Page 106 of My Big Fat Shifter Wedding

“A boat is practical?”

“Uhm, perhaps not in a traditional sense, but somehow, it feels more practical than a custom, rotating bookshelf.”

“I see.”

He walked around it, gaze keen, and I let him do his thing. I had no idea how much woodworking knowledge the man had, but considering the things I’d heard about him carving his life out from nothing when he immigrated to America, it was likely that he’d done some trade work sometime in his past.

“Is good.”

“Thank you.”

“Clean lines.”

“I appreciate that.”

The awkwardness was growing thicker again, and I really had no idea what we were doing, but eventually Mr. Rizoli sighed.

“I am sorry.”

My brain skipped like it was a record owned by a particularly clumsy DJ. “What was that?”

“I…” He sighed again and walked over to the chair at my tool bench. He looked like he was going to sit, then seemingly changed his mind and turned to face me. “I apologize for what my nephews did to you. They didn’t realize how… lasting many injuries can be for humans.”

“You don’t need to apologize for them,” I said, relief beginning to bubble up in me that this wasn’t a shovel talk or threat to stay away from his daughter. Even though I respected that he was something called an alpha and a leader of maybe a hundred or so shifters, nothing would keep me away from Olivia other than Olivia herself. “They’re young and stupid, and young and stupid people tend to do young and stupid stuff.”

“I… yes. Young. Stupid. This I agree with.”

When he sighed for a third time, he sat, rubbing his palms along his legs. I got the feeling I was experiencing something that didn’t happen all that often.

“I… I am not sure what I am doing here.”

That makes two of us.

“I never thought one of my children would want a… a human as a mate.”

“I can see why you wouldn’t expect that,” I said diplomatically, leaning against the wall. “From what Olivia has told me, my people haven’t always been the greatest to yours.” Story of human history, right? We were such an interesting contradiction of running into burning buildings and forest fires to save people and helpless animals, while also hunting others mercilessly to extinction.

“Si. We are so proud, and there are so many young men who—” He shook his head, cutting himself off. “They are not important. What is important is that my daughter loves you. Something she has never said about any other man. Not when she was young. While her sisters were having crushes or dating, she was figuring out logarithms in Excel to help streamline parts of our business. She has spent her whole life dedicated to famiglia.”

“I love your daughter too. Truly, from the bottom of my heart.”

“Yes, this I know. I can tell. It is just… You see, even though I may not look it to you, I am getting older, and sometimes when I wake up I don’t recognize the world anymore. Technology always changes, always grows. Us shifters are living among humans, even marrying them, apparently. Traditions that we once held so dear are now more harmful than good.

“Everything is smaller, and what few magical communities we knew are drying up right and left. So the alpha in me says that I must protect my pack. My famiglia. I would give my life for them. It says that you are an interloper and that your kind cannot be trusted. That your people have been the leading cause of death of all shifters.”

I listened intently, because I was sure that what was happening in front of me was quite rare. Not just with Mr. Rizoli apologizing, but also with him verbalizing some fears that had no doubt been haunting him for quite a while. I certainly didn’t envy his position.

“So, you see, I am very protective of my pack and only want the best for them, and every instinct screams that you are not the best for them. But at the same time, my darling Olivia, mi principessa, my last little girl, loves you so much that she was willing to leave the pack for you.”

My stomach nearly dropped out of me at that, and I knew that my eyes flew wide. I would never, ever ask Olivia to abandon the people she loved so deeply. That hadn’t even been an option on the table when we discussed what our next steps were the morning after I had learned everything. The fact that she had been willing to do that entirely on her own… it truly touched me. Now, without a doubt, I knew exactly how much Olivia was willing to give up to be with me.

I just hope I’m worth it.

“I—”

“No,” Mr. Rizoli said simply. “Now is no time for you to speak. In a moment.”

All right, I could work with that.