His Plump Mate (by Buchanan) novel Chapter 15

**Austin POV**

I knew deep down that Rebel had defied me, but there was something undeniably fierce about her spirit when it came to battle. She never shied away from a confrontation; her courage was palpable, a force of nature that drew everyone in. Renz, my ever-eager ally, was practically buzzing with excitement at the prospect of seeing her unleash her full potential. I had to admit, I shared that anticipation, but not under such dire circumstances.

With urgency coursing through me, I opened a mental link to the pack, urging everyone to converge at the eastern border.

“I’ll keep an eye on Lama, Alpha,” Renz responded promptly, his voice steady despite the chaos around us.

“Make sure you don’t lose sight of her, Renz. I need to be at the forefront. You know how much this means to me.” My heart raced with concern for her safety; I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her again, not after finally finding her.

As I reached the front line, I was startled to see Rebel already there, her presence commanding. “Renz, Rebel is at the front of the pack. Get Jessup to take your place and hurry!” There was no time for debate; we had thirty rogues barreling toward us, and two of them were already leaping at Rebel.

In a flash, she snarled, shifting mid-air, her instincts taking over. She seized the first rogue by the throat, snapping his neck with a brutal efficiency that left me momentarily breathless. The second rogue attempted to pounce on her back, but she twisted gracefully, tearing through his underbelly and spilling his insides like a butcher at work. They crumpled to the ground, lifeless. I was locked in a fierce struggle with another rogue, but my eyes were glued to her, a mix of shock and pride swelling within me. My mate was a fierce warrior, a killer in the truest sense.

When she spotted three rogues assaulting one of my warriors, she sprang into action, kicking one away while sinking her teeth into the back leg of another.

“Alpha, our Luna is absolutely ruthless! She’s a total beast out there! It’s like she’s a different wolf!” Renz’s voice crackled in my mind, a mix of awe and admiration.

“We’ll discuss this later, but yes, she’s undeniably badass,” I replied, my focus still on the battle.

After what felt like an eternity of fighting, the rogues lay dead at our feet, save for one. Rebel had him pinned down, her jaws clamped around his throat, poised to finish him off. Through our mind link, she spoke urgently, “Austin, this was no ordinary attack. They were seeking war, and we need to uncover why. I held back from killing him, in case you want to interrogate him.”

For all her beauty and shyness, Rebel’s intelligence shone through in moments like these, and I knew she was right. I shifted, despite Cronos’s reluctance; he was too close to Roxie, but now was not the time for our desires. “Renz, Jessup, take a few soldiers and lock this rogue up. We’ll deal with him tomorrow,” I instructed, my tone firm.

As they dragged the rogue away, I turned to my mate. Her fur was slick with blood, but it only heightened my admiration. “You both fought like champions,” I said, running my fingers through her matted fur. “I promise you and Cronos will have your time together, beautiful. Can you shift back for me? I need to talk to Rebel.”

Roxie licked my face affectionately, then stepped back, shifting fluidly into her human form. When Rebel stood before me, she was a vision of power, her body still splattered with the remnants of our battle.

“Is this the usual chaos you face, Austin?” she inquired, scanning the area as if anticipating another threat. She thought like a beta, yet fought with the ferocity of an Alpha. I was still reeling from her incredible performance.

“No, Rebel. I agree; this was far from a typical attack. It felt orchestrated, and I intend to question the rogue tomorrow. But you,” I said, pulling her close, “were phenomenal. Your bravery is unmatched. I truly am the luckiest man alive to have you as my mate.”

Her smile was radiant, but she quipped, “You’re only saying that because I’m standing here naked under all this gore.” I couldn’t help but laugh; she had a point. Thankfully, I had some clothes stashed nearby. I retrieved a shirt and shorts for her.

“Austin, Roxie has an extraordinary gift. She can sense when someone is lying. I would like to be present when you interrogate the rogue. Something about tonight feels off,” Rebel confided, her brow furrowing with concern.

“So, Roxie is a living lie detector?” I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. That was an impressive and rare gift.

Roxie then interjected, “Mate, my ability goes beyond just recognizing lies. I can discern the nature of the deceit, even if it’s only partial truths. I know how to extract the truth from someone without causing them harm. It’s akin to an Alpha command, but without the title.”

“I’ve never encountered a wolf with such a unique ability. You are truly special, Roxie. I look forward to uncovering all your secrets one day,” I expressed, genuinely curious.

“I’m sure you will, mate. But it will take time. My human is beginning to trust you, but there’s still much she hasn’t revealed. She prefers to forget the past and move on, but eventually, everything will come to light. She never lies, not ever,” Roxie assured me. Her words felt like a warning, yet I found comfort in knowing I would always be honest with her.

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