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SEVEN

Xander

“Get your hands off me, Clayton,” I say through clenched teeth. “You don’t want to do this.”

“Oh, I really do,” Clayton shoots back, his light green eyes flaring with anger. “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

I laugh as I look down at him. At 6’6” I have an entire head over him, and if I wanted to, I’d already have him on the ground. But I heard my brother and Alexia come in, and I don’t want to do this in front of them.

“This isn’t a fight you can win, so just let me go,” I say, lifting my hand and grasping his wrist, plucking his fingers off me and shoving him backward.

“You motherfu—” he starts, but he’s interrupted.

“What the hell is going on?” Kai asks, setting down a box of what must be Alexia’s belongings from her office. Her office at her job that Clayton forced her to abandon.

Goddamnit, I’m getting mad all over again.

“Ask your father,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest as Clayton straightens his tie.

“Xander just needs to keep his nose out of family business,” my stepfather says, and my blood boils. I want to snap back at him, but I hold my tongue.

I don’t have to say anything though; Carrington does it for me as she steps down from the staircase. “I don’t know what’s going on in here, but I’d like to go on the record and remind everyone that Xander is family too.”

My heart warms and I offer Carrington a small smile as she crosses the room to Alexia and Kai. I haven’t even looked at Alexia since she walked through the door. Not because I don’t want to, but because of what Clayton and I were fighting over.

Clayton rolls his eyes. “I realize that. I should have said that he needs to keep his nose out of Kai and Alexia’s business.”

“What are you talking about?” Kai asks.

“He doesn’t like the way I’m handling things, and I told him if he feels that way, he should just leave.” He gestures to the duffel bag at my side. “So for once, he’s listening to me. But before he left, he just had to try and get in the last word.”

“What did you say to him?” Alexia asks, and this time, I can’t help but follow her voice and meet her gaze because I know she’s talking to me.

I feel guilty. She asked me—practically begged me—not to confront him about this. And then I went and did it anyway. But I can’t help it. This is bullshit. And I won’t stand by and just watch it happen. My mother would be appalled by his behavior.

“I’m sorry, Alexia, but I don’t think you’re being treated fairly. You should have never been forced to give up your job. My mother would have never been okay with that. She would have been so proud of you for landing that job, and to see you give it up in order to be queen would have gutted her. She never would have allowed it. She would have found a way for you to do both.” I gesture over my shoulder. “I don’t know what he’s up to, but I wasn’t just going to stand here and pretend it’s okay. I wanted my opinion known. I didn’t want that on my conscience. Because it isn’t right.”

By the time I’m finished, my chest is heaving, and I’m so wound up. I don’t know why I always let him get to me, but it’s been like this since he walked into our lives. And seeing him treat Alexia like this... I don’t know, but something about it has me all kinds of fucked up.

I expect her to get angry, tell me that she asked me to leave it alone and that she’s disappointed. But she doesn’t. Instead, her brown eyes turn soft, and the gratitude in them is clear. She doesn’t have to say anything; I can practically hear her saying thank you .

“Okay, if you’re finished,” Clayton says, interrupting the silent interaction I’m having with Alexia, “you can go ahead and head on back to the beach now. You got that off your chest, no reason for you to stay. Your brother and his mate have other business to attend to.”

The heat that washes over my face is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Not even my bone-cracking first shift had me heated like this. It boils in me until I pound my fist into the high decorative table beside me. The wood groans under the impact. “Business? What business?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Mind yourself in my house, boy. And they have the type of business that mates conduct to complete their bond.”

My attention shoots to Alexia. Just yesterday morning she told me she had trouble falling asleep in the same bed as my brother. She was so uncertain of what was next for her and Kai. That doubt still lingers in her eyes, yet my stepfather is urging her and Kai to fuck.

“This is sick,” I mutter under my breath.

“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, Xander. Then again, your mother never denied you anything. You always were a spoiled child.”

I turn on Clayton, my hands balling into fists. I pull my arm back, aiming straight for his nose. But I pause when Kai jumps between us.

“Don’t do this,” he says.

I meet my brother’s green eyes and for a moment I see nothing but my mother in them. She’d hate to see that it’s come to this between me and Clayton. She was never against me going my own way. Tensions between me and her husband were always high. She chalked it up to my “free spirit” versus his need for control. He said it was because I’d never been disciplined. But it was simpler than that when I was younger. This was a man who came into our lives and wanted to pretend like my father never existed. My disdain for Clayton started on day one.

“Fine,” I say, bringing my arm down by my side. “But I’m not leaving. Not anymore.”

“Xan, I don’t mean this bad, because I’m not mad at you, but it might be best if you—” Kai starts, but I shake my head.

“No. I will not be leaving this house while he is trying to force you and Alexia to do something that clearly, neither of you is ready to do,” I say, resolute in my decision.

Clayton’s dry chuckle grates on my nerves before he says, “Not ready to do. They are mates. Your brother has an obligation to this pack to fully complete his bond and take his place as king. But I don’t expect you to understand what it means to commit to something. The only way this bond is breaking is if one of them dies.”

There's a little whimpering sound from directly behind me and I realize it came from Alexia, which even further fuels my anger .

“Fuck you,” I spit.

But he keeps going. “You are a disgrace to this family. Just look at you, covered in tattoos and carrying on with those who are beneath us. You were born a prince. It is time you grew up and acted like it. This is why the goddess never blessed you with a mate. You would have never been the king we need.”

I step forward and ease Kai out of my way. When I’m almost nose to nose with Clayton, my voice drops to a threatening rumble as I say, “If we’re getting technical, you were never bonded either. That blessing was given to my father.”

“Get the fuck out, Xander! I don’t give a shit where you go, just get out of my sight!” Clayton shouts.

I fight down the urge to hit him, knowing it will only cause more grief for Kai and Alexia. The asshole has always had a demented way of ruling this house. Not a single day passes that I regret my decision to escape this house or his tyranny.

I turn toward the kitchen, my booted steps heavy as I make my way to the back door and swing it open. I hesitate as Clayton’s voice reaches me again.

"It’s time to be done with this and move on to what’s important. I expect the two of you to be fully bonded by tomorrow morning.”

I growl my displeasure and slam the door behind me.

My stepfather is wrong. I do understand the importance of our role to our people. That’s why I at least come back here for the few meetings that are required of me. I haven’t completely abandoned this pack. From a young age, my mother instilled those values in me. I never forgot a single lesson she taught me. But I also knew that I was never meant to take the crown. My heart was broken when my father died. It was shattered, unable to be fixed. I was broken. Never could I take the mantle as king when I couldn’t give myself wholeheartedly to my people.

I run my hand down my face as I step into the forest behind the house. The shadows of the trees cool my skin as I breathe in their pine scent. My fingers brush along the rough bark, and I focus on the ground under my feet. That protective, explosive nature that always stirs within me settles. I’ve come to realize that it’s my wolf.

Even in this skin, it’s there, sitting below the surface and taking in our surroundings. It’s normally a hum in my chest, but since I returned to my mother’s home it has been restless. I felt the same way as my eighteenth birthday drew closer and I knew I no longer had to remain here. Unlike then, this time I want to stay.

It’s the right thing to do. Kai needs someone on his side as he’s going through this madness. And Alexia... Fuck. She consumes my thoughts. Maybe it’s because I fear what Clayton will do to her. She’s so pure, kind, and full of optimism. I’d hate to see him rip those traits from her. The hard exterior I wear was to protect myself when I was younger. As I started to come into my own, I quickly learned that there was no pleasing my stepfather. He would always resent me for being the son of my mother’s bonded mate. I can’t sit by while Alexia is possibly subjected to that type of treatment. The feelings of worthlessness and being the outsider. It was lonely, and even in the short time that I’ve been around this woman, I can see that she thrives best in a supportive environment. She will wilt under Clayton’s strict rule.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself because none of that explains my physical reaction when she’s near. The last thing I should be doing is hanging around and feeding this asinine desire I feel toward her. Especially when she’s mated.

Alexia is navigating her way through her connection with my baby brother, and she definitely doesn’t need a push from Clayton. What he wants them to do is beyond fucked up. They just need time to get comfortable with how their dynamic has changed. Sex, especially sex that is initiated by obligation, isn’t going to make any of this easier on either her or my brother.

I’m not going to stand by and let it happen. Not tonight. Not any night.

I jog back to the house and bound up the staircase to the second floor. When I reach Kai’s room, it takes all my control not to kick the door open. I fill my chest with air and slowly let it out before I knock on the door.

“Come in?” It’s Alexia’s voice I hear, and my stomach clenches. Why, I don’t know. It’s not like anything could have happened in the last few minutes.

I ease the door open and poke my head in, relieved to see Kai isn’t around. She’s dressed for bed, in cute flannel pajama pants with cats on them and a pale pink tank top—with no bra.

Get it together, Xander. That’s not a thing you should be noticing. Not right now.

Not ever .

“Are you all right?” I ask, shifting from foot to foot before leaning one shoulder against the wall and crossing my arms over my chest.

Her eyes trail up my body and I feel their path all the way up, scorching my skin through my clothes. I’m surprised to see her lips turn up into a shy smile. “I am now.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, raising a brow.

“It’s like you’re the only person who actually understands how I feel.” She sighs. “Even Kai feels like he’s so far away from me now, which sucks because I thought we had made so much progress last night.”

I cut to the chase. However she answers this next question, I’m going with my gut. “Do you feel comfortable in here tonight? After all the things Clayton has said?”

She hesitates, and that’s all the answer I need.

“Come on,” I say, holding out my hand.

She looks at it and then up at my face, her eyebrows doing that adorable scrunching thing. “What? Where are we going?”

“You’re coming to my room.”

The shy smile from a minute or so ago is gone, replaced with an impish smirk, and I swear to the goddess she has to stop that or I’m going to lose it. “Oh, is that so? And you think that’s going to help this situation... how?”

Is it just me, or is she a little bit bratty?

Not that I mind. It makes me happy to see her spirit returning, the light coming back to her eyes.

“Clayton isn’t going to let up on this. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up knocking on this door tonight to make sure it’s done. And knowing my brother, he’s considering making an attempt to convince you. He won’t want to do it, but he also has never coped well with his father’s disappointment. If I take you from the room, the problem is solved for both of you. And you’ll be safe with me. Unless you want to go through with it tonight.”

She shifts on the mattress, letting her feet dangle over the edge. “And being in your room isn’t going to cause problems?”

“Oh, no. It’s absolutely going to cause problems, but I’ll deal with it. I’ll tell Clayton I forced you to sleep in my room because I wanted to fuck up your plans to complete the bond. He’ll believe it. I could tie you to my bed to make it more believable.” I cringe as soon as the last words leave my mouth. It was meant to be a joke, but just the idea of it has my dick reacting to the possibility.

Her plump lips part and she takes the bottom one between her teeth before swallowing and getting to her feet. “Okay, let’s go.” She brushes her shoulder against mine and the mere contact sends my libido into overdrive.

“Just like that?” I ask, my voice hoarse.

“Yeah, you’re right. I can totally see Clayton doing that, and to be honest, Carrington is starting to lean toward the ‘just go on and do it’ mentality. She doesn’t understand why, if we’re mates, we aren’t champing at the bit to fuck. So spending the night with her and listening to that all night doesn’t sound fun. So yeah, the threat of getting tied to your bed sounds like the best option,” she says, grabbing the doorknob and tilting her head toward the hallway. “Come on, before Kai gets out of the shower and we have to hash it out. I’ll send him a text to explain.”

I guide her out of Kai’s room and lead her into mine. She stands in the center of the simple space, no doubt taking in the lack of personal touches as I shut and lock the door behind us. Hopefully, Kai will be relieved to find her missing, and Clayton won’t come sniffing around to see if they completed the bond before morning. In the meantime, I just need to keep my hormones in check.

“Sorry for the meager decor,” I offer, taking off my jacket and tossing it on the chair in the corner. “Since I don’t actually live here anymore, all of my stuff is at my actual apartment over in Virginia Beach.”

She shakes her head while soaking the few belongings I have. “It’s okay. I don’t mind. I don’t have most of my stuff here either, remember?”

“True.” I gesture toward the bed. “Make yourself comfortable. I need to brush my teeth. You have everything you need?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” She looks at the mattress and then back at me. “How are we?—”

"I’ll take the floor and you can have the bed.”

She shakes her head obstinately and places her hands on her hips. “No. You’re not sleeping on the floor. That’s ludicrous. I’ll take the floor. It’s your room?—”

I actually laugh out loud. “I don’t think so, little wolf.”

Her cheeks flush, and the idea that the nickname I’ve somehow designated for her over the past couple days made the blood rush to her cheeks gives me a thrill I shouldn’t like so much.

“Why not?”

“If you think I’d let you sleep on the floor, then you haven’t been paying attention,” I say.

She drops her hands to her sides. “You’re right. But there’s no reason either of us should have to sleep on the floor. We’re adults. Why can’t we just both sleep in the bed?” She turns and gestures to the mattress. “It’s really big. I think we could both fit with no issues. Don’t you?”

I eye the large bed and weigh my options. The thought of sleeping beside her is tempting. Too tempting. “We can both fit, but I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do with your current relationship status.”

She strides to the side of the bed and grabs one of the massive pillows, placing it in the center. “Problem solved. You now have a designated place to sleep and so do I, and it is not together.”

I rub my hand along the back of my neck. “Okay, you win.” My uncertainty is evident in my tone. To mask it, I point my thumb over my shoulder and say, “I’m going to run to the bathroom.”

She pulls down the blankets on the mattress and nods.

I go into the bathroom and close the door behind me. As soon as I’m alone, I lean against the wall and close my eyes. I don’t regret bringing her to my room. It was the right thing to do, but I do question if I can handle being so close to her. Every second I’m near her, I find something new I’m attracted to.

I take a deep breath. Keep it together, Xander. I brush my teeth before changing clothes and head back down the hallway. Thankfully I don’t run into anyone on the way, and when I open the door to my room, Alexia is already settled under the covers. And she looks way too good in my bed. I shake off the thought and give her a smile as I sit on my side of the mattress and slide under the covers, keeping as close to the edge as possible.

“See? It’s all good,” she says with a grin.

“Yeah, no big deal, you were right.”

It’s a lie. A dirty fucking lie. Every inappropriate thought I’ve had about her since I saw her at the ball dances at the corner of my mind. The last thing I know is how I’m going to control my body’s response to her when she’s so close. I wonder if this is why my brother had difficulty sleeping with her next to him.

Alexia in my bed is forcing me to confront the feelings I’ve been trying to avoid since seeing her again. I’ve shoved them down, pushed them away. I’ve tried telling myself that she belongs to my brother, tried to see her as a little sister. Reminded myself that she can’t possibly see me that way. She’s trying to make things work with my brother—who I’m starting to think is a raging idiot for not completing his bond with this woman.

The mattress shifts and I feel her slide down to her back, thankfully keeping her distance from me. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel her in every cell of my body. Just her breaths are enough to drive me crazy.

With this pillow between us, I can still see her silhouette and even that is too much, so I turn on my other side, facing away from her. We lay in silence for long minutes before she surprises me by speaking.

“Xander?”

“Yeah?” I answer much too quickly.

“I’m going to ask you something, and I need you to just be blunt with me. Okay? As honest as you can. No matter if you think it’ll upset me. Can you do that?” she asks, and I can tell by her voice that she’s facing me.

I force myself not to turn over. “Of course.”

“If Kai is my mate, why does everything feel so out of sorts with him? I always thought that the mating bond just clicked in place and that was it,” she whispers, and I hate how small her voice is.

The question turns over and over inside my head. Didn’t I just think my brother was an idiot for the same thing? But I have to admit that their situation is outside the norm.

“I would agree if he didn’t have the extra pressure from his status. This isn’t just any mating. I highly doubt he went into that great hall thinking you would choose him. And when you did, you changed the trajectory of his future. You set in stone that he would be our pack’s next king.”

The mattress shifts again and her hand brushes against me. My skin raises in goosebumps, and I realize she’s grabbed onto the pillow so she can hug it to her chest. For some reason, that makes my heart hurt.

“But... it’s not—” She takes a deep breath. “Crap.”

“What?” I ask, and I finally turn over to face her. “What is it, Alexia? You can tell me.”

“I want this to work because it’s what I’m supposed to do, you know? I want to make my parents proud, do what’s right by the pack, and by Kai. But it’s not—it’s not clicking in place for me either, Xander. Something—something isn’t right,” she says, and her voice finally cracks. “Leave it to me to mess up something this important.”

“Like I said, you are both under stress. It’s only been a couple of days?—”

“It’s not been a couple of days for me. It’s been three months. I prepared myself to know my mate. And I’m having doubts now.”

I rest my hand over hers where it sits gripping the pillow. As if I have no control over my actions, I brush my thumb over her knuckles. “Nothing is wrong with you. You want this to work, and it will.”

I don’t miss her sharp intake of breath when I touch her, and even though I should probably take my hand off hers, I can’t.

Well, I could.

But fuck, I don’t want to.

Unless she doesn’t want me to touch her.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—” I start to pull my hand back, but she closes her fingers over mine.

“No. Please don’t,” she murmurs, and when I meet her gaze, a sliver of light from the window catches her eyes and I see the pleading in them.

“I just thought that when I found my mate, he would want me. Like, really want me. To the point where he couldn’t help himself. And that I would feel the same. That’s what everyone says. How can I be different from literally everyone else? Am I that unlovable? I know I’m a lot sometimes, with all my energy and emotions, so maybe it’s just not meant to be for me, I don’t know.”

“You’re not a lot, Alexia. Not too much and not lacking. I don’t know all the logistics of mating. It’s been years since I’ve given it much thought, but I do know Kai is just in the other room. And I’m sure he’s just as conflicted as you.” I let her hand go, and move it to the side of her head, sweeping the dark hair away from her face. “Fretting about all this tonight is going to do you no good. Relax. Know that you’re safe here with me and you can take your time to gather your thoughts. In the end, it will all work out.”

“Thank you, Xander. You’re the only one who understands what I’m going through,” she says sleepily, and she shifts, tucking her hands under her cheek, trapping my hand underneath with hers. “You really are the only person I feel safe with.”

I could easily free myself from her grip and put that space back between us that we tried so hard to create, but I don’t want to.

If this makes her feel safe, then by the goddess, I’ll stay in this position all night.