Chapter Eleven
“This is fucking bullshit, and you know it,” Landon said.
He stood at the clearing near the lake. He didn’t know who’d picked this location, but it fucking sucked. This was where Cheryl had hit her sister. Where Alexa taught the same girl to go swimming, and now the pack was all close, waiting, wondering if Alexa would come for him.
Staring at Cheryl, he saw the smug smile on her face. She wanted this.
He didn’t know if Alexa would find him. This was her one chance to truly escape him, and it was bullshit.
“I have to follow the rules.”
“I bear Alexa’s mark. She has mine. There is no chance I can ever be with another. I love Alexa. She is mine.” He clenched his hands into fists, wanting to fucking hurt Cheryl.
His father had taught him so many times to not let his emotions get in the way of his duty.
Cheryl had done this on purpose. Every decision she had made had brought them to this moment. He only wished that he’d been staring down at Alexa all these years rather than a stupid fucking photograph.
No one would have ever challenged them then.
This was all bullshit.
Anger flooded his body. His wolf wasn’t happy. How dare this … bitch question who he was, who he belonged to.
What worried Landon more was if Alexa would come. What if she never arrived? What if she didn’t truly want him? Did she want to be unmated to him?
So many thoughts ran through his mind, and it made him hard to think straight. Fear and panic were the leading emotions, as well as anger. He flitted between all three.
Mating to Cheryl would be a nightmare. He hated her and had only put up with her because of Drew and Ben.
His two friends were there. Drew looked smug, but then, he thought he was going to get the chance to take Dan’s place when the time was right. Ben looked … sad. Like he hadn’t wanted to be part of taking him away from Alexa.
“Time is running out, son,” Marcel said.
“Alexa isn’t going to come. You may as well admit it now, Landon. You are mine. You will always be mine. She doesn’t deserve you.” Cheryl stepped close.
Her scent repulsed him. He looked away, hoping Alexa would arrive any moment, but the woods were clear of his mate.
Where was she?
Did she truly not want him?
“You should just relent. You and me, Landon, you know this is what was going to happen this whole time. There is no use in fighting it. You’re mine, and I am going to love you for the rest of our lives. I will give you children.”
Cheryl went to touch him, and he stepped back, growling.
“This is pointless, Landon. See with your own eyes that I am the one who loves you. No one else.”
“If you touch him, I will break your arm and tear it from your fucking body,” Alexa said, suddenly coming out of the clearing.
He was shocked that she was covered in mud, and he saw the streaks of blood. Several were across her cheek, and he saw her limping as well.
“Alexa?” her father asked.
She held up her hand and continued toward them. “So that’s why you waited a whole month to stake your claim?” Alexa asked.
He hadn’t noticed her carrying the bear trap until she dropped it in front of her.
“What is this?” Marcel asked.