Page 40 of Rescued By Her Guardian

When the new laws were read, he stepped up in front of the elders.

“You have an opportunity to leave the leap now if you don’t agree with the new laws. I will exile you according to our ways, which means you’ll be unlikely to find a new leap to be part of. Would anyone like to leave?”

He stared out at the leap, their faces illuminated by flickering torches around the clearing behind his home.

One by one, the people dropped to their knees, pledging silently to stay in the leap.

He smiled, grateful for the show of support.

“There’s just one thing I need to do.”

He turned and dropped to one knee himself, pulling out the ring that his father had given to his mother on their mating day. It was white gold and engraved with a ring of running leopards.

“Sweetheart,” he said, his voice choking on emotion. He cleared his throat and continued, “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. Not only are you my mate and my other half, but you’re beautiful and kind, and you make me want to be a better male. I love you. I loved you the moment I met you inNorthernmost. Will you do me the honor of not only mating me but being my wife?”

She stared down at him in silence, her eyes wide and her brows high.

The silence felt like it went on forever.

Then she sniffled, and her eyes glittered with unshed tears. “Yes!”

The leap roared its approval. He slipped the ring on her finger and stood, catching her in his arms and kissing her. “I got your dad’s approval, in case you were wondering. They want the wedding up in Northernmost, but we’ll have the reception here with the leap.”

“I love that,” she said. She cupped his face. “Knox, I love you too. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

They kissed once more, and the leap cheered again, their roars and clapping echoing through the woods.

After the short ceremony that made her his mate and alpha female of the leap, they parted ways for just a few minutes while the females came up to congratulate her and the males did the same with him.

“I can’t believe you came to Northernmost to fill in and found your mate,” Chase said.

“Timing is everything,” he said. And he was glad he didn’t have to be up there after the holidays since Asher was ready to return to his duties as a Guardian after Christmas.

He pulled his sweetheart away from the females and took her into the woods alone, where he stripped and shifted in front of her.

“Oh, Knox,” she said, her voice filled with whisper. “You’re so beautiful!”

She knelt on the cold ground and stroked his fur, which made him purr. He just fucking loved when she put her hands on him, however she did it. She rested her head against his and sighed.“This is the best day ever. I’m engaged and I’m also the alpha female, plus we’re mates.”

He licked her cheek and she giggled. She rose to her feet and they returned to the clearing where Maverick, Chase, and Zara were waiting in their shifts.

They raced around Ivy as she walked through the woods, her laughter ringing.

He didn’t even care if he found something to hunt, he was just so happy to have found his beautiful mate and to have her in his life.

He’d almost lost her. He wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

He’d keep her safe forever because that’s what mates did.

And he also made sure she saw stars every time they made love.

Mates did that too.

Solstice was drawing close, and Frost would have to leave to bring winter to the world. He wished he didn’t have to, but he was compelled by the position to carry out the one duty demanded of him.

He only had a few magical people on hand to siphon after solstice, so he would have to grab some more on the trip. Maybe he’d turn them dark to join his follower army, or maybe he’d simply drain them, leaving them without magic instead of turning them. If he did that, they’d be forever without magic, unable to replenish at the Well or be helped by his brother. He wasn’t in the mood to haul people around, anyway.

He wanted to focus on Christmas, but solstice came first.

---