Alpha Markus
Chapter 18

Celeste P.O.V

Gillian and Markus’ parents left and then there was just me and Markus. Alone. He was still holding me against his chest. I didn’t know what was supposed to happen now. I had a room, but neither of us moved. I don’t know that either of us wanted to. I couldn’t stop the yawn that left my mouth. I felt Markus chuckle and move from behind me. “Long day?”

“In a good way,” I said. I got up and winced, feeling a pain in my ribs now that his sparks weren’t distracting my body. All the bruises seemed to scream at me suddenly, reminding me they were still there.

“I’m sorry, I almost forgot you were still healing. Come. Let me get the shower started for you and so you can get a good night’s rest,” I nodded then paused, “Something wrong?” He asked. I wrung my hands.

“I don’t have any clothes. We left mine at the Packhouse,” His eyes widened.

“s**t, right. Gillian’s sister will take you shopping tomorrow. Until then,” he went to a set of drawers, “How about you put these on?” I looked at the shirt and shorts that he gave to me and I giggled. “Those shorts won’t fit me.” He looked down at his pair of shorts. Went back to the drawers and pulled a few out, cursing under his breath. “Aha!” he said triumphantly as he pulled a pair that had draw-strings. He turned back to me and wagged his eyes brows at me. I giggled more and grabbed the clothes from him. Following him to the bathroom. I almost dropped the clothes as I took in the bathroom.

It was the most luxurious bathroom I had ever seen. There was warm sand colored marble everywhere, making it feel inviting and cozy. There was a glass shower all on one side of the room that looked like it could fit 5 people. There were shower jets on the top and on the walls. There was a bench to sit along the wall of the shower. The wall closest to the bedroom had the floor raised with three giant steps leading to it. A giant bathtub was sunk into the raised flooring and there was an elegant fireplace in the raised platform. There were two sinks and a giant mirror to my right. It had a recessed roof and lighting.

I heard the showers going. I looked at multiple shower heads running. The shower area filling with steam quickly.

“I think these will help the pain. Just let me know if you need anything,” Markus said, heading towards the bathroom door. He turned at the last minute with a mischievous grin. “Unless you want me to join you?” He wagged his eyebrows at me. He laughed at my squeak. “I’m just messing with you,” he said as he moved to close the door behind him. Before it clicked closed, he opened it fast and wagged his eyebrows once more, making me laugh and roll my eyes, before he closed the door again.

I turned to look at the shower and scrunched my nose. The little pad that controlled it looked complicated. I took my clothes off but before I went into the shower, I turned my attention to the mirror. I sighed as I took myself in. It’d been a few years since I’d gotten a chance to really look at myself. Even ignoring the bruising and raised lines from the attack, my body was a testament to the abuse I had suffered at the hands of the pack. My olive skin seemed washed out, pale and sad from lack of sun. My ribs were protruding, my stomach concaving inwards from the lack of food. Every bone in my body could easily be seen. My breasts and my a*s seemed to be the only thing that had any fat on it. My eyes, the only part of me that seemed to hold life. I had old scarring faintly visible along my back and my legs. Markus seemed to look at me with so much love and devotion already that it scared me. Looking at the mirror, I couldn’t see why. In a world where most werewolves looked like they belonged in a super model magazine, I did not.

Markus sees more than what we look like. He knows we’ve suffered. He sees the strength in us. The real beauty -Kara commented quietly. I knew how much it hurt her when I had my pity parties. When she knew I believed we weren’t enough.

He can have anyone, when he sees us like this…. – I couldn’t finish the sentence.

He was made for us and we were made for him. The moon goddess doesn’t make mistakes. -She insisted.

I sighed and made a mental note to ask Maya to take some pictures with the new phone Markus told us he would give us. Maybe they would be useful in the investigation. There was no point in wallowing in a pity party. I had to trust that Kara was right and the moon goddess hadn’t made a mistake. I would also do everything in my power to prove to Markus that I would not be a burden, that we were worthy of being by his side.

I entered the shower. I put my hand out to check the temperature. I walked under the heated sprays and almost m****d as my abused body felt the heat of the water. After a solid 10 mins of letting the water hit my body, I cleaned myself up and looked at the little panel. I had no idea how to shut off the water stream. I dried myself and put on the ridiculously large clothes he gave me. They smelled like him though and that had Kara purring. I went to the door and my jaw dropped. Markus’ back was to me, bent over a laptop…..in boxers….I had a full view of a broad back, tapered waist, hard muscles and round bottom. His legs looked like tree trunks, all muscle. He suddenly stood up and turned to look at me. I blushed.

“I don’t know how to turn off the shower,” I blurted. He smiled, “Not a big deal, I’m about to shower myself.” I nodded and headed to the door that led to my bedroom.

“Celeste?” He called and I turned. He was right behind me and he gathered me into his arms. I could feel every muscle in his chest ripple under my hands. I was surprised at the random thought that passed through my head, wondering how his buttocks would feel under my hands. “Thank you for trusting us today,” He kissed my forehead and let me go.

“Good night” I said quickly, blushing at my own thoughts. I felt Kara purr inside my head. I was going to close the door as I saw him headed to the bathroom, but decided against it. I enjoyed smelling his scent of pistachios, figs and earth before a storm coming through the door, so I left it slightly ajar. I looked at my bedroom in the dark. I had not slept in a bed in over 12 years. I crawled into bed and was out by the time my head hit the pillow.