Alpha Markus
Chapter 15

Markus P.O.V

It was a lot for her to take in. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for her. I asked for Maya to remain in the Packhouse to give her something to ground her as everything around her changed. When I showed her to her bedroom, she just crumbled. She began sobbing and my heart was breaking with her. Atlas whined and howled inside my head and wanted to kill something. Anything, but he could sense that she needed us and let me stay in control. She cried for almost an hour and I let her. I could tell it was something she needed in order to begin her healing. Mental, emotional and even physical. As I held her, I was painfully aware of how many bones I could feel. We needed to get some weight on her.

‘Kelly, can you make sure whatever clothes the girls buy tomorrow are a size or two bigger than they currently are? They are both severely underfed.’ I mind linked Gillian’s sister.

‘Underfed. What did they do to them over there Alpha?’ She asked

‘I don’t know, but I intend to replace out. The other girls they had working at the packhouse also appeared malnourished.’

‘I’ll take care of them, Alpha.’

‘Thank you, Kelly. I appreciate this.’

‘Anything for our Luna’

‘Dinner is ready,’ Gillian interrupted. ‘Your father texted the cooks earlier. Since they weren’t expecting us until tomorrow. They are out on the town for dinner.’

‘Ok. Thanks,’

“Dinner is ready, you ready?” I said and she nodded, “Oh, one more thing. That’s a closet for you to use, but as this was an office, we have to share a bathroom.” I winked as I took her hand. I loved the blush that came to the surface and the giggle that came out of her mouth as I grinned at her like an i***t. This beautiful fragile girl had us whipped already. I would do anything to keep hearing that delightful sound.

As we went down the elevator, I explained what was about to happen, “I have to present you to the staff and members present that you’re my mate and future Luna. Don’t worry, you don’t have to take any responsibilities until you’re ready to have the Luna Ceremony,” She nodded her big eyes at me, “My father won’t be in until after dinner. They didn’t expect us today.”

When we arrived at the formal dining room, everyone stood and clapped as we made our way to the head of the table. I felt her nerves and felt her grip my hand tighter. I couldn’t help but feel nothing but love for her and the friends sitting around the table.

“Thank you for that warm welcome. I am pleased to introduce my mate and your future Luna, Celeste.” I purposely left out the surname. I knew Pierce wasn’t her last name and I would prefer not to lie to my friends.

“Welcome Luna,” they all said.

“I would also like to present Maya Cassera. She is a newcomer to our Pack and I hope everyone treats her with the same warmth and respect as you’ve shown towards the Luna. She will be staying on the third floor until further notice.”

“Welcome!” they said or nodded towards her.

We sat and began dinner. I looked and noticed someone was missing ‘I thought Daniel was supposed to be back by now,’ I mind linked Gillian.

‘He reported in yesterday. He was delayed. He hasn’t found what he needs yet, but feels like he’s close.’

‘We need to pull him in soon. If he hasn’t found anything in another week, he needs to come home and reassess. The pack needs their Gamma.’

‘Yes Alpha. I’ll let him know.’

We ate dinner. The girls were eating fairly slowly and not very much. I shifted towards Celeste, “Is everything OK? Do you and Maya not like the food?” I asked, “It’s not as good as what you cook-“

“No, the food is delicious. It’s just-” she hesitated.

“You can tell me love,” I encouraged. She leaned even closer and I took a moment to inhale her scent.

She whispered, “We have never been allowed to eat with people. We’re usually left to fend for ourselves with whatever leftovers we can replace. I’m sure how to use all this silverware and I’m afraid to make a fool of myself.”

I tamped down the rage Atlas was feeling. Hoping it wasn’t evident on my face, “Would you like to eat in the bedroom instead? I can have someone send up food? It’s not normally this formal. The cook kind of went overboard because you were coming.”

“I’m fine! No need to make a fuss. We aren’t used to a lot of food anyway. We will get sick if we eat more than what we’re eating.” I sighed and nodded, making a mental note of asking Kelly to get them comfortable with eating with us. Next time we see that Alpha Oaf, you will not deny me avenging the cruelty he’s shown mate – Atlas growled in my mind.

As long as you let me get some hits in too – I agreed.

“OK, we’ll talk later,” I said as I gently squeezed her hand. I turned and noticed a few smirks coming from my friends. They were all looking at our exchange. I rolled my eyes.

After dinner, Gillian and I went into my office with Maya and Celeste.

“To break your connection to your pack permanently, you have to say ‘I, full name, do hereby renounce my allegiance to the B***d Moon Pack,’” I said. When I saw Celeste’s eyes go wide, I realized that it would require her to use her true name. She looked at Gillian and Maya. “Guys, can you please go see if my father has arrived?” Gillian looked at me funny.

‘In person,’ I mind linked him.

“Sure thing Alpha, come Maya. We’ll be back in a little bit,” After they left, I went to the door myself. I looked at her and smiled, but I knew by the guilty look in her eyes that it didn’t reach my eyes and the hurt I was feeling was showing, “I’ll be outside the door love. Just say the words and let me know when you feel the link snap.” I closed the door and walked away a few steps. I was tempted to listen, my hearing being a little better than most, but I couldn’t break the small trust she had placed in me. It was precious and needed to be nurtured.

“Markus?” I heard the door open and saw her angelic face looking for me. She smiled when she saw me waiting down the hall. “It’s done.” I smiled and walked over to her.

‘You can come back now,’ I linked to Gillian.

I walked through the office door and she flew into my arms and kissed me. I quickly caught her, wrapping my arms around her waist and returned the k**s. Alpha howled at the taste of her lips.

“Ahem,” I heard behind me and I wanted to growl at the interruption. I let Celeste down reluctantly. If blushing was a contest, we had a winner. I turned to Gillian, who was wagging his eyebrows at me.

‘You have the worst timing,’ I mind linked him.

‘ You’re the one who said we could come back,’ he said.

I smiled ‘I didn’t know she would do that’

‘Rawr’ he taunted.

“Now that both tethers to the B***d Moon Pack have been severed. It’s time to officially join our pack. I will ask you if you accept and swear fealty to the pack and when you accept, I will make a small cut on your hand. You should then be able to feel the new Pack connection click into place.”

‘Son, we’re home. I would like to meet my future daughter-in-law and Luna,’ my father mind linked me after I felt Celeste and Maya join the pack link.

‘We’re in the study,’ I responded.

“Welcome to Crescent Moon Pack,” I smiled at Maya, “You guys have a busy day tomorrow. So I will let you get some rest. Love, someone wishes to meet you before we retire for the night,” I said. She smiled nervously and nodded. I took her hand and pulled her next to me. Hoping she felt the bond as strongly as I did and my presence would soothe her as much as hers did me. When I felt her relax, I smiled smugly in my mind. Atlas was wagging his tail.

We heard a knock and then the door opened. My father stepped in and gasped, “Bella?” He whispered. Letting the bottle of champagne drop and shatter to the floor. I felt Celeste stiffen and her eyes went wide.