the last one.”

“How did this happen?” I whisper, stunned.

Titus pulled me into a hug and smiled down at me. “I called in every favor I could. Faythe and Marc stepped up. And Abby’s brother came through, with Jace’s former Pride. It turns out he’s tired of being a pawn and ready to sit at the grownups’ table.”

“I can’t believe you did this for me.” I stood on my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“I couldn’t lose you, Robyn. You are the smartest, sexiest most infuriating tabby I’ve ever met. The Mississippi Valley Pride is honored to call you our own.”

“Here, here!” came the chorus from around me.

“That’s good!” I glanced around the room, tears in my eyes, a grin glued to my face. “Because you misfit bastards are all stuck with me!”

“They can welcome you to the territory later.” Titus took my hand and tugged me toward the stairs leading to his bedroom, the heat in his eyes burning into me. “For the next few hours, you’re all mine…”