Chapter 51

Piper

My body screamed at me when I tried to move the next morning. The positions Zander folded my body into throughout the night had every inch of me pissed.

A stretch would do me well today.

The sun was well into the sky when I pried my eyes opened the next morning. Sadly, a naked Zander wasn't lying beside me. The sheets were cold to the touch.

Slipping from the bed, I felt a tight pressure in-between my legs, and a grin settled on my face. I could get used to this ...

I found one of Zander's t-shirts resting on the end of the bed, so I slipped it over my head and followed the sound of talking. There was a lightness in the air as I skipped down the steps, and walked toward the kitchen.

William and Zander sat at the kitchen table with a man I'd never seen before. I halted in the doorway, suddenly regretting my attempt at being sexy and wearing his clothing.

Zander stood up, his gaze swept me from head to toe, and he smiled. "Piper," he said. "Good morning."

William chuckled. "You mean good afternoon. Geesh, you two must have stayed up all night—,"

Zander gave him a quick look that shut him up quickly. "This is Alpha Lopez. He's been taking care of my pack since the curse."

"Oh," I said. "Nice to meet you."

Alpha Lopez was tan, with dark black hair and a handsome face. He wasn't as big as Zander, but still bigger than William. He had kind dark eyes and a pretty smile. "Nice to meet the woman that broke the curse. Zander—and all of us—have spent many moons wondering if he'd ever be free again. I'm so glad that GPS brought you here."

Heat engulfed my cheeks. I didn't like the attention, and most definitely not in a t-shirt. "I'm glad that rickety GPS brought me here, too. I think," I said, pointing over my shoulder, "that I'm going to get dressed. I didn't realize we had company."

I jolted from the doorway, a heavy pressure weighing on my chest the further I grew from Zander. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something felt off.

Maybe it was the thought of bringing strangers into the castle that I'd never met. Strangers into my life when I finally had Zander to myself. Panic drowned me. I knew the thought was selfish, that Zander was alpha before I came along, and these people looked up to him. Depended on him.

But it didn't stop me from watering that seed of doubt in my mind.

I shut his door behind me, stripped from my clothing, and started a shower. Maybe the shower would drown out the uneasy feeling in my stomach, and Zander wouldn"t be able to feel it.

Tears built in my eyes, and fear of losing what we had strangled me. Seconds later, strong arms wrapped around me from behind, and Zander pulled me back against him. "What's the matter, Little One?" he whispered into my ear.

The sound of his voice demolished the walls around my heart and tears flooded out of me. I covered my face with my palms. "Baby," he whispered, turning me to face him. "What's wrong? Tell me. Your hurt is killing me."

My fingers touched the mark on my neck, remembering he could feel everything I felt. "I'm afraid."

"Of what?" he laughed. "Priscilla is gone—,"

I shook my head. "Of losing you to your pack. I'm afraid that they'll come back, and you'll forget about me."

Zander's brows pulled down as if he was confused. "Piper," he cooed. "You're serious right now? You think after all we went through together that I would abandon you? You think I used you to break the curse?"

"No. I'm afraid to bring the pack here. What if they don't like me? We are just now able to explore our relationship, Zander—,"

"I need to show you something," he said softly, kissing my forehead. "Finish your shower, and meet me in the garden when you're done."

He left me cold, despite the warm water running over my skin. I couldn't read his expression, and I hoped that I could channel into this mark—mate thing—soon, so I could pinpoint his emotions.

I did as he asked, showered, and got dressed in a random dress I found in my room down the hallway. The kitchen was quiet when I walked through toward the back door.

The gentle humid breeze touched my skin as I descended the steps, and went on a search for him. Zander sat on his mother's bench, twirling a rose between his fingertips when I made it to him.

I would never get used to his face in the sunlight. His beautiful auburn hair fell into his eyes, and his full mouth turned into a smile, blessing with me a row of almost perfect teeth.

I loved the slight crook on the second one to the left.

It made me feel like I wasn't in a dream. That slight imperfection proved that I hadn't died and gone to some kind of alternative universe where I was mated to a sexy man.

He stood, and looked down at me, offering me his arm. "Come on."

I followed beside him, out of the garden, and under the weeping willow trees leading toward a trail I'd never explored before. "Where are we going?" I asked.

"Somewhere that will calm your nerves."

I eyed him, and his vagueness. The trail didn't look far, I could see the break in the woods a few yards away. Instead of stewing in the what-ifs, I listened to the birds tweeting, and the stir of leaves at our feet.

The wooded area began to dwindle, and Zander walked me into an opening. The field was gorgeous, full of purple flowers, and a stream that trickled like in a storybook.

But the cottage sitting in the nook of the field was the main attraction. "Who lives there?" I asked.

Zander let go of my arm and palmed my jaw. "Us. Whenever we want to. Before my father turned on my mother, probably to lure her into marriage, he built this for her. It was their getaway house. A house they could use to be truly and completely alone. I've had it kept up over the years. Vivian goes in once a week and cleans. This is where we'll go to be alone, Piper. Whenever we're stressed, overwhelmed, or just need a night to screw each other into oblivion, this is where we'll go."

Heat flamed at my skin, despite the humid breeze sucking the air out of me. "I want to see it," I said. "If we're going to be ... doing those things in there, show me."

Zander grabbed me around my waist and hauled me over his shoulder. He walked us to the cottage and didn't let me down until we were in the living room.

The layout was open, more modern than the castle by far, and full of greys and whites. I smiled at the granite countertops and the modern appliances.

The smell of lavender hovered in the air, sliding silky fabric against my skin. "I love it," I whispered.

Zander opened the door to our right, and showed me a queen size bed with a high velvet headboard, and a downy comforter. "This is all for us. Whenever you need it. Whenever I need it. It's here. Always. I am an alpha, Piper, but I'm also your mate. You will always have a say-so here, and you will always be respected."

A calming feeling settled deep in my bones. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me," he said from behind me. "Part of my job is to keep you happy. If you're uneasy, we'll ease into meeting the pack. They're anxious to meet you. They're anxious to get back to pack life. To see me."

Nodding, I swallowed my nerves and the selfish sensation of wanting Zander all to myself. "When are they coming?" I asked.

"As soon as you're okay with it. Alpha Lopez was here to give the gavel back to me. I'm officially acting alpha now that the curse is broken. My pack members are just waiting on my call."

"Tell them to come home then."

Zander smiled, and brought my hand to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. "William and I will deal with introducing you to becoming Luna as it happens. This is a life change for you, and no one will ever hold anything against you, and if they do, you will tell me immediately."

I nodded. "I most certainly will. Are the females ... ummm, unmated?"

"Some of them, why?"

Shrugging, I played with a string on the skirt of my dress.

Zander laughed. "You're already jealous and you haven't even met them. They don't defy their alpha, ever. Don't worry about that. Let's go back to the castle, I'll send a message with Alpha Lopez to call the troops home."

Zander led me back through the garden, and toward the castle. My nerves were ping-ponging around in my stomach. Alpha Lopez was with William in his office when Zander and I walked inside.

"We're ready for the pack to come home," Zander said.

William's gaze shifted toward me, but I avoided his stare.

"Well," he said, standing up to take Zander's hand. "They'll be glad to hear it. I'll let them know." He turned to face me. "It was nice to meet you. I'm sure the pack will love you."

I hoped so.

I left Zander to speak with William and Alpha Lopez in the den. I found myself standing on the balcony of Zander's room, staring out at the bayou. Vivian cleared her throat from behind me.

I turned to see her lingering in the doorjamb.

"Pretty day," I said.

Vivian walked out beside me, bracing her elbows against the railing. "You're nervous about the pack?" she asked with a smile.

"Yeah, wouldn't you be?"

She nodded. "Probably. But you'll be royalty to them, Piper. They'll respect you and Zander would never let someone hurt or disrespect you."

I sighed. "I'm not royalty, Vivian. I'm just an insurance agent from Louisiana, ya know."

She chuckled. "No, you're Mrs. Blackwood, and I'm glad that you're here."

She pulled me into a hug, and I found myself smiling into her shoulder. "I'm glad I'm here, too."

Zander's silhouette formed in his room, and I lifted my gaze to meet his. The look of love staring back at me cemented my heart in place.

Zander Blackwood was engraved into my heart, and I couldn't leave without a piece of me being ripped from my chest.