Embrace My Rogue Luna

Chapter V

Lycus’ POV

The rage I felt was unbelievable. Someone was going to assign my amazing, beautiful, smart mate to be an old Alpha's fourth mate. I wanted to find this Alpha wherever he was and skin him alive. My anger paled in comparison to the murderous reaction I felt coming off of Baron.

After several minutes of shock, Grayson was the first to speak. “So, I have a question,” Fae nodded permission. “There was forced mating but what about marks?”

“All the females were marked by their assigned mate. From what I gathered, the idea was to prevent their wolves from recognizing a” she used air quotes “possible alternative mate.” Baron growled loudly at that comment.

"You mean your true mate." This entire conversation had me livid thinking about what nearly happened to my mate. I can't imagine what I would have done if I had found her after she had been marked by someone else. Would I have even known she was mine or would I just have been alone?

“So, how did you get out?” Conri was no longer lounging comfortably but had rather moved to a sitting position leaning towards Fae, clearly invested in what had happened to my mate.

“Do we have to continue right now? I promise at some point I will tell you more, but is there any way this can wait?”

I immediately jumped up, “You heard her guys. Out.” They looked a little disappointed, but to my surprise they got up without argument.

“It was great to meet you, Fae.”

“You too, Conri.”

“I’m really glad we didn’t try to eat you when we found you with Rica.” Carter said as he waved. His brother hit him in the back of the head, which led to Carter trying to hit him back and they were full on wrestling by the time they made it out of my room. I closed and locked the door, leaving them to sort this one out on their own.

“So, now what would you like to see first?” I was really looking forward to showing her what a pack was supposed to be like.

“Umm…well I was kinda hoping you could allow me a favor…” She looked so adorably awkward.

“Sure. Name it.”

“Could I use your shower? You see, it’s kinda hard to shower out there. Normally, I have to bath in a river or creek or something and I’m sure you can imagine it’s not exactly warm right now and…”

“Fae!” I had called her name several times but she clearly hadn’t heard me until I was practically yelling at her. “Of course, you can use the shower. I’m sorry I didn’t think to ask.” I reached out to play with one of her curls. “How about this. You tell me where your camp site is and while you are enjoying a nice long shower or even a long soak in the tub if you’d prefer, I will go get the rest of your stuff.”

“What stuff?” She tilted her head for some reason confused by my offer.

“Well, I mean, I assumed you had left your things behind when you helped my sister.”

She pointed to the backpack she had sat down next to my bookcase. “My stuff is right there.”

“Wait…that’s everything you own?” I glanced at her bag, then back at her.

For the first time, I really looked at her. Her clothes were wrinkled and very worn. They looked like they had probably been worn for several days. Was that tape holding her shoe together? I looked around my room, which had stuff in every nook and cranny.

“It’s okay, Lycus.”

“No, it’s not.” How could this be okay? My mate has had nothing. Everything she owned in the whole world could fit in one bag on her back. “You don’t have to live like this anymore. I’ll get you anything you could possibly need.”

“Yeah. That’s not necessary. I don’t need much. I haven’t been either hungry or cold in several years. I manage just fine.” She held her head up, chin tilted. Her pride was very visible. Maybe this was not the time to fight her on clothes or any of the other million things I could think of she might want.

“Alright. We won’t worry about that now. How about you help yourself to my bathroom.”

She visibly relaxed and walked over to pick up her bag.

“Great. Which way?”

I led her to the back of my bedroom where the door to my bathroom was open. Stepping through, I was hit by how over the top my life was. I had so much. In my bathroom there were two sinks, a shower with two shower heads, a huge Jacuzzi tub, three doors, one of which led to a toilet, one to a linen closet, and the third led to a massive walk-in closet that had a ton of clothes. I had never really considered how much I had.

She glanced around the room with no visible reaction.

“I’ll be quick.”

“No. There’s no need to hurry. Take as long as you need. Help yourself to anything I have. Tub, shower, any soaps, I don’t care. It’s all for you.” I was overwhelmed with a feeling of wanting to provide for her and I didn’t really know what to do with this energy.

“Okay. Well, thank you.”

“Right. Ugh…that door,” I pointed out “you’ll find towels, wash clothes, soaps, razers. Take whatever you want.”

“Great.” She was looking a little uncomfortable.

“Yeah…so I’m gonna go.” I turned and quickly walked out, closing the door to the bathroom and leaning against it. Wow. We may be mates, but could we actually be together? Could she be happy with me?

I heard her footsteps and then the lock clicking into place.

Fuck. I have to get out of here.

Are you kidding?! Break down the door and let's go in there with her.

Crazy dog.

That was low man.

Yeah yeah.

As I walked across the room, I heard the water turn on and it took all my strength to open my bedroom door. Surely I can find something to do that is literally anywhere else.

Fae’s POV

I mostly meant what I had said. I didn’t really need anything. However, hot baths were hard to come by and I wasn’t about to miss this opportunity. I hurried across the room and turned the faucet on nearly as hot as it would go, reaching in and closing the drain.

While the tub filled, I began poking around. Opening all the doors. I pulled a couple of towels, a washcloth and a bar of soap from the linen closet. Then, after thinking about it for a second, I also got a new razor, a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.

I couldn’t help the small smile at the luxury. I hadn’t been able to get a new toothbrush in a very long time. I walked to set my things on the counter. The mirror caught my attention. I hadn’t looked in a mirror in a while and I was shocked by what I saw.

The woman looking back at me seemed like a stranger to me. Her honey brown hair was as curly as ever but it was wild, making her look like she belonged back in that forest rather than standing in this lavish bathroom. I tilted my head, looking at my face. My eyes were the same blue I remembered but I felt like this woman looked more jaded than the young girl who had run from home all those years ago. My nose was small and turned slightly up at the end. My jaw was well defined. My face was heart shaped and I knew I had a slight widow's peak, but it wasn’t visible with my insane hair. It really needed to be cut.

I stripped out of my clothes, looking at my whole body for the first time in years. I was slim, largely due to a limited diet and constant motion. My breasts seemed well shaped if on the small side. I turned and followed the length of my side. My eyes were drawn to the scar there. I turned and saw another around my hip. I sighed, remembering all the terrifying moments in those early years. I didn't need to find all the scars. I knew they were there.

Turning, I walked across the bathroom and started working my way into the tub. The water was really hot so it required some easing in, but once I was in and the water was off, I sunk into the water up to my neck and I could feel the tension starting to escape me.

I probably just laid there like that for fifteen minutes, then I used Lycus’ shaving cream to shave everything I could think of. I ran my hand down my now smooth leg in wonder. I really missed that feeling.

After that was done, I remembered the jets. So, I started fiddling with the buttons on the tub, learning how they worked. Once I had a jet hitting me just in the right part of my back I was tempted to just never leave that tub again for the rest of my life.

Maybe the pack life wouldn’t be so bad.

Wow. I tell you to give another pack a chance for years, but no you were convinced there was nothing good to be found in the pack life. You thought it was too oppressive but now you’re won over by a damn tub.

I wouldn’t exactly say I was won over, but really…have we ever been this relaxed?

I could feel Adeline’s eyes roll but I knew she was also relieved to see me relax.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew the water was cold. I leaned over and turned off the jets. Leaving the water to drain, I climbed out of the tub, and went to the shower to wash my hair and actually bath my body. It was the most incredible feeling. I’ve been bathing outdoors for a long while now.

After washing every inch of my body…twice and cleaning my hair…twice I finally felt ready to leave the shower. I walked back to the sink, this time avoiding the stranger in the mirror so I could just brush my teeth. I dug a comb out of my bag and tried to bring some kind of order to my hair.

I dug through my bag to find the cleanest outfit I had, but to be honest I didn’t want to wear any of it. It was all filthy and I felt so clean. So, I opened the door I had glanced in earlier and stepped into his closet. I quickly found some shorts that were way to big but

I pulled the string as much as I could and tied them so they would at least stay up and then I found a black tank top. I hurried out carrying my bag before I could overthink my clothing choice.

I don’t know what I had expected to find when I came out of the bathroom, but my mate laying on the bed in nothing but a pair of gym shorts reading 1984 was not it.

He quickly closed the book and looked up at me with a smile. “Feel better?”

Lycus’ POV

After I left the room, I checked in with my father to make sure the hunter issue was being taken care of. The last thing we needed was a couple of locals killed by wolves. But at the same time, we couldn’t have a team of search and rescuers traipsing all over the forest. It was much to close to our pack land.

It was finally decided they would be taken a few miles away. My father was friends with the medical examiner in that county and he would make it look like some kind of hunting accident.

Once that was settled, I checked on Rica. I was worried she would be shook up but I was pleasantly surprised. She was so excited about Fae she barely even mentioned the hunters who were mauled in front of her just before they could take horrible advantage of her situation.

Instead, she was full of when questions. When I would mark Fae. When would I be Alpha. When would we have the Alpha ball.

When would we have pups. My head was spinning with all the when’s but at least my sister wasn’t traumatized.

Finally, I couldn’t help myself. I had tried I really had but I found myself back in my room. I was overwhelmed with the need to be closer to her.

I was excited when I realized the sucking sound I was hearing was the tub draining. I was on my feet ready for her to come out when I heard the shower turn on.

Well, I told her to take her time. I sighed.

Mate must need this.

You’re right.

So, I got the copy of 1984 off my shelf. I probably hadn’t read it since I was a teenager and even then it would only have been because my teacher made me.

Pulling off my shirt, I relaxed on my bed, attempting to see what the appeal of this book was to my mate.

I was completely lost in the budding relationship between Winston and Julia when I heard the bathroom door open.

I quickly closed the book and looked up at her smiling. “Feel better?” Then I saw what she was wearing, and it was like the breath was ripped from my body. Every thought fled my mind as my blood rushed to a part of my body that was quickly moving to stand at attention.

“Lycus?”

“What?” I had to mentally shake myself to be able to focus on her.

“I said I hope you don’t mind.”

“Mind?” I had no idea what she was saying to me in that moment.

“That I borrowed your clothes.” She was fidgeting with her fingers. “It’s just that the closest I’ve come to washing them lately is jumping in the lake and scrubbing them with a bar of soap while I was wearing them. Is there any way I could use your washing machine later?”

“Nope. No way.” I was shaking my head.

“Oh,” she looked genuinely surprised but nodded. “I understand that’s fine.”

I reached out, grabbing her arm and yanked her onto the bed, quickly flipping her under me.

“I said no way because I don’t want you to ever wear anything but my clothes ever again.”

I saw the eyeroll, but I ignored it as my hand slipped under the bottom of the tank top she was wearing to circle her tiny waist.

I leaned down to her claiming her lips for mine. She was the most amazing woman in the entire world.