Make Me Beg - BOOK 1 OF THE MATES & MARKS TRILOGY

Chapter 8

Sam wandered down the aisles of the small boutique, it was filled with accessories from bracelets to headbands and scarves. Cassie was having a field day racing around picking up everything and trying it on. He watched her with a gentle smile.

Markus was across the street, sitting outside a small cafe and playing with his phone while he waited for them. Every now and again he would glance up and catch Sam's eyes but the omega would snap his head away with a blush. The town was small but had quite a few small shops and places to eat - and it was pretty close to the pack land so the others often for to come and hang out here. But this was Sam's first time and he still couldn't quite believe this was happening.

"Sammy!" He was snapped from his thoughts to Cassie putting a pink flower crown in his hair. "Oh you look so cute! Please can I take a photo?"

"N-no!" Sam tried to pull the headpiece off but Cassie grabbed his hands.

"Just one! It really suits you!" She snapped a quick photo and let him go before turning her phone to show him. "See!"

"Ugh, you know I don't like pictures of me..."

"But you're cute! I promise!" She winked at him and ran off to look at more items. He shook his head and lifted his hand to take the crown off but froze when he felt eyes on his face. He glanced around, searching for who it was. It was pretty quiet for a Saturday so there weren't many people meandering through the streets.

"She's right, it does look cute" a deep voice pulled him from his thoughts and he looked straight up above him, his head tilted so far back the crown almost slipped from his head. Behind him stood a tall, blonde man... Human. Sam struggled to speak, he was shy anyway but this man was... Well, gorgeous. He had hazel eyes that were creased at the corners as he smiled down at the smaller boy and waited patiently.

"Th-thank you" His voice came out as a cracked whisper but it just widened the blonde man's smile. He couldn't be much older than Sam himself but he was so big for a human! "Excuse m-me" Sam spun on his heel and started to stumble away hoping to find Cassie but a hand clamped down on his shoulder before he could take more than three steps.

"What's going on here?"

Alpha. He could smell an alpha. He took a few small sniffs - It was his alpha! Sam relaxed and slid behind Markus to use his broad back as a shield.

"I was just telling him how cute he was" The blonde's smile had turned to a sneer and he looked Markus up and down. "Maybe if you wanted to keep other men away you should be the one telling him he's cute" Markus' eyes flashed and he clenched his hands. The omega behind him was blushing from his head to his toes, his skin a light pink all over.

"He's mine" Markus growled low in his throat. Sam's heart began to pound at the words and he gripped his hands into the back of Markus' T-shirt, "I don't need to tell him he's cute for him to know who he belongs to" if the other man was a wolf he would know this alpha was making it very clear not to approach, marking his territory almost. Sam could feel the aura of his mate's wolf getting riled up and it caused his own to whine anxiously inside him. But this man was human, and his long arm shot out, grabbing Sam's wrist and dragging him out from behind his mate's shadow.

"Is he hurting you?" The man's face came close as he crouched, his voice serious.

"W-what?" Sam tried to pull back but he was too shaken to put a lot of strength into his attempt. His heart still pounding in his throat.

"There are hotlines for this you know - people who can help you!" Sam couldn't do anything but blink in confusion but Markus instantly growled low in his throat and took another step forward, trying to keep Same closer to him than this human.

"I-I don't understand, let me go!" Sam cried out, trying to sound braver than he felt. His eyes beginning to fill with tears. But both the man and Markus ignored him and both stepped forward again. Markus and the Man were practically nose to nose now with Sam wedged between them.

"Get away from him. Now" The alpha growled.

"You can leave him! You don't have to do what he says!" Sam felt guilty, this man actually looked so concerned for him but this wasn't something that he could fix, he was just making it worse by angering his Alpha.

"Yes, I do. Please, just stop!" The tears finally fell, big ploppy baby tears streamed down his round cheeks and dropped off this soft chin. "Please..." He whispered.

The man stared down at him, conflicted. After a few seconds of glancing back and forth between Sam and Markus he stepped back but didn't release Sam's arm. The man reached into his shoulder bag and pulled out a pen, he then stretched out Sam's arm and wrote a line of numbers on his soft pale skin.

"If you decide you can't take this bullshit anymore, call me." his voice was stern but he released the Omega and walked stiffly out of the shop. Sam sighed. His heart was finally starting to slow back down when he felt hot breath on his neck. The alpha still pressed against the back of him from their stand-off with the man.

"The second we get home I'm scrubbing that disgusting creep's number off your arm" Although Markus murmured the words against Sam's ear, his tone was threatening and the omega felt a shiver run down his spine. He would never admit it but sometimes that scary voice sent a shiver not just down his spine but down to his groin... He couldn't help being a masochist... He sniffled and wiped his wet cheeks but otherwise stayed still.

"Y-Yes, Sir" Sam's eyes were glued to the floor but he felt his alpha's hands sneakily slide under his shirt to run his fingers along his bare lower back, slowly round his sharp thin hips and trailing the tips of his fingers gently over his stomach and along the rim of his trousers... Sam's breaths became shallow and a little shaky but he managed to stay still and keep his eyes down. Markus brought his lips just under his mate's ear and sighed,

"Let's... Go get something to eat" He dug his nails into Sam's hips for a moment, enjoying the soft gasp that escapes his lips. Maybe it's mean for him to do these things on purpose but he just loves the sweet little noises that come out of his mate.

Sam nodded and felt the huge hands slip away, he tried not to feel too sad at the loss of contact but his wolf was whinging again. He took a deep breath to clear his thoughts and push his wolf back, and went to find Cassie to tell her they were leaving.

He found his curly haired friend at the counter, taking her receipt and slipping her wrist through a plastic bag.

"What did you get?" Sam's voice was barely audible and Cassie snapped her head round gave him a questioning look but froze as her eyes ran over his red rimmed eyes, trembling lips and hands.

"What happened, sweetie?" She whispered, rushing forward to put her hands on his upper arms and press her forehead against his. "Did he hurt you?" She gave him a stern look but he just shook his head.

"It... Was weird, I'll tell you later - Promise" He gave a weak smile, "But what did you get?"

Cassie took a moment to gauge his expression but gave in and gave him a quick hug before stepping back,

"I got a cute blue bracelet! I'll show it to you later!" She gave a grin, although it was a struggle to keep it up - She was too worried about her best friend. "So, where next?"

"Alpha Markus says we are going to get something to eat now"

"Nice! Where?" Cassie grabbed his hand and started walking towards the front of the store where Markus was waiting in the doorway.

"Um... I don't know..." Sam murmured.

"That's okay, sweetie" She gave him a cheeky wink as they reached the towering alpha, "Hey Markus, where are we going for food then?"

"There's an Italian place just across the street, I was looking in while I waited and it doesn't seem too busy."

"Yum! I love Italian food!" Cassie squeezed Sam's hand and forced a smile, hoping it would be contagious. He gave a small grin back and she accepted that as the best she would get right now. Markus just rolled his eyes and opened the door for them.

"Thanks, Jeeves" Cassie teased, pulling Sam out into the sunshine. The alpha simply grunted and followed them across the street.