“The entire forest, the path from the honeymoon house to here, is loaded with traps. I bet the journey you guys took was the long way around, right?” Alexa asked. Her gaze was on Cheryl, and she looked so pissed off.
“You cheated,” Landon said.
“Landon is mine. You don’t deserve him. You never loved him. You never cared about him. You don’t want to have his bab—”
Alexa silenced Cheryl as she wrapped her fingers around the woman’s throat, cutting off her air supply.
“You tried to fight dirty. There are bear traps, human hunting traps, and booby traps. I missed the dart that I’m guessing had either poison or tranquilizers, and seeing the skills that were needed, you got Drew to help you. You knew I was going to fight for Landon.” She let Cheryl’s throat go, but she drew her hand back and slapped her hard across the face.
Alexa hated violence.
Landon saw her vibrating, the rage filling every single pore of her being. She wanted to hurt this woman.
He was … so fucking happy, and he knew he shouldn’t be because this wasn’t a good thing. Cheryl had cheated to try to tear mates apart, and that went against all the rules. There was no chance of her ever being able to win now. If his father allowed it, he’d be breaking a fundamental law.
“Landon is mine.” Alexa turned toward him. “And I love him so damn much.”
He couldn’t be without her, and he closed the distance between them. Cupping her face, he glared at the cuts on her face. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” she said. “I was coming for you. I’ve been trying to get to you since they took you.” She cupped his face. “I love you, Landon. I was warned about what Cheryl planned, and I knew I couldn’t let her take you away from me. I was selfish and I wanted to keep you to myself, but this is your chance.”
“My chance?”
“If you want to leave. If you never want to see me again, you can … we can end our mating here and now. You can be with Cheryl.”
“No,” he said. “I never wanted her. You’re the only woman I want. The only mate I want.” He slammed his lips down on hers, and he didn’t care that the pack applauded, whistled, and yelled in celebration. This wasn’t about them.
This was about him and Alexa.
His mate.
His soul mate.
“No!” Cheryl got to her feet. Landon stayed in front of Alexa, and Cheryl never got close. Cheryl’s parents, as well as his father, captured her.
“She will be dealt with, son,” Marcel said. “Go and enjoy your mate.”
Landon turned back to Alexa, put his hand beneath her waist, and lifted her into his arms.
Whatever happened to Cheryl, she’d brought on herself. For now, he was going to take care of his mate, the love of his life, and one day soon, he hoped, the mother of his child.