His Plump Mate (by Buchanan) novel Chapter 10

**Austin’s POV**

Waking up beside Rebel this morning was an experience that felt almost dreamlike, a sensation I had never encountered before. The intoxicating scent of her arousal enveloped me, igniting a primal fire within. It took every ounce of willpower I possessed to keep my desires in check—not just my own, but the overwhelming instincts of my wolf, Cronos, and my body. “I want our mate wearing our mark, human. You’re taking too long!” Cronos growled, his impatience palpable.

“Rushing this won’t do us any good, Cronos. Rebel doesn’t fully grasp what accepting me as her Alpha entails, nor does she understand how to mind link. She’s been neglected to a point of ignorance. We need to gauge how far we must guide her. Trust me, once she comprehends the significance of mating and marking, I won’t hesitate. But we can’t scare her off with our caveman mentality,” I responded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. Cronos huffed in frustration, knowing I was right, yet his eagerness to protect our mate was undeniable.

After I showed her how to use the shower, I stepped away, but a thought struck me—she would need towels. Without thinking, I knocked lightly and entered the bathroom, only to be greeted by the sight of my mate, completely naked. My heart raced, and it felt as if every vital organ in my body had suddenly redirected its blood flow. She was stunning, a breathtaking goddess in every sense. The curves of her body captivated me; I could easily envision myself lost in her for days. My mind wandered to fantasies of claiming her, of pressing her against the wall and surrendering to the primal urge to possess her entirely. But when I caught a glimpse of her eyes, wide with fear, I was reminded of her vulnerability. Somehow, I managed to restrain myself, though it felt like a monumental struggle against my own sanity. This woman was destined to drive me to madness.

I placed the towels down and closed the door behind me. “Fuck me,” I muttered, unaware of how loudly my frustration echoed in the empty room. The temptation was overwhelming, and I could feel the tension coiling tighter within me. I needed to escape, to distance myself from her intoxicating scent wafting through the air. She was like a sumptuous feast, and I was starving, my restraint wearing thin. I quickly contacted Renz through our mind link, urging him to meet me in my office.

“Whoa, Austin! Can you tone down that aura a bit? I felt it from outside the door!” Renz entered with a grin plastered across his face. “So, how did it go last night with Luna?” he teased, his smirk infuriating.

“Shut the hell up, Renz. I might just kill someone today to vent my frustration,” I snapped, my anger barely contained. His laughter echoed, a sound that both irritated and amused me. “I take it you didn’t get laid?”

I shot him a glare, my thoughts still consumed by the image of Rebel’s exquisite body, which only served to heighten my irritation. “I don’t think she knows what mating and marking entail, Renz. It’s as if her father never bothered to educate her. She seems oblivious to pack dynamics, hierarchy, or anything in between.”

“What do you mean? She’s twenty-three and doesn’t know any of this?” Renz’s expression mirrored my own confusion. “That’s bizarre.”

“There’s more, Renz. When I explained that accepting me as her Alpha would break her bond with Ironclaw and establish a new one with me, she thought she had done something wrong because she felt no tether breaking. It’s as if she was never truly part of their pack,” I continued, frustration seeping into my tone.

“What the hell? She didn’t feel her pack bond with Ironclaw break at all?” he asked, incredulous.

“Not a thing. I had to spend nearly an hour teaching her how to mind link, close links, and nudge someone to open a link. She had no idea mind linking was a thing for our kind,” I admitted, exasperated.

“Shit, Austin. This is serious. She’s our Lama, but she doesn’t understand how anything works? That puts her in danger. Someone could poison her with wolfsbane, claiming it’s a cure,” Renz stated, the gravity of the situation dawning on him.

“We need to have a conversation with her. I need to understand what she knows and what she doesn’t about our world. We should find out if she ever went to school, if she can read or write—everything. Then we can discreetly bring her up to speed. The good news is, she’s a quick learner, even when she’s flustered, so I believe we can help her adapt quickly. In the meantime, we need to establish a guard for her—a rotation of three guards to ensure her safety. Give me your shortlist by this afternoon,” I directed him.

“You’ll have it, Austin. Don’t worry; we’ll sort this out,” Renz assured me, though I could see the wheels turning in his mind.

“What’s on your mind?” I prompted, sensing he had more to say.

“Did you notice her behavior? She seems nervous around people. It’s strange because she’s also willing to defend you, putting herself in harm’s way, like when I approached you both in the woods. After she realized I wasn’t a threat, she became anxious about talking to me,” Renz observed, his insight striking a chord.

He was right; I had been so caught up in my attraction to her that I hadn’t recognized the deeper implications of her demeanor. “You’re right, Renz. This means she’s been through more than we can comprehend. I’m going to level that fucking pack.”

“Austin, I don’t think this is just about the pack. If she were part of it, she would have known about mind linking. This seems more like a family issue; we just don’t know the extent of it,” Renz replied thoughtfully.

Just as we wrapped up our conversation, I felt Rebel reach out through the mind link, letting me know she was ready. At least she would be wearing my clothes, a small comfort in knowing my scent would linger on her skin until I could mark her. When I opened the door to our room, I found her tying up my shirt, her hips accentuated by the fabric. Damn, she was pure temptation. I refocused and led her to the dining hall. After introducing her to the pack, I guided her to a seat beside me.

I noticed she wasn’t eating. When I inquired about it, she confessed that her family had never shared meals with her. In truth, she had been treated worse than the omegas, practically a slave in her own home. My heart ached for her, and I resolved to share every meal I could with my little mate. No one should ever feel like an outcast in their own family. I was working double time to keep my aura and anger in check as I watched her discomfort. The simple act of sharing a meal with me felt alien to her, a reminder of the pain she had endured.

When she mentioned her love for smoking her own meats, I offered to buy her a smoker, but she insisted on building one herself. Her intelligence and sass shone through, proving she was anything but foolish despite her mistreatment. I told her she was mine to love, cherish, protect, and provide for, and while she seemed skeptical, she ultimately agreed, suggesting I help her gather materials for her smoker. I saw this as a victory, a chance to bond with her and learn more about the woman who had captured my heart.

After breakfast, I linked with Renz, asking him to meet us in my office. It was time for a serious talk with Rebel. As we entered my office, I had her sit on my lap on the sofa, feeling the calming effect of her scent wash over me. Renz settled into the armchair across from us.

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