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The stables were on the property of the palace, which spanned acres upon acres. Xander had intentionally had them placed that way so their enemies could not come up with a sneak attack while he was out riding. The expanse of land was entirely their own, with wildflowers in a blended shade of purple and bone white swaying in the warm wind.
They went to the stables to meet the horses he had known since he was a child. He had chosen a mare beforehand that would fit Lexi’s temperament.
Lexi stepped before the horse, the color of a golden sky at sunset. Her eyes locked with the stare of the gentle mare. Lexi held out a hand to the majestic creature, who sniffed her fingers and let his mate rub her down the length of her long face.
Xander was amazed and falling even more head over heels for the amazing woman. It would be a long fall but a wonderful one. Something he knew he would never ever recover from.
The mare neighed, and Lexi giggled. They were getting along perfectly, and there was a joyful glint in Lexi’s eyes that Xander wanted to bottle up and house forever in his heart.
“She’s made for you,” he commented.
“She’s so beautiful,” Lexi said, running her fingers through the beast’s lovely mane.
Xander had to pull himself away from the scene and get his noble steed out. It was a black beauty, lean, strong, and stoic, a lot like him. They walked out their separate rides, and Xander helped her mount.
She’d said she’d ridden horses in her childhood, but it had been a long time since then. But the way she cantered into the field of wildflowers, her feet hooked in the stirrups, said otherwise.
Xander’s heart was being held, nourished, and cradled as he watched Lexi ride ahead of him. Beyond her was a magical backdrop of the mountain beneath a sky scattered in lavender streaks and red-painted hues. But to Xander, there wasn’t anything more bewitching and inspiring than the sight of his woman expertly whipping around on her horse to face him, expression bursting with a whimsical childlike exhilaration.
“Are you coming?” she bellowed.
Xander hopped onto his horse and galloped out to meet her as she moved through the fragrant wildflowers. He was in a dream he never wanted to wake from, feeling the warm wind on his face and the contagious chuckles of his mate as they raced toward a beckoning horizon.
They rode along the vast landscape for an hour before coming to an evergreen to nestle under. Xander had the private chefs make a lunch earlier that morning and had it in his saddle bags attached behind his saddle. It was full of sandwiches, grapes, crackers, chocolates, and a bottle of wine. He also laid out a blanket for them which Lexi appreciated.
“No one has ever done anything like this for me before,” she remarked, rolling a grape around in her mouth.
The braid in which she had originally put her dark brown locks had loosened, giving her a wind-chafed look that Xander admired. He popped a grape into his mouth, tilting his head to gaze at her as she played with the food on her plate.
“Then, you haven’t been with the right men,” he whispered back.
Lexi smiled, but it was a sad smile. They were laying side by side on the blanket. The beauty of the mountains before them was like a living masterpiece. Xander slid his body closer to hers and tilted her chin up. Her eyes came to his, so genuine, so lovely, and sweet.
“Don’t ever think that any of that has anything to do with you. You’re incredible. Unfortunately, most men aren’t and take good girls for granted.”
She bit her lip and slid her jaw around absent-mindedly. It was an endearing gesture but likely a habit gained from her youth.
“And I will never do that, Lexi,” he said softly. “I promise you. Besides, I like being the one to add somefirststo your life.”
Lexi kissed his hands, her lips as soft as a rose’s petal. She kissed his palm, then leaned her face entirely onto his hand, asking a question that made Xander’s heart leap.
“I know we have to participate in the mating ceremony soon. Do you want to talk to me about that?”
Xander was caught off guard, thinking he was going to be the one to raise the subject. But her look was that of curiosity and earnestness, so he swallowed his pride and gave her an honest response.
“I was waiting for you to settle in,” he said, trying to hide a smile. “I didn’t want to place any pressure on you when you already have so much happening.”
She smiled at him, caressing his hand as she continued to lean against it. “I appreciate that. It’s not like I’m not comfortable with you physically ….”
Lexi gave him a naughty look that made him want to devour her right then and there in the field. She made him feel young, like a wild wolf that only wants to howl at the moon and make love beneath it.
“Well, that could be the case,” he said, moving in closer. “But the mating ceremony is entirely different in comparison to when we’re alone.”
Lexi nodded. He didn’t want to lecture her on anything, but he also didn’t want her to go into something she wasn’t prepared for. So he spoke kindly, loving the way she stroked his arms with her light touches.
“All members of the pack will be present, and it has to take place under the full moon. The witnesses are essential to make the mating official. And there is a marking involved, of course.”
Lexi continued to nod.
