Southern Shifters - Press Paws (Buchanan Clan #2) by Celia Kyle Page B

mother, ever the peacemaker. And Dad translator. Though in all honestly, her mom tended to flower things up more than a little bit. “We can understand your frustration due to the difficulties related to the Buchanan clan.”
    Another grunt. The fuck I do.
    Though she hadn’t ever heard him curse, that’s what she imagined.
    “And we appreciate your understanding in this.”
    Understand twice in two sentences. She must really want him to understand something. Heh.
    Her dad grunted. Understand my ass. Do as you’re told.
    “In this instance, there seems to have been a slight bit of hostility between the Lachlan clan and our own.” Her mother pasted on a smile then, flashing her pearly whites.
    “ Slight bit of hostility?”
    Dad snorted. Boy, one body is hardly anything to sneeze at. I wouldn’t wipe my ass for one dead Lachlan.
    “Well.” Hannah’s mother nibbled her lip. “The Buchanans and Lachlans have had some passionate—“ Bloody. ”—meetings over the years. Hannah mating Jeremy was supposed to put an end to the difficulties.” Her mother was the one woman in the world who would turn a centuries-old feud into a difficulty . “Unfortunately for the clans—but fortunate for our sweet girl—“ Ryland snorted at that and Hannah glared at him. Hell, even her parents and Katie glared at her mate. “Hannah found her mate and someone—“ the glares turned to Katie “—wasn’t the kindest in notifying Jeremy and the Lachlans about the change in circumstances.”
    “So the scorned ex came up here to reclaim Hannah?”
    Ryland growled and she reached for him, resting her hand on his knee and giving him a gentle squeeze.
    “The Lachlans are a proud—volatile—group,” Fiona continued.
    “If you call crazy volatile .” Katie snorted.
    “Which is why antagonizing them was a mistake,” her mother snapped at her twin.
    Daddy scoffed and… Hannah almost gasped… spoke. “Lachlans have more pride than sense. Katie or no Katie. The boy woulda been here making my daughter a widow so he could claim her as his own. Here or our lands, he woulda done the same.”
    “And how did you all know to hightail it up here?” Greer raised his eyebrows.
    Fiona flashed Hannah a mix between a glare and a smile. She was happily angry? “After Katie spoke with Jeremy, she also came and told us the good news. We packed up everything and came over.” Her mom frowned. “Your father broke every speed limit when we found out Jeremy was on his way. We didn’t want your new mate dy—“
    Hannah tightened her grip on Ryland’s leg. Trying to keep him silent and still instead of roaring his objection to her mother’s words.
    Her father’s huff silenced her mom. Thank God. “She wouldn’t mate a weak boy. Took out the Lachlans’ son, he did.” He pulled his gaze from Greer and let it rest on Ryland. “You’ll take care of my girl. Make a good leader, too.”
    Everyone in the room froze, and then as a group, their eyes landed on Angus.
    Ryland was the first to find his voice. “Leader?”
    Her recently talkative father grunted and quirked a brow at Hannah. Of course. And then. You really want this one? Not too bright.
    Hannah reached for Ryland’s hand and connected the dots her father had already tied together. “You killed the son of the Lachlan leader and he’s got no other family,” she whispered and turned her gaze to Ryland. “You killed the heir. Unless someone in the clan challenges you, you’ll inherit the clan when the Lachlan leader dies.”
    “But…” Ryland’s eyes went wide and a slight tremble overtook him. She could practically read his mind as the emotions glided across his face. Fear was first. Unease. Worry. And… hope. “I’m a…”
    “Lion.” She finished for him, refusing to hear him say anything else.
    “Hybrid.” Apparently he didn’t realize he was supposed to be quiet. His attention shot to her father. “I’m a lion and wolf.”
    Her father just shrugged. “You look