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Phil said, “Fun. I want to take Sierra to my room.” Sierra disagreed, “I can’t leave her right now. This is huge. She’s got a wolf now and she’s been without one for four years. It’s a big deal.” Oden linked, “Freya. Her wolf's name is Freya. I can’t wait until we can run together.”

I shot back, “Why the HELL hasn’t she had a wolf this whole time? Why hasn't she shifted?” Oden replied, “Freya is working through Melanie’s memories. She’s being tight lipped about it. I think I recognize her voice.” I had no idea how that was possible.

Melanie touched my face. Sierra sighed, “Our bags are back in my car in Louisiana.” I conjured their stuff here. I told her, “Your car is now in the garage, and your bag is in Phil’s room.” Melanie asked, “Where’s my stuff? Because… I have stuff too, and…”

I kissed her forehead then pulled back answering, “My room.” Melanie smiled. I tapped her nose, “There’s that beautiful smile. Are you ok?” She admitted, “I’m… both wonderful and extremely confused… but… it’s good? I think… no, it is… and...” Sierra jumped in, “It’s all wonderful.”

That was more than fair that her feelings were all over the place.

I took her hand saying, “Let’s take you two out onto the deck.

” We walked outside. Melanie squealed, “Oh my gosh! We are ACTUALLY in Switzerland…. which obviously... Xander can’t lie but…

holy crap on a cracker... Samantha... can you even. .. Switzerland?!”

Sierra snorted, “Ash, calm down.” Melanie squealed, “I WILL NEVER CALM DOWN! LOOK AT THE VIEW! There’s a lake! I can see mountains… this is beautiful... I mean really? You actually said the words calm down... how could you even remotely be calm right now?! LOOK AT THIS VIEW!”

I wrapped my arms around and whispered, “The view pales in comparison to you.” Melanie snuggled into me and stopped talking. Sierra snorted, “You’re hired Alpha Duke Alexander. You made Ashley speechless. That’s practically impossible to do.”

I kissed the side of Melanie’s head then told Sierra, “You can call me Alexander. You’re the Beta Female of my pack, and my mate’s friend.” Phil said, “Uhh Alexander, you need to put in the alarm code before….” The alarm sounded. Phil sighed, “That happens.”

I popped Melanie and myself to the keypad and entered my code. I asked her, “Would you like a tour?” Melanie shyly answered, “Yes. I mean... if you want to... you don’t have to... or feel like you have to or anything…” I laughed, “I offered, my little Lovebug.” She flushed and I grabbed her hand.

Oden linked me, “If you don’t kiss her, I’ll growl in your head for all of eternity! Also, I TOLD YOU SHE WAS OURS, YOU BIG DOUBTING HUMAN!” I replied, “I’m not going to rush this. I’ll kiss her though, just hang on.” Oden grumbled in my head.

I took her to the kitchen then to one of the sitting room with a bunch of windows. Melanie gasped, “This is beautiful.” She sat down on one of the seats by the window. I sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her, picked her up, and took her to the other side where there were couches.

She whispered, “I can’t believe we are here. I can’t believe you’re… You’re really here.” I squeezed her hand, “I’m here. I have a mission to take for my uncle soon, but you’ll never be alone again Lovebug. I’m here.” Tears spilled out of her eyes again that I wiped away.

I took her into the library and watched, deeply amused, as she ran over to the bookshelves.

I knowingly asked, “Do you like reading?” Melanie nodded.

I admitted, “So do I. I must say I’m an avid reader of the Thoroughbred series.

Since your name, and your friends, are derived from them I’d say it’s safe to assume we both like the series. ”

Melanie flushed then stammered, “Umm… well... yes... I do like that series. Let’s not talk about that.” I raised an eyebrow and walked over and caged her between my arms. Her eyes didn’t leave mine. I told her, “I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

I leaned in towards her and waited for her to close the gap.

I didn’t have to wait long before her lips were on mine.

My hands instantly went to her sides, and I pulled her against me.

I cupped her face with my hands. Even her lips tasted like strawberries.

Everything about her pulled me in. I was so hard it was embarrassing.

I forced myself to pull away from her lips after several minutes. We were both breathing hard. She stared up into my eyes. There was so much love and trust in them. Something I despised was that I could see fear.

I looked into her eyes begging, “Please don’t be scared. You have nothing to fear from me.” Melanie looked away and whispered, “You could break me.” I turned her head back to me. I told her, “I will never break you; I promise. I will not ever physically hurt you.”

I added, “I will do my best to never hurt you emotionally. I know we will have fights, but I will never intentionally do something to hurt you. Ever. Please don’t be afraid of me. I may be an Alpha Enforcer, but to you I’m like a giant teddy bear. I’ll never hurt you.”

Melanie wiped tears out of her eyes. She put her head on my chest while I inhaled deeply. Oden growled and I knew he wanted to shift because he was mad. He just knew Melanie needed me right now. I asked, “What’s going on in your head?”

Melanie cried, “I don’t know. I don’t understand.

If I have a wolf… then everything is different.

We could be different. We could be like this.

Everything could be ok. I just want to freeze this moment and never leave it.

” Oden demanded, “Make her stop crying.” Gosh, I was thinking of not doing that. He snorted.

I assured her, “Honestly, I don’t care if you have a wolf or not. You’re mine either way. I’ve told you many times I’m impressed by you in our email exchanges. My feelings about you make a lot of sense to me now. Plus, you think I’m hot.”

The tips of her ears turned red. She pushed back, “I mean… you know you’re hot. Look at you. You like, stepped out of a magazine or something. You’re perfect and I’m….” I kissed her again. Oden complimented, “Good job. She stopped crying.”

I pulled back before I said, “I’d say sorry, but I wouldn’t mean it. I just couldn’t help it. You’re beautiful and your kisses are addictive. I’m a very lucky man.” Oden purred, “Mark mate.” I told him, “This is so not the time for that conversation, Oden. She’s reeling.”

Oden begrudgingly admitted I was right, “Fine. She’s so beautiful, Alexander.” I replied, “I know.” I asked her, “What’s going on?” Melanie looked up in my eyes. She frowned admitting, “I really don’t know… which is… hard for my brain.” Of course it was. She was a Beta wolf.

She continued, “All I know is… I’m really happy to be here with you right now. Can we just… embrace this moment? No matter how long or short it is. I just want to be with you. Let’s just have it be you and me and forget everything else.”

I sighed knowing that meant I wasn’t getting the answers I wanted, but I wouldn’t push her. This was her story to tell, and I’d grown up in a house where we didn’t push people to tell their stories. I agreed, “If that’s what you want.” She nodded her head yes saying it was.

She eyed my lips then moved forward again, kissing me tentatively. We lost ourselves in the kiss. I heard and smelled Phil coming with Sierra before they even came into the room. He cleared his throat. Oden told me, “I am berating Rocket for this.” Good.

I linked my cousin, “What?” as I slid my tongue back into my mate’s mouth.

She moaned and gripped me tightly. Phil answered, “My mate wants to see yours.” I complained, “You’re losing your touch, cousin.

Once you’ve got your lips on a woman, I’ve never seen them want to talk to another woman until much later.

” He snorted and I pulled back from Melanie.

She looked confused then stiffened and looked past me. Sierra asked, “Are you ok, Ash?” Melanie blushed, “I’m… I don’t know… about... a lot... but I know I’m perfectly fine with Xander.” Sierra nodded. She added, “We aren’t really packed for… chillier weather.”

I commented, “That’s easy enough to fix. Let’s go to town. Phil and I will take you shopping on us.” Melanie argued, “Oh no… you don’t have to do that. It’s fine. We will be fine.” I kissed her then pulled back.

I explained, “I’ll either snap all the things you could possibly want, or we can go shopping. My family owns the place. It’s free either way.” Melanie looked at me and I could see she felt guilty. I told her, “You’re my mate. Let me do this. Please.”

Sierra chimed in, “He wants to, Ash.” Melanie looked at her, clearly frustrated. She turned back to me saying, “I can pay you back.” I laughed, “I don’t need money, and what’s mine is yours.” She admitted, “I don’t want you to be upset later.” I kissed her again.

Oden purred, “I like when you have these ideas. Kissing is good.” I knew that. I assured her, “I won’t be. Come on. It really would make me happy.” She sighed, “Ok.” I grabbed her and popped to the shop.

She laughed, “You kind of… left them behind.” I smiled saying, “Phil can open a portal, or they can walk. He interrupted us earlier and I wasn’t done kissing you.” I pulled her back into me which had her instantly melting into my embrace.

I really didn’t know how my mated siblings got anything done. Which told me I was in big trouble, since I’d only kissed Melanie so far. The night was young though and there was plenty of time for other things.

I smelled Phil coming again and pulled back.

I whispered in her ear, “Your friend is going to steal you to shop now. Phil and I will be right here.” Sierra grabbed her the second I stepped back.

The desperation in her eyes telling me she clearly didn’t want to leave my side almost had me pulling her back.

I was about to break when she turned and went with Sierra to shop.