Chapter Six

Marcus' POV

Keith called my name through the link and I looked over to him at the stairs. He was holding Serenity's hand and looked very concerned. As I reached them her eyes rolled in her head slightly and stepped forward and scooped her up into my arms. I pulled her against my chest tightly. "I've got her Keith." I said as I run up the stairs. I was taking her to my room. The poor girl was exhausted from everything that had happened over the last few days at least. I had seen her start to get anxious when everyone migrated over to the new mates. I went over to her hoping to offer a little comfort without overwhelming her but then I could help but tell her about mates touching. I pulled away from her before she had the chance to piece too much together because I had made a promise to Keith and Noah. I would give her time to adjust to everything else before telling her. Problem was, that promise was getting harder and harder to keep.

I reached my door and kicked it open. I walked through and kicked it shut again behind me. Now I was done. She needed me and I wanted her. Badly. I wasn't keeping no damn promise if it put her more at risk. At least with her knowing I would be able to offer my mate comfort whenever she needed it and openly do it. No more of this subtle bullshit. So what? She had been living like a human alone for the last few years. She had been on the run while doing it. She had even helped Keith's damned daughter! They didn't give the girl enough credit for how strong she really was. I laid her down on the bed and looked at her. She was like a fragile angel. My mood softened as I stared at her. Ok fine, I could see why they asked what they did. Hell if I had been in their shoes I may have even asked the same thing, but now she needed me and that was what made the difference.

I sighed as I looked at her dress. I couldn't strip her and change her clothes to make her more comfortable the best I could do right now was hold her. I took my shirt off and discarded my shoes next to the bed. I walked around and climbed onto the bed behind her. I pulled her gently to my chest and heard her moan sweetly. Goddess she will be the death of me. I smiled at the thought of me making her moan like that while she was awake. I would make her scream my name, but not now. Now she needed to recover if she was going to go through with everything tomorrow night. I slid my arm under her head and laid mine down on the pillow next to her. I breathed in her scent as I listened to her breathing soften and ease. She had finally transitioned into sleep and I smiled.

I woke to soft knocks on my door. I opened up the link so I didn't speak and wake Serenity who was still asleep on my arm curled up. "What?" someone cleared their throat. "Sorry Alpha, but people are asking where you are and Alpha Keith is wanting to know where Serenity is?" I groaned slightly. Damn it. I carefully slid my arm out from under Serenity's head. I stopped to make sure I hadn't disturbed her before climbing off the bed. I walked over and pulled the door open. I looked straight into the face of my Beta. "She is in here with me, asleep." I stated to him. I know I shouldn't be pissed at him, it's not his fault that he was the only one with enough brains to check my room and he would have just been following orders of the Alphas, but it didn't change the fact that I was pissed. I didn't want to be away from my mate.

Just as he was about to speak again a voice cut in which made my hair stand on end and grated against my nerves. "Darling, there you are." Kathleen looked at my beta in disgust and stepped in front of him placing her hands against my chest. My beta, Brandon, rolled his eyes. He didn't like Kathleen anymore than I did. I grabbed her hands forcefully and pushed them away from my chest. "Kathleen, you've been told. More than once." I said glaring down at her. She pouted at me and sighed. "But the pack chose me for you..." She tried. I snorted at her. "That doesn't mean shit and you know it. You were sent as company nothing more. I've found my mate and your Luna so if you can't respect that then leave. Now." I saw Brandon half smile at that as he looked away from the situation. "Fine. Then I'll leave, but you will want me again at some point and you better hope I still want you." She said haughtily and walked away. Brandon sobered up a little and looked at me. "You need to be careful of that one Marcus. I don't think we've heard the end of it from her." I looked down the hall and nodded in agreement. "Watch her closely and if she makes one wrong move...Dispose of her." I heard a soft moan and movement from my bed. I looked back and noticed Serenity stirring. I sighed. "Brandon let Keith know I'm on my way. I need to try and maintain my promise to him." Brandon frowned at me. I tilted my head sideways. "I'll explain later. I'm going to call Stephanie to my room." Brandon's eyes widened a little and I shook my head. "I'm not going to be here you moron." He smirked at me and walked away. "Stephanie?" I waited a moment. "Yes Alpha?" I smiled good. "I need you to come and sit with Serenity so she isn't alone." Seconds later a smiling Stephanie stood in front of me.

I opened the door wider and let Stephanie pass. "I have to go meet your father..." She nodded. "I know. It's ok I will be here with her when she wakes." She smiled at me. I nodded and walked out closing the door behind me. Today was going to be a long day. I walked the halls and made my way to the council chambers where I assumed I would be faced with a bombardment of questions from both Keith and Noah. I opened the door and walked in. The room was empty apart from Clarisa who sat against the edge of the table. She looked at me seriously for a moment. "Alpha Marcus." She nodded at me. "Luna Clarisa." I stepped a little further into the room unsure of how this would play out. "I know you took Serenity to your room last night. I'm also aware of the agreement between you and my husband and her grandfather." I stepped past her and took a chair watching her the entire time. "Serenity isn't quite as fragile as they would like to treat her. She has more strength in her then many know after everything she has been through, but...She isn't bullet proof Marcus. She needs you." She said stepping away from the table and towards me. "She needs someone that can protect her and give her comfort that she hasn't had before, but she also needs someone who can let her continue to be as strong as she has been in the past." I smiled at her. "I know, and that's what I want to be for her..." She shook her head cutting me off. "You're an Alpha, Marcus. That comes with certain instincts. Instincts that you are going to have to override at times when it comes to her. Trust me."

I sighed as I watched Clarisa walk away from me and out the door. She was right. Serenity didn't need a knight in shining armour. Good thing for her I wasn't that. I was the monster that knight would be sent to kill. I needed to show Serenity that side of me. I needed to show her before she knew about the mate bond. I didn't want her to be trapped with a monster that she might fear. There was every chance that tonight she and many others would get the chance to see that side of me. Keith entered the room through the same door that Clarisa had left. Noah followed close behind him with some of the other council members. They took seats around the table as I watched them and Keith's eyes locked with mine for a moment before Noah cleared his throat ready to run through the plan of attack for that night.

Serenity's POV

I groaned as I rolled over trying not to open my eyes. I wasn't ready to wake up. I was so tired and exhausted from everything that all I wanted to do was lay here and hide from the world. Someone pocked me in my side and I frowned. "Ow!" I heard a giggle. "Then don't roll on me!" They stated. My eyes opened slowly. Wait I knew that voice. I pushed the blanket back and looked over next to me. Stephanie smiled at me cheekily. "Morning sleeping beauty." I smirked at her. She really did brighten a room. "Morning to you too. What are you doing in my room so early? Shouldn't you be with Blake?" She shook her head. "Nope. He's headed to an Alpha meeting at the moment, and if you hadn't noticed...But you're not in your room." She said with a huge grin on her face. I frown and sat up slightly to look around. She wasn't kidding. I wasn't in my room and I was still in my dress from the night before.

I sat up more in the bed and looked back at Stephanie. She was still grinning madly at me. "Where are we?" She sat up and scooted closer to me. "We are in Alpha Marcus's room." She whispered in my ear before sitting back to watch my reaction. What the hell! My eyes flew wide open and I started to climb out of the bed. "How the hell did I get here!?" I asked panicked. "You kind of passed out at the dance and he brought you up here to watch over." She said as she shrugged. Obviously she was satisfied with my reaction. "So anyway, let's head down and get some breakfast." I nodded at her still confused. "Hang on wait! I need to get changed first." I said as I looked down at my dress. Stephanie opened the door and looked back at me. "Well hurry up then, I'm starving!" I laughed at her as I followed her out of the room and down the hall to mine.

We were rummaging through our clothes when Clarisa entered. "What on earth are you two doing!?" She said throwing her hands out to her sides. "Serenity I get, she has lived out of bags for the last few years...But you!" she said pointing at Stephanie. Our eyes went wide. "You have a wardrobe and know full well how to look through clothes without throwing them all over a room!" She said exasperated. We looked at each other then around the room at the mess we had created. I cringed a little. Clarisa was right, the room was almost covered in clothing. I stood up and sighed. "Sorry Clarisa, we will get it all cleaned up before breakfast." I said smiling at her apologetically. Stephanie groaned on the ground and slumped her shoulders. "You better keep that groaning for after I leave missy. Thank you Serenity. Now what are the two of you looking for?" Stephanie sat up and looked at her mother as she flicked her hair back. "We were just trying to find some jeans and shirts. Something comfortable to wear for now." Clarisa's eyes had widened slightly and she had gotten distracted. I looked over at Stephanie to see what she was looking at.

Stephanie shifted uncomfortably on the floor as her mother stepped closer to her. I watched with a frown on my face because I couldn't work out what she had seen. "Is that...What I think it is Stephanie?" Clarisa said pointing towards Stephanie's collar bone. Stephanie tugged at her shirt a little uncomfortable. "Y...Yes..." She said unsure of how her mother was going to react. Clarisa stopped and her face softened before turning into a smile. "Blake has made it official?" Clarisa asked. Stephanie blushed brightly and I walked closer to have a look at what they were talking about. "Yes he did." Clarisa beamed. "When!?" Stephanie stood up and started smiling at her mother. "Last night after the dance." Clarisa squealed and jumped at Stephanie who seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Finally!! Oh I'm so happy for you both!!" Clarisa squeezed Stephanie and they stayed like that for a moment.

I watched as the two parted still confused as to what had happened. Stephanie looked over at me and gasped. "Oh Serenity I forgot you don't know. I'm so sorry. Blake marked me." She said as she lowered her shirt collar to show me. I stepped closer and looked at the mark. It looked like she had been bitten but spreading out from that was what looked like black veins. It was strangely beautiful to look at. "Wow. That's actually quiet cool." Stephanie smiled proudly. "It is. It's what happens when mates mark each other to seal the mate bond. It's the werewolf version of wedding rings really, but with so much more complications." She giggled. "I'm happy for you...No I'm over the moon for you Stephanie." I said beaming at her. "So how does it happen?" Stephanie blushed and looked to her mum. Clarisa almost choked on her laugh before stopping herself. "Sweet heart...That's a little more complicated to explain..." Just by their reactions my mind took a leap of its own. My eyes widened and this time I was the one to blush. Stephanie giggled as she watched it dawn on me and Clarisa just smiled and nodded to affirm my thought. Well...

Clarisa had helped us to find the clothing that we were after but had requested one difference. She wanted us to wear low cut tops. Stephanie I could understand, she was proud that her daughter was finally marked and was now officially a Luna. I just couldn't understand why I was forced to wear the same style shirt. I was more than happy to wear a normal shirt. Clarisa led us towards the back of the house and down a narrow staircase into the kitchen. There was food out all over the benches in the kitchen and I felt my stomach growl in anticipation. Stephanie reached out and went to grab a muffin when Clarisa smacked her hand away. "You can wait until everyone else arrives madam. Now go through those doors there and take a seat at the table please." We nodded in unison and walked through the doors. The table was massive and could easily cater to more than fifteen people. We walked about half way down and pulled out two seats so we could sit.

People started filling into the dining room and taking seats while talking. Most of them Alphas and Betas so they were talking about pack business with each other. It wasn't long before we saw Steven and Lana walk in though and Lana smiled happily when she spotted us. They walked over and Steven slid Lana's seat out for her which I thought was so sweet. She smiled up at him lovingly before looking back at Stephanie and me. She was about to say something when she spotted Stephanie's mark. Her eyes went wide and she clapped a hand over her mouth. She moved it away smiling. "Oh my goddess Stephanie, congratulations!" She said excitedly. Steven pulled out the seat next to Lana and looked across wondering what Lana was on about. He looked at the mark on Stephanie's collar bone and I waited for him to get all brotherly and defensive, but he didn't. "Congratulations." He smirks at her. "About time if you ask me. I mean you guys have known for the last two years and have been inseparable since." He laughed.

A couple of the council members filed in followed by Keith and Blake. I stood up and Stephanie looked at me sad for a moment. I stepped sideways and pulled out the chair that had been empty next to me. Stephanie smiled at me gratefully as she realised what I had done. Blake came over and sat down in the chair I had previously occupied. "Thank you Serenity." He said sincerely. Keith sat down in the chair next to me and sighed heavily. I couldn't help but notice how tired he looked. I didn't get the chance to speak to him though as Clarisa sat on the opposite side of the table. "Keith honey, come sit with me." She pouted at him. He looked at his mate lovingly and got up straight away and moved to sit next to her. The food was starting to be brought out now and I noticed that my grandfather was still absent. I looked to the other end of the table as he and another Alpha walked in through the doors.

They were talking quickly in hushed tones as they neared me. Once they reached me though they stopped and my grandfather looked at me gently and placed his hand on my shoulder smiling before walking on further to sit at the head of the table. With the other chairs being full the Alpha that walked in with him pulled out the chair that Keith had been sitting on and sat down. I smiled at him politely as a maid reached between us and put food down.

Everyone started eating quietly to begin with, but as they started to reach their fill some started to talk again. Blake and Steven had started talking about different fighting techniques while Stephanie and Lana where talking about the mate bond and how much stronger it becomes after being marked. I started wondering about my mate. The idea of having to need someone so much made me nervous but a little excited. I had always been alone so I knew well enough how to look after myself and I had never depended on anyone to save me. I also had never saved myself, all I did was run, but I can't run anymore. I had friends, family and a mate. I hoped he would at least understand that I wouldn't need him all the time. That sometimes I need to be able to be me and be free to fall and pick myself back up rather than have someone there to do it for me. Not that the last couple of days had demonstrated that well. I begged for help when I shifted and I fainted due to exhaustion.

I looked down at the table slightly disappointed with myself. Both times a man I didn't even know had been the one to help me... Wait...I looked over at Stephanie and Blake. Every time she needed something he was there. He would move the world to help her if she wanted it...I was pulled out of my thoughts by Clarisa's hand on my shoulder. "Sweet heart, can I borrow you for a minute?" I smiled up at her and nodded. I slid the chair out and followed her out of the room and back through the kitchen. "I just wanted to have a chat with you about tonight." She said looking over her shoulder as we walked back up the stairs and towards the wing with our rooms on it. We stepped inside my room and she closed the door behind us. Turning around she motioned for me to sit down on the bed. I walked over and sat down at the foot of the bed looking at her. "Sweet heart I wanted you to know that you didn't have to do this." She looked concerned. "You don't have to put yourself in danger for any of us." She walked over and knelt in front of me taking my hands. I smiled at her comfortingly. "I know. I'm doing this because I want to. I want to help keep Stephanie safe and this sounds like the best chance to do that so I want to be there with her." Clarisa smiled at me sadly. "Then please...Be careful and don't take any unnecessary chances out there tonight. Stick to the plan exactly and make sure both of you get back to the house safely?" I nodded and leaned forward and wrapped my arms around her.

Clarisa finally let go and sat back again looking at me. "I want you to do one other thing for me tonight...When you and Stephanie are coming back to the house, follow your instincts sweet heart and let him protect you." She said knowingly to me. I frowned at her. "What do you..." She shushed me and just smiled. "You will know what I mean when the time comes. Now remember...Be careful." She got up from in front of me and squeezed my hands lovingly. She then turned and walked over to the door and left. I sat there trying to work out what she had meant but everything in this world felt so strange to me. I understood to point how it all worked but I felt like I was trying to catch up on a lifetime of learning. Mum must have thought I would never encounter this world, otherwise I'm sure she would have told me. Unless she never intended for me to be in it to begin with. Once all this was over and done with I was going to sit down with Clarisa and get her to take me back to the beginning and explain everything that I missed or didn't understand. Accepting all this and understanding all of it was definitely two different things.

There was a knock at my door and I got up to open it. I looked into the face of a rather tall serious looking guy. "Sorry to interrupt, but I was asked to come and get you to help you with a few things." I tilted my head sideways at him curious. "What are we supposed to be doing?" He stepped back slightly for me to step out the door. "I'm going to help you with your next shift." I gulped thinking back to all the pain I had felt last time but I knew I needed to do it again before tonight. I nodded a little unsure but stepped out and closed my door. The guy cleared his throat politely. "You may want to bring a spare change of clothes miss, unless you plan on taking all your clothes off in front of complete strangers." He stated as my eyes went wide. I opened the door back up and ducked in. I looked through the clothes quickly and found a pair of my yoga pants and a sports top. Grabbing them I left my room again quickly.

I followed him down the hallways and out the back door of the council house. We walked a short distance from the house and I looked around at others working out or fighting in large circles. So that's what they were for. He noticed me looking and continued walking before stopping. "They're training rings. It's designed to help teach you to fight in close combat. The aim is to stay within the circle while fighting off your opponent." I stopped just in front of him and nodded. "Will I get the chance to be in one of them?" He looked shocked at my question. "In most packs no, you wouldn't, but in Blood moon you would. Our women are trained just as the men are." I raised my eyebrows at him. "So you are from the blood moon pack?" He smiled. "Yes, I'm the Beta." I wasn't expecting that.

I held my hand out to him. "I'm Serenity." He looked at my hand then back at me. "I know." I dropped my hand and tilted my head at him. "So what can I call you?" he straightened up. "Brandon. I'm Beta Brandon. Now you will need to put your clothes down behind that bush so that you have somewhere to shift behind after we finish." Well it seemed this guy was all business. Alright I can do this. I walked over and put my clothes behind the bush making sure that when we got back I wouldn't be insight of any of the others. I walked back to him and noticed he was stretching slightly. I was a little surprised I never thought stretching out would make a difference when shifting. "You will need to stretch a little to help loosen your ligaments and muscle to make the shift smoother." He said pointedly. So I started my usual stretches that I would do before a run which seemed to surprise him a little. I had worked out a good routine awhile ago for stretching when I realised exactly how much I would need my body to be able to move at the drop of a hat. So the stretches came easily and it only took me a moment to feel myself loosen enough.

I seemed to impress him a little because when he spoke to me next he was a little kinder in his tone. "Ok, to get the shift started all you need to do is relax and focus on your wolf. Try remembering what it felt like the other night to run on all four, the smells, the grass beneath your paws and the way your body moved easily through the forest." I nodded to him and closed my eyes focusing. I remembered standing up onto my paws the first time and how I could feel more muscles move beneath my skin. They moved easily and fluently like they were always there. I thought about the first couple of steps I took on my paws and how soft the grass felt. I could remember the fine dew that had slowly seeped up between my pads and toes. I heard Brandon gasp quietly in shock and opened my eyes to look at him. He was visibly shocked and I was confused for a moment. That's when I realised that I was looking up at him more than before. I looked down and saw my paws. I jumped in joy at my accomplishment.

He stepped closer to me and knelt down on one knee in front of me. "I've only seen a few people shift that easily after their first shift. Well done Serenity that is impressive." He said. Then he did something I thought he couldn't. He smiled at me proudly! "Thanks Brandon" I said through my mind link and he almost fell over in shock at that. "How did you do that? No one but Alphas can mind link anyone they want!" He stated. I tilted my head at him. "I don't know. I did the same thing to Stephanie the other night when I noticed the wolves standing on the other side of the river." He nodded trying to process what I said. "I think we need to have a chat with your grandfather and Marcus. This might actually help tonight, but for now we need to go for a run. I need to see how fast we can push you ok?" I bowed my head at him and stepped back. Brandon stood up and closed his eyes. I heard a couple of popping sounds come from him as he shifted quickly in front of me. He opened his eyes and shook out his head. He was large brown wolf. Not quite as intimidating as the black one from last night but definitely still intimidating in his own right.

He looked at me and moved his head towards the forest. I stepped up next to him ready to go and he took off slowly to start with. I kept up with him easily without struggling at all. He slowly picked up his pace as we went. Even though I was smaller than him I was able to maintain a steady pace with him. We reached the forest and he slowed down to a stop. "Serenity? Can you hear me as well?" I looked at him. "Of course." He bobbed his head. "Good. On the way back I'm going to push as fast as I can. I want you to either keep up if you can or push yourself as fast as you can ok? It doesn't matter if you can't keep up we just need to know the extent of your speed ok?" I blinked at him. "What if I can out run you? Can I push myself faster than you?" I heard him laugh down the link. "Only an Alpha can bet me Serenity, but if you feel the urge to try then please feel free too" He was still laughing. I was going to push myself as hard as I could because if I could knock that smirk of his face I sure as hell was going to.

He took off at full speed and I jumped into action right beside him. He started pushing his speed faster and I made sure to keep pace with him. I could feel warmth open up in me and slowly start to spread down through my muscles and joints. My lungs seemed to open wider and allow more air into them. I could feel the air rushing over and under my body almost as if it were parting just for me. My paws felt light on the ground as if they were floating across the surface of it. I always loved running but this was so freeing. As the warmth into me reached its peak I simply let go. I let it over take my body and I opened myself up. I pushed faster and it came easily as I focused on the council house. It was getting closer and I could see faces turn to look at me as I approached. I flew past them without a care and noticed my grandfather standing at the back door to the council house. He was amazed, but was smiling with pride.

His eyes sparkled with joy as I approached him and came to a stop breathing heavily. I felt so exhilarated from the run. He looked down at me and laughed lightly. "Seems you have left you companion behind my dear." I blinked and then turned around to see Brandon just reaching us. He was breathing heavier than me and his head was hanging slightly as if he had pushed himself beyond his limit. I just wanted to run again but I didn't think he would be up for it. He stopped and sat down in his wolf form. I giggled down the mind link at him. "I think I bet you Brandon." He growled softly at me. "You girl...Are unnatural...How are you not exhausted after that! I have barely seen Alphas that can move like that." I walked over to him cheekily and jumped around him daring him to race me again. Instead he just lay down on the grass and huffed.

Keith and the others had reached us when I stopped dancing around Brandon. I felt so good after the run. Keith smiled as he stepped up to me and scruffed the fur on top of my head. "Well done kiddo, I've never seen anything like that before." Others just stood there looking at me in amazement. "I think you should go and shift back now. We don't need another demonstration of how fast you are." He said smiling as he glanced at the poor wolf still lying on the ground. I trotted over happily to where I had put my clothes. That's when I realised I didn't know how to shift back. Last night I had shifted back while I was dozing in and out but I didn't think I would be capable of having a nap right at that moment. I stood there thinking for a minute. "You focus on wanting to be back in human form. The reverse of what you did to shift into your wolf." His voice made me yip because I hadn't heard him approach. His eyes pierced into me when I turned around and looked at him.

"Go ahead, I want to see if you can shift back as easily as you did into your wolf form." He stated. He wanted to watch me shift? Wouldn't I be naked afterwards like everyone else? I stared at him and I didn't even flinch. He didn't turn away either. I took a deep breath, ok here I go. I closed my eyes and thought about me walking. I thought about how it felt to reach out with hands and grab things like food. "Well done." He said and I opened my eyes and looked down at myself. Yep naked, but human, but also still very naked. It happened quicker than shifting into my wolf which was nice and there was no pain again either so that was even better. I looked up at him and noticed his eyes darken before he looked away finally. "You need to get dressed." He said and walked away.

I blinked confused at him as he walked away. I needed to find out who he was. I felt like I knew him and his voice was familiar. He had been there at the dance and he had sat next to me at Breakfast. His eyes also looked similar to the black wolf's eyes from the other night. I reached down and picked up my clothes. I pulled my yoga pants on first then my sports top. I walked out from behind the shrub and saw him standing next to Brandon, Keith and my grandfather. Brandon had shifted back and was wearing a pair of shorts now. I walked over to them and they looked back at me as I approached. "Serenity." Brandon nodded to me. "I've started filling everyone in on your...ah...Unique gift." He said unsure on how to phrase it. I nodded at him. "How exactly did you reach out to Stephanie the other night Serenity?" Keith asked.

I thought back to when we were in the forest and how I had felt at the time. Then I remembered. "Well when I first tried I didn't reach her, but then the second time I was more desperate. I felt like I had to reach her, she had to hear me and then it kind of felt like a snap. It felt like whatever was blocking me from reaching her just snapped and gave way for me to speak to her. Today though, with Brandon it was easy. It was like whatever was supposed to be there hadn't come back. Hadn't repaired and I could just reach straight through to him easily. There was no resistance at all." Keith nodded and looked at Noah. He was frowning slightly in confusion. "I've never heard of it before, but then again maybe with Isabella being a witch and some of her abilities being passed through to Serenity it may be possible that is why she can mind link others outside of a pack." He still seemed deep in thought. Keith nodded and the others just looked at me curiously.