Nature is not a place to visit 21

Chapter 21
*“This is starting to look less like a rescue mission and more like you’re going on a leisurely road trip.”*
*Pittacus Lore*
“You put a giant full moon on my neck?” I shouted.
Using one of those little makeup mirrors that Luke had in his supply bag – don’t ask me why he was carrying around a
makeup mirror – I’d finally gotten a good look at the temporary mark my mate had left.
As Luke had put it, it was a blue full moon. The mark started just below my jaw and stretched a few inches down, situated
in the same spot where a male wolf would mark his mate. It was a detailed outline of a full moon, glowing the same blue
that the light from Ambrose’s hands did. A human might’ve mistaken it for a tattoo done in shiny, blue ink. The skin was
still smooth where I touched it, but
“Giant is a bit of an exaggeration,” Ambrose replied. Once again, he didn’t look the least bit apologetic for his actions. If
anything, he looked slightly bored with the conversation. That only fueled my frustration. “Although if you’d like it bigger,
I can certainly do that, little wolf.”
“No, I do not want it bigger,” I shot back, “You said it was temporary. Can’t you remove it? I don’t see any reason why I
need to walk around with some blue moon on my neck.”
Irritation flashed through his multi-colored eyes. “It’s my mark, and I can’t let you walk around without *my* mark,” he
said, “This will do until you’re ready for me to claim you formally.”
“You smell different,” Luke suddenly chimed in, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at me, “Or…maybe that’s not right.
It’s not that you smell different – it’s that I can’t smell you. Like your entire scent is just gone.”
“Yes,” Ambrose said, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as they stared at the mark. “The mark is not just for show, little wolf. It protects you as well.”
“It hides my scent?” I asked with furrowed eyebrows. If Luke couldn’t smell me when he was standing right next to me,
then my scent was definitely hidden.
He nodded, his fingers running over the mark. I tried to pretend that the mark didn’t tingle under his touch when he did
so. “Some wolves, not all, will see this mark and know what it means,” he explained, “It’s a mark of the moon – of me. But
even if they don’t recognize it, they won’t be able to find your scent. Only I can smell you now. Consider it an extra
protection measure, a way to keep you safer from those who might do you harm.”
With a rumble in his chest, he quietly added, “Not that I’d ever let any harm come to you, little wolf, but I’d never take a
chance with my mate.”
As he spoke, he pulled me closer, one of his hands roaming my waist and my lower back while the other continued to
brush the mark.
With Ambrose’s explanation, I felt some of the irritation fade. I wasn’t happy that he’d done it without so much as
asking. I also wasn’t thrilled about having to walk around with a shiny, blue moon on my neck, but I could appreciate the
functionality of it.
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complete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter—it’s all free! More than sight and sound, smell was a wolf’s most powerful sense. Scent was how we recognized another wolf, long
before we’d see or hear them coming. In a battle or a situation where you needed to sneak up on the enemy, having no
scent could be a major advantage.
Part of me wondered if protection wasn’t the only reason Ambrose had cloaked my scent. As possessive as he was
turning out to be, I wondered if maybe he was also possessive over who could smell me.
*Guess I need to add the power of temporary tattoos to the list of Ambrose’s powers.*
“Look,” I finally sighed, “I understand you had good intentions, but next time, just ask. If you’d asked to hide my scent or
leave a mark because you wanted to protect me, I would’ve said yes. I’m your mate – you can’t just be leaving blue
tattoos on me without asking.”
Ambrose leaned down to press his lips against my forehead as he hugged me. “If you wish me to,” he murmured, “I will
ask, little wolf. And one day, I’ll replace that mark with my own bite and you’ll smell like me.”
I would like to tell you that his words didn’t bring a blush to my cheeks but I can’t. I returned the embrace, breathing in
his earthy scent.
And it wasn’t until Luke loudly cleared his throat that I remembered where we were and why we were there. We had a
rescue mission to do.
With some reluctance, I pulled myself out of Ambrose’s arms and turned to Luke. “So, Marcus mind-linked you,” I said,
“What did he say specifically?”
Luke’s expression turned grave. “It barely lasted a few seconds,” he said, “And he was talking fast, but he said that things
had gone south and the Blood Moons had captured them. All of them. He thinks they’re planning to keep them alive
long enough to force Hudson to give up our lands, and then they’ll kill them.”
Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you’re not reading this book on n𝘰𝚟el5s.com, you might be missing out on the
complete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter—it’s all free!
I sucked in a breath. “Shit,” I muttered, “If the Blood Moons contacted Hudson…”
“He’d do it. He’d give up our pack lands,” Luke finished, “Not just because the Blood Moons have almost every warrior in
our pack, but because Hudson knows you went with us. He’d assume they’d have you too.”
“We need to mind-link Hudson,” I said, “Let him know that we’re okay and that he should not cooperate with any Blood
Moon demands. Tell him that we’ll take care of it.”
“And when Hudson asks how we’re going to take on an entire pack of bloodthirsty wolves, should I just tell him we’ve
awoken the Moon God, who happens to be your mate? I’m sure he’s going to be thrilled about this turn of events,” Luke
said sarcastically.
I turned to Ambrose, who was assessing us both silently. “Hudson is my brother,” I told him, “And the current Alpha of
our pack. Remember how I said the Blood Moons are dangerous?”
Ambrose gave a small nod.
“They’ve been terrorizing us for years,” I said, “They attacked our pack a decade ago, and killed Hudson and I’s parents.
They murdered our Alpha just a few days ago…and now they have our friends. There are hundreds of them, all
bloodthirsty and more dangerous than the last. I know you said that my fight was your fight, but this is going to be a hell
of a fight.”
I expected to see some kind of fear in his eyes – or at least hesitation – but there was none of that.
His eyes were intense and I felt one of his hands play with my hair.
“I said that I wouldn’t let any harm come to you,” he said, and his lips curved up until I caught sight of his canines. My
breath hitched – they were *massive.* They were larger than any fangs I’d ever seen on a wolf by a long shot. I hadn’t
even realized someone could have canines that big.
“But this pack has already harmed you,” he finished, those large canines glinting in the light, “And I intend to kill them all
for i