It was hard to register what was being said when it took everything he had to keep from pissing his pants, but he forced a nod, drawing in a shaky gulp of air through his mouth because he'd forgotten how to breathe normally.

"My son had put me in an impossible situation by bringing you back here. I should kill you. It would keep the peace. It nulls the danger of a backlash. It keeps my family safe from whatever wrongness lives inside you." The Alpha rose. Aiden's neck craned to follow the movement. "I just want you to understand just how much I'm risking by allowing you to continue...