Calix rose to his feet so fast that the chair clattered behind him. He was on Julius a moment later, his big hand around his throat and the male lifted off the ground. “Speak to the alpha like that again, I dare you.”

Julius let out an undignified squawk and tried to pry Calix’s hand from his neck without success. Calix glanced at Knox who waited for a moment longer while Julius’s face turned beet red, and then he nodded sharply.

Calix released his grip and Julius fell to the floor in a heap, gasping for air.

“Get him out of here,” Calix said, snapping his fingers at two enforcers.

When they’d dragged the male from the room, Knox said, “Keep him in his house until I call for him. I’ll give him time to cool down.”

Calix nodded and left.

“Anyone else have a problem with the laws changing?” Knox asked.

One by one the rest of the enforcers stood and pledged their loyalty to him and to Ivy as his new mate.

He instructed them to visit each leap member about the upcoming meeting and then asked Zara to meet with him and Ivy after everyone was dismissed.

“Zara Swift, I’d like you to officially meet Ivy Pine, the future Mrs. Knox Rivera and alpha female.”

Ivy scoffed. “I’m not going to be Mrs. Anything until you give me something sparkly and ask me properly after you ask my dad.”

He gave her a quick peck on the lips with a smile. “I promise.”

She grinned. “It’s nice to meet you, Zara.”

“Welcome to the leap,” she said, shaking Ivy’s hand.

Keeping an eye on the clock because he was very interested in getting Ivy up to the master bedroom and seeing how many times he could rock her world before the meeting at six, he spoke to Zara about becoming Ivy’s personal guard.

“Up in Northernmost?” Zara asked with wide eyes.

“Just here,” he said. “We’ll be leaving for Northernmost after the meeting tonight, then we’ll be back for the full moon. You can stay here while we’re gone and resume your regular duties, but once the holidays have passed and Ivy moves here for good, I’d like to count on you to keep her safe when I’m not able to be with her.”

“Oh, I get a bodyguard? How freaking awesome,” Ivy said, her eyes dancing.

“I’d be honored,” Zara said.

“Is this a normal thing?” Ivy asked. “Does the alpha female always have a personal guard?”

“Yes,” he answered. “If there aren’t any female enforcers for the job, then the alpha would assign two males, so that his mate is never alone with an unmated male.”

“That’s pretty cool,” Ivy said.

Ivy and Zara exchanged numbers and the enforcer excused herself to join her fellow guards in letting the leap know about the meeting and would see them prior to the start.

“Oh,” Ivy said as she turned to face him.

“Oh what?”

He put his hands on her hips and drew her closer, his body springing back to life once more.

“We’re all alone now, and I think you mentioned having some fun before the meeting?”

“If by fun you mean seeing how often you can scream my name in pleasure? Then, yes, tons of fun.” He scooped her up into his arms and strode toward the door.

She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Whatever my alpha wants.”

“Just you, sweetheart.”