The sun was bright, it penetrated through the air like an arrow, spearing Alex's chilled skin with welcomed comfort. The snow fell around the area coating the ground in a fluffy blanket of white, yet like before, the courtyard remained unfazed by the cruelties of the winter. They walked among the wildflowers that were being grown around a bed of roses and daffodils. The smell of fresh air was carried on the breeze tossing Alex's curls lose from her ties. It was beyond beautiful outside, her wolf purred against her chest, thankful to be free from the confines of indoors. "I have so many questions but hardly know where to begin." She mused staring out into the garden, watching as a bee landed on top a flower gracefully. They had started their walk along a bricked pathway, it looped under a giant weeping willow tree, there below its sagging branches was a cute wooden bench stained a deep cherry. Alex felt the rough context of its structure before sitting down, she glanced up at her companion, who remained quiet by her side.
As if sensing her stare Ace let out a sigh, "Yes, I am sure this is a lot to take in." he acknowledged.
"A lot indeed, one minute I am dead set against hating all you Alpha pigs," at Aces grunt, she blushed, "And now I do not really know how I feel. You are my Lord and now my Mate and even saying that out loud makes me uncomfortable. How shall I address you?" she asked curiously.
Ace's gaze always intense did not change, "You may address me as My Lord in front of company and by name in private or among friends." He stated.
Alex nodded but chewed on her bottom lip, "Am I permitted to visit home?" she asked, "You have not given me a set date to return and I worry about my family."
There was a moment of silence and Alex feared that maybe she should not have asked such a question, but it was better to know where they stood now, rather than later. There were certain responsibilities that she had to attend to, her mother could not be trusted, and her siblings were still too young to fend for themselves. It was Alexis's job to protect them and make sure they were being properly taken care of, as much as she possibly could under the circumstances. Even though Ace had guaranteed that the village was being seen too, if she could at least see for her own eyes what was being done, she would feel a lot better about the situation. No, she had to get home whether he permitted it or not, she needed to be sure that her brother and sisters were alright. The word of the Alpha Lord would not be good enough, it was because of his neglect that they were in the position they were in to begin with.
"I have told you that they are being taken care of, why would you wish to return to such a horrible place?" he questioned with a raised brow.
Alex frowned, "They are still my family, forgive me for not trusting your word alone, I would like to see for myself." A faint muscle ticked against Ace's jaw as he stared at her, "I have three younger siblings and a drunkard for a mother, I also have…friends I would like to see."
"Friends?" his eyes narrowed, "You mean a lover?"
Her mouth opened and shut a few times, her cheeks darkening a deep shade of red, "Even if I did mean a lover, that it none of your business." She stated hotly. A lover? Her? The idea was preposterous, with the amount of time she spent trying to make ends meet, there was never time for such an idea to enter her head. Samuel's face sprung to her mind, his deep laughing brown eyes, and she softened a little. Alex suddenly wondered what he was doing, how he felt about her not returning, would he miss her? Probably not, he was a catch in their small village, no doubt he was being sweet talked at that very moment by a beautiful girl.
A flash caught her attention, but it was too late to bolt, Ace had her by the chin, his rough grip bruising. "Listen to me and listen very carefully," he seethed, "If I find you with another man, touching another man, even fucking sharing a smile with another man, I will gut him in front of you. I do not share what is mine Alexis and make no mistake You.Are.Mine." each word was punctuated with intense meaning.
Alex jerked her chin from his grip, though she knew it was probably because he allowed her too, verses her own strength. "I belong to no one; I am my own keeper." She stated.
There was a wicked gleam in those violet eyes, "The mark on the back of your neck says differently."
Standing in a furry, Alex stood toe to toe with the Alpha Lord, starring up into his beautifully haunting face, "This mark," she threw a hand up to emphasis the mark she could not see, "makes no difference to me, it means nothing, other than you cannot control your temper."
"Coming from the woman that bit me first." He replied meeting her gaze head on.
Alex felt a little string of guilt, but it faded, her wolf rushed to the surface, prideful of the mark that she had left on the male's skin. Even now Alex could see it below the collar of his black silk shirt, it shimmered against the light, signaling to any woman that he was indeed a mated male. "That wasn't a bite…it was a playful nip." She supplied trying not to look to pleased with herself.
Ace took his hands out of his pockets and encircled them around the small span of her waist, drawing her against his chest, "Would you like to try and give me another…playful nip?" he murmured the question lowly, his voice thickening with emotion.
To say that Alex did not almost instantly melt against him would be an understatement, her whole body was buzzing with the sentiment of his words, and she wanted nothing else more than to indeed give him another nip. Pulling herself together she backed away out of his embrace, "Was that an invitation to go running?" she called over her shoulder already shooting off down the winding path, "Catch me if you can!" she yelled the challenge on the wind, stripping her clothes, she gave herself over to the wolf.