“I do feel it, Landon. When I’m with you, I feel … I’m happier,” she said.

  “Then why not? Why don’t we give this a chance? I don’t know if you only want to be a mate in front of the pack, but I don’t want that. I want to be a mate with you for real.”

  She opened her mouth and closed it, a little shocked he was saying exactly what she was feeling.

  The sound of water spilling out of a pan had her pulling away and pointing. Words failed her.

  Landon cursed and rushed to the pan, taking the lid off and then checking the potatoes. The knife slid straight through, and he drained it.

  Being a mate to Landon wouldn’t be hard, not at all. In fact, the very thought of it made her smile. “I’d like that,” she said, and Landon turned toward her. “I’d like for us to try being mates.”

  She had no idea if it would work, or if it would even last, but there was certainly no harm in trying.

  ****

  No one could put him in a bad mood.

  Last night, Landon made a wonderful meal for them, and he made a note to thank his mother when he saw her. After their divine food, they’d enjoyed a shower, and he’d gotten the chance to explore every single inch of her beautiful body.

  There wasn’t a part of Alexa he didn’t adore. He hungered for her.

  Even now as she was crouched down, talking to a little girl while he handled a repair to one of the doors, he wanted her.

  At least this time, with kids around, he was able to keep himself in check.

  “I see you and Alexa are making things work,” Drew said.

  Of all the people he was working with today, he hadn’t wanted it to be Drew. He hadn’t seen Ben in a while.

  His father was supposed to be here, but he’d sent Drew, whose dad was in construction. He’d delivered the new hinges and door. The old one had been completely torn off the doorframe.

  “Yeah, we are.”

  “You know, I didn’t think you two were going to make a go of it,” Drew said.

  He pulled his gaze away from Alexa to look at Drew. “People change.”

  “You know, I got to see Cheryl. She misses you and she is sorry for what she did to Alexa, but she felt that you were too blinded.”

  “Enough,” Landon said. “I never gave her any idea that we would be more than friends. I know you and Ben have been with her as well, so don’t try to guilt me on this.” He wasn’t going to be fooled by Cheryl.

  Alexa felt bad for the other woman, he got it, but at the same time, she didn’t know, nor did the pack know, the lengths Cheryl would go to get what she wanted. Even now, he had a sense there was a game at play.

  Drew’s mouth fell open. “You knew about that?”

  Landon snorted. “Knew? I also saw it, man. Do you think I give a shit where you stick your dick? I don’t, unless it’s in my mate, and you’re not going near Alexa. I don’t know what Cheryl’s asking you to do, but I warn you, man, if it comes between Alexa and me, then you and I are through. Got it?”

  “Whoa, dude. I have no idea what you—”

  “Cut the crap. I wasn’t born yesterday, and I know about Cheryl. I know she wants to be the alpha’s mate. I know she’ll do whatever it takes to get there.” It was why he’d been distracting Alexa.

  He had no proof of his suspicions when it came to Cheryl. Just instinct, and of course knowing her the way he did. She wasn’t a good person. People were pitying her now, and to a point, he got it, but he knew when he was being played, or attempted to be played. He didn’t see it before, but it was clear to him now.

  “Dude, do you want me to hold this for you?” Drew asked. “I know you can’t lift too heavy of an item.”

  He’d told Ben and Drew how he’d been weakening.

  This time though, he grabbed the door from Drew. It didn’t weigh a thing as he held it in place, lined up the hinges, and got to work fixing the door. Once he was done, he looked at Drew, hoping the guy would take a hint and leave him the fuck alone.

  He folded the ladders together and took them back to the supply closet. Then he shook the teacher’s hand, who thanked him, and went to find Alexa, who was on the mat, reading to a bunch of kids.

  At first, he wasn’t quite sure what to do. He’d spent a great deal of time watching Alexa. Not closing that distance between them, but they weren’t like that anymore.

  They’d agreed to giving mates a try, and he didn’t have to stay away from her.

  He moved closer, sitting beside her, and she stopped reading to offer him a smile. It was a nice, warm gaze, and he could easily get lost in the brown depths of her eyes.

  The girl in her lap patted her leg, and she had no choice but to get back to reading. Her voice soothed him. Sometime through the reading, a little boy moved between his legs and curled up in his lap, resting his head against his leg.

  Landon smiled down at the boy, and as he looked at Alexa, he was suddenly hit with the need to get her pregnant.

  Alexa would make one hell of a mother. He’d seen what she was like with Cheryl’s little sister.

  The moment he thought about Cheryl, he had to wonder what the other woman had planned. He needed to warn Alexa, so she understood this was … dangerous.

  If Drew was attempting to help, that meant he needed to go see Ben.

  The children slowly began to fall asleep, and Alexa closed the book. The teachers helped to pick the children out of their laps, and then taking Alexa’s hand, he made his way outside, into the warm lunchtime air.

  “I’m starving. I’m thinking of heading over to the diner. Do you want to come?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I do. I’ve got to run some errands. Will you order for me, and I’ll be right there?” he asked.

  “Sure.”

  She pressed a kiss to his lips and pulled out of his hands.

  He watched her go, admiring the curves of her ass when she walked away. Landon was tempted to follow her, but his dad had always told him to follow his gut, and he had to do that now.

  Something wasn’t right. He didn’t like this feeling twisting his gut.

  Landon stepped away from the town square and headed toward the DIY store where he knew Ben was working that day. He found his friend out in the garden section, lifting large bags of compost and piling them in the corner.

  “Hey, man. How’s it going?” Ben asked.

  “Cheryl,” Landon said, not having time for pleasantries.

  Ben paused as he bent over about to pick up another bag of compost. “Landon, I don’t think—”

  “I’m in love with Alexa, Ben. I always have been. Our time has never been the right time, but we’re getting our chance now. I love her. I’m going to spend the rest of my life with her.”

  “Shit, man. Why are you telling me this?” Ben asked.

  “Because I know Cheryl. She’s not stupid. She is planning something, and I need to know what.” He had to be prepared for it to save Alexa.

  Ben gripped the back of his neck and shook his head. “I don’t want to get involved in this, okay? This is not my business. This is between you and Cheryl, and you and Alexa. I told her I was out.”

  “But I’m right,” Landon said.

  “Shit!” Ben rubbed at his eyes. “I … yes, you’re right. Cheryl was going to attack Alexa. She didn’t tell us, okay? Well, she might have told Drew, but you know what the two of them are like.” He shrugged. “She promised him a place in the pack if he helped her, and Drew wants to be like Dan.”

  Landon stepped closer to his friend. “Tell me what she has planned, man. I’ve got to protect my mate.”

  “Actually, you’ve got to protect yourself, Landon.”

  He frowned.

  Ben sighed. “Cheryl’s going for a mating claim.”

  “A what?”

  “She is going to try to stake a claim on you. To wipe out Alexa’s chance to have you.”

  “I’ve never heard of it.”

  Ben glanced away and then looked at him. “You and Alexa are mates. We all know that, but by you both denying each other on your first transition, it kind of left an opening. Like a crack in the mating thing. I don’t know the full details. I just know that three years is a long time, but Cheryl waited. She wanted there to be enough distance between the two of you so that when she made her claim, Alexa wouldn’t stand a chance to claim you.”

  “But what about my dad’s punishment? The cuffs? Binding us together.”

  “Dude, I think your dad knows what Cheryl is trying, which is why he’s also keeping her locked up. Cheryl wasn’t hurt, man. She is after you, and is pretty determined to get you.”

  ****

  Alexa nibbled on her lip and glanced around the diner. The pack members were staring at her, or trying to pretend they weren’t actually staring at her. Whenever she caught someone looking her way, she offered them a smile, hoping they got the hint that everything was fine.

  Landon was late.

  Their food was going to be here soon. She glanced at the clock and wondered what was keeping him.

  When Marcel entered the diner, she was very much aware of his presence. There was no denying the alpha in the room. It was rare for him to come into the diner at lunchtime. She looked at the people at each table, wondering if they were expecting him. No one showed any signs of Marcel being their dinner guest.

  She nearly jumped out of her skin when he took a seat right in front of her.

  “Hello, Alexa,” he said.

  “Alpha.” She didn’t know if she should bow her head or simply greet him as a father-in-law. “Have I … is something wrong? Is Landon okay?”

  “Why isn’t Landon here?”

  “He just needed to run errands. I’ve ordered food for him. Does that break any kind of rule?” she asked, a little more nervous than she would have liked to be.

  “No, it’s fine.” He waved his hand in the air before placing his arms flat on the table. “I need to talk to you.”

  “What about?” she asked.

  “Do you care for Landon?”

  “I’m not sure I know what this is about.”

  “Damn it, Alexa, I’m being serious, and I don’t have time for games.”

  She’d never seen Marcel so serious. “Yes, I care about him. Of course, I do.” There was no point in lying to the alpha. It wouldn’t exactly accomplish anything.

  “Then you need to make a decision and fast. I’d hoped you and Landon, with the time and the distance, would have finally sealed your fate, but you’re both so fucking stubborn. Maybe that’s our fault. We pushed you both too far too soon.”

  “I don’t know what is going on.”

  “Landon is in love with you. He has been in love with you for a very long time. Do you know he keeps a picture of you in his bedside drawer?”

  “That’s not … possible.” Was it? She didn’t voice the last part because she had a picture of him back at her parents’ house. When she first got it, she assured herself it was just to remind her that she hated him, but that was the last thing it was for. Whenever she was alone, or feeling particularly sad or lonely, she’d taken out the picture and stared at it. She didn’t know what it was about Landon, but just by looking at his face, she’d been able to calm the darkness from within.

  She’d used it a lot more than she would have liked.

  “It is possible. Landon is in love with you, and I’ve got a feeling you’re in love with him. I only hope it’s enough.”

  “Enough for what?”

  “I fear Cheryl is going to use your weakness against you and attempt to stake a claim on Landon. To rid him of your mating and to have him for herself.”

  “No, that’s not possible,” she said. “No one has the power to do that.”

  “Not only do they have the power to do that, but she can also succeed.” Marcel pressed his finger to the table. “It is rare for it to happen, but if a mated couple hasn’t made their claim for each other, or for whatever reason they’re not bound together, there is a slither of a chance for another woman or man, to come in and take that mate from them.”

  “I’ve never heard of that.” She thought about Cheryl. The attack. The difficulty healing in the beginning, but now she was all healed. “Cheryl attacked me on purpose, didn’t she?”

  “Yes. Can I ask you, are you healed?”

  She licked her dry lips and nodded. “Yes, I’m healed.”

  Marcel breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Shouldn’t you be happy that Cheryl wants Landon as her mate?” She had no choice but to slide her hand into her lap and clench it into a fist before she punched herself. She hated, no despised, no a damn stronger word for even thinking of Landon being with anyone else. She couldn’t stand it. Didn’t want to even think about it.

  Landon belonged to her. They were mates. Not Cheryl.

  “Cheryl does not have what it takes to be an alpha’s mate. The way she treated her sister is proof of that, as well as her attack on you. You do not attack pack, not ever. You know the rules.”

  “Why does my healing mean anything?” Alexa asked.

  “Because it shows the bond happening between the two of you. What about your strength?”

  “It is … it’s normal,” she said.

  “And I know for a fact Landon has also regained some of his strength.” Marcel smiled. “I’m glad.”

  “Marcel, what does this mean?”

  “It means you’re both accepting each other, and if given the chance, you may even find yourselves mating together.” Marcel sat back. “But I guess the ultimate decision will come down to you.”

  “Why me?” she asked, not liking that idea even a little bit.

  “Cheryl will challenge you for the right to have Landon. It will be a battle between the two of you. You can choose to stand and fight for him, or you can walk away, leaving him to be taken by Cheryl.”

  “I don’t know how I haven’t heard about this before,” she said.

  “Simple, it has rarely happened, if at all,” Marcel said. Suddenly, he got to his feet. “Please, think about it.”

  She didn’t have time to ask him where he was going as he’d already left.

  “What was my dad doing here?” Landon asked, taking the seat his father had sat in.

  Alexa wanted to tell him everything she had heard, but she also didn’t want to worry him. There would be time for that soon enough.

  Chapter Ten

  Several days had passed since Ben had revealed what Cheryl had planned, and Landon didn’t have a single fucking clue as to how to handle it. He’d talked to his father, and his only response had been for him to talk to Alexa.

  Now, he was stumped as to how to tell his true mate that the woman who attacked her was also going to stake a claim on him. He didn’t fucking know when, or if it was even possible, but it was going to happen. Ben had told him there was no backing down. He’d tried to talk to Cheryl to get her to stop this nonsense, but she wouldn’t budge. She was determined to have Landon any way she could, even if he didn’t want her.

  Running a hand down his face, Landon sat on the edge of the bed, waiting.

  Alexa asked for some privacy in the bathroom tonight, and he didn’t want to argue with her. He was already trying to figure out a way of getting rid of the Cheryl problem.

  The door to the bathroom opened, and he looked up to see Alexa in a robe.

  “You look tense.”

  She’d asked him to take a shower first, and he had. He sat in his towel, letting himself dry naturally.

  “I am. Look, there is something we need to talk about it. It’s kind of important.”

  “You do look like you need to talk.” She stepped close to him, and then she surprised him by dropping the robe, standing before him naked.

  In the past month and a half, they’d been close, and he’d seen her naked so many times. He loved seeing her full, ripe body. Tonight was no different. The worry faded as he looked from her beautiful pussy, to her gorgeous full breasts, to her sharp brown eyes.

  “Alexa?”

  She took hold of his hands and placed them on her hips. Her hands covered his, and she started to guide them up her body, going toward her breasts. When he touched her tits, he felt like he was in fucking heaven. He used his thumbs to stroke across the hard nipples, massaging them.

  She tilted her head back, and a moan escaped from her lips.

  He wanted to taste her mouth, to swallow her cries. She whimpered as he slowly moved from her tits, going down to between her thighs. When he touched her pussy, he found her so soaking wet. Sliding a finger between her slit, he touched her clit, and she gasped.

  Alexa cupped his face, and then her lips were on his mouth, her tongue plundering his. He touched her with his, and before he knew what was happening, she had pushed him back so he was flat on his back. She moved to straddle his waist.

  “What is happening?” he asked, tucking some of her hair behind her ear.

  “I’m not fighting this or us. Tell me if you want me, Landon. Tell me if you’d rather be with someone else.”

  “What?”

  “Do you want to … mate with me? To make this real? To be together?”

  “Yes, fuck, yes. You know you’re all I want. You’re the only person I want.” He didn’t want to lose her or let her go.

  He … loved her.

  Admitting it to Drew the other day, he had known this was how he’d felt about her for years. Even back when they were kids. Not a moment went by that he hadn’t been in love with her.

  “Then I want to make this official. I want to mate with you. To be with you. To have you all to myself. No more hiding. No more lying. I … I’m yours, Landon. Always.”

  “And I’m yours, Alexa. I’ve wanted this moment for so damn long.”

  She kissed him, and he gripped the back of her neck, spinning her around so she was on the bottom and he was on the top.

  Ben had told him the only way to stop Cheryl’s true claim would be to take Alexa for himself. To mate with her. To crudely put it, to fuck her.

  Landon didn’t want to force his mate to do anything she didn’t want to do. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I want this.”

  “Then we’re going to make it as good as possible.” He pressed a kiss to her lips, but he didn’t linger, stroking down and going toward her neck. He flicked his tongue across her pulse and then traced his tongue down toward her breasts. Cupping the mounds together, he teased each nipple, biting down and then soothing out the sting with the flat of his tongue.

 

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