Chapter 8

Knox could tell that he'd caught Ivy off guard. The truth was, part of why he was still mulling things over is because he didn't know if she was okay living outside of Northernmost. Her family was here. He could take a permanent position with the Guardians and leave the leap to his fully capable second-in-command. It would suck that he'd be treated as dead to the people he'd grown up with, and he'd also have to deal with the Maverick and Chase since they worked up here too.

Any way you sliced the cake, someone was getting shafted.

He'd take that knife, though, so that Ivy could have her family with her.

"If you change the laws," she said, her voice slow like she was measuring every word and thinking through as she spoke, "then we won't live here."

"Right."

"If you don't change the laws, we do, though. You lose your leap and your alpha position, but we stay here."

"Yep."

"I don't know, Knox. What do you want to do?"

He shrugged. "I could make a case for both scenarios. I don't want to take you from your family and it's clear you love your job. I could live anywhere with you, frankly. But it's a big deal no matter which way we go."

"I don't want either of us to lose anything," she said. She brushed a lock of hair from her face and let out a sigh. "I suppose that's irrational."

"Someone has to lose something," he said. "But we get each other and for me, it's worth whatever the cost. You were worth the wait, Ivy. I wouldn't trade you for being alpha for anything."

"I'd rather be with you than live here without you."

He leaned in and kissed her. "I wouldn't let you go anyway, sweetheart. You're well and truly stuck with me."

Her sweet smile made him feel like a king.

"When do you need to decide?"

" We need to figure things out sooner rather than later. Maverick and Chase know and while they'll keep things quiet, I don't want to keep a lid on this longer than necessary. Let's sleep on it and see how we feel in the morning."

"Sleep?" she straddled him swiftly and he chuckled as he leaned back into the couch, grasping her hips and pulling her against him.

"Eventually."

She planted her hands on the couch on either side of his head and leaned in, giving a slow lick to the bottom of his mouth. "You're the sexiest guy I've ever met. I can't believe you're my mate. I feel like I won the lottery."

She ground herself against him and his senses lit up. "You're an angel, the most perfect, sensual, beautiful female I've ever laid eyes on. If anyone won the lottery, it was this alpha cat."

Her nails scraped against his neck as she brought him to her mouth for a kiss that rocked his world.

The situation with his leap was forgotten in a flurry of clothes, roaming hands, and cries of pleasure.

He'd worry about things tomorrow.

They had time.

Not much, but some.

The following day passed quickly as Knox and Ivy spent time making love, talking, and eventually meeting her brother and father for dinner. Her family was great. Her brother immediately vouched for Knox, which he appreciated, and her father gave the hurt my daughter and die speech, which Knox appreciated. He liked that her family had her back.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Marcus said, "but don't leopards prefer shifters in the leap as opposed to magical or human mates?"

"Yes," Knox said.

"Shit, really?" Alder said. "What are you going to do?"

He glanced at Ivy and she gave him an encouraging smile.

"I'm taking Ivy to Wildwood Crossing tomorrow morning to meet with the high ranked males. I'm going to change the laws to allow anyone to mate with anyone they choose, whether they're a shifter, human, or magical person. I'll join her to me as my alpha female in front of the leap, and we'll start the new year off with an open mating policy."

"Wow, really?" Alder asked, looking at Ivy. "You're just going to walk away from the only place you've ever lived just like that?"

"Not just like that ," Ivy said. "We've been talking about it since yesterday. It's an important decision and neither of us went into it lightly."

Alder put his hands up. "Hey, it's your life, sis, do what you will with it. I'll just miss you, that's all."

"I'll be back every year to replenish my magic, but Knox and I can come up here to visit other times, too, and you both can come to visit us."

"That would be great," Marcus said. "I only go down to the States for errands. It would be nice to stay for a bit someplace new."

"Yeah," Alder said. "Maybe I'll find myself a nice lady leopard." He wiggled his brows.

Ivy let out a disgusted grunt. "Those are my people you're talking about. Keep the gross thoughts to yourself."

"It's gross for me to date a leopard?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes. You're gross."

She said it so matter-of-factly that Knox and Marcus burst out laughing at Alder's surprised expression.

Knox kissed her temple with a chuckle. "You're going to be an amazing alpha female."

"I sure hope so." She blew out a breath. "It stresses me out just thinking about being in charge of people. I've only ever really been in charge of the Nice and Naughty Lists."

"Hey," Marcus said, patting her hand with a kind smile. "You've taken care of me and Alder for years, and you've handled any challenges that came your way with grace. You'll be an incredible alpha female, I just know it."

"Thanks, Dad."

She looked pointedly at Alder who said, "I'm not saying anything nice about you, you said I'm gross."

With an arched brow from Ivy, Alder finally admitted that she would be great as alpha female. Knox was certain she would be too. She was kind and compassionate, and she balanced out his rough edges.

When their dishes were cleared and they returned to the table in the employee cafeteria with refilled drinks, Marcus said, "When is this happening? You said you were going tomorrow to see the high ranked males."

"We're going to set everything in motion tomorrow," he said. "It will take time for the laws to be changed and for leap members to decide whether they'll stay or choose exile. I don't think we'll lose anyone, but you never know. We've both made commitments here in Northernmost, so we'll stay until Christmas Day, then head home in the afternoon." She'd told him about the Christmas Ball but had said she wasn't interested in staying for it.

"That gives me time to train someone to take over the list duties," Ivy said. "And for me to brush up on the leap laws too."

"Let's plan to eat dinner together whenever we can for the rest of the time you're here," Marcus said. "I know I'm working third shift, but I can take an early break so we can hang out."

"I'd love that," Ivy said.

"If you need any time off and I can take a shift, let me know," Alder said.

"Thanks, man," Knox said.

"Hey, just take good care of my sister."

"I swear on my life."

They talked a little longer about moving Ivy to Wildwood Crossing, the need to speak to Santa about her leaving after the holidays, and what their life together would look like once they took over the leap. There hadn't been an alpha female since he took over, and he knew that the females missed having someone in authority watching over them. The females weren't ranked, but they still needed someone to lead them. Ultimately, he was the authority of the leap, but Ivy would be right by his side.

They stopped by Santa's office to speak to him, because the male was always busy and there was no time like the present. He was happy for them, and said it was amazing that two of his Guardians had found their mates already this month.

"If Asher isn't ready to come back after the holidays, I'll send another male up here for training," Knox said.

"Of course," Santa said. "Things ease up after the holidays, but we still need all nine of our Guardians." He looked at Ivy. "We'll bring Drea up from Wrapping. She's been looking for something in the office, but we never had a position available."

Ivy grinned. "She'll be wonderful with the lists, she's got great attention to detail."

"If you're taking tomorrow off and going to the States," Santa said.

"Alder is going to take a double shift," Knox said. "We'll bring Maverick and Chase with us as guards, and Ivy's magic will take us through the Entrance. We'll come back in the evening."

Santa nodded, congratulated them again, and then sent them on their way.

"That was easy," she said as they stepped out into the hall and headed toward the barracks.

"Did you think it wouldn't be?"

"I wasn't sure," she said. "I've been working for him a long time and he doesn't like change. I'm glad there's someone like Drea who can take over. But that brings me to a question."

He put his hand on the door and smiled down at her. "A sexy one?"

"No," she said with a giggle. "What am I going to do at the leap? I've only ever been a secretary."

He pushed the door open that led to the hall that would take them to the barracks. When they were both through, he shut the door and took her hand. "The leap has a security company that I oversee. We could actually use someone in the office," he said. "But aside from that, I think you're going to be really busy with the females and leap business."

He pulled her against him and smiled down at her, cupping her face and lowering his head for a kiss. "I plan to keep you very busy myself."

"Do tell, Alpha."

He whispered, "I'd rather show you."

"Then let's hurry."

He bent and tossed her gently over his shoulder. She let out a squeal of surprise that turned into a laugh as he jogged down the corridor.

"Whatever my mate wants."

"Just you, Knox. I just want you."