Sour Souls The Morningstar Series Book 6
Sour Souls Chapter 16

Goddamn, having a mate is hard. Emilia pushes my buttons, and I swear she f*****g loves it. Karla wasn't kidding when she said Bexley is going to love Emilia. I'll have to keep them apart for as long as I can.

Although, things have been going different than I expected with my mate. Emilia is strong, but she's hiding behind a fake strength when it comes to me. She's so set that I'll reject her at the slightest things. Emilia has no idea how much she means to me. When I walked in on her naked in the bathroom, I thought Rex and I were going to lose it then. My eyes roamed down her body quickly taking everything in. Just like I thought, her ribs are poking out because she's too skinny. Yet, she has lovely curves. Curves that had me drooling.

All I thought about in that moment, was throwing her onto that counter, and giving her all of the pleasure she could take. It was when she covered herself that I was broken from the haze. Emilia hid from me because of her scars.

Yes, those scars pissed me off. I want the heads of every single fucker who had any part in that. Although, I'm pretty sure I killed them all already.

Emilia really thought that I was going to reject her over those scars. Like they deminish her beauty in any way. My mate has no idea how beautiful she, and how those scars really look to me.

I'm angry that anyone dared to hurt my mate, but at the same time.. Those scars are proof that she is strong. Possibly the strongest she-wolf out there. No matter how much this pack tried to tear Emilia down, she always got back up. Her scars are something to be proud of.

Maybe I should get Nix to have a talk with her when we get home at some point. I don't want Bexley to know about Emilia for as long as possible. After she replaces out though.. Maybe Nix can show Emilia all of her scars, then my pet wouldn't feel so alone.

I know that when I said those words to Emilia she wasn't expecting them. Hell, I half expected her to drop that shirt covering her body, and jump into my arms. Emilia isn't like that though. She barely understands things between us. Or, so I thought.

Then I walked out of the bathroom in just my towel. Emilia's cherry blossom scent grew stronger, calling to me. She was turned on, and just from looking at me.

Rex went insane in my head over her scent. He knows that we should wait to mark our mate, but that didn't mean we couldn't have fun with her. It took everything in me to ignore that scent.

Then Emilia just had to open her fucking mouth, and lie to me. When I yanked her head back by her hair, I instantly regretted it. Emilia has been through enough brutality in her life, and here I am pulling her around like a rag doll. Only..

My mate liked it. The scent of her arousal grew even stronger when I did that. A small gasp had left her parted lips. Even when I ran my nose along her neck as I held my grip on her hair. Emilia liked it, a lot.

Again, it had taken everything in me to pull away from her. I have no idea how much longer I'm going to be able to hold back. I want her. I want to do things to her that she isn't ready for, but I have to hold back until she's ready. Emilia, and I walked to Granny's house. I had been communicating with them over the last three days through Karla. We were texting while I was with my mate. I knew everyone was growing very impatient. Wolves in the pack stared, and whispered about us as we walked through. I kept my ears perked to listen to all of them. If anyone dares to say the wrong thing about my mate.. it will be the last thing they say. Most of what I heard was:

"Is that the Morningstar?"

"He looks so scary."

"Isn't that the bastard child with him?"

"I thought she died."

"Why is she on his arm like that? Desperate much."

"He can do way better than trash like her."

I wanted the heads of all of them, but I know that I can't kill them simply for being jealous. I'm just glad that Emilia doesn't seem to care about what the say. She ignored them all with her head held high. Emilia looked around at the world as we walked to Granny's. She didn't really look at the people. Instead, Emilia looked at the sky, the trees, the grass, the forest. She inhaled the fresh air, and soaked in the sun. My mate is so beautiful.

When Granny's house came into sight, Emilia gasped. Her eyes misted as she took in the cute porch. I told her to go ahead of me. Emilia hasn't smiled that brightly until that moment. And in that moment, I knew that I would do anything to see that smile again. I also knew that I would be right behind her. I dare one of these wolves to say, or touch my mate. Thankfully though, no one did.

I sat back to let my mate have her reunion with her family. Granny asked for my help in the kitchen. I made a plate for my mate, and was a bit surprised that she was willing to eat again. Good, she needs all the food she can get.

Emilia has argued with me almost the entire time I've been here with her. Damn woman is annoying. She's going to keep me on my toes for the rest of eternity.

Ares, Ryce would like to speak to you before we go. We are almost ready. Kee mind linked me.

Be right there. I said.

I walked to my mate to tell her that I am leaving. The look in her eyes almost broke me. Emilia has been acting strong this whole time, but I know that being around me has just given her a sense of security. The fact that her safety is leaving freaked her out. But I know that she will be fine. I kissed Emilia's forehead, and walked out the door. I made it back to the pack house quickly, while ignoring all the whispers. When I entered through the front doors, Marco was there waiting.

"Hey boss, how's it been going with your mate?" He asked.

"Fine I guess." I said.

"I hear that she is quite the spitfire." Marco said.

I turned to frown at him.

"Who told you that?" I asked.

"I did." Kee said coming around the corner.

I rolled my eyes at my sister.

"Where is Ryce?" I asked.

"He is in the dead Alpha's office waiting for you." She told me.

I followed Kee to the office. She walked right in. I followed behind her, and Marco behind me. Ryce is sitting on the other side of the desk. Melia is sitting on the brown leather couch opposite of the door. And there are a few men standing behind Ryce. "How is it going? Did you replace someone to take over until the young Alpha comes of age?" I asked Ryce.

"Kee has helped with that. Turns out that Alpha Frederick had a brother. Much better person, although he is going through some trials right now to be sure that he isn't like his brother. He will help the young Alpha, and Beta. I will be popping in and out to make sure things are going well here." He told me.

"Good." I said.

Ryce nodded, and then looked up at me.

"So, how are things with your mate?" He asked.

I gave him a bored look.

"That's my business, and only my buisness." I stated.

Kee snorted. "Things have been going well. She is adjusting much better than any of us thought. I think having her mate around probably helps a lot." She said.

"Espeically when he's someone as powerful as a Morningstar." Melia added.

Ryce gave us one nod.

"Your mother has been calling me since you refuse to tell her more than one detail at a time." He said.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"She wants you to offer to bring Emilia's family back with you." Ryce said.

I stayed silent. I know that's what she wants. We talked about it earlier.

"Well? Have you?" Ryce asked.

"No." I stated. "The young Beta wants to stay. Now that Frederick is dead, he believes that he, and the young Alpha can be the change this pack needs." I said. "And the others?" Ryce asked.

"I'm not sure how they feel. I doubt that Granny will want to leave her home. The warriors.. I'm not sure if they want to leave here, or not." I said. "What about the doctor?" Ryce asked.

"He wishes to stay." Melia chimed in. "I already talked to him. He has the same views as the young Beta." She said.

Ryce gave one nod, and then looked at me skeptically.

"Are you going to offer it to the other two?" He asked.

I didn't respond.

"What are you planning Ares?" Ryce asked with a hint of a smile.

"I am pretty sure they are going to force their way into one of our cars." I said.

Ryce chuckled. "So, you haven't offered it to them yet, because you have a hunch that they will beg you to let them come." He said.

I nodded. "That's right Alpha King." I said.

"You are such an a*s." Melia said with an eye roll.

"They need to prove their loyalty. I know that Emilia loves them, and trusts them, but I do not. This entire pack is full of trash wolves. I won't trust any of them easily." I said.

"Yet, you left your mate alone with them." Marco commented.

"Karla is with them." I said.

"Well," Ryce said getting our attention. "I suppose I just have a few things to wrap up. Wrenly is with the young Alpha right now. Then we will be going home. I suggest the lot of you leave as well. Thank you for your help with this issue." He said. I gave Ryce one nod before leaving the office. Kee is hot on my heels as we walked to our rooms. I walked into mine, with my sister right behind me.

"I see things have been going well with Emi." She said. "Rex is very mellow considering."

"Yeah, at least he isn't pushing to mark her against her will." I said.

I started shoving things back into my bag.

"What's going to happen when we get back?" Kee asked.

"Well, I asked Mom to arrage one of the aparments for me. I gave her a run down of what happened. Asked her to get some clothes together for my mate." I said.

"What if Emi doesn't like what Mom picks out?" Kee asked.

"It won't matter. I'm hoping that within a month Emilia will have more weight on her. Then she can go shopping herself, pick out her own things." I said.

"I suppose that makes sense." Kee said. "I still think it's really funny she won't let you call her Emi." She said with a laugh.

I grunted.

"She lets you call her pet?" Kee asked incredulously.

My eyes snapped to my sisters.

"Mind your own buisness." I said.

"Ares, why would you chose that nickname, out of all the nicknames in the world, with what she has been through?" Kee asked.

I shrugged.

"Just seemed fitting." I said.

Kee scoffed. "Becaus she's been abused her whole life?"

I shook my head. "No. Will you just drop it. Emilia doesn't mind it." I said.

"That's because she doesn't understand what it means exactly." Kee argued.

My eyes snapped to hers once more.

"I don't call her that because I think she's an actual f*****g pet Akeehla. It's just a nickname. One I like." I said as I turned back to packing my things.

"What if she replaces out what it means, and gets mad?" Kee asked.

I sighed heavily. "Then I'll come up with something else."

"Maybe we should come up with things now." Kee said. "I think you should call her pumpkin, or puddin. How cute?" She said.

I gave her an incredulous look.

"No." I said flatly.

"Fine, maybe I'll just suggest for her to use those for you." Kee said.

"Good luck." I muttered.

"What? You gonna ask her to call you Mr. Morningstar too?" Kee asked with a laugh.

I thought about the way Emilia laughed when her friends called me that. She would never call me by that name, even if I asked her. Although, I wonder if I can get her to call me sir.

"Why don't you just tell her to call you master?" Kee said annoyed.

I shook my head.

"Emilia would never call me master." I said.

"Wow. You are really missing the point here." Kee said.

I looked up at my sister annoyed.

"Why don't you just go pack." I said.

"Already done. Everything is ready to go. Just need your bag, and all of us to pack up." She said.

I gave her a nod.

"What are you going to do when her friends come rushing out to come with us, and they don't have anything packed?" Kee asked.

"I already thought of that." I said.

"Did you now?" Kee asked amused.

"Yeah, I talked with Granny already, and Marco snuck in to pack their things earlier today. Granny's job is to not let them notice." I said.

I looked up to see Kee smiling at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, it's just.. You're already different. Smitten. A simp." She said with a snort.

I growled at her.

"She's my mate, of course I am." I said.

"It's just.. I didn't think you would act like this. She's different than the normal girls you end up in bed with. And you are.. being so patient with her. It's... unlike you. I thought you would burn this entire pack to the ground, and mark her fully by now." Kee said. I shook my head.

"She's been through enough. She's never had any type of control over her own life. I want her to experience some of that. When she's ready, I can talk about marking her." I said.

Kee snorted. "Talk about it?" She asked.

I sighed. "I don't want to push her, and risk her hating me, or herself. I want her to..." I trailed off as I came to the realization myself.

"You want her to want you back. To fall in love with you." Kee finished.

I looked up at Kee.

"Yeah." I said.

"Well, you are off to a good start. Karla said that she has been very fidgety since you left her." Kee told me.

"Shit." I mumbled. "I should have made you pack my stuff, and stayed with her." I said.

"She just feels safe around you Ares. She knows that she is okay, but you bring her a sense of peace, and safety. She's also worried you won't come back for her." Kee said.

I frowned at my sister.

"I made it pretty clear to her that I want her." I said.

Kee shook her head.

"I don't think that this is something she can just be talked into Ares. It's going to take her time to understand that you won't leave her." She said.

I narrowed my eyes at my sister.

"What do you know that I don't?" I asked.

Kee just blinked at me.

"Akeehla." I warned.

"I'm not telling you her secrets. She didn't even tell me." She said.

"If there is something that I need to know-"

"I would tell you. This is different. All I will tell you, is that Emi has been alone for longer than just those five years." She said.

Kee's face morphed into sadness as she looked at the floor.

"Her inner child is always whimpering so loud." She whispered.

I walked to my sister, and rested my hand on her shoulder. Kee's glowing green eyes looked up at me. I gave her a fierce look.

"I will help her. Emilia will never know pain again. Only love." I said.

Kee smiled at me. "And we got a big family with a lot of love to go around." She said.

I frowned. "No, not right away." I said.

"Why not?" Kee asked.

"I don't want to overwhelm her." I said.

"We should have Epperly talk to her when we get there then. She had a sort of similar life." Kee suggested.

I gave my sister wide eyes.

"I just said I didn't want to overwhelm her, and you want the first person she meets to be the most powerful God in existance?" I asked incredulously.

Kee shrugged. "It's Epperly." She said it like that was all the reason she needed.

I shook my head. "How about I just talk to Emilia about it after we get home?"

Kee smirked at me.

"You're already becoming a softy." She said.

I rolled my eyes, and slung my bag over my shoulder. Kee, and I walked out of the room, out of the pack house, and to our parked cars. I threw my bag into the back, and turned to Kee.

"You and Karla are with us. You can drive first. Melia and Marco can take the other love birds." I said.

Kee nodded. "I'll wait here." She said.

I turned to head back to Granny's. Time to go get my mate.