Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
Chapter 19

LEANDER’S POV

After driving me crazy the night before, running her tiny fingertips all over my body and visually inspecting me, my little mouse had chosen to go the leash route. I expected that was going to be her answer, but had patiently waited for her to decide, enjoying watching her squirm. She hadn’t been happy about it, but she hadn’t fought me this time. Progress.

When I’d emerged from the shower, I found her out like a light. I removed the leash and slid into the bed next to her. She didn’t move the entire night, sleeping soundly, which I was glad for because she had a busy day today.

It was 6:30AM. Dressed and ready to go, I waited on Hycinth who was in the bathroom…still working on her hair. When she’d asked earlier, I told her it looked fine. Apparently, fine was not the right answer because she’d disappeared again, leaving me to fidget.

I looked at my watch. She needed to finish by 7AM when Ever arrived to watch over her, and then I could get started on the task at hand. So far, my control of the situation had been tenuous at best and nonexistent at worst. Not exactly how I planned our little reunion to go.

I’d had three years to get over the anger and irritation that had initially overwhelmed me since learning she was my mate. Three years to cool down and reassess what was important. Having her as a mate was the hand I’d been dealt. I couldn’t escape it. It was shitty, given her parentage, but regardless of my personal feelings, I was the Alpha, and I needed to do what was right for my wolves. And what they needed right now was the Claiming Ceremony.

So with my reassessment, came a new plan. When I finally caught her, I would give her as much room and opportunity as I could to let it be her choice. I was willing to work toward that goal, spend time getting to know her better, making her feel welcome in the pack because her choosing to go through with the ceremony was the ideal outcome.

But if she couldn’t decide on her own, then I would do it for her. If that made me a bastard in her eyes, then so be it. I would mark her and let nature take its course. And nature would always be successful. She and I would be alone in that little cabin. I wouldn’t have to force her. Quite the opposite. In fact, she would likely try to force me if I denied her. And I had no intention of denying her.

It was a solid plan. It was logical. It was a hell of a lot more favorable for her than my first intentions three years ago. I could do this. I’d approach it the same way I approached all of my work, competent, but untainted and indifferent.

When the call came that she’d been located, I thought I was prepared- calm, cool and collected. Ready to get to work.

And that’s where I went so ridiculously f*****g wrong. My egregious error came in ever thinking I could ever remain distant and unaffected.

If nothing else, the last eighteen hours proved I’d been naïve and foolish and to ever think I could remain calm, cool and collected.

My first clue had been the possessiveness and jealousy and rage I felt when any other male touched her. I’d been ready to dismember both Dagger and her brother on a whim -the veritable opposite definition of control.

My second clue was the force of my physical reaction. She was sexy as f**k, fiery and obstinate and willful- unknowingly tossing out brazen challenges that my Wolf and I were eager to accept, eager to display our dominance, eager to hear her m***s and cries while she writhed in pleasure beneath us.

The bond was f*****g with me, hard.

Impulses and the very laws of nature drove my behavior, kicking my a*s. So now, impossible as it seemed, I needed to regain some semblance of control over my urges and get back to the task at hand.

The first step was integrating her into the pack. She needed it. Her Wolf needed it even more. Along with that, I had given Ever instructions to have her meet some of the mated pairs, to put a face and a truth behind my words. I wanted her to see what I saw, the reality and the heartache they faced. They were good Wolves.

Abruptly, Hycinth came out of the bathroom, interrupting my internal musings. Her hair was combed, looking identical to how it had before, and I scented mint toothpaste. She was still wearing my T-shirt and boxer shorts, although she had to hold those up to keep them in place.

She gave me a cursory glance and then moved to the bed. Sitting with her back against the headboard, she pulled her knees to her chest, covering them with the T-shirt. She studied me but didn’t say a word.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I finally asked, “What is it?”

She tilted her head to the side. “Not to poke the bear here…but why did you get so…angry?” Her voice wavered, “Why did you lose control…yesterday?”

My expression darkened. Brilliant, here we were again on the topic of control. And even after coaching myself on the necessities of staying in line, I felt a now familiar fire snake inside of my chest at just the reminder of her in another male’s arms, particularly an unmated, naked one who didn’t have a b***d tie to her. I said flatly, “I didn’t like it. You’re mine.”

Her eyes narrowed. She leaned forward. “That’s not a good enough answer for what you did.”

“It’s the only answer you’re going to get,” I snarled.

Her eyes flashed. “Are you a virgin? Were you celibate during the last three years like you expected me to be?!”

I didn’t like the way the conversation was going and tried to shut it down. “We’re not discussing me.”

Of course, with her, I wasn’t very successful. She snapped, “We’re not discussing you because it’s a double standard and you damn well know it!”

“Maybe it is. But you have the same opportunity I do. If you don’t like it, you can challenge any shewolf from my past.” I smirked, confident that was the end of the conversation.

Nope. Couldn’t have been more wrong.