The Mark of an Alpha

Sleep is so much easier to find now that I finally feel like I belong. I am where I am supposed to be.

His humming makes me want to fall further in my slumber until his voice pulls me out of it.

“Hey sleepyhead,” Hunter's voice makes me smile. “You should change unless you’re planning on sleeping in your wedding dress.”

My wedding dress, my eyes open up and I see that Hunter manages to carry me into our bedroom. I look down at my dress and then I look over at him in his tux and I cannot help but smile.

He sets me down and my eyes wander over him. He looks good in his suit. My wolf surfaces and gives me the courage to say what is on my mind.

“Why don’t you take it off for me?” His eyes widen a bit at my request and his eyes turn hooded.

“If that’s what you want,” he growls and my body fills with lust towards my man.

Don’t you dare walk into this room!

I snap at my beta knowing well that he loves to do just that.

No worries there I wouldn’t want to go blind. I can hear him laughing.

He makes himself evaporate from my mind. There is this feeling coursing through my body and I cannot help but ravish in it. Hunter’s eyes stay on me as my wolf nearly jumps in joy.

We’re finally going to complete the mating bond!

Suddenly I am wide awake all traces of sleepiness gone and my wolf is on alert.

Hunter makes his way towards me and my hands go up to his chest. The soft thumping of his heart makes my fingertips tingle pressing my hand against him I can feel my body heat up and his smoldering golden eyes are on mine.

My fingers play with his shirt buttons and he closes his eyes for a moment and when he opens them again they are darker.

“Melany,” my name is like a prayer on his lips and he says it with so much passion that all the air in my lungs escapes me.

“Hunter,” I answer him and a low rumbling growl trembles under his shirt and up to his lips.

His hands surprise me as he grabs the back of my thighs and pushes me up his body as my forearms rest on his chest my hands caress his face. His breathing is rapid as he pushes me against the bedroom wall and my legs wrap around him.

“You don’t know what you’re doing to my wolf and me. You’re driving us insane.” His lips go to my jawline as I roll my head back giving him more skin to explore. His lips kiss an electrifying trail from my chin to the nape of my neck and back.

Hunter’s hand slowly starts moving higher as his lips slowly make their way towards mine. He gently pecks a kiss on my lips and moves away and I growl in frustration at him. His hand has now reached my dresses zipper and his fingers skim over my back making me shiver.

“You don’t know how much I want to rip this off of you but I won’t,” the sound of a zipper being lowered and our breaths are all that can be heard at the moment. His fingernail trail down my back as his hand moves and I gasp. He puts me down and his hand caresses me as they grab ahold of the waistline and Hunter pulls it down making a heap of material at my feet.

I stand before Hunter in my bra and panties his eyes full of hunger devour me completely. My hands flinch wanting to cover myself but his eyes soften and he comes closer his hands grabbing at my bare waist and as if I were light as a feather he lifts me out of my dress, my feet slip out of my heels easily, setting me gently on my feet.

I can sense his animalistic side rising and he swiftly takes off his blazer and his hands go to unbutton his vest as well dropping it on the floor.

“Let me,” my voice is faint and I swallow down my nerves. He takes a deep breath and nods my hands go to the top button and ungracefully unbutton it. My nerves get the best of me and my fingers grip the folds of his shirt and tear four buttons. “Shít! I’m sorry.”

That’s not ladylike at all.

“Good thing I didn’t rent,” he smiles at me and pulls his shirt further apart, his bare chest gleaming in the moonlight. The fabric falls off of him with ease and he is left in his pants and shoes. He flings his shoes off and crashing noise envelopes the quiet room.

Hunter wraps his arms around me and pushes me against his body. My arms wrap around his neck as his lips devour mine he mumbles against them not sure what he is saying but it sounds like, you are my world.

Hunter’s height makes me stand on my tiptoes as he sways me towards the bed his lips not leaving mine. He drops our bodies onto the mattress.

His body pinning me to the bed, “nothing is stopping us from becoming one.” His eyes darken as I know mine must be since my wolf is right there at the surface.

Some would say completing the mating bond is exhausting. Hunter showed me that it is exhilarating.

The morning sun breaks through my window warming my cheek.

You are finally mated.

I am.

Taking in a deep breath a groan rumbles in my throat as my muscles stretch. A dull soreness registers in my mind.

“Hunter,” my arms stretch out seeking one thing. My eyes open up when I cannot find what I am seeking.

Hunter is gone. I sit up and my body protests wanting to rest instead. My eyes drift to Hunter’s pillow. A neatly folded piece of parchment sits.

The paper unfolds easily as I stare at it.

I wish I could say Hunter has amazing handwriting but it is readable, sort of.

Needed break. Love you.

Break? What?

I’m pretty sure he wrote eat breakfast or something along those lines. My wolf tries to reassure me.

He could not get annoyed with me that quickly could he?

Hunter.

Yes? My eyes widen at his response.

Hunter!

Melany!

My body soaks up the joy I am feeling. I can finally mind link Hunter.

I read your note. Do you need a break?

I said I’m going to cook breakfast.

Well, you were missing some words and we need to work on your penmanship.

A goofy smile spreads across my lips as I relax back into the mattress. I am finally connected with Hunter. The smell of coffee fills my nose as I sit back up in alert.

The coffee smells delicious.

Get down here.

Two years later...

Hunter is in a pack meeting as I should be but I am exhausted. My body is slumped over the couch as I rest for a moment.

“Carl, Hector, Madison!” Angie screams and I let my head drop to the side, “keep quiet Melany is trying to sleep.” How in the world does she think I plan on sleep with her screaming her head off.

“Not anymore,” I snap. Angie is here trying to give me a hand with the house.

Hunter thought it was a good idea that we get our place right in the middle of our territory making it easier for both packs to come to us.

Living with Hunter has been the best experience and the most chaotic as well. Both packs were not used to having their alphas live away from the packhouse but they learned to adjust. Hunter in the other hand is still adjusting. He decided that we would live like a normal family meaning no cook at the house. He likes his privacy.

We both had trouble with that.

“Melany,” my eyes drift to Angie and she has both her boys with her, they are exact replicas of Andrew just the age and height difference.

“Yes.” I push myself up and fit the pillow behind me.

“I’m going to restock your fridge.” Her eyes drop down and I glance down as well. The boys give their mother a sweet smile. “The boys manage to get into it while I was in the bathroom.”

“You don’t have to,” I start but she shakes her head.

“They raided the thing and unless you know what to make dinner out of Nutella and mayo I suggest I go to the store.”

“They didn’t eat the Nutella?” I gasp playfully and Carl gives me a look that I have known for years, Andrew’s oh so famous puppy dog eyes.

“Oh no you don’t buster, let’s go,” she grabs the boys' hands and then turns to look at me, “you don’t mind looking over Madison, do you?”

“Not at all,” she smiles and walks out the door with the boys by her side.

“Can’t believe you two,” she snarls at the boys.

The door closes and I can hear Madison walking around. “Madison, come here.” I can see her shadow in the kitchen.

Her big hazel eyes peek at me by the kitchen entryway, I motion for her to come with my finger and her eyes dart around nervously as she steps out of the kitchen.

Her hand is in the Nutella jar that her brothers were not able to get to. Her curl pigtails bounce at the side of her face as she makes her way towards me.

“For a two-year-old, you and your brothers are very mischievous.” I smile at her and she beams at me.

Looking down at Madison I feel at peace. Her presences make my body relax further into the seat until this stabbing pain hits me and my hands go to my stomach.

Hunter!

The warmth between my legs makes me panic even more.

Melany! What happened? Along with our mind link, Hunter can sense my pain as well.

My water broke, I think.

My wolf surfaces, that is most definitely not urine.

He did not question me the second the words were thought he is racing back home. I breathe in rapidly from my mouth as I push myself off the couch. My upper lip is covered in sweat as I struggle to get up.

“Madison, sweetie we have to go,” her head tilts to the side as she looks at me, her eyes full of curiosity. “Come on,” she does not budge, “I’ll buy you ice cream,” this intrigues her and she walks to the door.

I waddle over and Hunter has prepared a bag by the door if this very thing happened while we were at home.

Madison barely gets to the door when it bursts open and Hunter runs in.

“Melany,” his eyes go to my bulging stomach as I finally let my emotions out and the flood gates open.

“The baby is coming!” I scream at him as another stabbing pain in my lower abdomen hits.

“Let’s go,” Hunter is shirtless and even in the pain I am, I have to take a moment to admire him. He wraps his arm around me and leads me to the door and down the steps.

“We’re forgetting the child,” Hunter looks at me as if I finally lost all my marbles and I bite my lips to stop the scream and take a deep breath, “Madison!”

Hunter hurries me to my Jeep and helps me in. Then he runs back into the house grabs the bag and Madison. Madison thinks he wants to play with her since she is all giggles as he runs to the car with her on his shoulder.

“Bad parenting moment number one,” he puts Madison in the back seat without a car seat and he jumps into the driver’s side. “Madison, sweetheart please keep the seatbelt on.” With that, he pulls out of the house and rushes me to the packhouse infirmary.

Hunter’s mind is in two places at once. He is driving and his mind is at the packhouse as he commands that my room be cleared and ready.

“You’re going to be okay, fine, you’re going to be better than fine. We’re going to be parents once we are heading back home. We’re going to be parents,” his breathing turns erratic his knuckles are turning white as his hands grip the steering wheel with all his strength.

“Hunter, we’re going to be okay,” I try to calm him down as my hand rests on his forearm, he does. “Shouldn’t this be your job?” He nods but stays quiet.

Dr. Graham! Hunter mind links her.

We’re all set.

Two antagonizing hours later my body molds into the bed as the sweet melody of my child’s cries ring in my ears.

“Melany, it’s a girl,” Hunter coos at me. My heart swells up.

“A girl,” I whisper seemingly losing my voice.

“Alpha Hunter, do you want to do the honors,” Hunter looks unsure for a moment.

“You want me to cut the umbilical cord?” Dr. Graham smiles at him.

“Yes, or is the big bad alpha scared of some scissors.” Hunter swallows down and does as the doctor tells him.

Soon she is wrapped up and put on my chest. I can distinguish her heartbeat and it is better than any song I have ever heard.

“What are you naming her?” Dr. Graham asks and my eyes go to Hunter.

Melody?

Melody! I like that.

Melody Julia Hunter.

Hunter nods, “Melody,” the way his lips recite her name makes it better. “She is the melody that unites us.” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“I like that.” My arms wrap around Melody protectively.

Hunter lowers down beside me, “I feel as if my heart just grew to make room for this little one.” His lips press against my forehead.

“You two are everything to me,” I whisper to Hunter and his lips go down to mine.