Page 169 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

Matt said, “I’m not shocked she already lives in the castle with him.” I stated, “Bonded mate.” Matt inclined his head towards me in agreement. Robert’s eyes narrowed at me as he told Susanna she’d have protection. Great. Now I was going to get a damn call from the Vampire King and his second because Susanna seemed like she wanted to continue working with Sally.

I could tell that her decision physically pained Robert. Matt linked, “Damn, even vampires are whipped with their mates. If she was anyone else and he would’ve just said fuck no, and then he would vamp speed away with her.”

Robert had a new way for her to carry his blood around. Matt linked, “He already realized the purse could be a problem. Vampires have just been around the block.” I agreed, “They have.” Matt asked, “What do I have to do to get more of a conversation out of you?” I growled, “Find Noah.” Matt sighed.

Matt tried again, “Twenty bucks says Robert already had the interviews set up for her guards. He’s just going to use this as the leverage to get her to agree.” I replied, “I’m not taking that bet. There’s no way a vampire would let his bonded be unprotected. I’m betting their bond is new, and that’s why she didn’t already have a guard with her.” Matt winked, “I knew I could get a sentence out of you.”

Both Matt and I froze when Robert said Lexi was my mate. Matt linked me, “Shit.” Susanna was surprised, which meant Lexi hadn’t told her. Robert told me I didn’t hide it well. Matt said, “He’s not wrong.” I ordered, “SHUT UP!”

Robert’s expression told me he knew why it was a secret. He’d best keep his mouth shut about Sophia. Matt said, “This is easily the worst kept secret OF ALL TIME!” I argued, “Plenty of people don’t know about it. Sophia doesn’t know.” Matt replied, “Because she’s got shit going down in her territory every five seconds. She’s also been very selfish with her allies, so it’s not surprising she doesn’t notice anything going on outside her pack.” It stung but it was true. Sophia was a good Alpha, but not a good ally.

Robert looked murderous about Susanna’s family situation for a solid thirty seconds. Matt said, “I think her family should be glad they are in the Shroud where he cannot get them.” I agreed, “True. He does seem to want to kill them for not being super close with their daughter.”

Matt snorted, “It’s apparently a high crime.” I reminded him, “We’d agree if our mates were hurt in that way. I bet Susanna wants to be close with her family or something. He knows her better than we do, and if anyone hurt our mate...” I trailed off. Matt silently agreed.

Bolt huffed, “You offended him with the look you gave when he said they didn’t gossip about werewolf affairs.” I replied, “Because maybe HE doesn’t. Younger vampires find most supernatural’s fascinating along with the gossip that goes with them.”

I linked Matt, “Did you know that information about Alpha Eric scaring the vampires there that day? I never saw that in a report.” Matt said, “I did know that. Alpha Eric ripped through vampires left and right. Robert’s not wrong, he became a vampire killing machine. It was all because Haley had some collar on. She screamed for someone to get it off. She was trying to get it off herself, but I’m guessing there was magic placed on it. She was digging at her own throat. It was awful. Her guard got it off of her, but said guard came from behind her with a knife. She didn’t even turn around.” That was horrendous. I’d have gone on a rampage if I were him too.

Matt continued, “He became more enraged after that. We didn’t have to kill more than five vampires after it happened. He ran inside to find Haley the second the last vampire fighting was dead. Whom, by the way, he killed himself. The rest of us were dealing with cleanup. I happened to see a vampire, who we now know to be Robert, get thrown away after answering a question that wasn’t asked. I just didn’t know who it was at the time. You should’ve heard Alpha Eric when he found her. The man is just fucking hot.” I rolled my eyes.

Robert seemed to admire Haley. Seriously? Who didn’t like her at this point? For claiming not to like our drama, Robert seemed delighted by this conversation. Bolt huffed, “Our politics are not strange, I just didn’t want the Fairy Princess to find something creatively horrible to do to us.” Same

Matt went rigid. I linked him “What’s your deal? Ted is just saying he wants gossip. That’s not weird…” I stalled when Susanna told Ted he’s had a vampire before. Kincade linked me, “Fuck us all.” I linked Matt, “He’s with you now. He’s your marked mate. The vampire doesn’t matter.” Matt snarked, “Because you’d be all calm, cool, and collected if Lexi was with a vampire? I’d absolutely believe that. Given how calm you were about her angel.” I growled back at him.

All those feelings I’d had when Ted told us about her angel came flooding back into my veins. Bolt growled, “Claim mate!!” Matt and Ted were arguing. I was trying to stop Bolt from attacking Lexi’s neck and marking her. Bolt was fighting me.

I tried to reason with him, “Bolt, I’ll claim her we just can’t mark her.” Bolt growled, “Yes, we can! We CAN mark her; you WON’T.” I offered, “I’ll claim her all damn night though.” Bolt grumbled, “Marking would be better.”

Kevin linked, “Great. A vampire that’s had sex with our Beta Male will float into town at an unknown time. That will be an interesting evening for us all. I seriously hope I’m around when this vampire pops up.” Him and me both.

Matt linked me, “THE FUCK?! I WILL KILL THIS VAMPIRE IF HE SHOWS UP!” I sighed, “You can only kill him if he doesn’t back off once he knows Ted is yours.” Matt snarled, “FUCK YOUR LOGIC AND SHIT!” I shrugged and Matt dragged Ted off.

Lexi started laughing as soon as their whole party had left. I linked Kevin and Kincade, “Get outside.” Both nodded, leaving immediately. I needed to know if she’d been with a vampire. They were known for their sexual appetite and being good in bed. I could make her feel better than they ever could. She was mine. Bolt huffed, “I’m glad she hasn’t been with a vampire, but mark mate!”

I was determined to prove she was mine. Every inch of her. No angel could compare to what we have. She had no idea how I fought every instinct, my wolf, and every physical particle in my body to not go claim her on her damn office floor that night Ted told me about him. No one would see her face as she lost herself to an orgasm. Or the cute eye flutter she did when I touched her. That was mine.

I bit her marking spot harder than I’d ever allowed myself before. I didn’t break the skin though. Bolt growled, “For the love of God! MARK HER!” Her little gasp made me want to more than I’d ever wanted to do anything else in my entire life. But I held back.

Afterwards she thought I’d marked her. No part of her seemed upset. She’d thought I’d marked her, and she seemed fine with it. Bolt snorted, “See? Mark mate.” I asked, “Do you know other words?” He retorted, “Mark her and find out.” I wanted to roll my eyes.

Once my mark was on her neck, I could make her come by biting, licking, breathing, or running my damn fingers over it. When we finished, Bolt was roaring in my head, “JUST MARK HER! MARK MATE! LET ME DO IT!” I argued, “Bolt no!”

He managed to take over. Before he blocked me out, I pleaded, “Bolt, please... do not hurt her!” He snarled, “I won’t EVER hurt her!” I winced, “It’s not your fault I’m an idiot and got married, but do not do this. Please.” With that, he locked me out.

I couldn’t even hear what they were saying to each other. He could only keep me locked out so long like this. It took a lot of effort on his part, and he’d never done it before. Generally speaking, we got along. I kept fighting, trying to break down his wall between us. I wanted to at least hear them.

Panic was my driving emotion. What if he marked her, and she wasn’t ready? I’d have to keep her close. I couldn’t give her any space if she was marked. I’d need her. Cameron was going to have to break ground sooner on our joint house if she was so pissed that she didn’t want to see me.

I’d become weak without her, and I’d need him to be the Alpha. No one knew how Alpha Eric managed not to lose strength with Haley taken from him. Many speculated it was because she shared her light with him.

Part of me knew that Lexi would stay near me if she knew about Bolt becoming weak. I just didn’t plan to tell her, but her new pal, my dad, he’d tell her in a heartbeat. I finally managed to break through and take back over.

I looked straight at her neck. Both disappointment and relief flooded through me Bolt snorted, “I felt that. You secretly wished I’d marked her so it would be done. I’m keeping that in mind.” When he locked me out, I couldn't have stopped him from marking her. I thought he might forcibly do so. That would’ve hurt Lexi physically and emotionally.

Bolt snorted, “I’d never force her. I’m not a monster.” I replied, “I know you're not. It would’ve been my fault not yours. I’ve been making us both deny something we each long for. It wouldn’t have been your fault if you did it.”

I could smell we’d had sex again. She told me Bolt was tender. I linked, “Tender? YOU?” Bolt seemed embarrassed, “She’s special. She’s mate.” I didn’t know how she stopped him. Bolt had wanted to mark her since we first smelled her. Then she told me I was her home.

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