I wake up to the most magnificent warmth. Xander was spooning me from behind. His arm was tightly placed on my waist while his other arm was under my head.
I try to snuggle closer, but as soon as I moved there was a slight sting around my core. 

And then all of the memories from last night flood in! I lost it! I lost my V-Card! I guess the reality of it kinda shocked me. Before, I couldn't even think of myself ever losing it, but I guess fate had a different idea, or the moon goddess in my case.

I move over to the edge of the bed, wanting to go to the bathroom to pee, only to be pulled back tightly against Xander's chest. He buries his face in my hair.

I giggle, "Xander, I need to go to the bathroom."

He snuggles his face closer against my hair and groans, "You should wear diapers in bed so than you can stay in my arms for the whole morning."

I laugh as I wiggle out of his reach, only because he finally loosened his grip on me. "That's so gross! you have the most weirdest ideas."

He shrugs his shoulders, "What? I am a man of many good ideas."

"Yes, many, but not all Xander Nightwalker."

With this new found confidence, I leave the sheets on the bed and walk around the room to the bathroom...naked!

"I'm one lucky man," Xander mumbles to himself.

I stop at the door and look over my shoulder. My mate is lying on the bed with a sheet around his hips, topless. He's got his hands resting behind his head, making his beautiful god-given muscles more of a tight defined appearance.

"You checking me out Sweetheart?"

Oh my gosh! With blushing cheeks I quickly turn away into the bathroom, hearing my mates deep chuckle as I shut the door.

After I did my business, I started my morning routine, beginning with washing my face. I had put some clothes at this point. Just some simple comfy shorts and one of Xander's t-shirts. 

While moisturising my washed face, my phone buzzed, indicating that I had just received a message.

I open the message and see that it's a video. I frown when the sender was unknown. It was a short clip of two couple in a dark room. They both passionately shed their clothes and start to have sex.
I felt my face scrunch in confusion as well as disturbance. What the hell is this? Why would somebody send me something like this? Who is this eve from?

As disturbing as it was, I kept watching. There must be a reason this was sent? As observe the scene curiously, it began to look familiar. 

The man in the video was very big while the female was small. He caressed her gently, it kinda reminds me of what Xander di-OH MY GOSH! It's me and Xander!! I skip the video and saw my face. Someone was filming us! A cherished moment...and some sick psycho got it on TAPE! Fucking asshole!

I felt my blood run cold. A queasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. I think I'm gonna be sick. All the blood drains from my face...leaving me mortified. He saw us. He saw me! He was on our property.

A knock sounded at the door,
"Izzy? you okay?" Xander said from the other side of the door, "It got quiet in there?" A concerned tone emanated.

I wanted to let him know I was okay, but I didn't even have the voice to say anything. My mind was too busy processing what just happened. My eyes were completely glued on the screen as every bad scenario played through my mind. I look at the text message below the video. It says:

You think you're immune,
To the powers that be,
Those who say,
That you're meant for me,
You try to hide,
Forever deny,
That you are mine
Until you die

You don't understand,
The bond we share,
How forever more,
I will strip you bare.
(Kieran J)

At those words, a deep heavy fear settles itself in my chest. I feel this heavy weight on my heart. When will this stop?  I leaned on the basin as I began to feel ill.

Xander burst through the door. When he saw my pale face, he quickly made his way to me and gripped my shoulders

"Izzy? Look at me. What's wrong sweatheart?"

I just stare at him. Numb to everything he was saying, numb to everything except the fear. "Elizabeth?" He questions softly. He only used my full name when he was being very very serious. 

I step away from him enough for me to give my phone to him. I sat on top of the toilet, afraid that my knees might give way.

As the second and minutes went by, I could hear his heart thump quicker as well as his breathe. His eyes harden. His body becomes tight and tense. His teeth forming into a snarl.

Xander fell into a dead silence. However, his body was shaking...shaking with rage. He steps away from me, turns and punched the bathroom wall with a big shout, leaving it with a big hole.
"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch! Motherfucker! Like hell he's gonna take my mate! My MATE from me! He's gonna be dead before he touches what's mine!"

I stand up and grab his face between my hands, stroking his cheek,
"Xander stop. You're going to hurt yourself."

At my touch I feel him relax, "This is bad, Izzy. He's not being a petty stalker...he's being serious about this. He wants revenge." I could see the worry swimming in his eyes, "This is the third time something has happened and I haven't done anything. How the hell am I going to protect you?"

"Nothing is going to happen to me? Do you know why?" 

He looks at me, waiting for me to say anything.

"Ask me why Xander." I said.

He rolls his eyes, "Why?"

I smile, "Because you are my mate. I have faith in you Xander. As scared as I am, I know if I'm with you, I'm okay. You are an Alpha. The Alpha of Alphas. I am safest with you. Don't doubt yourself."

He nods, "Yes...if you're with me," he mumbles to himself.
He hugs me tightly, almost as if he's trying to reassure himself that I'm here with him and that I'm safe.

"I'm going to keep you safe, Izzy,"he whispers.

XANDER'S POV

I left Izzy with my mother and her girlfriends while I had a meeting with my beta and gamma.

I'm sitting in my office in front of the fire, contemplating all of the events that has happened so far.

"What are we going to do about this Xander?" Soul asks.

"We have to find out who is doing this first." I growled

"You know god damn well who it is," Noah said in a harsh tone, "You just don't want to come to terms that your past is now catching up to not only you, but your mate as well," Noah yelled.

"Watch your fucking mouth," I snapped, "You may be my friend Noah, but I am still your alpha! You give me god damn respect."

He reluctantly bows his head in apology, but growls .

"I just hoped it wasn't, but I guess I do have to come to terms with it. I did kill his mate. It would make sense if he tries to avenge his wife by taking Izzy from me."

"So?" Soul says, "What are we going to do about it exactly?"

I ponder on it for a while. "For the time being, double the patrols and I want a guard on Izzy at all times...maybe her brother Eddie might want to do that. Me you and Noah are going to be going to his secret place. The place where I was kept. We'll see if there is any fresh scent or Mark at all that could give us a hint if where he is or what's he's doing. We agree?"

They both say, "Yes Alpha, when do we leave?"

"In a month. I have to first officially introduce the pack to my mate as the Luna. That reminds me, get Zapora and my mother to Organize that. Afterwards, I'm going to take Elizabeth somewhere to get away from all this for a while. I think she needs a little break. She's got a lot on her shoulders. After that, we'll set off."

"Sounds good to me," Soul says.

I nod, "Good," I turn to Noah in question, "Noah? Good?"

All he does is grunt. Which is his way of saying good.

"Okay, well, I have to go, I need to be with my mate." I stand up and head to the door, but before I leave I look over my shoulder at my Beta, "Oh and Noah, get Eddie on the guard job by tomorrow will ya? Before then, I want you to find out how good of a fighter he really is. I don't want some pansy protecting my mate, yeah?"

Noah's face spreads in an evil grin, "Gladly."

IZZY'S POV:

"Hey Lizzy, you want to go for a little walk?" Avory asks. I felt like I haven't seen her in ages, maybe because I actually haven't seen her, in what felt like a billion years.

I nod, "Yeah, I think a little walk to clear my mind would be good."

Before we left the front door, Xander's mother stopped me, "Oh wait dear! Xander mind linked me and said that he wants the ceremony organised to welcome you into the pack officially. So I just wanted to warn you and say that it will probably be, not tomorrow, but the day after that."

"Oh." Shit I forgot about that! I kinda all ready thought I was in the pack, but I am the Luna, well, soon to be Luna. Ugh! Just another thing to think about.

Avory grabs my upper arm and drags me outside, "Come on, you're just a whole bundle of stress aren't you? You need to relax."

"Avory how can I relax when I probably have stalker/rapist after me and now the Luna Ceremony? If you were in my position, you'd understand."

"And thank the moon goddess that I'm not in that position."

I roll my eyes, "Thanks, that made me feel so much more better."

"Hey hey, I do not appreciate the sarcasm missy."

I roll my eyes again. She's going to be such a motherly mother one day. Hmmm mother? I'm going to be a mother one day. I'd want to be married and settled in the pack life before I even think of having a family with Xander. Wait, would Xander want to have kids?

Suddenly I hear a grunt. People are cheering. I look around and see a group of warriors in a circle. What's going on?

"Let's go over and see what they're all looking at."

We walk over, push through all the men until I see what they're watching.
"EDDIE! NOAH! What the hell are guys doing!?" I shout. Everyone settles at the sound of my voice. They all bow their heads in respect, "Luna." They mumble.
I turn to Eddie, seeing he has a black eye, cut lip, one chipped tooth...and he's still smiling.
"What are you doing?" I asked.

"The alpha wanted me to be your guard since I'll probably be the only one that won't really annoy you, but he wanted-"

Noah cut through, "The alpha wanted his skills in hand to hand combat tested. He said and I quote, 'he doesn't want some pansy protecting my mate.'"

I stand there fuming. How dare he make such decisions without me! I am his god damn mate for goodness sake. I have every right to have a say on who should and even if I wanted a GUARD!

"Well that's enough. I've seen Eddie fight, he can fight so that's all done and dusted Noah."

"I'm afraid we can't stop Elizabeth." Noah said.

I turn my head and give him a hard stare. I make my way to him until I'm looking straight up at this beast of a man, "That is Luna to you...Beta. And I demand that this test is over."

Noah looks down at me and smirks.

"XANDER!" I yell as I walk into the threshold.

"Sweetheart! I'm in the shower! Can you please bring my aftershave?" He yells back.

Pffff like hell I'm gonna do that, "My hands are a little full right now!"

I have each hand holding Noah and Eddie's ears. Both of them are bent down in an awkward position so than i can't pull them down even more. But that doesn't work.

Xander climbs down the stairs but slows down at the sight before him.
His eyes shine with amusement.

"Well, I don't get to see this everyday. Two of my best warriors being held down by a woman." He laughs.

"It's Luna to you Mr!" I snapped

Xander frowns, "What's wrong?"

"How could you make such a decision like that without discussing it with me huh? I am your Wi-" OMG! I was about to say wife. Ugh! This just makes the situation even more harder.

"Mate." I corrected.

Xander's face revealed a quick look of sadness and longing, only to mask it again. "I don't exactly see why you're upset?"

"We are supposed to be mates Xander Nightwalker! Do you know what that means? It's means we do things," I motion my eyes to the empty space between us, "Together!"

He is silent for only a moment then nodded his head "You're right. I should have discussed it with you. I'm just not used it. It's definitely something I need to adjust to, but next time I'll remember."

"Look I know-wait what?" I was stumped.

Xander's face spreads in a smile, "I said I understand and agree."

I frown in confusion aso to why he was agreeing with me, but still slowly nod, "Right...good."

He clears his throat, "Sweetheart, mind releasing my men from your wrath?"

"Oh I forgot!" I release my hold. Both men straighten up, rubbing their scarlet red ears, 

"Damn she's got a grip," Noah mumbles.

"I cant feel my ear!" Eddie says to himself in a panic.

I watch them leave and close the door with a click.

Warms and strong arms that I know and love circle around my waist. My mate nuzzles my neck from behind and then kisses my mark, "You know how I love you, and you love me sweetheart?"

"Yes," I say as I lean into him more.

"And we are mates. There is no one else, but you and no one else but me...forever. Do you know that?"

My face scrunched in confusion, "Yes? Xander, baby, where are you you going with this?"

His lips press on my ear slightly and whispers, "Why don't we get married?"

I look down at my hands and see that he placed a diamond ring in my palm.
I'm breathless, this is...happening.

I frowned, "Have you thought about this properly or did you just think of it now?"

He chuckles and kisses my neck, "No sweetheart. I've thought about it for 12 years."

I turn around and jump into his arms. He quickly catches me and laughs. I circle my arms around his strong neck and kiss him with everything I have. I kiss along his cheek up to his ear,
"Yes," I whisper.

Xander swings me around the room. I laugh with joy.

XANDER'S POV

I swing my future mate around the room! Yus!!

I love her too much to not marry her. I know it's quite quick and sudden, but...this man. The man. The man that haunts my past and now my present, he is after my beloved. I need to be fully committed and bound to Izzy, before anything happens to either of us.