Nature is not a place to visit 31

Chapter 31
*“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one.”*
*Stacey Lee*
As it turned out, the pack, including my brother, was just as flabbergasted by Ambrose’s existence as I was. Even after I’d
explained the situation, most of them just didn’t seem as if they knew how to interact with him. They all seemed hesitant
to even approach him, and they’d lower their heads in respect whenever they caught his eye. Even Hudson.
I couldn’t really blame them. In some ways, I was still figuring out how to interact with Ambrose. I’d considered that my mate might be an Alpha or even some human, as rare as that was. I’d never prepared for an immortal being with
immeasurable power stuck in a magical coma.
It was like wading into shallow water, and finding yourself thrown into the rip tide instead.
Hudson and Marcus disappeared into the pack house – no doubt to share the rest of the details about the Blood Moon
attack – I took it upon myself to give Ambrose a tour of our lands.
“And this is the infirmary,” I said, gesturing toward the large cabin. Ambrose stood next to me, his olive hand entangled
with mine.
“Infirmary?” he questioned, his eyebrows scrunching together.
“Oh,” I said, “It’s like a hospital.”
He blinked at me.
“It’s where we heal the sick or injured people in our pack,” I explained, “Not like you, of course. We can’t do magic, but we’ve got other tools.”
Ambrose nodded.
“Sorry if I say things that don’t make sense sometimes,” I said, scratching the back of my neck, “It’s not intentional, I just
forget that…”
He squeezed my hand. “Do not worry yourself about it, little wolf,” he said, looking down at me, “As long as I’ve been
asleep, I’m used to the changing nuances of language. I’ll adjust to this modern vernacular with time.”
“Well, you’re using words like ‘vernacular.’ At this point, your vocabulary might be better than mine,” I replied, “But if you
ever need any help…”
His eyes softened. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ambrose’s gaze was intense. It was like he was staring through me, not at me, and it felt like he was turning my lower
belly into mush. I wasn’t sure if that was just a mate thing although part of me wondered if it was just an Ambrose thing.
If he wanted to, he probably could turn my intestines into actual mush.
I cleared my throat and averted my eyes. “Well, there’s only one place left on the tour – my home. I share it with
Hudson.”
From the way his lips twitched upwards, I had a feeling he knew just how much he affected me.
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The camper wasn’t a long walk from the infirmary, but as I spotted it in the distance, I felt something uncomfortable coil
in my stomach. Insecurity.
Ambrose hadn’t been judgmental about what my pack looked like, but this was where I actually lived. What would he
think of the stained shaggy carpet or the lumpy pull out couch where I slept?
“Well, this is home,” I said, ushering him inside before he got too good of a look at the rust-covered exterior. I tried not
to cringe when the screen door shrieked like a hyena.
Unfortunately, it looked even more cluttered than when I’d left. The sink was full of dishes with an odd odor and the floor
was littered with Hudson and I’s dirty laundry. I’d like to say that the mess was just an unfortunate coincidence – that I’d
been too busy awakening immortal beings and fending off Blood Moons to properly clean up.
However, I also knew that was a lie. Even when Hudson had just been a Beta with few responsibilities and I spent my days
goofing off with Rae, our camper rarely looked better.
Ambrose was so tall that his head brushed the top of the rust-colored ceiling. His face was blank as he took in my living
space, and I’d never wanted to see an emotion on his face more than in this moment. The mess that used to feel like
somewhat of a comfort was anything but right now.
He took another step into the camper, his eyes sliding over the open bag of chips that Hudson must’ve opened at some
point and my pull out couch still covered in wrinkled, unmade sheets.
“You’ll have to excuse the…mess,” I said. Ambrose turned to look at me. “Normally, Hudson and I are much cleaner, but
with everything going on lately, it’s just…actually, that’s not true.” I swallowed and averted my eyes. My stomach twisted
into knots.
“I know it’s not flattering, but you’re my mate, so you might as well know now. I’m messy. I’ve always been. Hudson is
just as bad. I’m not sure if the cleanliness gene just skipped us or if we’re just terrible adults, but this is me. That coffee
cup that’s been sitting on the nightstand for a week – that’s me. The mountain of dirty clothes on the floor – that’s me.
The grocery list stapled to the fridge that’s about two years old – that’s me. So, if you’re disgusted by this –”
I was cut off by Ambrose’s lips on mine. His mouth molded with mine, our lips moving in rhythm with each other. There was something sweet about his natural taste, and I couldn’t get enough of it.
When he finally pulled away, I missed the contact immediately.
“There is nothing you could say or do that could disgust me,” he said, his face inches from mine. His eyes had a hard
edge to them, like he was trying to drill the words into my brain. “You are my mate.”
“Not even this?” I said, and gestured to the mess.
“Not even this,” he replied, his eyes flickering across the camper. “I want to see every piece of you, even the parts you
feel are ugly or flawed. And I will. You are mine, it is my right to uncover every inch of you. To strip your soul and examine
the contents until I understand you completely.”
His voice grew raspy and I felt the knots in my lower stomach unravel into a warmth that left my body pulsing for
something I couldn’t identify.
This time, I was the one who smashed our lips together, eager to feel more of him. He didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms
around me or tug me closer until my chest was pressed against his.
I was pretty sure there wasn’t a coherent thought in my head when his warm tongue found its way into my mouth. He wasn’t forceful or rough, instead, he slipped it in with practiced ease.
Not that I was complaining. I responded eagerly by opening my mouth more to accommodate him. My hands curled into
his rich brown hair and I tugged, pulling him closer. I wanted more. I needed more.
He growled into my mouth, the sound reverberating through his chest, and my knees actually wobbled. Had it not been
for his hands wrapped around my waist, I might’ve stumbled or lost my balance.
Suddenly, Ambrose went stiff and pulled away with scrunched eyebrows. He kept his hands around my waist, but I felt his
loss of warmth immediately.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
His eyes flickered to the door. “It’s your friend,” he said, “Your brother is gathering the pack, he plans to punish her.”
*Rae.*
I turned and bolted out the doo