Chapter 10

Knox hadn't doubted that the elders and highest-ranked males would support him and welcome Ivy into the leap. It was even more evident that they were thrilled for him by the gracious way they included her in their conversations as they discussed the laws and bringing the news to the leap.

The mates of the elders, Grace and Natalie, had brought food for them and whisked Ivy into the kitchen to get to know her before she returned to the discussion of the laws.

In reality, they were only changing two laws: that a leap member could mate whoever they chose, regardless of whether they were a shifter or not, without facing exile, and that non-shifting mates would be considered part of the leap once the mating had occurred.

"Let's convene the leap together in the meeting hall at six p.m. and make sure everyone knows it's mandatory," Knox said.

"I'll send out a text," John said. "And we'll send the enforcers around to ensure everyone is aware."

"What are enforcers?" Ivy asked.

"Guards," Knox answered, putting an arm around her shoulders. "In fact, let's bring all the enforcers here first, and we'll do a formal announcement, then send them out to make sure everyone sees the text and shows up."

Maverick and Chase had been enforcers before they moved to Northernmost, so they stuck around the alpha's house.

"Let's do a quick tour," Knox said, pulling Ivy to her feet. "Then we can meet with the enforcers."

"Then what?"

She gave him a curious look, and he caught the subtle hint of her arousal.

"Then we'll take a break and see where the day leads us."

"I like that idea," she whispered.

They left Maverick and Chase in the office, and he took her around the home. "This home is over one hundred years old. The alpha has always lived here. I almost didn't move into it because it's a big place, but now that I have you in my life, I'm thankful that I'm here." They took the stairs to the second floor. The four bedrooms were minimally furnished with a twin or full bed and dresser in each one, and had been furnished from before he took over. He opened the door to the master suite and flicked on the overhead light to reveal the king-sized bed and dresser with matching side tables.

She walked over to the windows and opened the blinds. "What a great view," she said as she looked out over the woods. Turning to face him, she said, "What will I do while you're out hunting? And how often do you all get together to hunt? I know…not a whole lot about shifters."

"I'll teach you everything you need to know, I promise." He joined her at the window and looked out at the snow-covered trees and the sunlight that made the snow look like glittering diamonds. "We generally hunt on the full moon, which I think is pretty typical for most shifters. We get together here as a leap and head out. If someone doesn't want to go out or can't—such as an elderly shifter who doesn't shift anymore due to age or injury, or a pregnant female, or young who haven't shifted yet—they stay in their homes."

"I'd stay here?"

"I would like it if you walked around with me at least the first time I shift. I don't have to hunt, I can just be in my shift."

Her face lit up. "I'd like that. I can't wait to see you in your shift."

"I'm looking forward to it too. We can come here for the full moon and have someone fill in for me with the Guardians."

Although it was tempting to start something sexy with his female, he knew that the enforcers would show up soon and he didn't want to be interrupted. He took her hand and led her from the room, taking her back down to the first-floor office where he held meetings. She did need her own space, because she would meet with females from time to time if there were problems or issues she needed to deal with.

"I'd love to have you here with me," he said, sitting at the desk and pulling her into his lap. "But you need your own space. We can convert the living room to an office for you since it's never used."

"Sounds good to me." She nuzzled his neck with a soft hum that made his cock thicken.

He groaned and threaded his fingers through her hair. "Sweetheart," he groaned, then kissed her. "You're a vixen and addictive, but we have people coming here."

"You're addictive too," she whispered against his lips.

He heard a sharp knock at the front door and snarled.

"I'll still be addictive later," he promised.

"Me too."

There were ten enforcers in the leap who patrolled the territory, led by Calix. There was one female enforcer, and that was who he wanted to speak with after the meeting.

Chairs were brought in from the other rooms, and once everyone was seated, Knox introduced Ivy and explained that the laws were in the process of being changed by the elders and the official announcement would be made to the leap at six p.m. that night in the meeting hall.

"From today onward," he said, as Ivy stood by his side in front of the desk, "any leap member can mate who they wish: leopard, other shifter type, a magical person, or a human, and not only will that leopard not face exile, but once they are officially mated, their mate will become a member of the leap."

The room was silent, all eyes on them.

One male stood slowly, his eyes amber. "No."

Knox growled at Julius for the angry tone. "You are mistaken if you believe I'm asking for permission. The laws are being changed as we speak, and my word is law."

"You can't do this, not after enforcing the laws for so long," the male said. He was visibly shaking, his eyes flickering back to blue and then to amber again.

"If you'd like to speak with me after the meeting, you can," Knox said. "But you will watch your tone with me. I'm your alpha."

Julius snorted. "You are no alpha of mine."

Calix rose to his feet so fast that the chair clattered behind him. He was on Julius a moment later, his big hand around his throat and the male lifted off the ground. "Speak to the alpha like that again, I dare you."

Julius let out an undignified squawk and tried to pry Calix's hand from his neck without success. Calix glanced at Knox who waited for a moment longer while Julius's face turned beet red, and then he nodded sharply.

Calix released his grip and Julius fell to the floor in a heap, gasping for air.

"Get him out of here," Calix said, snapping his fingers at two enforcers.

When they'd dragged the male from the room, Knox said, "Keep him in his house until I call for him. I'll give him time to cool down."

Calix nodded and left.

"Anyone else have a problem with the laws changing?" Knox asked.

One by one the rest of the enforcers stood and pledged their loyalty to him and to Ivy as his new mate.

He instructed them to visit each leap member about the upcoming meeting and then asked Zara to meet with him and Ivy after everyone was dismissed.

"Zara Swift, I'd like you to officially meet Ivy Pine, the future Mrs. Knox Rivera and alpha female."

Ivy scoffed. "I'm not going to be Mrs. Anything until you give me something sparkly and ask me properly after you ask my dad."

He gave her a quick peck on the lips with a smile. "I promise."

She grinned. "It's nice to meet you, Zara."

"Welcome to the leap," she said, shaking Ivy's hand.

Keeping an eye on the clock because he was very interested in getting Ivy up to the master bedroom and seeing how many times he could rock her world before the meeting at six, he spoke to Zara about becoming Ivy's personal guard.

"Up in Northernmost?" Zara asked with wide eyes.

"Just here," he said. "We'll be leaving for Northernmost after the meeting tonight, then we'll be back for the full moon. You can stay here while we're gone and resume your regular duties, but once the holidays have passed and Ivy moves here for good, I'd like to count on you to keep her safe when I'm not able to be with her."

"Oh, I get a bodyguard? How freaking awesome," Ivy said, her eyes dancing.

"I'd be honored," Zara said.

"Is this a normal thing?" Ivy asked. "Does the alpha female always have a personal guard?"

"Yes," he answered. "If there aren't any female enforcers for the job, then the alpha would assign two males, so that his mate is never alone with an unmated male."

"That's pretty cool," Ivy said.

Ivy and Zara exchanged numbers and the enforcer excused herself to join her fellow guards in letting the leap know about the meeting and would see them prior to the start.

"Oh," Ivy said as she turned to face him.

"Oh what?"

He put his hands on her hips and drew her closer, his body springing back to life once more.

"We're all alone now, and I think you mentioned having some fun before the meeting?"

"If by fun you mean seeing how often you can scream my name in pleasure? Then, yes, tons of fun." He scooped her up into his arms and strode toward the door.

She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Whatever my alpha wants."

"Just you, sweetheart."