Xander growled and snapped our pants off. He bit down hard on my neck and entered me in one swift move. Freya linked, “Oden’s out, now it’s my turn.” She pushed forward and stroked his face saying, “Hello, my Alpha. My Oden.” He replied, “My Freya.”
After we came, she pushed me forward and Xander and I rolled around the sheets. He snapped his fingers, and my hands were tied above my head. Xander’s head disappeared under my hoodie. He placed a light kiss on the place where I had a scar from being shot before he pinched my nipple.
I jerked my hips up. Xander chuckled and I felt his hot breath against my skin. Freya linked, “More Latin please.” I sighed, “Do you know how hard it is to think in another language right now?” Freya reasoned, “You’re a genius. I believe in you.” UGH!
I decided to say what I had wanted to for so long but had been a little afraid to. I whispered, “Ego tibi tam diu doluere. Numquam putavi nos una hic esse. Ego te perdidi tanquam nummum meipsum deesse. Te amo Xander (I have ached for you for so long. I never thought we'd be here together. I have missed you as if a piece of myself was missing. I love you Xander).” Xander came out from under my hoodie faster than I thought was possible. He smashed his lips on mine.
When my mate pulled away, he whispered seductively in my ear, “Nescis quantum tibi desideravi. Quot noctes te vellem esse mecum. Exspectavi te. desideravi te. Tu mundus meus es, Melanie McAlister. Mox satis eris Melanie Connerus. Signum meum feres, et nemo te a me auferet. Vel deus eorum animas adiuvat. Tantum te amo perdant nimis (You have no idea how much I longed for you. How many nights I wished for you to be at my side. I waited for you. I yearned for you. You are my world, Melanie McAlister. Soon enough you'll be Melanie Conners. You'll bear my mark and NO ONE will take you from me. Or god help their souls. I love you so damn much).”
His lips were back on mine before I could reply. He possessively nipped at my neck for hours. I knew I had an assortment of hickeys, but I didn’t care. We had just fallen apart when someone knocked on his door. So, it would be someone using a bond with him to know we’d stopped being intimate.
Xander snapped clothes on us and said, “It’s safe to come in Uncle Bjourn and Uncle Marcus.” It was amazing that the room was all back to normal as if we hadn’t destroyed it. It had been a long time since I’d seen that. Tristan had fought a guy his crazy ex was dating when she lied about my brother to said guy in our house once, and Jared had snapped it all back together.
Both of his uncle’s entered smirking, which made me blush. Xander kissed me and whispered, “God, I love that blush.” Bjourn laughed, “Trust me nephew, we know. Since you’re here, would you bring your mate outside to help with the collective group of wolves we have acquired?”
I jumped up realizing, “Cayden hit the Hunters groups?” Oh god. Was Nate here? Is that why he hadn’t reached out? Marcus raised an eyebrow answering, “Yes, he did. Everyone is here besides the Nashville groups. They are in hiding.”
Ok, Nate was probably ok then. I nodded then gasped, “Oh gosh, Vicky! Is she here?” Bjourn answered, “Yes, and Cassie refuses to let her out of her sight.” I smiled, because that sounded like the Cassie I’d heard about all my life even before I met Cayden.
I grabbed Xander’s hand urging, “Let’s go!” He laughed and his uncle’s put a hand on his shoulder, then my mate popped us away. Cassie must have conjured a pack house type home for everyone to feel comfortable, or they had a random house that mirrored a pack house here. Which I did not have on the map, so I hoped it was new… I didn’t like to be behind… or wrong.
Vicky squealed, “ASHLEY!” She ran and jumped into my arms. I smiled greeting, “Hi, Vicky.” Several people surrounded us. I quickly scanned faces noting Bjourn had been right. No one from my Nashville groups were here.
Caine would’ve pulled out Black Path’s people on he was the Alpha, but I had more cultivated than that. I wanted to groan when I heard, “Well, look what the cat dragged in! The curvaceous and FINE savior of us all. How’s it going, sweet cheeks? Are you ready to come ride Vance Mountain?” I winced knowing exactly how my mate would take that from the papers and studies I’d read about Alpha’s.
Xander roared, “MINE!” He stepped in front of me and took a fighting stance. I touched his back explaining, “He’s just a flirt. A harmless, somewhat obnoxious, flirt.” Vicky snorted, “Cayden already punched him. He’s funny and you never said he was, Ashley.”
I raised an eyebrow asking, “You think Cayden is funny?” Vicky nodded, “Yeah. Cassie’s so cool! Just like you said she’d be.” I nodded, “Yup.” I guess I always saw Cayden in tense situations… so it would stand to reason I did not think he was funny.
Vicky asked, “Did you find my extended family?” I answered, “I did. I haven’t talked to them yet, but I will I promise.” She squealed, “YAY! You said they are in Cassie’s pack, right? I really like her.” I assured her, “They are.”
I looked up and nearly winced because literally everyone’s eyes were on us. Cassie broke the silence, “Vicky, why don’t you come with me to the kitchen?” Vicky happily ran to Cassie yelling, “Ok!” Xander slammed his lips on mine the second they were gone.
It was definitely a move that screamed “she’s mine.” A throat cleared. I knew it wasn’t going to be a Hackura that did that. This kiss wouldn’t have fazed them at all. I looked over and saw Cayden, Micah, and Max standing in the corner trying not to laugh.
I waved then turned towards whoever had cleared their throat. It was Marty, a Werewolf I’d worked with and recruited. Marty smiled at Xander saying, “We got it. She’s yours.” I sent him a grateful look, and he just smiled.
Vance clearly had a death wish because he snorted, “She ain’t marked, Marty. It’s not over until there’s a name and wolf on that neck.” Xander growled and Cayden pushed away from the wall. I heard a pop beside us that I assumed it was Max. Freya offered, “It is.”
I ran in front of Xander and put my butt against him. I glared at Vance saying, “Xander is my mate. He is an Alpha, Duke, and Squadron Leader in this realm. You WILL respect that. We have A LOT of crap going on for us right now. The start of which is my name is actually Melanie McAlister, not Ashley Griffen.” Everyone went silent.
I could practically feel Xander’s need to punch Vance shooting up my foot so hard my own hand clenched into a fist. I added, “My wolf was suppressed by magic, and when I met Xander it unlocked her. His family is researching that ordeal to see if he can mark me before I shift. It’s all a giant hot mess.”
“Please stop trying to get him to pulverize you because he could, easily. You are in a place where people do not do disrespect, and he is their Duke….and Squadron Leader…like I said. Now, I wanted to see how everyone was… so no more inappropriate things will be said. Got that? Because the next person that disrespects my mate or our relationship deals with me before dealing with him. Are we clear?”
Vance sighed, “Hey now, we gotta be protective of our girl. No hard feelings, Alpha man.” Xander snarled, “There are absolutely hard feelings. You want what’s mine so there will be hard feeling until the END OF TIME!” Well…that was not in my papers. Freya snickered. I reached back and squeezed his hand.
Vance smirked, “Then you’re going to have hard feelings against a large group of people. She’s something.” I rolled my eyes telling my mate, “He’s just joking, Xander.” Vance laughed, “She doesn’t even get it, man. Good luck.”
I growled “No... I get that the vast majority of men want to have intimate encounters with me. They say it... not infrequently and definitely not elegantly. I’ve literally kicked everyone in here’s butt. None of you could handle me and you don’t want to.”
“I know that… and you know that. Wanting to be intimate with me and being with me are not the same. I understand the concept of both things, and I’m fully aware which one you want… it’s not to be with me as a person either.” Everyone’s looks said I was right, which I knew.
Cayden said, “Alexander, let’s step outside.” Xander snarled, “Like fucking hell.” Vance paled, “Alexander?” My mate snarled at him. Vance said, “But Ashley called him Xander. Are you saying this guy is Alpha Alexander Conners?!”
I sighed, “I have told you guys… you HAVE GOT to pay more attention and learn pack leadership’s faces. Yes, that’s who he is.” Vance shut his mouth, and several people backed away from him. One woman snorted, “Or get on social media. His videos are amazing.” Freya growled in my head.
I told her, “We have watched his posts a lot….she’s right. Xander’ videos are amazing.” Freya said, “Well, they can’t have what’s ours.” Agreed. Xander wrapped his arms around me tightly. People slowly came up to us. The women were first. All were congratulatory on finding my mate and hopeful to see my wolf.
