His Plump Mate (by Buchanan) novel Chapter 24

**Austin POV**

As I step away from the training grounds, my feet barely seem to touch the ground; I feel as if I’m floating. Rebel, my mate, is nothing short of extraordinary. She possesses an innate quality of a Luna, exuding confidence in her voice, employing strategic prowess in combat, and let’s be honest, she’s undeniably attractive while doing it.

The anticipation for tonight fills me with excitement. I can already envision the playful chaos that will ensue as I drive my little minx wild. But for now, I need to focus on the tasks at hand.

I instructed Renz to meet me in my office by noon with the finalized list for the Luna Guard. As I navigate the corridors, a familiar figure approaches. It’s Ceraline. I haven’t encountered her much lately, and honestly, I’m grateful for that. She’s not just annoying; her presence is grating, like nails on a chalkboard. It’s not the playful annoyance of a younger sister; it’s something more unsettling, something that tests my limits.

“Austin,” she purrs, her voice dripping with an overly sweet tone. “I’m so glad to find you here, alone. I’ve been wanting to speak with you.” She attempts to project a seductive air, but it falls flat. After years of my clear disinterest, you’d think she’d take the hint. My affection for Rebel has been no secret, yet here she is, undeterred. I can only hope this conversation isn’t a complete waste of my time.

“What do you want, Ceraline?” I reply, my tone laced with disinterest.

“I hear you’re assembling a Luna Guard for Rebel, and I would like to be considered for a position,” she states, catching me off guard. Not in a good way, mind you; it’s more a testament to her sheer audacity or perhaps a startling lack of intelligence.

“That’s not necessary. I already have my final selection from Renz, and we will be finalizing it shortly. Besides, I have little faith that you would genuinely defend your Luna, given your history of confrontations,” I respond, turning to walk away.

“I want to make amends with Rebel, Austin,” she insists, her persistence bordering on desperation.

“What game are you playing, Ceraline? You’ve never liked LUNA Rebel,” I emphasize her title, letting her know that this casual first-name basis is unacceptable. “And just so we’re clear, I’m Alpha Austin to you. The only person permitted to call me by my first name is my mate, and you are not her. Excuse me.” I start to walk away again, but of course, she decides to follow, determined to test my patience further.

“Alpha Austin,” she coos once more, “I’m serious about wanting to join the Luna Guard. I’m a Beta’s daughter, after all. I can fight and defend. I can prove my worthiness to you.” She bats her eyelashes, moving closer in an attempt to drape her arms around my neck.

I’m poised to push her away firmly, to reiterate my rejection, but then I hear a low growl from behind me. It’s Rebel, and I can feel her anger radiating off her in waves, perhaps even a hint of jealousy. But she has no reason to be jealous; still, I can’t help but revel in her possessiveness.

“Ceraline! Get your filthy paws off my mate before I detach them from your body,” Rebel snarls, her voice sharp and commanding.

“Luna,” Ceraline replies, her tone feigning innocence, “You misunderstand. I was merely discussing a position on the Luna Guard with Alpha.” I catch a fleeting flicker of disdain in her eyes, but she quickly masks it.

Rebel lets out a laugh, one that is both mocking and triumphant. “Ceraline, you can’t even defend yourself against me. You are weak and desperate for my mate. But as I’ve told you before, he is MINE. If I catch you touching him again, I will dismember you.” Her eyes narrow dangerously, and I can feel her aura expanding, powerful and intoxicating. I know she’s a Beta’s daughter, but she radiates Alpha energy, and it’s undeniably alluring.

Ceraline takes a step back, looking at me as if expecting me to defend her. Instead, I stride up to Rebel, wrapping my arms around her. I tilt her chin up so our eyes meet, and I crash my lips onto hers in a possessive kiss. *You won’t be able to walk tomorrow. I adore how fiercely you claim me,* I growl through our mind link.

Her eyes soften at my words, and a smirk dances on her lips. Then, a little louder than necessary, she declares, “My Alpha, shall we proceed to your office? I believe we need to ensure your desk is still in working order.”

I growl in response, fully aware of her intent. She’s marking her territory, and as I take her hand to lead her away, I catch a glimpse of Ceraline’s seething expression. Good. I have no desire to physically confront a female, but if Rebel wishes to take charge, I won’t stand in her way.

Once we reach my office, I close and lock the door behind us, pulling Rebel into my arms with a grin. “Is my mate feeling a touch jealous?” I tease, showering her neck and jawline with soft kisses, trailing down to the mark I’ve left on her skin.

“Jealous? No. Possessive? Absolutely. You are MINE,” she growls, her voice low and fierce.

I chuckle, “Baby, I’m all yours, whenever you desire. My gaze is solely for you and this alluring body that keeps me in a constant state of arousal.” I continue to suck on her mark, reveling in the intoxicating scent of her arousal. The small moan that escapes her lips sends a rush of heat coursing through me.

She pulls away, and to my disappointment, shifts her focus back to the task at hand. “I do not want that bitch on my Luna Guard, Austin. I don’t trust her,” she states firmly.

“Ceraline wasn’t even on the long list, let alone the short one, darling. She wasn’t even a consideration. She approached me, asking to be included in your guard detail, claiming she wanted to make amends and prove her worthiness,” I explain honestly.

“Keep us informed if you discover anything else about Rising Moon and Sydney. Also, let’s keep tabs on Alpha Kaden. We may need to alert the council about the rogue attack and the information we received from Carter,” I instruct.

“All those ‘crimes’ and nothing sticks? Doesn’t that seem suspicious to you?” Rebel interjects. “Renz, can you also gather information on the council? It doesn’t add up that nothing sticks. What if the council is in cahoots with Kaden?” she proposes.

I hate to acknowledge it, but she has a valid point. How could it be that nothing sticks unless the council is complicit in aiding Kaden’s evasion of justice?

“Agreed. Renz, let’s delve into the council as well. We may need their involvement if the northeastern territory is compromised,” I state firmly.

“I’ll get started on it right away,” Renz replies before exiting the office.

Turning to my mate, I hold a list of books I want her to explore, but first, I need to soothe her nerves. Though the desire to claim her right here and now is overwhelming, I know this isn’t the moment for that. I pull her into my embrace, inhaling her calming scent, which helps quell my anger and concern.

As we hold each other, a question I’ve been meaning to ask Rebel surfaces in my mind. With the privacy of our office, I feel it’s the right time to broach the subject without fear of anyone overhearing and using it against her.

“Rebel, darling, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you. You’ve mentioned a few times that after fighting the rogues, you and Roxie seem to exhaust your energy much faster than other wolves. I’ve seen both of you fight and run; you’re in excellent shape and possess tremendous stamina. It doesn’t add up that you would feel so fatigued afterward. Do you have any idea what could be causing this?”

Rebel gazes at me, her expression contemplative as she processes my question. It’s clear she’s unsure, and she’s never really addressed it before. “Austin, I honestly don’t know what causes it. My father never had the pack doctors examine me. I never told them when I was hungry because they didn’t care whether I ate or not. Remember, I had to fend for myself. But I will say that over the past few days since I’ve been here, I haven’t felt it as intensely,” she admits.

“How about I take you to see Dr. Hadley? She’s one of our pack doctors, and we can have her conduct a physical, run some blood tests, whatever she deems necessary to ensure you’re healthy. If there’s something going on, we’ll face it together, okay?” As I finish speaking, I notice a flicker of nervousness in her eyes. “Baby, I know that first-time experiences can be daunting for you. But I promise there’s nothing to fear, and seeking help doesn’t make you weak.”

Taking her hand, I say, “You know what? Let’s go now. The sooner we find out, the sooner we can address any issues, and you can be at your best.” With that, I lead my beautiful mate out of my office, ready to face whatever comes next together.