Page 21 of Rescued By Her Guardian

Santa nodded, congratulated them again, and then sent them on their way.

“That was easy,” she said as they stepped out into the hall and headed toward the barracks.

“Did you think it wouldn’t be?”

“I wasn’t sure,” she said. “I’ve been working for him a long time and he doesn’t like change. I’m glad there’s someone like Drea who can take over. But that brings me to a question.”

He put his hand on the door and smiled down at her. “A sexy one?”

“No,” she said with a giggle. “What am I going to do at the leap? I’ve only ever been a secretary.”

He pushed the door open that led to the hall that would take them to the barracks. When they were both through, he shut the door and took her hand. “The leap has a security company that I oversee. We could actually use someone in the office,” he said. “But aside from that, I think you’re going to be really busy with the females and leap business.”

He pulled her against him and smiled down at her, cupping her face and lowering his head for a kiss. “I plan to keep you very busy myself.”

“Do tell, Alpha.”

He whispered, “I’d rather show you.”

“Then let’s hurry.”

He bent and tossed her gently over his shoulder. She let out a squeal of surprise that turned into a laugh as he jogged down the corridor.

“Whatever my mate wants.”

“Just you, Knox. I just want you.”

Ivy was nervous as a basket of chestnuts over the fire. Her stomach was in knots and she wasn’t sure she was dressed appropriately.

How the heck did an elf who was going to be a leopard leap’s alpha female dress anyway? Leather was the first thing that came to mind, something black and tight that made her look like she could handle anything, even though she was fairly sure she couldn’t handleanythingat the moment as she was about two seconds away from a panic attack.

And a panic attack seemed like something an alpha female should definitelynothave on the first day of meeting the leopards.

“It’s going to be great,” Knox said with a low voice as they waited for Maverick and Chase to clear the other side of the portal.

“I can’t help but worry.”

“What are you worried about?”

“You’re changing a lot of stuff for me.”

He hummed as he stared at the Entrance, then slowly turned his head. His eyes were amber and his scent deepened, the snow and leather invading her senses and taking away some of the anxiety.

She was still stressed, just notasstressed.

But they were still in Northernmost.

She looked over her shoulder to see the perimeter of the town in the distance. Frost was out there somewhere, plotting and planning. And that was just one more thing to worry about.

Her anxiety pinged like the radar NORAD used to track Santa on Christmas Eve.

Knox put his arm around her and pulled her close with a questioning purr.

“Your thoughts are all over the place, aren’t they? I can feel you’re anxious, but if it’s about the leopards, you shouldn’t be. I’m alpha, you’re my mate, and they’ll either deal with it or leave.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“It is. So what else is worrying you?”

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