Page 9 of Rescued By Her Guardian

The phone on the desk rang and it was Santa’s direct line.

“Hi, Santa,” Winter said as he answered.

“Hey, want to grab dinner in the cafeteria?” Chase asked as he put his coat on.

“Sure,” Knox said.

“You got it, I’ll send Guardians right over.” He set the phone on the cradle and spun in his chair. “You guys have a few minutes to run Santa’s assistant to the Well to replenish her magic?”

“Yeah, sure,” Chase said.

“Santa wants more than one escort of course, so why don’t all three of you go?” Winter asked.

“That’s fine,” Knox said. “We’ll escort her to the Well and then head to dinner.”

“Thanks, guys. See you tomorrow.” Winter spun in the desk chair and got to work reviewing the security tapes from the previous day’s recordings. His brothers—Storm and Hunter—were nearby, dressing for the cold weather to begin their rounds.

Knox, Maverick, and Chase walked out of the security office and headed toward the offices where Santa and his assistants worked to prepare for Christmas Eve and the toy delivery. He hadn’t been to the office since he’d arrived, but he’d meant to drop in and say hello to Santa since he hadn’t seen him in a decade.

Everything still looked the same, though, down to the red carpet in the halls and the twinkling lights that were hung up to decorate the long stretch of hall between security and Santa’s offices.

His snow leopard paced in his mind the closer they got to the offices. Sweat broke out on his brow and his fingertips tingled where his claws wanted to break free.

“You okay?” Chase asked, glancing at him.

“Yeah, I feel weird all of a sudden.”

“Weird, how?”

A door creaked as it opened ahead of them, and a petite female stepped into the hall, swinging a red coat around her shoulders and slipping her arms into it. The motion of the coat moving sent a wave of her scent to him, and he nearly fell to his knees as a dawning awareness filled him.

He was in the presence of his truemate.

And she was fucking gorgeous.

Knox froze as his gaze locked with the female. She was maybe a foot shorter than him, with sunshine blonde hair tipped with pink. Her eyes were the most enchanting blue, and holy hell did his body immediately react to seeing her.

Her mouth fell open and her eyes went wide, her cheeks pinking as their gazes clashed. He could feel his leopard writhing within him, demanding to be let out to close the distance to her.

“Hey, are you Ivy?” Maverick asked. “We’re your Guardian escort to the Well.”

Knox was overcome with possessive feelings as Maverick and Chase drew closer to her. Lurching forward, Knox shoved them both aside and turned with a snarl. “Back off.”

They both froze at the authority in his tone.

“Um, what’s going on?” Chase asked.

“Back. Off.”

Maverick put his hand on Chase’s chest, and the two took a massive step backward. Maverick put his hands up and said, “We hear you.”

He gnashed his teeth, trying to get hold of his leopard. He could not fur-out right now and shift because he might scare her. Scrubbing a hand through his hair, he inhaled and exhaled, and rolled his shoulders.

He turned slowly to face her.

Her skin had paled as if she was afraid, and he could pick up the scent of her fear. But the moment their gazes locked again, she tilted her head and arched her brow.

“Sorry,” he said. His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “I apologize. I’m Knox, one of the Guardians.”

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