Chapter 15

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Maddox brings me to one of my packs guests house he's been staying in since the mate ball. He gives me one of his t-shirts and a pair of boxers to change into so I don't have to wear the crop top and skater skirt I'm currently wearing. I change in the bathroom, taking a few seconds to just smell the t-shirt as I pull it over my head.

I join Maddox in the kitchen, sitting down at one of the stools. I don't say anything as he moves around, preheating the oven and pulling out a frozen pizza from the freezer. "I would make you something more homemade, but this kitchen is barely stalked," he says, and I swear a faint blush grows on his cheeks.

The big bad alpha is blushing.

My eyes widen. Maddox is an alpha. I'm accepting him as my mate now, which makes me a luna. I start freaking out. How the fuck am I supposed to be a luna?

I am everything a luna isn't.

Where a luna is kind, I'm a total bitch. A luna is supposed to care for the entire pack as a mother would care for her children; I only care strongly for the people I am close to and have no motherly instincts. A luna is delicate, sweet, and thoughtful. I'm rock hard, stone cold, and vindictive.

I am the exact opposite of a luna down to my core.

"Harper, are you okay?" Maddox asks. My name slipping out between his lips brings me back to the present. Just like every other time he's said my name, it send a shiver down my spine. I don't try to hide it, even as Maddox smirks.

He knows exactly what he does to me, and for the first time, I don't care that I'm an open book to him.

"I'm okay," I say quietly. "I just don't think I'm luna material."

His smirk turns to a frown. "Why would you say that?"

"Because I'm everything a luna isn't," I tell him, avoiding his gaze. "I'm not gentle. I'm not loving. I'm not kind. I'm not mother material."

The corners of Maddox's lips turn up slightly. He rounds the island and grabs my hands in his, pulling me up to my feet. He moves his hands to my face, holding it gently so I'm forced to look at him.

I search his eyes, trying to figure out what he's thinking. The darkness of them is boring into mine. He remains silent for a few seconds, a soft, knee-weakening smile on his face.

God, he is so handsome.

"Harper," he says softly, his lips barely moving. All the same, it sends a shiver down my spine. It doesn't matter how loudly, quietly, or aggressively he says my name; it affects me no matter what.

"What?" I whisper tentatively.

"You are everything a luna should be. You're strong. You're fiercely protective of the people you care about. You may not see it, but you are gentle. You just don't let other people see it. A luna doesn't mean you have to be all unicorns and rainbows and butterflies."

I smile, "Unicorns and rainbows and butterflies, huh?"

"Yeah. Fuck that. I don't want anyone else to be my luna except you. You, Harper."

I stand on my toes and push my lips onto Maddox's. I don't know how, but he knew all the right things to say. I'm not good with words, so I express how grateful I am in the kiss. His hands move from my face to my back, hugging me tightly to him. I hook my arms around his neck, pouring every feeling I have right now into my actions.

My mind feels like it's everywhere and nowhere. The only thing I can think about is Maddox. The feelings I have for him are driving me crazy. I can't get enough of him. The way he's holding me, the way his lips feel against mine.

He moves his hands to my hips and lifts me onto the counter with ease. I wrap my legs around him, pulling our bodies as close together as possible. I may not want to complete the mating process with him just yet, but I sure as hell will kiss him as much as I please.

A fire erupts within me, reaching even the smallest parts of my body. Everything is igniting from the kiss, and it only encourages me to increase the intensity. Maddox doesn't miss a beat, responding just an intensely as I am.

His lips move away from mine and start an assault along my jawbone. I tilt my head to the side to give him easier access, a moan escaping my lips as his mouth finds my neck. I tangle my fingers in his hair, tightly gripping onto the strands as his lips create a trail of sparks along my collarbone. The fire in my body doesn't a waste a second in igniting the places of my skin his lips touch.

"Harper," he grunts, and the sound does more than send a shiver down my spine. A feeling of want explodes inside me.

I push Maddox away, and he runs into the island counter behind him. I gasp for air, the sudden separation of his lips from my skin feeling like I'm being torn from my own body. Or maybe I'm being forced back in.

Maddox breath is escaping him in heavy pants, but his eyes grow wide with concern. "Harper, are you okay? Did I do something?" He remains against the other counter, not wanting to interfere with what's going on in my mind.

Him already knowing that I just need some space to sort things out when I get like this makes my heart explode in the best way possible.

I shake my head at first, not trusting myself to speak. I give myself a minute for my heart to calm down a little, and my breathing isn't coming out in sporadic gasps.

"You didn't do anything," I whisper, reaching out my hand for his. He slowly moves closer to me, moving his hand up so I can grab it. He doesn't force any other contact between us. "I just can't do this tonight." By this, I mean the mating process, and he knows that. His eyes relax when I tell him what's going on.

"Then we won't."

"Thank you," I sigh, and I pull his body into mine. His bare chest hits my clothes on, and I bury my face into it. The skin is soft and warm against my cheek, the muscles strong underneath. I small, light smile forms on my lips, and I close my eyes to lose myself in the hug. Maddox's arms wrap around me, and he rests his chin on top of my head.

"I'm sorry. I want to, but it wouldn't feel right after what's happened tonight," I tell him.

"Shh," he says, and I feel him press his lips lightly to my head. "I get it, and I'm not mad. We can move at whatever pace we want to move. I don't care how long we wait. As long as it's the two of us. That's all that fucking matters."

My small smile expands into a fully blown grin. I pull my head away from his chest and look up at him, meeting his dark eyes. "You really know how to sweep a girl off her feet, don't you?" I tease.

"Only one girl," he replies, and he leans down to lightly press his lips onto mine.

cute lil moment between the two at the end:)

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