The Mark of an Alpha
Chapter 23

At the moment all I want to do is be in the safety of my home.

The rain hits my head hard as I run-up to the packhouse. I yank the door open and run inside my body shivering as I am wet to the bone. I am surprised to find Andrew standing in the living room staring at me.

“Where were you?” He is angry that much is clear. Andrew narrows his eyes at me as if to scold a child.

“I went for a run," I growl at him, "That's when the storm hit.” The footsteps behind me stomp away as the door opens once again and I know it is Hunter.

Andrew’s eyes look over him and then widen. Hunter stands behind me and I am instantly relaxed.

You slept with him!

One thing I am thankful for is that he did not voice his thoughts out loud but his words do come out loud and clear. There is no way for me to misinterpret them.

Go fuck yourself! Do you think I’m a whøre?

The anger that surges through me is as if some opened the floodgates.

My hand whips across his face.

How dare he!

I have never felt so much anger towards him.

How can he assume that about me?

Do I sleep around?

For his information, I am still a virgin. I did not even give it up to my damn mate. Maybe that is why it hurt more than it should have when he left.

“Keep your thoughts to yourself next time.” I run away before I can do or say anything else. Running into my bedroom I slam my door pressing my back against it.

“What the hell is his problem?” I yell. My entire body aches from the cold I am feeling at least that is what I am going to let myself think. I head to the bathroom and take a hot shower. The heat massages my tight and sore body.

My thoughts drift back to earlier today. How Hunter’s wolf was with mine.

He is a playful beast.

A smile pulls at the corner of my mouth.

I put on my father’s old hoodie. It is a faded dark gray hoodie and I can easily get lost within it but it keeps me warm and it makes me feel as if he is here with me. Some black sweats and I am dressed to stay in. Stay in the house with that asshole known as my beta.

My bare feet make their way to the door the house is silent except the rain and the television. I walk down the hall listening hard to see if I can hear Andrew. I do not want to and feel like talking to him at the moment. If I run into him he might see my fist heading straight for his face.

Heading downstairs it seems as if the whole pack took off somewhere. The living room is dark with the only source of light coming from the television someone is sitting on the couch.

Their eyes on me from the second I step off the stairs.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” His golden eyes are full of concern and I give him a weak smile.

He is wearing a pullover sweater and sweats as well but he has socks on. “I’m fine I guess,” I shrug. My eyes dart to the kitchen and hold my breath as I try to listen for my beta.

“He left when you went upstairs,” Hunter must have sensed me searching for him.

The thunder makes me flinch, “He went out into the storm?”

What a moron!

“Yes, are you scared of storms?” His face shows no emotion. No amusement.

Is he going to make fun of me?

“No, I’m just not fond of loud noises,” he nods and the scream makes his eyes go to the television.

“Are you fond of horror movies?” I shrug I have never really seen much television, to be honest. The back door opens and I turn around. The cook is before me.

She bows her head, “Hello alpha. I’m going to start dinner is there any request?” Her voice is soft and quiet.

Raw rabbit!

Ew! Gross.

“No,” I shake my head slowly her eyes move to Hunter on the couch and she beams a smile at him. My wolf notices this as well.

“Alpha Hunter, any requests?” Her eyes look over him hungrily and I notice that as well.

“No, no, request from me,” he smiles back at her. Everyone living in the packhouse except for Andrew and I have mates. The cook does not live in the house, which is also unusual but she wants her place, and she is also mateless.

She has short dark hair that reaches her shoulders and pale complexion. She has big brown eyes and pale color lips. I believe she is twenty-two, either that or she looks young for her age.

The cook turns around and heads into the kitchen. I turn to look at Hunter he pats the seat next to him and I walk over to him. Sitting down I glance over at the television but it does not catch my attention I can feel his eyes burning the side of my face.

“What?” I say still looking at the television.

He chuckles, “I can’t believe it’s been less than a week that I’ve known you and I feel like I know a lot about you yet nothing at all.”

Funny, so do I!

“What do you want to know?” I lift my legs and tuck them under and turn to face him.

“How old are you?” His question catches me by surprise.

“I’m twenty, how about you?”

“Twenty-five.”

He looks younger.

He ponders over this for a moment, “What’s your favorite color?”

What is my favorite color? Hopefully, this does not sound stupid.

“Red is my favorite color,” I grab a strand of hair and fling it up, “for obvious reasons, yours?”

He grins at me widely, “Recently gray,” my breath hitches.

Recently?

“Favorite food?” He cuts off my wolf.

“Mine or my wolf?”

You think of me!

You are always on my mind, literally.

“Both,” his smile grows even bigger.

“Well mine is pizza and my wolf’s favorite is deer, yours?”

I do love me some deer. She chimes.

I know you very well!

“Mine is Chinese food and my wolf loves elk,” he stops and looks at me for a moment, “you ask something.”

“I don’t know what to ask,” I shrug as my hands grab another strand of hair and my fingers start pulling at the tips.

Yes, you do but it’s too personal.

We fall into silence Hunter’s eyes drift to the television something playing catches his attention.

Ask him!

No!

Why isn’t he marked?

For the love of God, stop.

You know you want to know as well.

Most wolves, I say most because some of us are just not so lucky, go through three stages.

Stage one happens the day you are born, the seeking stage. When our eyes open for the first time we are on the search. Even though we are not connected to our wolves yet their eyes are on the hunt for our mate nothing romantic but someone to protect us from any danger that may come our way. Our human eyes are more dominant at that time so we do not notice. This stage goes on for years, for the most part, when we shift for the first time our wolf sense dominates over our human ones. That is when the seeking starts.

Stage two after finding our mate we enter the falling stage. Yup, that is right falling like falling in love with them, also known as the marking stage. Once you find your mate you fall in love with them. They are your other half, soul mate, or mate as we call them.

When they mark you it is a painful process. Marking is for all the other wolves around to know that you have found your mate. Their scent is embedded in your skin as well as yours on them. It is like an engagement ring everyone knows you are taken. I never got to the marking stage with Marcus.

And lastly the third stage, the most powerful stage, the completion of the mating process. When two wolves go all the way they minds and bodies become one. If they are not from the same pack they will finally be able to mind link with each other. Their bodies will be connected if one of them is hurt the other one will feel it as well.

The television invades my eyes as I stare at it blankly. My wolf cozies up and gets ready to rest.

My nose gets itchy and my body tightens up I sneeze loud and with that sneeze, my body feels weak and tired. My body gives a violent shiver.

“Bless you,” Hunter whispers and is staring at me with concern.

“Thanks,” my throat suddenly feels sore and my body gives yet another violent shiver. Hunter sits up straight and wraps his hands around my hands.

“You’re cold,” he states.

“I’m always cold,” I sniff and take my hands away from him and wipe my nose with the sleeve of my sweater.

His hand let go of mine and they go to my forehead, “Melany, you’re burning up.” He gasps and his worried face invades my vision.

“Funny because I’m really cold now,” my body feels numb from the coldness.

“Stay here,” Hunter gets up and walks to the kitchen. My body feels heavy so I slide down to my side and lift my legs to my chest and wrap my arms around them to stop my trembling. My eyes feel heavy as well so I close them.

“Melany, I’m taking you upstairs.” The voice sounds so far away at the moment that I think that I must have imagined them.

Hmm.

I feel two strong arms around me lifting me. Hunter’s scent invades my senses and I feel the bobbing of him walking upstairs. His body seems to heat him a bit and I find myself wanting to get closer to him.

After a few seconds, I am put down in a soft place and my exhaustion takes me under.

“She’s going to be fine but...” The voice is faint then it is gone, I did not recognize it. I try to open my eyes but I cannot I am just too tired.

“How can someone do that? If he was here I would kill him.” That voice I recognize it is Hunter, he seems angry, he lets out a string of profanities under his breath. The darkness out weights my strength and I am swallowed up by the darkness once again.

Melany.

Yes.

We’re going to be okay, right?

I don't know what's happening.

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