"It's no trouble at all," Adrian assured her, his voice carrying the quiet authority that came naturally to an Alpha. "We're celebrating Riley's training abilities. I wouldn't have won that first match without her knowledge and guidance these past two days."
Tammy studied him with the sharp intelligence Riley had inherited, her brown eyes taking in details most people would miss. "What's really going on between you two? Because I can sense this is more than just a professional relationship."
Riley's cheeks flushed pink, and she shot her mother an exasperated look. "Mom, you certainly cut straight to the point as usual. But if you must know, we are dating," Riley admitted, her fingers fidgeting with her napkin. "And actually, I need to tell you something pretty significant."
The sommelier arrived with their wine, performing the traditional tasting ritual with Adrian before pouring three generous glasses. As the man retreated, Riley opened her mouth to speak, but Adrian found himself interrupting before she could begin.
The words left his mouth with startling honesty. "I'm a tiger shifter, and I'm the acting Alpha of my pride. Riley is my fated mate, and we're already partially bonded."
The silence that followed was deafening. Tammy's hand froze halfway to her wine glass, her expression cycling through surprise, confusion, and something that might've been acceptance. Finally, she lifted the glass and took a substantial gulp before setting it down with careful precision.
"Well," she said slowly, "that certainly changes things." Her gaze moved between them, lingering on the way Adrian's protective instincts manifested in his positioning—close enough to shield Riley from any threat, attentive enough to anticipate her needs before she voiced them. "But I have to say, I'm glad to see Riley looking happier than she has in months."
Riley's cheeks flushed again, and she took a big gulp of her own wine.
"Is that where you've been the past few days?" Tammy asked, turning to her daughter with maternal concern. "I've been calling the gym, and Lila said you were handling some personal business."
Riley nodded, her tension spiking through their bond in a way that caused Adrian's chest to tighten. "I've been staying with Adrian at his pride estate. I almost got attacked outside my apartment building two nights ago, but Adrian shifted into his tiger form and fought the attacker off. Now I'm staying with him for safety."
Tammy took another healthy sip of wine, her face pale. "Attacked? Riley, why didn't you tell me immediately?"
"Because I knew you'd worry," Riley replied, reaching across the table to squeeze her mother's hand. "And Adrian has been protecting me. I'm safer with him than I would be alone."
"I'm grateful to you for protecting my daughter," Tammy said, directing her words to Adrian with fierce sincerity. "And I'm sorry if this is taking me a bit of time to process. Tiger shifters and fated mates... it's not exactly something they prepare you for in parenting books."
"It's completely understandable," Adrian assured her, his voice gentle. "It's a lot to absorb, especially when it involves someone you love."
The waiter arrived with their meals—perfectly prepared lamb for Adrian, grilled salmon for Riley, and chicken marsala for Tammy. As they began eating, the conversation gradually shifted to more personal territory.
"You know," Tammy said thoughtfully, cutting into her chicken, "Riley's father Jim left when she was eight years old. Just packed a bag one morning and walked out without much explanation. It was hard on both of us, but especially hard on Riley." She looked directly at Adrian, her maternal protectiveness evident in every word. "But sitting here now, watching the two of you together... I can see something genuine. Something real. I can tell you really care for my daughter."
"I do," Adrian replied without hesitation, his blue eyes finding Riley's across the table. "More than I thought possible. I want to keep her safe and by my side for a long time. That is, if she chooses to accept the full bond."
Through their connection, he felt Riley's tension spike again, that same gnawing doubt that had been plaguing her since Darius's accusation. Desperate to redirect the conversation away from topics that triggered her defensive instincts, Adrian found himself doing something he rarely did—opening up about his past.
"My father Gabriel and my mother Kessa were fated mates too," he said quietly, his fingers tightening around his wine glass. "Their love story was something you'd read about in fairy tales. But when I was five, my mother died in childbirth delivering my brother Mark. She had a rare heart complication that the doctors couldn't predict or prevent."
The vulnerability in his voice was unmistakable, and he could see both women leaning forward with sympathetic attention.
"My father barely survived that loss," Adrian continued, the words coming easier now that he'd started. "His grief turned him into a different man—cold, distant, emotionally unavailable. He ruled the pride with iron discipline but never let himself feel deeply again."
"I'm so sorry for your loss," Tammy said softly, her maternal instincts extending to encompass him. "That must have been incredibly difficult. How is your father handling things now?"
Adrian's throat tightened. "He died last year. Heart attack, sudden and unexpected. And that's been..." He paused, struggling with the admission. "It's been a hard year without him. Even harder because I never got the chance to heal our relationship before he died."
Through the bond, he felt Riley's doubt temporarily recede, replaced by a wave of compassion that made his chest warm. Her hand found his across the table, her fingers intertwining with his in a gesture of comfort that felt more intimate than any physical claim.
"I'm sure your father knew how much you loved him," Tammy said with quiet wisdom. "And I'm certain he loved you too. Grief just does funny things to people, makes them build walls they think will protect them from more pain." She squeezed Riley's other hand meaningfully. "When my father died, it was challenging, but I learned that leaning on others actually helps. You don't have to carry everything alone."
"Thank you. I'm starting to learn that," Adrian said, genuinely moved by her sympathy and insight. "Your kind words mean more than you know."
They finished dinner in comfortable conversation, the earlier tension gradually easing as Tammy regaled them with stories of Riley's childhood determination and stubborn independence. When Adrian insisted on handling the check despite Tammy's protests, she finally relented with good grace.
The drive to Tammy's modest house in South Philadelphia was filled with companionable silence. When they pulled up to her front door, Tammy leaned closer.
"Thank you for dinner, and congratulations on your first professional win," she told Adrian warmly. "It was exciting to watch, even if I spent half the time worrying."
"Thank you for being so understanding about everything," Adrian replied. "I know this situation isn't exactly conventional."