Chapter 3

Leo left the wedding party without growling or snapping at any of his new in-laws. It was something of a struggle. They were just so much.

The Alpha, Arthur, was growing weak with age and complacency. He was desperate to hide it. So he blustered and postured.

Even injured, Leo was a threat to his position and they both knew it. But Leo didn't want his pack. Just his daughter.

The Luna, Annette, was smothering. She simpered. She fluttered. Every word from her mouth dripped poisoned sugar.

Leo expected things to be strained. After all, Eva was their only child, their Alpha Daughter. And while it was natural that she'd find a mate and leave the pack, that didn't make it easy on her parents.

So he tolerated the simpering and the posturing. Leo was polite. Leo was patient. Leo hoped none of his feelings showed on his face.

The ceremony was boring and longer than he thought it really needed to be. Leo was patient and attentive. He held his new mate's hand as they took their vows. He wished she hadn't worn so much perfume. It made it hard to catch her scent.

The celebration dinner after the ceremony dragged on even longer than the ceremony. Eva, his new bride, was aloof. She barely said two words to him.

Annette hovered. She doted on Eva, which was to be expected. But she also tried to coddle Leo like he was helpless. She handed him drinks and filled his plate. He half expected her to offer to feed him!

It was ridiculous. So he was blind. All his other senses worked just fine.

Arthur was worse. His insecurity around a younger, stronger Alpha led him to boast endlessly about battles he'd won in his glory days. The last thing Leo wanted to talk about was fighting. But he had to be polite, because Arthur was his wife's father.

He couldn't see the smirk on Zane's face, but he knew it was there. His brother thought the whole thing was ridiculous. Leo wasn't sure that Zane was wrong.

Well, whatever. It was done. He had a mate now. He'd just have to make the best of things.

At some point late in the evening, Eva vanished to go prepare for their first night together. Leo respected her need for a little privacy and stayed in the banquet hall, talking to their guests.

Finally the banquet wound down. Leo said a few polite goodbyes, and went to find his wife. He found the guest bedroom he and Eva would share for their first night together.

Leo took a couple deep breaths, and knocked on the door. A soft voice invited him inside.

Leo stepped inside. His mate waited on the bed. He could hear her shift around on the blankets. Her breath stirred the air.

She had washed off the perfume. She smelled sweet and soft and nervous.

Leo followed her scent until his leg bumped the edge of the bed. He sat down, just close enough to touch.

He reached out, and hesitated. She was acting differently than she had at the wedding. Was she afraid? Leo didn't want his mate to be afraid of him.

“Eva,” he said, “I need an heir.”

“Yes,” she said.

“I need an heir, but I can hear it in your voice. You don't want this. Do you?”

He would give her a choice. He would never force his mate.

Instead of taking the chance he offered, she leaned in closer. Leo held still.

She kissed him. Leo was startled by the hunger behind the kiss.

Leo gave in to the insistent kiss, and then began to really enjoy it. She might be inexperienced, but his wife was a talented kisser.

She pulled his hand to the ribbon holding her nightgown closed. He tangled his fingers in the silky cord. His knuckle brushed the skin of her throat. It was soft and warm. He wanted to touch more, but he waited.

“I want this,” she told him as she ended the kiss. “Because I'm your wife, now.”

He was the strongest Alpha alive. But Leo was not strong enough to refuse an invitation like that.

He tugged the ribbon free and explored the soft flesh of his mate's chest and throat with his mouth, nuzzling and nibbling. She giggled and squirmed at the sensations. He liked those sounds. He wanted more.

Leo couldn't see, so he had to explore his new mate with his hands and his mouth. That was fine. She didn't seem to mind one bit.

He reached the hem of her nightgown and paused. She gave him breathless permission and he tugged the soft cloth away. She pulled at his shirt and he wiggled out of it. His pants went, too. He didn't bother to figure out where.

They fell back into the bed, limbs tangled. Her skin was hot, almost burning. Leo thought maybe he should worry about that, but then she started to explore him and the thought vanished.

Most thoughts vanished then, buried under passion and want and need. Leo let himself get lost in his new mate's touch. She just felt so good under him.

“Please. Yes.” His mate wiggled under him and tried to get even closer.

He urged patience with gentle touches. It was her first time. He would go slow. He would be gentle. He wanted her but he wanted her to enjoy every moment.

They didn't have to rush. They had time.

He took his time driving her wild. She writhed and wiggled and gasped. He was panting and hard and he wanted. He would be patient.

Leo found just the right place to stroke to make her squeal. That was a very good sound. He kept it up until the squeal became a scream and her entire body arched against his. There. That was good.

“I think you're ready,” he whispered into her ear.

“Yes. Now. Please. Now, please more.” She whined and clawed at his back, leaving burning trails behind.

Oh he was going to enjoy feeling those marks tomorrow.

He sank into her warmth and his teeth sank into her neck, just at the shoulder. She gasped and bucked up against him. And begged for more.

So he gave it.

When it was over, she laid curled in his arms. Her body was limp and warm. He touched her face, and traced a sated smile.

Mate. His wolf's voice echoed through his mind.

Huh. After weeks of silence, the wolf spoke for this.

Well, yes. This was their mate. He'd just married her. Still, it was good that his wolf agreed.

Mate. Ours.

All right then. His wolf wanted to claim this woman. He'd just have to accept it.

It was odd that his wolf hadn't stirred even slightly during the wedding, when he first saw her. All the stories said that when your wolf chose your fated mate, it happened immediately. The first time you caught her scent.

Maybe that was just romantic, wishful thinking. Maybe his wolf needed a little extra time because it was so weakened.

At least it had chosen the woman he married. Things would be awkward if it hadn't.

**

Tessa

I woke up in my own bed the next morning. I'd sneaked out after Leo fell asleep. Part of me hadn't wanted to leave. It just felt so good to curl up next to him.

Most of the night before was a blur, thanks to the aphrodisiac. I remembered Leo, though. I remembered his hands, caressing me throughout. I remembered heat. I remembered kisses. I remembered pleasure.

I looked in the mirror. Was I different? Would it show on my face, what had happened between us?

Of course it didn't, that was just silly. You couldn't look at someone and know they weren't a virgin anymore! Right?

I did notice one thing different, though. My scar. Ever since Eva ripped and burned my face, I'd had a livid scar that extended from the corner of my right eye down the cheek.

Now, though, the tear track scar was a paler shade of pink. The shiny tissue felt softer when I touched it. How had that happened? None of the creams or medicines I'd dared to try had ever worked.