Page 22

EIGHTEEN

ZEV

Z ev woke up with the first light of dawn streaming in through his floor-to-ceiling bedroom windows.

His muscles were still pleasantly sore from the night before when he fully claimed Chrissy and marked her as his mate, officially making her his Luna.

The weight of Chrissy's head rested against his chest, her dark hair spilling across his arm.

He couldn't resist trailing his fingers lightly down her bare shoulder, marveling at the softness of her skin.

His eyes fixed on the mark at the junction of her neck and shoulder—his mark. Though barely hours old, it was already healing, the angry red giving way to a perfect impression of his teeth that would forever brand her as his. A surge of possessive pride rushed through his veins, hot and potent.

"Mine," he whispered, brushing his lips against her forehead.

Seven days ago, Zev Landon had been simply the owner of an exclusive island resort, Alpha of the Isle Luna pack, and a committed bachelor with no intention of changing his status. Then Chrissy Rivera had stepped off that helicopter, and his entire world had tilted on its axis.

Now, everything felt right. Complete. As though he'd been walking through life with a missing piece he hadn't even realized was gone until she filled it.

"You're going to make me a better Alpha," he murmured against her hair. Her wild, carefree spirit had already begun to temper his rigid perfectionism, loosening the tight control he'd maintained for so long.

Zev knew the threat of Marty loomed somewhere beyond their island paradise.

By now, the manager would have realized Chrissy never boarded his plane, and his retaliation was inevitable.

But Zev had complete faith in Ewan and the security protocols they'd put in place.

For today, at least, he wanted to savor this new beginning.

He pressed his lips to the curve of her ear. "Wake up, Luna."

Chrissy stirred against him, her body stretching like a cat's before her green eyes fluttered open. "Mmm, morning," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

"I have plans for us today," Zev announced, his hand sliding possessively down her naked back.

She blinked up at him, suddenly more alert. "What kind of plans? Should I be worried?"

Zev laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. "No, not worried. How do you feel about trying one of my favorite hobbies?"

"Depends on what it is." She propped herself up on one elbow, her long hair falling in a curtain around her face. "If it involves jumping off cliffs or wrestling alligators, I might need some convincing."

He captured a strand of her hair between his fingers. "Nothing that extreme. But it will get your adrenaline pumping." He sat up, pulling her with him. "We'll need to stop by your villa first. You'll need a bikini."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Now I'm intrigued."

Zev slid out of bed, not bothering to hide his nakedness as he strode to his closet. He pulled on a pair of board shorts, leaving his chest bare. When he turned back, he caught Chrissy watching him, her teeth catching her bottom lip in a way that caused his blood to heat.

"Like what you see?" He didn't bother hiding his smirk.

"You know I do." She slipped out of bed, making a show of bending over to pick up her white sundress from the floor.

Zev let out a growl, crossing the room in two strides to pull her against his chest. "Keep that up, and we won't be leaving this room today."

"Promise?" She grinned up at him, her hands splayed across his bare chest.

"Later," he promised, dropping a quick kiss on her lips before releasing her. "First, I want to see how you handle yourself in the water."

Ten minutes later, they reached Chrissy's villa.

While she disappeared into the bathroom to change, Zev prowled around the space, scenting the air.

Her scent had already begun to mingle with his—a result of their mating—but he wanted more.

He wanted every inch of this island to smell like them together.

When she emerged in a tiny blue bikini that showcased every perfect curve, Zev nearly abandoned his plans on the spot. His wolf surged forward, hungry for her again.

"Christ, Chrissy," he breathed, his voice rough. "You're testing my self-control."

She grinned, twirling in a circle. "Good."

He grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the door. "Come on, before I change my mind and take you right here."

They walked hand-in-hand to the beach, the morning sun casting a beautiful golden-orange glow over the sand. Zev led her to a small storage shed near the water's edge, unlocking it to reveal several surfboards propped against the wall.

"Surfing?" Chrissy asked, surprise lifting her voice. "That's your big plan?"

Zev pulled out two boards—a longer one for her, his own shorter board for himself. "Problem with that?"

Her face broke into a genuine smile. "No, actually. My dad taught me when I was a kid. I used to be pretty good at it."

"California girl through and through," he teased, balancing both boards under one arm as he led her toward the water. "Show me what you've got, pop star."

"I'm rusty," she warned, taking the board he offered. "It's been quite a while."

Zev waded into the water beside her, his free hand finding her lower back. "The island will guide you. Trust it. Trust yourself."

For the next hour, they rode the waves together. Chrissy wobbled at first, but it didn't take long for her muscle memory to kick in. Soon she was cutting across the water with surprising skill, her unbridled laughter carried back to him on the wind.

Watching her, Zev felt something in his chest expand. This was his mate—wild and free, her face alight with joy as she conquered the waves. The island had accepted her completely, embracing her as if she'd always belonged here.

"You're a natural," he called as she paddled back to him after a particularly smooth ride.

Her smile could have powered the entire island. "This is amazing. I forgot how much I loved this."

"Well, the island loves you back," he told her, reaching out to brush wet hair from her face. "Almost as much as I do."

When Zev and Chrissy finally emerged from the water, surfboards tucked under their arms, Zev felt completely at peace. The morning sun had dried the salt water on their skin, and Chrissy's laughter still rang in his ears, a sound he'd never tire of hearing.

"You're full of surprises, Luna," Zev said, sliding his free arm around her waist. "I didn't expect you to outride me on that last wave."

Chrissy grinned up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I told you my dad taught me. But I might have forgotten to mention I won a local surfing championship when I was twelve."

Zev's eyes filled with awe. This woman never ceased to amaze him. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you. You're incredible, you know that, Chrissy?" He lowered his head for a quick kiss that tasted of ocean and sunshine.

As they trudged up the beach, Olivia appeared, waving enthusiastically as she approached. Zev noticed the knowing smile on her face immediately.

"There you two are!" Olivia called out. "Perfect timing."

Zev raised his eyebrow. "Why do I feel like you're plotting something?"

"Because we are," Olivia admitted, not bothering to deny it. "The pack has arranged a surprise for you both. You'll need to change into something more... celebratory. The event center is being prepared as we speak."

"The event center?" Zev questioned, immediately alert.

The pack's private venue was used only for their most significant occasions—mating ceremonies, pack leadership transitions, and birth celebrations.

It sat nestled in a protected valley, far from the resort and closer to the pack's residential area.

Chrissy looked between them, confusion evident in her expression. "What's happening?"

Olivia's smile widened. "Your official welcome, Luna. The pack sensed the claiming last night, and they want to celebrate properly."

The realization finally dawned on Zev. Of course—the pack bond would have alerted everyone the moment he marked Chrissy. The primal energy of their union would have rippled through the collective consciousness of the Isle Luna wolves. And now they wanted to honor their Alpha's mate.

"I didn't expect this so soon," Zev admitted, a surge of pride rising in his chest.

"You know how traditions work," Olivia replied with a shrug. "Once a Luna is marked, the celebration follows." She turned to Chrissy, linking arms with her. "Come with me. I've got something perfect for you to wear. This is a big deal, trust me."

Zev nodded his approval. "I'll meet you at my car in front of the main lodge in an hour. We'll drive to the event center together."

As Olivia whisked Chrissy away, Zev returned to his villa, his mind racing with pride.

Just yesterday, some members of his pack had surrounded Chrissy's villa, demanding she leave.

Now they were planning her welcome celebration.

The shift in energy told him everything—they had accepted her as their Luna, their Alpha female, despite her being human.

Zev showered quickly, washing away the salt and sand. He selected a tailored charcoal suit with a crisp white shirt, leaving the top buttons undone in a nod to island casualness. His wolf paced inside him, anxious to present his mate to the pack in her official capacity.

An hour later, Zev leaned against his black BMW, waiting. The sound of the resort's front door opening caught his attention, and he turned.

He almost forgot to breathe for a split second.