39 Private Talk

Ace POV

I stretch, but the sound of a little snore has me freezing. I smile when I look down at the beautiful woman

lying next to me with her chestnut hair spread across the pillow. I turn toward her as the scent of her

strawberry vanilla shampoo invades my nose. It makes my mouth water, and I’m tempted to wake her up with

my head buried between her s*xy thighs, but I know she must be sore after last night. I will never get enough

of her.

It wasn’t just the amazing s*x but the connection we share. The bond that tethers our souls together. It’s like

nothing I’ve ever felt before. I will thank the goddess every day for bringing this woman back to me because

meant every word I said to her last night. I’m never letting her go.

I slide out of bed begrudgingly, but my mate deserves to sleep. My smile gets bigger as I step into the

bathroom. Olivia is my mate. I turn to face the mirror seeing my fresh mark. I run my finger over it and moan.

What the hell was that? Why did touching my mark go right to my c**k? Is that supposed to happen? I’ll have

to ask Olivia.

My mark is so different from others that I’ve seen. Normally, they are crescent or full moons with their mate’s

wolf. Mine is a silver wolf like my beautiful wolf mate and the full moon. The strange part is the small golden

crown that rests above the wolf. It must be because Olivia is a guardian wolf.

I do my business and brush my teeth before I step back into our room. I smile when I see Olivia is still fast asleep. I’m just about to step out of the room when her voice has me stopping in my tracks. “Are you really

going to leave a girl hanging this morning?” I turn smiling at her.

“I thought about waking you up, but I didn’t want to be inconsiderate. I figured you might be sore and tired.

We don’t have to be in the dining room for another hour.” “Wolf remember, I heal really quickly. Besides, I can’t say I’m really looking forward to spending any extra time with Xavier or Evelyn today. So I’m in no rush if you

want to come back to bed and be inconsiderate,” she says with a wink.

I stalk back toward the bed. I pull back the covers and do exactly what I thought about earlier. I will never get

tired of tasting this woman. Once we are both sated for the moment, we quickly shower. When Olivia steps into the living room, she is wearing a pair of snug jeans and a form-fitting tank top. I’m just about to reach for

her when a growl sounds in my head. I expect to hear Connor’s voice, but it never comes.

“Are you alright,” Olivia asks. I take a step toward her and pull her into my arms. “Better than alright,” I say, before pressing my lips against hers. When I pull back she smiles. We lounge around the cottage for another twenty minutes before we decide to head to the pack house.

The witch is supposed to arrive today, but I’m not sure what time. We agreed to meet Connor and Becca in

the pack dining room at around nine. Since Candace left, I haven’t spent much time there, but I’m excited to show off my mate this morning. I take Olivia’s hand and lead her inside the pack house. The closer we come to the dining room, the more anxious I become. It doesn’t take me long to realize it’s not my emotions I’m feeling.

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wrap my arm around Olivia before we step into the dining room. “Hey, if you don’t want to do this, we can head back to the cottage and have breakfast alone.” She looks at me confused at first, but she quickly smiles. “I forgot you can feel my emotions. I promise I’m fine. I’ll just make sure my seat is as far away from Xavier

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and Evelyn as possible. I don’t need to have an argument in front of the pack, she says before she leans in and pecks my lips.

I take her hand and we step into the dining room. Most of the tables are full and many of the pack members stare as we make our way to the Alpha table. When we reach the table, I pull out the chair for Olivia, Becca practically bouncing in her seat. “I see congratulations are in order” she says. I press a kiss on the top of Olivia’s head before I take the seat next to her. Della rushes around the table and jumps onto Olivia’s lap.

“Thank you, Becca” we both say in unison. “Welcome to the family Ace, Connor says, and I smile. I look toward the end of the table where Xavier and Evelyn are seated and notice that Xavier looks like he sucked on a lemon. A few minutes later the food is delivered to our table and I push all thoughts of Xavier from my mind. I smile when Della never moves off Olivia’s lap to eat her breakfast.

Olivia POV

As soon as Della climbs onto my lap, my body relaxes. A part of me loves the pack because it’s what Danica wants, but part of me still isn’t comfortable here. I smile when Becca congratulates us. I refuse to look at the end of the table, so I focus on helping Della with breakfast. We are halfway through breakfast when Xavier says my name. “Olivia, I would like to speak with you alone after breakfast before Miranda arrives,” he says.

Ace stiffens next to me and I reach out, taking his hand in mine. “Is it about what we discussed a few days ago?” “Yes, it is,” he says. “Fine” I say. “Olivia,” Ace says. I turn smiling at him. “It will be fine. I’m not afraid to speak with him in private.” We finish breakfast and I press a kiss to Della’s head. I kiss Ace and follow Xavier down a hallway toward the back of the pack house. He pushes open the door, leading me into a library.

The room is beautiful and filled with so many books I’d never have time to read them all. “Have a seat® he says. I do, waiting for him to speak. “You marked Ace,” he says. “I did. He is my mate.” “You shouldn’t have marked him.” Danica growls, and I’m sure my eyes turn black. “What do you mean I shouldn’t have marked him? He is mine,” I practically growl.

“You aren’t an ordinary wolf, Olivia. You are all about doing what is right for the greater good than you should have rejected Ace and found a strong Alpha mate. You are a guardian wolf that is now bonded to a human,” he says. “You can’t be f**king serious. How dare you suggest that I reject Ace.” “You did it before. Why are you so stubborn? You are meant to be a guardian and my pup is going to need you to be strong. Ace can offer you nothing.”

“Wait a minute. You think that Evelyn’s pup is the midnight wolf.” “Of course, the wolf is to be born of the strongest wolf in the pack. We are taught that as small children. I am the strongest wolf in this pack. You have an obligation to your sister or brother to protect them. You need to put their safety before your happiness just like you did before. You need to break your bond with Ace. It will be easy since the bond is one-sided,” he says.

“You are out of your f**king mind if you think I will ever break my bond with Ace.” A feeling of dread washes

over me and I stare at Xavier, “You are a deceiver. How did I not see it before? How did I not feel your lies? “What the hell are you talking about? I haven’t deceived anyone. I am not a l*ar Olivia. All I’m asking you is to be reasonable. The pup needs to be your priority,” he says.

“The pup will always be my priority. I don’t know what you have done, but I intend to find out. As far as me breaking my bond with Ace that will only happen over my dead body. He is mine, and I’m never letting him or Della go,” I say before slamming out of the library. I run into a strong chest and a feeling of dejavu strikes me “Oli what’s wrong,” Connor asks, wrapping me in his arms.

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“We need to talk in your office now. Get Becca, Ace, and Evelyn.” He looks at me in confusion before his eyes glaze over. They are on their way. Let’s go,” he says. I push the door open to the office and I can’t stop myself from pacing. “What the f**k just happened, Danica? The other day you said he wasn’t lying. What the hell is lying about?” “I don’t know, but we can’t trust him. We need to ensure that he doesn’t find out who Della truly is until we figure out exactly what he’s done,” she says.

A few seconds later everyone steps into the room. Ace immediately strides toward me and pulls me into his arms. “Are you alright? I could feel how upset and angry you were,” he says. I put my hand on his cheek. “I love you.” “I love you too, Olivia. Tell me what just happened,” he says. “Xavier wanted to talk about us being mates. He insisted that I break our bond.” “Excuse me,” Connor says, his eyes nearly black. “How dare he suggest such a thing,” Becca says.

“That is never f**king happening” Ace says and I squeeze him tighter. I look at Evelyn and tears roll down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Olivia. I don’t know what he is thinking suggesting such a thing. Ace is your mate, and he has no right to interfere,” Evelyn says. “I don’t give a f**k what he says. Ace is mine, and he can go f**k himself if he thinks I will ever listen to a thing he says. I didn’t trust him before and I sure as hell don’t trust him now. He is lying about something. I can sense his deceit. Now I just have to figure out what he’s done.” For the first time in a long time, I feel bad for Evelyn. She’s pregnant and the man that she lost everything for is acting shady. I hope for the pup’s sake whatever he has done doesn’t put my pup at risk, or I won’t be responsible for what I have to do to deal with him. A knock on the door has us all holding our breath. “Come in,” Connor finally says. The door opens and Xavier steps inside, followed by a beautiful woman who looks a little older than my mom. Her eyes meet mine and a feeling of despair washes over me. What the f**k is happening now?