Alpha Markus
Chapter 23

Celeste P.O.V.

I went upstairs to take a cold shower. Our make-out sessions had been getting out of control. I knew who was to blame too. I don’t know what would come over me. I wish I could even blame Kara, but while she encouraged me, she let me take full control of the situation. I didn’t know what I was doing, but every time Markus touched me, my body would have a mind of its own. I would feel my back arch to press my breasts to him as if of its own volition and when that got the desired response out of Markus, would go on to the next. I felt bad for Markus, he had more restrain than I did even though I was the one that wasn’t ready to push past those last steps of the mate bond. I felt like I was torturing him. I knew he needed release, but I was never able to provide it.

He loves us. He will wait until you’re ready. – Kara

How do I know we’re ready? I hadn’t even kissed a person before last week.

The mate bond will help you be ready. Just keep spending time with him. The stronger the bond, the better you will learn to read your body. When you’re ready, you will know.

Why does it have to be so complicated?

Because a true bond is more than just s*x. He understands that and that’s what he wants.

He’s too good to us.

He is what the Moon Goddess said we deserve.

After the shower, I went downstairs to prepare dinner. The cook wasn’t all that eager to let me take over her job but she showed me where everything was and how the range worked. It was more modern than the one in the B***d Moon Pack.

‘Celeste, I’m sorry. I forgot to mention that Alpha Rhett and his Beta are arriving in time for dinner. Will you have enough food for them?’ Markus mind linked

‘I will, but you’re the one telling Gillian he might not get his second helping,’ I said, laughing.

‘Remember me fondly then, he might kill me for this.’

‘Just remind him that I’ll be cooking twice a week.’

‘Smart. Maybe that will spare my life,’ he laughed.

He shut off the mind link and I went to the fridge to see if there was anything I could do to stretch the food I was planning to make. I always made extras, but these guys ate a lot.

I asked Gillian what Daniel’s favorite meal was. He has said it was a toss up between fried chicken and chicken parmesan. I had chosen the latter tonight.

Text: Celeste, I am not feeling myself. Can I be excused from dinner? I will just grab a snack later.

Maya texted. She still couldn’t link since she didn’t have her wolf.

Text: Of course, but what’s wrong? Do I need to call the pack doctor?

Text: No. The health nurse had warned me that I might start feeling this way close to my birthday. That it’s a sign that my wolf is waking up.

Text: OK. I understand. I will have someone bring you a sandwich and some snacks. Let me know if you need me.

Text: Thank you, Luna.

I prepared and asked a pretty Omega if she could take dinner to Maya. I was worried about her, but I also remembered how I felt the days before Kara arrived. I had felt sweaty, itchy and with the constant nagging sensation that someone was watching me. I had been paranoid. Having no information of what happened when you got your wolf, I had thought I might be sick or being found out. I had tried to run away at night when the shift happened. It was painful and took forever. I thought I was dying. After it was done, Kara was there, in my mind, soothing my fears.

Speaking of, when can we shift? I am dying to go for an actual run -Kara asked, stretching her paws in my mind.

I will ask Markus. We don’t know the area so maybe he can run with us.

Ooooh yes, I’m dying to meet Atlas. – Kara purred.

I heard the loud laugh of Alpha Rhett. I was in the middle of making the lemon tarts for tonight’s dessert when I heard them coming in.

“Celeste, you look 100 times better than the last time I saw you! I must say, I have conflicted emotions when I heard you were cooking tonight.” I gave him a confused look as I passed him a spoon filled with lemon custard that I had made for the tarts.

“I was appalled that Markus would make his Luna cook, but I also made it a point to be here because I have been dreaming about the food since that dinner during the full moon.” I started giggling as a full blush rose to my cheeks. I heard a loud growl and turned to see Markus walking towards me. His eyes were pitch black. He grabbed me by the waist possessively and slammed me into his side. I looked up at him in confusion but heard Alpha Rhett laughing hard on the other side of the counter. I blushed and giggled again.

“Relax friend, you can’t blame me for enjoying a good meal. I assure you, I have no intention of doing anything but appreciate your mate’s cooking skills. I did wonder why you had her cooking though.”

Markus went red and grumbled something incoherently. I couldn’t help but appreciate the blush being on someone other than me for once, “I am the one that asked to cook Alpha Rhett, I enjoy it.”

“In that case, I look forward to another amazing meal. This custard is amazing,” he said, finally eating the spoonful I had given him.

“How much longer do you need love,” Markus said, putting his head near my neck and inhaling deeply. He was still trying to calm Atlas, flecks of black still visible in his grey eyes.

“About 15mins. I have to assemble the tarts and change out of these dirty clothes,” I said, turning my head and giving him a quick k**s.

“I’ll have Danny start making his way here,” he said, and they left the kitchen. I finished the tarts and took a quick shower. The little panel was still scary to me, but I had managed to learn how to turn on the basic shower functions. I went and grabbed a pretty midnight blue satin cowl neck with short sleeves and black slacks. I kept my hair dry in the shower so I just needed to brush the curls out of my face and then I added some simple make-up that Kelly had taught me. Mascara, some translucent eye shadow that made my eyes shimmer and l*p gloss. I went down the stairs to dinner.