Chapter 31
Marcus Pierce

Nigel has been in and out of the pack house, considering that he's still a hundred percent human, which means that he has to go home, go to school, and do human stuff. I mean, I tried to be human for Good Goddess' sake, and I didn't like it. There were things I didn't understand, and there were things I enjoyed doing so. But the thing is, I'm a werewolf. I'm a Guardian. I have jobs to do, duties to do. So that's why enough is enough, considering that I have already achieved my goal – that is to be with my mate, and Nigel accepts me for who I really am. So I quit school, and according to Nigel, everyone was wondering why I did so. There is a rumor spreading that the reason why I quit is because of the werewolves' attack that happened before. But that's not the case.

Cloud, being a generous Great Alpha he is, has instructed to fifteen pack warriors, all trained to be the best, to be Nigel's bodyguards. Since I'm back in the pack land, as much as I want to keep my eyes on my mate, there are things that I need to attend. I'm confident that the pack warriors would protect and keep my mate safe.

While I was gone, Perry was the one temporarily assigned to meet with the other packs for merging. Cloud told me that Perry was bad at that job because he is easily-irritated. It doesn't matter if Cloud is the Great Alpha – the Alphas of the Alpha, but some packs don't agree with merging with us, or being under the direct watch of Cloud. As a Guardian, it's one of my duties to make sure that each pack in United States has some sort of alliance, being a bridge towards peace.

"Good thing you're back," Cloud says as he runs his fingers through his already disheveled hair, messing it even further. "Perry is just bad at talking with other packs. You're a legend to it."

"You know Perry," I tell him, rolling my eyes playfully as I watch he and his mate argue near the table where the Lunas, including Cloud's mate, are having a discussion about the plans for the full moon. "He's a hot-headed guy and not very good at talking. He's a brat. You know he used to get whatever he wanted, and the only thing he didn't easily get was his mate."

"Yeah, I remember him having a fuss about it after Kieran..." His eyes flash, and I can practically see the gears working inside his head; he remembers the day he rejected his mate, which resulted to Kieran breaking the law. Cloud didn't see his mate after a year, and he struggled a lot. While Kieran was away, Cloud used to have panic attacks and nightmares, and Chanteloupe, the head of the Elders, had to interfere for him to survive the night. Even the Great Alpha couldn't take the pain of being without his mate. I was there; I watched him cry, and I comforted him. Perry was there, but we weren't much of a help. So we tried to find him and didn't stop. We had spread the word, made contacts with the other packs, and even hired a human investigator just to find him, then we found out Kieran was adopted and brought to United Kingdom. Cloud smiles, shaking his head. "After he left, we were all broken. Me rejecting my mate, Perry not knowing that he had a male mate too, and you being mateless."

"That's actually the Good Goddess letting us know how we really fucked up," I tell him as I chuckle, shaking my head from the fresh memory embedded inside my head. "But I'm glad things are going fine. You're getting married with Kieran, Perry discussing pups with Dave, and me finding my mate and being accepted by him."

I look back at the moments where I was trying to find my mate – I felt hopeless, thinking that I would never have a mate. I was dying inside, not knowing what to do if I really didn't have a mate. But then Nigel came into my life and made me realize that I was dead wrong.

"So you'll be fine handling the Cornerstone Pack?" Cloud eyes me, looking for a sign that I wouldn't be alright. I shake my head. "Very well, then. If you need my help, you know how to contact me."

"I will," I tell him, smiling.

Cornerstone Pack is one of the most conservative packs ever. While they don't really like the idea of a werewolf having a same gender mate, they put a huge tolerance about it. They don't fully accept it, but they acknowledge it. It was the same pack who wanted alliance in the first place, but as soon as they learned that Cloud had a male mate, they withdrew. That was a very stupid move, considering that Cloud is the Great Alpha and the most strongest. If Cloud had a choice, he would never ask them to be part of the group, but considering that everything is going to shit, evil is awakening, we must make alliances, join forces with the others to stop those enemies that are trying to put imbalance in this world.

If I had a choice too, I would never associate myself with them. Cloud has already made it legalize that every werewolf has every right to claim their mate, regardless of the gender or race. I know that we will be frowned upon by them once the alliance has succeeded, and if I ever see them giving my mate a hard time, I'll take them as a bait for the rogues.

"Hey," Nigel reaches out for my head and my heart stops beating for a moment, my eyes catching his. His cheeks redden and he lets his bangs fall between his eyes, hiding it. I extend my hand and align his hair where I can see his beautiful eyes completely, and I give him a smile. "Do you really have to go?"

Grinning like a fool I am, I lean down, the tip of my nose touching his. "It'll be just for a few hours," I tell him. My hands cup his face and I stare deep into his eyes, and my heart and body suddenly ache for him, for his body, everything. I shut my eyes, drowning myself in his touch, his warm fingers running across the skin of my neck. "When I get back... I'm all yours, I promise."

"All mine, huh," he grins, playfully shaking his head. "I'd like that."

He wraps his arms around me and I do the same, planting a soft kiss on his temple. His scent is alluring, and I just want to stay by his side and ignore everything. His warm body gently pressed against mine is enough to make me crazy.

"All yours, babe. All yours..."

"Okay. Looking forward to that." Nigel bites his lips, which is driving me crazy. He seems to notice that I'm staring at his lip, and he continues to nibble on his lower lip. Fighting the strong urge to take him here, I take a deep breath and think of anything else. Obviously, Nigel knows he has a complete power over me. If he begs me to stay, then I don't think I'd be able to fight it. I'd really stay and I'd say fuck the meeting with the Cornerstone Pack.

Catching his lips with mine, his arms immediately wrap around my neck, pushing me closer and I oblige, kissing him harder. His lips clash with mine with so much passion and hunger that I can't think of anything else but him. His lips taste like strawberries, as he literally just ate a few of them, and I can't get enough. I bite his lower lip, earning a moan from him and I can myself growing hard every second. I know he's not prepared to do the deed, but if he keeps doing what he's doing right now, I swear I won't be able to control myself.

"Are you two just going to eat each other's faces out here?"

Nigel jumps in shock and immediately unlatches his lips on mine, earning a groan from me and I glare at the two culprits. Dave and Kieran. Dave is suppressing a laugh while Kieran is keeping a straight face as his eyes switch between me and my mate. My mate looks around and sees the other children looking at us, and his face goes into a deep shade of red.

"You can continue. I'm sure they don't mind." Kieran winks at Nigel and Dave laughs, shaking his head as they walk past by us. "Just keep it PG-13. They are still kids, you know."

As soon as they're gone, Nigel groans in annoyance and buries his face in my chest, hiding his reddened face and I let out a chuckle, burying my face in his hair, drowning in his scent.

"Do you really have to go?" He stresses the last word and glares at me, pursing his lips and I laugh out loud. "This sucks. Now I would have to spend my day with them. They've been teasing me for God knows how long. They are good, they are cool, but sometimes, they are annoying."

"You'll get used to them," I tell him.

He makes a face. "Be back as soon as possible, okay?"

"Okay, I promise."

"When you get back, I have something for you."

My heart somersaults at that and my whole face lights up. I nod at him, showering his face with kisses and he yelps. The kids that are watching us start to laugh and I wink at them. My eyes linger on their faces, and I imagine myself having a pup with my mate. I can't wait for that. I can't wait to claim him as mine. God, I'm so excited.