Moonlight Ridge

31

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Her heart did a flip at hearing him use such an intimate name. She tried to calm herself by remembering that he said it only to benefit their audience. She smiled at him in return.

"You shaved?" She asked.

"Of course. You said you would grow more fond of me if I did." He answered with a sly smile as they walked on the grass pathway.

Elves bowed and said their congratulations as they passed. Leo nodded at them before she laughed at his boldness.

"Indeed I did say that and I have." She confirmed.

His smile broadened as they continued to make their way along the path. At last the path led to a much larger grass area that Leo could see. Just before they stepped into it, the alpha and his luna came forward. They were both dressed up as well and Samara wore a dress that showed off her mark like Leo. Samara kept her head down but the alpha's eyes swept over Leo and paused on her mark. Then he looked at Mallelis. Leo felt Mal tense up.

"I would like to offer an apology and congratulations to you both." Alpha Reece said carefully.

It was now Leo's turn to give Mal comfort as she squeezed Mal's hand. She sent a thought over simultaneously.

Play nice, Mal. They believe us to have completed the bond and they are necessary allies in our coming fight.

Mal relaxed a bit as he glanced at Leo from the corner of his eye then addressed the alpha.

"We shall accept both, as well as offer our own congratulations to you both. I hope we can move past our differences to defeat the cold ones?" Mal responded calmly.

"Nothing would please us more." The alpha responded before he bowed and tugged Samara away.

Leo observed Mal watching her with a frown on his lips. Mal grew quiet after the encounter and once they reached the middle of the open grassy area, Leo stopped. Mal stopped with her and looked at her. Leo could see out of the corner of her eye that the elves and others were coming into the open area to dance.

"What troubles you?" She asked him.

"It is nothing I am sure." He responded with a small shake of his head.

"It is not nothing. I can tell it troubles you. This only works if we are honest with one another, Mal." She said.

"This?"

"Yes. This partnership. Friendship. Tell me."

He blew out a breath before speaking.

"She did not look content."

Leo's eyebrows knitt together in confusion for a moment before she understood.

"You mean Samara?"

He tipped his chin down in confirmation but said nothing. Leo sighed and stepped closer to him.

"I am sure she is not content. She most likely heard the alpha's thoughts regarding me and how he felt. But that is no longer true. He noticed our completed bond scent and saw my mark. Any feelings he had are gone now. I am confident the alpha and luna will find a way to repair their bond and all will be well. If I may ask...Why does her happiness concern you?" Leo spoke quietly.

She quickly stamped down the first embers of jealousy to focus on his answer. He gave a deep sigh and looked at her.

"It is a long story." He said with uncertainty.

"We have plenty of time." Leo said as she turned to lead him to the refreshments table.

No one had come to where the food was yet, so it allowed a little more privacy for their conversation. He followed close behind and when they both had a drink of ale in their hand, he began speaking.

"I have known her all my life, Leonna." He said as he paused a moment to observe everyone singing, dancing, and laughing. He continued to speak while watching all the others. "Our families were great friends and so that led to her and I being very good friends. After....my father died, she and her family were what kept me sane. They tried to help my mother but alas, her grieve overtook her. We were inseparable and did everything together. As time went on and we never found our true mates, she and I made a promise. That is not to mean that I did not behave foolishly. I did and had lain with women many times. And after our promise, I laid with her many times. But as time went on, I shed my destructive behavior and took up my title. For her. Our courtship lasted one hundred years. Just so that we would be sure to not miss our true mates." He paused again but looked at her this time. "Then you came along. A frustrating, fiery woman with passion in your eyes." He chuckled at the recollection. "I thought I could resist our bond and when Samara arrived....I could mate her and it would be over. That did not work out as I thought. Although I am saddened by a life without the woman I thought would be mine, I still wish her happiness. She is still very dear to me. Therefore, I hope you are correct that they will be able to repair their bond." He finished speaking and looked out into the crowd again.

Leo stood drinking her ale in astonishment. She had not expected that he would have been so open with her. In part she was glad but the embers of jealousy were there in the pit of her stomach at the thought that he had already had relations with the luna. She grit her teeth and strengthened her mental wall as she once again fought unwanted feelings. She had just finished her drink when she watched Mal toss back the remainder of his first ale along with two more quickly. He then turned to her and put a hand out.

"May I have this dance, milady?" He asked with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

Leo smiled at him and took his hand.

"I did not think you would ever ask." She teased.

They twirled around the others and danced for hours. When they stopped on occasion to catch their breath, Mal would have several drinks of ale. Leo stopped drinking after two. She felt light and bubbly. The drinks had loosened Mal up. He talked and laughed with everyone including Leo. He had even kissed Leo several times. Which had always made everyone cheer.

At last when Mal began stumbling slightly, Leo said goodbye to all and helped him to their quarters. On the walk there, Mal constantly told Leo how beautiful she was and kept touching her hair with the arm he had over her shoulders. Finally, they arrived to the house and Leo helped Mal slump on his bed.

She went to her own room and started getting ready to sleep. She had washed off the makeup and sliding her dress off. She stopped and turned quickly at the sound of a sharp intake of breath behind her. Mal stood shirtless in the doorway watching her with hooded eyes. His eyes trailed down her half nude body.

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