Chapter 40: Chapter 40

"Are you going to still challenge Nikki?" Dimitri asked as they laid on the bed.

Rosalie sighed, "She didn't bother us during the meeting today, which is good. Besides the multiple glares. But yeah, if I back down now..."

"I mean, as long as she isn't able to get your stomach area, you'll be fine."

Rosalie rested her head on his chest and sighed, she wanted to tell him that her fight with Nikki will be to the death, but she didn't want him to freak out.

During the meeting he was challenged by not only Clinton, but Eli and several other alphas. He would have to fight them one after another, not giving him a chance to heal. Clinton had attempted to make his fight last, but Dimitri said he challenged him first.

Rosalie knew that Clinton was just being a coward and wanted to fight him when he's at his weakest point. She was disgusted by the man, she hated all eight alphas that challenged him. Each one wanted her as their mate, just because she was deemed the most beautiful she-wolf in the US. She hated it, she loathed it with her whole being.

She had watched her mother struggle with being known as the most beautiful, her mother hated it too. She would often find her mother crying in her father's arms, whimpering about wanting the men to leave her alone. Back then she didn't understand the stress, but now she does.

"What's bothering you?" Dimitri quietly asked.

"I don't want you fighting those alphas." She whispered.

He sighed and pulled her on to him, she frowned as she straddled him. His hands rested on her hips as he studied her.

"They want you, Rosalie, I promised to always protect you and keep you safe. If I withdrew then they would take you by force. I can't do that to you." He explained, gently stroking her cheek.

She nodded, "I...I have to tell you something."

"What?"

"My fight with Nikki is...to the death."

He blanched, "Wh-what?"

"It's to the death."

She didn't have enough time to prepare for his reaction. He immediately sat up and hugged her.

"No, what if she plays dirty and kills you? I can't lose you." He murmured. "I can't handle losing another mate."

Rosalie frowned as she hugged him back, "I won't lose, I have many things to live for, Dimi. I have a son and two daughters, a pack, a family, an unborn baby, and...the greatest love I've ever known. I won't die."

He still hugged her, pressing her against him. She didn't argue though, she knew this was the only way he could relax. She gently rubbed circles on his back as he attempted to calm himself down. After about ten minutes he finally released her and just sat there.

She could see the fear in his eyes, the fear of losing his one true love. She smiled sadly at him and crushed her lips to his. He didn't waste any time to kiss her back, his hands cupped her face. When they parted they pressed their foreheads together and looked into each other's eyes.

Rosalie smiled, "I love you."

"I love you too." He replied.

As they laid back down and cuddled against each other, Dimitri whispered something that broke her heart.

"Please, don't leave me again." He whispered.

I won't. She thought as she fell asleep.

When they returned home Dimitri immediately started making rooms for the alphas. He was completely against having them in the same packhouse as his mate, but he knew he had no other choice.

Rosalie tried helping, but he refused to let her, telling her to go and rest. She scowled at him and refuse, instead, she sat down in a chair.

"If Nikki comes early I don't want you around her. Alone." She stated.

Dimitri frowned, before he could say anything Rosalie chuckled.

"I trust you, not her. She'll try everything to have you as her own." She stated.

Dimitri relaxed and nodded, he walked over to her and kissed her.

"I love you, baby girl." He whispered against her lips.

She grinned, "I love you too, Dimi."

"You really like that nickname, huh?" He chuckled, standing up.

Rosalie shrugged, Dimitri sighed as he inspected the last room. Once he was satisfied with how clean it was, he swooped Rosalie into his arms and carried her to their room. She laughed, throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him on the cheek.

Instead of placing her on the bed, he turned around and fell onto his back. She smiled as she looked at him, she gently stroked his cheek, enjoying the smoothness of his skin.

"How did I get so lucky?" She murmured.

He chuckled and smiled at her, he took her hand in his and placed a gentle kiss on the corner of her mouth.

"I believe it's the other way around, baby girl." He said, his grey eyes holding love.

Rosalie sighed happily as she laid her head on his chest, she intertwined their fingers before nuzzling against him. Dimitri wrapped his one arm around her, he nuzzled his face into her neck and closed his eyes.

When they woke up a few hours later Sage announced that the alphas were here, along with Nikki. Rosalie laughed at Sage's annoyed face.

"Can I kill Nikki?" Sage asked.

Rosalie shook her head, "That's my job."

They quickly fixed themselves up before walking downstairs. Dimitri wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. The alphas had jealous expressions on their faces when they spotted them.

"You all have your own room, Luna Nikki, you're all the way at the beginning of the hall." Dimitri smirked.

Nikki frowned before smiling, "Oh, so Rosalie can't hear when you-

"No, so you're far away from us." He snapped, cutting her off.

She glared at him before looking away, the other alphas all just waited to be assigned their rooms. His beta, Ian and gamma, Zack, started to lead the alphas to their rooms. Rosalie glared at Nikki as she passed, her eyes showing the widowed she-wolf that she will win.

Dimitri quickly turned Rosalie's attention away from the envious Luna, not wanting her to get upset further. He, instead, took her outside where his warriors were training.

"How about we go out to lunch? My brothers will make sure those alphas and Nikki don't do anything." He suggested.

Rosalie smiled a little, "Sounds good."

Throughout lunch Dimitri would tease her and each time she would laugh. He smiled at her smile, at her eyes when they lit up with joy, and her happiness. His heart swelled with love for her, a love that he's never felt before with anyone else. Not even Christine.

He chuckled when she got enthusiastic about food, she happily snatched all the bread and then ate her grilled cheese. Afterwards, he made sure she stayed away from Nikki at the packhouse. He didn't want her getting upset again, especially when she was happily talking away.

He didn't understand why Rosalie was suddenly upset with Nikki's presence. He knows that Nikki will try I flirt with him and get him into her bed while she's here, but he would never do that to Rosalie. He loved Rosalie more than anything, Nikki was another Christine to him. Annoying.

"Rose is an alpha female, she's pregnant, has children and a mate, now that a new alpha female is in her territory she's going to be on edge." His wolf sounded.

Dimitri frowned he turned towards Rosalie to see her tense, her eye were black as she watched Nikki walk into the family room.

"Relax, baby girl." He mind-linked her as he rubbed her arm.

She released a breath and smiled at him, she then laid her head on his shoulder. However, her eyes were still trained on Nikki. He was relieved they were no longer black, but he could still feel the anger radiating off her.

She finally tore her gaze away from her and looked back at him. "Challenges are tomorrow."

He nodded, "Afterwards, we can celebrate with a little drink. Well, you can have all the chocolate you want."

She grinned, "Good. But why? Why are you challenging them? You could have refused and walked away."

"Because I promised to protect you." He whispered. "Which means keeping dirty alphas like them, away."