AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m sorry, I almost forgot you were still healing. Come. Let me get the shower started for you so you can get a good night’s rest,” I nodded, then paused.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“I don’t have any clothes. We left mine at the pack house,” I reminded him, making his eyes widen.
“Shit, right. Gillian’s sister, Kelly, will take you shopping tomorrow. Until then...” He went to a set of drawers. “How about you put these on?” I looked at the shirt and shorts he gave me and giggled.
“Those shorts won’t fit me.” He looked down at his pair of shorts. Went back to the drawers and pulled a few out, cursing under his breath.
“Aha!” he said triumphantly as he pulled a pair with drawstrings. He turned back to me and wagged his eyebrows triumphantly. I giggled more and grabbed the clothes from him, following him to the bathroom. I almost dropped the clothes as I took in this masterpiece.
It was the most luxurious bathroom I'd ever seen. There was warm sand-colored marble everywhere, making it feel inviting and cozy. There was a glass shower along one side of the room that could fit five people. Shower jets ran along the ceiling and the walls, and there was a small bench to sit along one side. The wall closest to the bedroom had the floor raised with three giant steps leading to it. A giant bathtub was sunk into the raised flooring, and there was an elegant fireplace on the wall in front of it. Glancing to my right, I noticed two sinks and a giant mirror with a recessed roof and lighting.
I heard the showers going, and the multiple showerheads were all running at once. The shower area filled with steam, inviting me into its enclosure with the promise of relief.
“I think these will help the pain. Just let me know if you need anything,” Markus said, heading to the bathroom door. He turned at the last minute with a mischievous grin.
“Unless you want me to join you?” He wagged his eyebrows at me, then laughed at the squeak that left my mouth.
“I’m just messing with you,” he said and moved to close the door behind him. Before it clicked closed, he opened it fast and wagged his eyebrows once more, making me laugh and roll my eyes before he closed the door again.
I turned to look at the shower and scrunched my nose. The little pad that controlled it looked complicated. I took my clothes off, but before I went into the shower, I turned my attention to the mirror. I sighed as I took myself in. I hadn't gotten a chance to really look at myself in years. Even ignoring the bruising and raised lines from Sandra's attack, my body was a testament to the abuse I suffered at the hands of the pack. My olive skin looked washed out, pale, and sad. I hadn’t been in the sun for long over the past few years to give my skin the vitamins it needed. My ribs were protruding, and my stomach concaved from the lack of food. Every bone in my body was easily seen under my skin.
My breasts and my ass seemed to be the only thing that had any kind of soft roundness to them. My eyes were the only part of me that seemed to hold life. There was a lot of old scarring visible along my back and my legs. Markus looked at me with so much love and devotion already that it scared me. Looking in the mirror, I couldn’t see why. In a world where most werewolves looked like they belonged in a supermodel magazine, I looked like I belonged in a charity commercial.
Markus sees more than what we look like. He knows we’ve suffered. He sees the strength in us. The real beauty,Kara commented quietly. I knew it hurt her when self-deprecating thoughts dominated my head.
He can have anyone... when he sees us like this...
He was made for us, and we were made for him. The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes,she insisted.
I sighed and made a mental note to ask Maya to take some pictures with the new phone Markus told us we would receive. Maybe they would be useful in the investigation. There was no point in wallowing in a pity party. I could only trust that Kara was right and the Moon Goddess hadn’t made a mistake. I would also do everything in my power to prove to Markus that I would not be a burden and that we were worthy of being by his side.
I entered the shower, putting my hand out to check the temperature before I walked under the heated sprays and almost moaned as my abused body felt the heat of the water. After what seemed like countless heavenly minutes of letting the water soothe my body, I cleaned myself up and looked at the little panel. I had no idea how to shut off the water stream. I dried myself and put on the ridiculously large clothes he gave me, but they smelled like him, so I wasn’t going to complain.
My jaw dropped when I exited the bathroom. Markus’ back was to me, bent over a laptop... in boxers. I had a full view of a broad back, tapered waist, hard muscles and perfectly round bottom. His legs looked like tree trunks made of muscle. He stood up when he sensed my stare and turned to look at me. I blushed at being caught ogling him.
“I don’t know how to turn off the shower,” I blurted in panic and embarrassment. He smiled.
“Not a big deal. I need a shower myself.” I nodded and headed to the door that led to my bedroom. “Celeste?” he called, and I turned. Markus was right behind me, and he pulled me into his arms. I could feel every muscle on his chest ripple under my hands, and I was surprised at the random thought that passed through my head, wondering how his buttocks would feel if I were to squeeze it. “Thank you for trusting us today,” he finished, kissing my forehead before he let me go.
“Good night,” I said quickly, blushing at my thoughts while Kara purred inside my head. I was going to close the door as he went into the bathroom but decided against it. I enjoyed smelling his scent of pistachios and figs coming through the door, so I left it slightly ajar. I looked at my bedroom in the dark, trying to remember the last time I slept in a comfortable bed and failing. I crawled into the middle and was out by the time my head hit the pillow.
Markus
Iwashavingahard time sleeping alone in my bed. I could smell Celeste in the other room. She’d left the door slightly ajar, and as much as I knew if I closed it, I’d be able to fall asleep, I couldn’t bring myself to close that connection with her. It was a sign of trust, and I needed to nurture it. I looked up at the ceiling, thinking of everything that happened in the last week and everything that was coming.
You worry too much. We will protect mate. We won’t fail,Atlas said as he stirred at my thoughts.
If only I had your confidence. If what Dad said was true, there’s bound to be more than just Alpha Geoff looking to get their hands on our mate.
The moon goddess doesn’t make mistakes. If we were chosen to be her mate, it means we have the ability to protect her,Atlas puffed his chest out.
How can we protect her from dangers we aren’t aware of?
Well, we can always lock her up in a tower,Atlas teased, and I was surprised at the change in his personality in the past week.
I don’t know what you’re talking about. I always had a clever sense of humor,Atlas countered.
