Chapter Nine

Ricardo

Ianthe's lavender scent is surrounding me in the car when we drive to the office. I've been quiet ever since we left, my head a maelstrom of thoughts and confusion.

She doesn't have a scent.

Which is impossible because all I can smell is her. Her scent is everywhere I turn, I can't even smell my own bodywash anymore. When I closed my eyes in the shower, I saw a field of lavender with her wolf as white as snow amongst it, why is it that I can smell her and not Colt?

As wolves we rely heavily on our senses, and I have never encountered one who doesn't have a scent.

Sebastian lied to me about something, but I'm not going to call him and just ask. I first want to unravel this mystery on my own.

Her hand is soft and small in my own when I open the door for her and help her out of the SUV. She's wearing appropriate clothes today, and I can't help the sweep of my eyes to her ample breasts. She's dressed modestly, the tee covering everything and her jeans not too tight, but there's no denying the vixen's body that's underneath.

Moon Goddess have mercy, I don't know how I'm supposed to reign myself in for three whole months. But I can't touch her before she's of legal age and I won't touch her until I know every detail about her.

I have noticed she doesn't offer her hand to anyone when being introduced, yet she has no problem with me holding her hand as we walk to my private elevator in the parking lot. I let her hand go as soon as we're inside, her touch makes me calm and I need my focus sharp at all times.

She's quiet, taking everything in as if she's seeing it for the very first time.

"Have you ever travelled before?" I ask as the elevator starts to go up.

A light blush covers her cheeks and she peeks at me from underneath long eyelashes, making her even more adorable. "No."

I have this urge to show her the world, take her to Italy where my bloodline stems from, run with her on a private beach and kiss her under a full moon. My eyes dart to her full pink lips, imagining once again what it would feel like under mine, if that blush on her cheeks would deepen if I held her delicate face in my rough palms.

"I have a few things to do this morning in the office." I tell her.

It's Saturday morning and I don't usually work on weekends, but I need to discuss a few things with Harry and Colt after the latter's visit to my house.

The elevator door opens, and I steer her towards my office. There's only Colt, Harry and two soldiers on the floor waiting on us, everyone else are off on the weekends. Colt and Harry have already seen her, so they try to not look so affected, but the two soldiers' mouths are literally hanging open as we approach.

Their gazes drop when I throw them an angry look. I can't say that I blame them, I probably looked the exact same way when I first saw her.

I notice how she stays slightly behind me and I remind myself once again that she haven't had contact with a lot of people. That is going to have to change. As a Luna, there are going to be certain responsibilities bestowed upon her. She will be in charge of organizing all types of events. That means she has to learn how to socialize, and now is a great way to start before she knows what she means to me. When she gets the title, she will be a little more prepared.

"Alpha,I have chosen these two fine soldiers for the protection of Ianthe." Colts starts. "This is Mark and Randall, they are great fighters."

"They are unmarked." There's a slight aggression to my voice and I can feel Ianthe's calming presence moving closer to my back."

"They are some of the finest fighters, Alpha." Colt's eyes are unyielding on mine. "They are trained excellently and would not allow any harm to reach her. I have told them not to interact with her unless it's to give instructions."

I have to trust the people I put in authorative posisions, if I don't my role as alpha will be questioned too. And I trust Colt, I trust him with my life, but this is my mate we're talking about. She doesn't know much about the world and now she's been thrust into a new pack, I need her be secure.

There's a tug on my pinky finger and I look down so see Ianthe's elegant milky hand wrapped around the digit.

"It's okay,"She says softly, her gaze soft and trusting. "I can feel that they have good hearts."

I look back up to the four men, and I know I have to come out and say what she will mean to all of us soon, at least to my closest circle. '

"You do not let her out of your sight, if she goes to the bathroom, you wait outside the door, I don't care where you are." I stay sternly. "If anything happens to her, I will kill you."

"Yes Alpha." They reply in unison. To their credit they don't look scared or flinch at my words, because they know that I will do it. That means they are loyal and will take their jobs seriously.

"And I want Heleni on the team as soon as she graduates." I tell Colt.

Heleni is his little sister and she's in her last year of high school. I know for a fact that she doesn't have plans on studying, she wants to join the pack army as soon as possible. She's also the fiercest female warrior I have ever seen, and I'm going to need a female in Ianthe's protection detail. I don't really want men following her into the bathroom, but for now I don't have a choice. If her guards can't smell her, they have to keep an eye on her at all times.

"Done." Colt nods his head.

Another tug on my hand and I look down at the woman who has completely captured my heart in less than a day. Her face is lit up like a little girl's, her eyes dancing.

"Can I go outside then?" She aks hopefully.

How the hell am I ever going to say no to her?

"Yes." I say a little too harshly but then address my attention to the two soldiers. "I want updates every thirty minutes on your whereabouts."

"Yes Alpha."

I look down at my mate again. "Pick any restaurant in town, and I'll meet you around one for lunch."

A dazzling smile breaks over her face and I swear the sun just became brighter outside. I am royally screwed.