CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER12

LUCAS

It was funny, Noah teased me this morning for enjoying brushing our teeth together, but he'd been right.

I loved the little domestic moments we had. Brushing our teeth side by side, eating breakfast together on the couch and happily pottering around his shop all day in companionable silence for the most part.

It was because I could envision how we would live together at the compound, with the pack. It was what I want our future to be, a sweet, loving comfortability with my mate.

I was happily reading on the couch, engrossed in the book Noah had recommended, when I smelt a wolf and it was not one from my pack.

"Shit!"

"What's wrong?" Noah asked.

I leapt up and strode over to Noah quickly. "I smell a wolf coming. Take off your sweater, now !" I needed to make sure my claim was visible.

Noah's eyes widened as he took in my expression. Thankfully, he listened and whipped off his sweater as I heard Marcus's voice from behind me.

"Well, well, isn't this an adorable little book shop."

I turned and barely concealed my warning growl as I blocked Noah from his view. "What are you doing here Marcus?"

"I'm just in the neighbourhood browsing books."

"We both know that's a pile of shit."

"Excuse me, I like to read in my free time," he said in a mocking tone that made me want to rip his head off.

"If you've got so much free time that you're shopping for books, then you're not doing your job as an alpha properly. Go back to your pack," I growled.

"Hey, not all of us have a sweet-smelling little human to keep us occupied. Are you going to introduce me?"

"No." I growled.

He was purposely trying to get under my skin and it made me furious that it was working. My instincts were screaming within me to get Noah as far away from Marcus as possible.

He leaned around me to try and get a closer look at Noah. "Hi there, I'm Marcus. Is this your lovely shop?"

Noah looked around my shoulder. He threaded his arm through mine and held me close, staying partially behind me. My mate was smart.

"Yes, it is," Noah answered.

"Could you come out and help me with finding a book?"

I growled again.

"Sorry, no. It would upset my mate."

I swear I loved him even more.

"Hm that's a shame. I expected better service from The Book Nook. I'd hate to have to leave a bad review online," Marcus threatened.

Noah stepped out a little more and I wrapped my arm around his shoulders as he slipped his around my waist.

"You're welcome to browse, but I need to stay right here."

Marcus stared at Noah's neck. "Ah, I can see why Lucas is so protective. You're so freshly bitten," he said then looked back at me. "So, the rumour is true, you've claimed a human mate. What happened Lucas? Did you get tired of waiting and bite the first pretty face you saw on the full moon? Though I can't say I blame you, he is delectable," he murmured as he looked at Noah again with desire in his eyes.

My blood boiled with barely contained rage and my chest rumbled with a threatening growl.

Marcus didn't take the hint. "You still have time to browse your options, you know," he said to Noah, "lots of other Alpha's to choose from and a sweet thing like you could have his pick."

"We are fated by Luna. He has no need to browse," I stated, trying to put as much confidence in my tone as possible.

The truth was, Marcus was right. Noah could choose to mate with another if he wanted. With our bond only half complete right now, if he completed a mating with another wolf, fated or not, it would break our bond and I would lose the most important person in my life.

I did not think Noah would do that, nor even have the desire to when he so obviously felt the pull, but he could. And that knowledge terrified me more than I'd like. I've been waiting for him for years and he meant everything to me. I'd die for him.

"Well, that's easy for you to say, but your intended might not feel the same."

I growled again and pushed Noah behind me.

"Leave Marcus. NOW!"

Marcus laughed but held his hands up. "Okay, okay, didn't mean to ruffle your fur," he chuckled and stepped to the side to see Noah better again. "Hopefully I'll see you again… sorry, what was your name?"

"None of your fucking business, leave!" I growled. My wolf had risen extremely close to the surface.

Marcus laughed again.

The fucking prick.

"Always nice catching up with you, Lucas," he said in an upbeat tone that made my teeth ache from grinding, then he left the store.

I spun around and grabbed Noah, pulling him close and burying my nose in his neck, inhaling his scent to calm my wolf.

"Oh! Okay. It's okay, I'm right here," Noah murmured calmly, wrapping his arms around me and stroking my back comfortingly.

I was glad he could sense how much I needed him close to me in that moment. To hold him, reassuring myself and my wolf that he was ours and perfectly safe.

"I need to mark you," I said, leaning down to lift his legs, wrapping them around my body as I walked over to lock the door and carried him to the little couch in the corner of the store.