26. The Howl

"Eden, let go," Marley whispered, looking into sparkling brown eyes. "Someone will come in."

"I don't care. Besides, I have locked the door." Eden smiled cunningly and tightened his hold on Marley's waist.

They were in one of the spare rooms of the pack house. Eden had decided to pull Marley in with him to have a talk with her before her commemoration ceremony started. With his motivating words, Eden had succeeded to ease her tension. He promised to never leave her side throughout the event.

However, when the serious talk was over, he couldn't keep himself from holding his mate.

Marley was wearing a white knee-length dress- that Eden's mother had chosen for her- and her black hair was braided in a half ponytail. Eden felt like she was teasing him purposefully, walking around looking like an angel, *his angel*. He sometimes hated his mate for always testing his limits.

"It's not really time for your perverted acts." Marley frowned. "Let go." She ordered.

Eden grinned. "Only on one condition." He leaned closer, fanning his hot breath on her ears. "Kiss me."

"Fine!" She annoyingly planted a quick peck on his lips, not allowing him to delve deeper.

"You really think that I'll count that as a kiss." He smirked as Marley glared at him. "Time to teach my mate to not to mess with the Alpha." He chided playfully before crashing his lips on hers.

Like it was in the habit, Marley couldn't help herself and returned his kiss with the same passion, her annoyance forgotten long ago. When Eden broke off from her lips, he started planting wet kisses on her jaws. Soon he moved down and was now attacking her neck, overwhelmed by her alluring scent.

Marley clutched onto his shoulders to hold herself still and not fall down as her legs felt wobbly. She tried to suppress her moans and whimpers as Eden nibbled on her neck. However, an embarrassing moan escaped her mouth when he ran his tongue on her soft spot.

Something snapped inside Eden as he heard her soft moan. He wanted to hear more of it. He continued his assault but more aggressively and bit her, causing the same sensual sounds to flow past her mouth.

Finally, the hungry Wolf pulled away and looked at his mate's flushed face. His lips tugged up into a smug smile as his eyes zeroed on the purple bruise that he had just left on her neck. He felt like he had marked her as his own and put his claim on her. It was a big thing for werewolves to claim their territory in every way possible.

"I hope you learned your lesson or do you need another reminder," Eden said, running his finger gently on her neck. He was more than willing to leave another mark.

At the loss of words, Marley just shook her head. Whatever he did to her a few seconds ago was enough to keep her high for a lifetime. This boy surely encompassed some other powers too besides being a half-animal to make her feel this way. The mate theory was confirmed that Eden had some otherworldly hold on her.

"If you keep looking at me like that, I'll have no choice but to continue." Eden's eyes flashed golden as he kept his lustful gaze on his human.

Marley quickly darted her eyes to his chest. "Uh- we shouldn't keep yo-our pack waiting." She stuttered, blushing hard under his forceful eyes.

He let go of her waist and clasped their hands together. "Everything's going to be alright." He reassured, smiling down at her and together they walked out of those locked doors.

********

The Alpha's voice boomed through the large room as he addressed his pack members, who were standing just beneath the raised stand. The firmness and authority in his voice demanded everyone's attention.

Marley was standing behind him with Catherine and Nicholas on her either side. She stared at Eden in awe as he gave his speech. It was enthralling to see him being the stern Alpha. She was too used to his playfulness but his sober side was just as attracting.

She was very much aware of the curious eyes that the werewolves threw her way but she didn't allow herself to fidget in nervousness. She wanted to be confident like Eden.

"Now as you all know that few months ago I found my mate. Her name is Marley Seyfried," Eden announced and turned back to cast a soft gaze on Marley, "I hope you all will welcome her with open arms in our pack."

Marley walked forward and stood beside Eden, who placed his hand on her back as a sign of possession. She smiled politely- just like she rehearsed the million times before - at *her* pack. Instantly, the murmuring started among the crowd as she stood before them.

"Alpha, your mate is a human!" A voice rose among them. All eyes focused on the elder pack member.

The grey-haired man just put forth among others Marley's greatest insecurity. She had often wondered if she belonged to this werewolf world when she was just a mere human.

"Yes, she is," Eden replied back, his voice betraying no emotion.

"The Beta's mate is human and now yours too." He spat, clearly disrespecting his Alpha. "It makes our pack look weak."

Marley's vision shifted to Oliver and Sanjay who were standing together among others. Oliver was glaring furiously at the old man whereas Sanjay was busy rolling his eyes.

"Does it?" Eden kept his voice calm much to Marley's surprise. "I thought the pack's strength was determined by its members' unity, coordination, and trust among each other. Not with who Alpha was mated. Besides, we all know a werewolf's greatest strength is his/her mate.

"I understand your concern that others might try to take advantage of them being human. But those who do that are no threat to us. They are just cowards who cannot fight us in a fair battle and we'll have no problem to show them their place." He met the eyes of the old man. "Mr. Joseph we both know that we are in no place to question the mating selection. Human mates are rare and I got one but even then I wouldn't change a single thing about her. I love my human the way she is."

"So do I." Oliver shouted cheerfully from the other side, wrapping his arms around Sanjay, who was smiled shyly.

After this, the whole hall was filled with sounds of laughter and hooting of younger members whereas the elder ones smiled silently and admired the new couple.

Marley's stomach felt as if it was inhabited by thousands of fluttering butterflies. The man beside her always left her speechless. She just fell for him even more, if that was possible.

Soon, she found herself surrounded by the werewolves. She greeted them all and answered their questions. Some members were still unsure of her and they didn't hide it but those who liked her outnumbered them. She felt grateful to be a part of this loving pack. Eden, as promised, was by her side through it all.

"Sometimes I wonder if you love food more than me." Eden chuckled, seeing Marley discreetly grabbing the snack for the tenth time from the counter.

"You don't have to wonder." Marley shoved the grub into her mouth. "Mmm... of course I love food more."

"My biggest competitor is this." He too picked up the chilli rolls and eyed them suspiciously before tossing them into the mouth. "You know what I don't blame you." He chuckled, making her do the same.

Someone cleared their throat from behind, making the laughing couple turn around. "Alpha, I just wanted to meet your mate." The blond guy greeted them respectfully.

Marley recognised the man. "Tristan.".

"Its good to know that you remember me." Tristan smiled and Marley returned the same. "I have to admit that our Alpha's mate is indeed very beautiful."

Marley's cheeks reddened at the sudden compliment.

"She is." Eden said sternly and wrapped his arms around her waist possessively. He knew his mate was beautiful and definitely didn't need another man to remind him of that.

Tristan smirked in amusement. "I also wanted to ask that when you both will be moving in. I will have to make arrangements in the pack house and make sure your portion is prepared. It'll be better to know the timeline." He asked politely.

Marley just stood there frozen, trapped in Eden's arms. She didn't know if she was ready for this big move. But then again those two days that she had spent with Eden at her house were the most amazing ones.

"How about we discuss this later?" Eden said and Tristan with a nod strutted off to others. He turned his mate around to face her. "Don't freak out on me. We won't move until you are ready."

"No, it's just that my parents will not allow me to move in with you." Marley fiddled with her fingers nervously. "And it's totally reasonable. I wouldn't do that either if we weren't mates."

"How about we let my parents handle that?" Eden smiled as Marley gave him the puzzled look. "They can charm anybody's pants off. It'll take them no time to convince your mom and dad that you'll be better off with us."

"Why will we live in pack house? Why not at your place?"

"We could get our own house when we'll get older but for now pack house has to do." He said thoughtfully to himself and then looked at Marley to answer her. "We would be needing some privacy and you cannot get that at my home." Eden smirked. "Plus the walls of the pack house are soundproof."

Marley was a red mess by now. "You only have one thing in your dirty mind, don't you?"

Eden shrugged playfully, before his eyes landed on her neck sporting the mark that he had given her an hour ago. "You look so good walking around with my hickeys."

Marley quickly pulled out the strand of her hair to hide it. It was an instinct and also she wanted to annoy Eden as much as he annoyed her.

"Don't hide it." Eden frowned and quickly flicked her hair back, letting the mark again be visible.

"You don't tell me what to do." She pulled out the hair again but only to let them be flicked back by the werewolf.

Their petty squabble continued until a loud piercing howl halted their actions.

Marley looked around saw that everyone had too stopped their chats. It was dead silent. She knew what a howl meant.

*Their pack was in danger*.

"All the warriors gather outside!" Eden roared and most of the buff looking wolves moved out without wasting a second. It was all happening too fast. The merriment that filled the room had now turned into chaos. People were rushing in and out with pale faces.

Marley felt Eden's grip tightening on her, making her face him. He was already looking at her.

"I'll get one of the guards to escort you somewhere safe." He looked around and the first person he spotted was Tristan. He called out for him and in a second Tristan was beside them. "Take her!" That was all that the Alpha ordered but it was enough for him to understand.

Eden's loosening grip on her was enough to bring Marley out of the shock. "Eden," She called out and he turned back to glance at her. "Be safe." Her voice contained the pleading tone.

He nodded before storming out of the doors, leaving Marley to stare at the blank space where he had been.

"Marley." Tristan's voice brought her back and she nodded knowingly. They had to go.

For the first time, she really wanted to not be a mere human, so that she could fight beside her mate but it was a wishful thinking and she had to hide. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden to anyone.

She followed Tristan out, mentally praying for Eden's safe return.

*********

A/N: How many of you are still here? Thanks for reading :D