Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
Chapter 43

I refocused on Leander. “Stop it. Whatever you are thinking, stop it right now! My brother’s just being an a*s. It comes naturally to him. He can’t help it.”

Leander looked at Lucky, not quite ready to let it go and said, “Maybe we should keep your brother with us during the rest of the celebration. Just in case he has any other pearls of wisdom he would like to share.”

“Maybe, he should go back to the dungeon until he learns to behave,” I retorted.

Lucky’s face fell, genuine hurt crossing his expression, and instantly, I regretted my words. I said hurriedly, “I didn’t mean that! Of course, I want you to stay with us for as long as possible.”

“Why don’t you replace him a seat nearby,” Leander said to one of the wolves guarding him. The Wolf did as ordered and all three sat down close by.

Leander and I went back to the still waiting line of wolves and continued where we’d left off. I enjoyed hearing their stories and was fascinated as I watched Leander interact with them. He made eye contact with each and every one and listened to every word that came out of their mouth. When they were speaking, he wasn’t even distracted by me at his side. In those moments, it was so easy to see he was born to be an Alpha. He was born to care and nurture and protect his people.

Which was why it didn’t make any sense. I’d gotten to know Leander and even enjoyed spending time with him, but I didn’t understand him, not really. I’d never met a more violent male, so wholly opposite to the compassionate and playful man standing next to me. His words during the ceremony had touched me, burned my insides with their sincerity. I hadn’t expected him to declare his affection in front of his Pack, considering I would be leaving in four weeks.

The thought of walking away from him caused a pit in my stomach, but I had no choice. My feelings were not relevant. No matter how kind and considerate he was to his people. He’d destroyed my family and my people. I couldn’t dishonor their memory by staying with him. I would fulfill my commitment to our agreement, but then I would have to go, regardless of whether or not it caused an emptiness in my chest I feared would never heal.

I understood he’d done it due to our packs longtime rivalry and war. I got that part. I was no stranger to war. And it was that knowledge that allowed me to even speak peaceably to him, to let him touch me. I understood his actions had been on behalf of his people-noble and just in his eyes.

But fate had dealt us a hard blow. In the middle of chaos and war and death, fate had chosen two people who could never be together. Because no matter what his catalyst was, no matter how just his cause was to him, the outcome would always be the same he’d killed my parents. And no reasoning, war or otherwise, could ever change that fact. My chest tightened as the painful thoughts swirled in my head.

Abruptly, Leander said to the few remaining wolves, “Can you give us just moment?” They easily agreed and stepped away. Leander’s arms came around me, holding me close. His head dropped low by my ear, and he placed a whispered k**s on his healed mark, and murmured, “What is it?”

I was startled by his intuitiveness. I hadn’t realized he’d even been

paying attention to me

while engaging the wolves. And then I remembered -his mark-he could now feel my emotions. My natural instinct was to melt into him and share my pain with my mate, but I could do neither…it wasn’t fair to him. It would only hurt him more. I was going to walk away from him in four weeks, but it was not my intention to add pain to our upcoming separation.

I pulled my emotions back under control and mumbled, “It’s nothing. I’m just overwhelmed.” Those words were true.

His intelligent eyes told me he knew there was more, but he didn’t pressure me. Instead, he gave me another squeeze and another k**s on his mark. Firm this time, his full, soft lips lingering against my skin.

I was shocked when butterflies erupted in my belly, and arousal flared out of me bright and strong. I found myself trying not to pant. What the hell?!

I was not nearly prepared for the new sensitivity in that one spot of flesh now. His lips had connected to his mark at the base of my neck, but I felt a stunning pull deep inside my core.

So deep, it caused my femininity to quiver, and I clenched my thighs together. Whether or not Leander knew his mark had become an erogenous zone, I had no idea, but he fanned the flames…by outlining the mark with his tongue and nipping at it with his teeth.

“Ohh…” I let out a low, unintelligible m**n, and had to clench my thighs together tighter. My claws released and found purchase on his back.

“There you go, little mouse,” his deep voice rumbled with satisfaction at having drawn me out of my sadness.

I was thankful for his attentiveness and success; however, his tongue was now stroking and sucking and kissing my throat, and I was pretty sure I was going to catch fire in another minute.

“You have to stop that,” I croaked out. The words were meant to be a command, but once again, they came out more like a plea for more.

“Yes…please stop that,” Lucky gagged and let out a little g***n. I looked over to replace him looking quite green and disgusted with the display in front of him. It was my turn to snort.

Payback was a bitch. I’d had to smell him come home with the scent of female arousal all over him many times…it was nasty.

“For now…” Leander chuckled and pulled away. Somehow his laughter didn’t sound humorous at all. It sounded deep and sensual and seductive. Maybe it was just me and my current state of out-of-control horniness. But regardless, I was thankful for the increased space between us, allowing me to clear my head and refocus. Leander gave me a moment and murmured, “Are you ready to continue?”

I pulled in a deep breath, let it out and nodded. He motioned the remaining few wolves back to us, and we spent another fifteen minutes chatting. When our conversation was over, Leander leaned down and whispered, “It’s tradition for the Pack to run, and my Wolf very much wants you by his side.”

My Wolf’s ears perked up, her tail swishing back and forth in anticipation. I hadn’t shifted since I arrived a little over four weeks ago. She was more than eager to meet his Wolf. He kissed my cheek and said, “Finish talking to your brother. I’ll be right back.”

I watched him walk away somewhat surprised that he was leaving Lucky and I to talk without him. But he must have felt comfortable leaving because of the wolves surrounding us. Only the two guarding Lucky were staring directly at him. However, I felt every Wolf in my peripheral vision paying attention, including Ever’s ears tilted our way, his body ready to spring if necessary.

I refocused on Lucky and said carefully, “When you were eating, did you get a chance to look around?”

He knew what I meant, and his face fell. “Yes…I think I saw most of the unmated shewolves.”

I sighed. My heart went out to him.

Before I could say anything further, my complete attention was violently captured when a massive black Wolf came out of the crowd and walked toward me! His head and tail were high, regal and authoritative, befitting his position. No one needed to tell me who he was. I would know him anywhere- Leander!

But what I couldn’t understand…what I couldn’t wrap my brain around…were his markings. His coat was as black as midnight, but he had two white front paws and a white tipped tail! I swayed unsteadily on my feet, my heart thundering in my chest.

Lucky had snapped to his feet, the two guards standing with him. He let out an audible gasp as he stared at Leander’s Wolf. “Cinn…his markings…” he whispered.

As if my attention wasn’t already riveted to the obvious. “I see them…,” my voice cracked. Now I understood why everyone had reacted so strangely to the tattoo on my back-it was the spitting image of his Wolf!

With every step he took closer, I shook more until he was right in front of me. His dark liquid eyes held me captive. I couldn’t stop my hands from trembling as I reached to touch his head. His fur was silky soft. My hand dropped to his neck, my fingers tangling tightly in his fur. I brought my other hand up and grasped the other side of his neck, trying to use him for support to hold myself steady, but I was too overwhelmed. It was just too much. He was just too much.

I sank down to my knees in the dirt in front of him. He sat back on his haunches, lowering his head so I could still reach him; and I wrapped my arms around his neck and clung to him as if I was drowning and he was my life preserver. Too overcome with emotion, silent tears released from my eyes.

He rubbed his head against my cheek, a solid thrumming coming from his chest, as he waited patiently for me to pull myself back together.