Petros’ eyes scanned the area just behind the back lawn of Blackstone Castle. He was close enough so he could hear the cheer of the guests and the music.

“Ceremony’s done,” a disembodied voice of an agent coming from the comm piece in his ear said.

“Roger,” he replied. “Section A, Quadrant B is secured. Send Markos to sweep this area. I need to report back to Christina.”

“Roger that.”

Petros took one last glance around him and headed toward the castle. How he managed to function at all this morning, he wasn’t sure. Leaving Kate had been difficult, especially watching her sleep as the sun came up. But he had his duty to The Agency. And, his wolf was all fired up, remembering what had transpired the night before. It was screaming at him to protect their mate at all costs.

Even now, the image of Kate and Milos fighting in wolf form was burned into his head. Kate was smart and quick, but in a real fight, no match for Milos. Like Petros, he was trained by the best fighters in Lykos and by the Alpha himself. One wrong move or slip, and Milos’s teeth could have sank right into her vulnerable neck.

No! He could not let that happen. Would not let it happen. So, no matter how much the need to stay with her was strong, he knew he had to go. For her sake.

And he knew, if something happened, it would be his fault. Maybe Kate was right; they should have resisted the mating bond. Being with him only put her in danger now. The emotions inside him were brewing to the point of danger. And, like a coward, he slunk away without waking her.

The longer he stayed away from her, the more he realized that was a mistake. By the end of the day, he would seek her out and apologize for leaving her bed.

Petros entered the castle through the side doors that led to the kitchens, then walked toward the ballroom where he knew the cocktails were being served while the staff set up tables and food outside. Christina, who was standing by the bar with Jason, Catherine, and Matthew, waved him over as soon as he entered.

“Everything all right?” Christina asked.

“No incidents or anything to report,” he replied.

“Good,” Matthew said. “Want a drink, man?”

“No, thank you,” he said. “I’m still on duty.”

“At least someone is taking their work seriously,” Catherine said, nodding toward the middle of the ballroom.

Petros followed her gaze, then frowned with disapproval as he saw who she was referring to. Agatha was standing among a small group, laughing and chatting as she held a drink in her hand. Christina had assigned some of them to mingle amongst the guests, but this was not exactly what she had in mind.

Christina placed her glass of wine on top of the bar. “I’ll go and relieve her of her duty.”

“No,” he said, raising a hand. “Apologies; this is my responsibility.” If he hadn’t been so distracted the entire week, he would have realized this was the worst place for the young agent. She was becoming entirely way too comfortable in Blackstone. “I’ll take care of this. Please, enjoy the celebration.”

With a final nod to the foursome, he turned on his heel and strode toward Agatha. He clenched his jaw, trying to tamp down the anger building inside him. There was a real threat out there, and here she was risking their lives so she could socialize with Blackstone’s elite.

“Explain yourself,” Petros said as he came up behind Agatha. Discretely, he took her elbow and tugged her away from the circle of people. He dragged her to the nearest empty alcove.

“What the f—oh!” Her face went as red as the scandalously low cut dress she was wearing. “Petros! I was only doing my duty.”

“Your duty is to protect the people here, not to act like some society heiress,” he ground out.

Agatha pouted. “You said we had to blend in,” she purred, rubbing a hand down his chest. “And so I followed your orders.” Something in her expression changed, and, looking back, he should have known better. “Oh Petros,” she said, her voice pitching higher. “Yes, please!” She threw herself at him so fast, he didn’t have time to evade her. “Now that you’re done with her, we can finally be together.”

What the hell? Petros tried to pry Agatha’s limbs off him, but she was using her shifter strength to hold on to him.

“You. Asshole.”

Kate’s voice cut right into him, and he knew there was going to be trouble. He used all his might to remove Agatha’s arms from him and pushed her away. He prayed it wasn’t too late and turned to face his mate.

Kate’s face was scarlet, all the way to the tips of her ears. She stood there, chest heaving as she turned her hate-filled gaze from Agatha to him.

“Kate-mine—”

“Shut up!” She held up a hand. “So, that’s it, huh? That’s why you left this morning after screwing me last night?”

“What?” Shock and anger coursed through his system.

“Petros,” Agatha purred. “Tell her the truth. That you’ve been toying with her as a joke—”

“She is my mate!” he growled. His wolf was furious at the other woman. It didn’t care that Agatha was female; it wanted blood for the insult.

“I am not his mate,” Kate said. “You want him? You can have him!”

“Kate!” He tried to grab her, but she evaded him easily and ran across the room. He wanted to go after her and knock some sense into her, but the people in the room were already beginning to stop and stare at them. Christina was going to be livid if he ruined her brother-in-law’s wedding.

“Agatha Agrippina,” he said, turning to her. “You are relieved of your duty. Pack your things and take the first flight back to Lykos.”

“What!” she screeched. “You can’t do that! I’m going to complain—”

“To whom?” he asked. “To the Alpha? He’s right over there. Go ahead.”

Ari Stavros was standing in the far corner with Hank and Riva Lennox, his sharp eyes trained at them, a look of disapproval on his face.

Petros nodded to one of the agents and signaled for them to come over. “Escort Miss Agrippina back to her hotel room and assist her in packing her things.”

He didn’t bother staying. There may be some fallout, but he could deal with that later. Right now, he had to find his mate.

He walked in the direction she had stormed off to and saw a flash of pink hair by the door and turn a corner.

“Kate!” he called as he saw her running down the corridor. That only seemed to fuel her, and she ran faster. Gritting his teeth, he chased after her, nearly bumping into a petite figure wearing white. It was a good thing Luke Lennox had fast reflexes and was able to pull his bride away.

Kate stopped and then shrieked. “I said stay away from me!”

“How could you say those words to me?” he said. “After last night? You could think I would even look at another woman?”

“I don’t care what you do! Just leave me alone from now on.”

“You can’t mean that, Kate-mine,” he said, stalking toward her slowly. He was scared she would run again.

“And what are you going to do about it?” she challenged, even as he backed her against the wall. “I—EEEKK!”

The damn woman wouldn’t listen again, so he did what he had to do—pick her up and take her away from here.

“You, you—troglodyte! Put me down this instant!” She kicked her legs violently.

Petros turned to look back at Luke and Georgina, who was standing there, stunned. “Congratulations,” he said.“And apologies. We’ll be leaving now so as not to cause any more disruptions to your wedding.”

“Uh, thanks?” Georgina said.

Petros ignored Kate’s protests and instead hurried his pace as he spotted the door at the end of the hallway. He set Kate down and locked the door behind him.

“How dare you?” she said, running to the other end of the small room and pressing herself against the dresser propped up against the wall. “I can’t believe you did that again!”

“It’s because you won’t listen, you infuriating woman!” After all this, surely his anger was justified. “I would have thought last night meant something to you.”

“Of course it did!” she said. “But you left this morning! Without saying goodbye.”

He knew that had been a mistake. But how to tell her? “Kate-mine.” He approached her carefully. “Remember what I said? Once we make love, there would be no going back.” There was a tightness in his chest, and he feared he would burst from all the emotions he was feeling. “After last night, I couldn’t … I had to protect you. And my first instinct was to run. To ensure that Milos would never be near you again.”

“Petros ….”

He had failed her. He knew this. “When I saw you with Milos, it tore me up inside. I should be the one protecting you. Fighting for you.”

“That’s bullshit,” she said. “Mates protect each other.”

He gave her a weak smile. “It was my mistake thinking leaving you was for your own good. I also realized, well, all this time I’d been single-minded in my pursuit of you. I thought it was fate that led me here and to you, and things will just fall into place. But that was selfish of me. After all, what place did I have in your life? I have nothing to offer you, nor am I worthy of you—”

“Stop! You stupid man!” She lunged at him, pressing her lips to his. “Please stop talking like that.”

“What would you have me say then, Kate-mine?” He was already lifting her up and placing her on top of the dresser.

“I—Oh God! Please!” His fingers were already between her thighs, pressing up against her heat. The front of her panties dampened instantly with her desire, and her sweet scent wrapped around him. “More.”

He slipped a hand under her panties, thrusting his fingers inside her. “I can’t wait,” he said, using his other hand to unbuckle his belt.

“Then don’t,” she replied as her hand grabbed the back of his head and pulled him down for a kiss.

He groaned against her lips and then yanked her panties aside and thrust his already engorged cock into her in one move. She threw her head back and yelped as her pussy clasped around him, sheathing him in her tight, wet warmth. Her arms wound around him, and she pressed her face against his neck, whimpering from pleasure as he moved inside her.

“Kate … Kate ….” He said her name over and over again, in rhythm with his thrusting. His mind was filled with just her. Nothing else mattered in this moment, only his mate. He bit his lip as he felt her body tense and clamp around him even harder. He held on as long as he could, waiting for her orgasm to course through her. As she was shuddering, he let go, crying her name out one last time as he spurted his seed into her. Her legs tightened around him, pushing him deeper inside her.

His heartbeat slowed down somewhat, but the blood pumping through his veins was still racing through his body. Slowly, he backed away and pulled his softening cock out of her. Seeing her like this, her dress hiked to her waist, his cum on her thighs, and a look of pure satisfaction plastered on her face was enough to make his heart pound again.

“Wow,” she said. “I think make-up sex is the best.”

“Don’t think we will be fighting all the time,” he warned her.

Kate pulled her dress down and hopped off the dresser. “I told you I’m not some meek mouse who’s going to agree with you all the time.”

“Oh no.” He pulled her to him, inhaling her scent. “I would never mistake you for meek.”

She sank against him. “Can you get out of here? If not now, then before the reception ends?”

“I think that can be arranged.”