Innocent Little Runt
Chapter 70

Celeste’s POV

I yanked Xavier’s hand, pulling him back to me. He woke up at about four in the morning but I hadn’t slept at all. I stayed up, thinking, I couldn’t stop thinking. The things that could happen good and bad. The things I could do here. I know that I probably won’t sleep. Not without Xavier. Lycer will be here but that will only make me worry more. It will remind me that Xavier could end up going through what Lycer went through. In the end I tried to ignore my thoughts, all of them having turned morbid.

Instead, I stared at Xavier. His sharp jaw, tanned skin, his soft brown hair, his lips. All of it. I tried to remember every detail. I needed to remember, knowing I wouldn’t see him for awhile.

“You know I’m going to come back, right? Please don’t be so worried.” I nodded at Xavier and he pulled me closer. I held onto his shirt, my hands holding the fabric so tightly I could feel my knuckles turning white. I inhale his scent of coconut and rain, making me want to sob. I don’t want him to leave. . . Xavier k****s my forehead, trying to comfort me.

“Why does this have to happen to us? To this pack?” He pulled back, my hands slipping off of his shirt. I stared into his captivating green eyes, almost getting lost. “Please,” I find myself saying without my own consent. “Don’t leave.”

“You know I have to. I promised to keep this pack safe until my dying breath when I became Alpha and I promised myself to do the same with you. I’m not going to stop fighting until I know I can return home to you and tell you that Malum and every other threat is gone.” He pulled me close to him again, and I pushed him back.

“If you hold me for a second longer then I’m not going to let you leave.” He nods but his hands don’t leave my waist.

“What about if I k**s you for a second longer?” I smiled, a small laugh leaving my lips.

“I don’t think I would mind that,” I whispered. He leaned down, placing his soft lips on mine. I closed my eyes as I tried to memorize his lips. He tasted like sugar, sweet and something that I could easily crave. He had a small cut on his bottom l*p that’s not recognizable when just looking but it didn’t feel like a cut he would get in a fight. Maybe he bit his l*p too hard. . .

He slides his hand down to my butt and I slap his hand away, blushing. He chuckles, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “My innocent little runt, I love you so much.”

“You realize that, that’s kind of repetitive? Little and runt?” I let out a small chuckle, wiping away some tears, as he looked at me with a small smile. He rose an eyebrow and I responded with what I knew he was expecting. “I love you too.” I wiped away the hopefully last stray tear and gave him a smile. “Now go so you can get home quicker.” He looked over at the clock and shook his head.

“I have about another hour. How about we have some breakfast?” He moved a loose strand of hair behind my ear but I knew that when he moved his hand away it would just fall back.

“If you have an hour left then let’s have breakfast in here. I don’t want to share you with anyone else.”

“And I, you. I’ll mind link someone, what do you want?” I told him and laid back in bed. I can’t mind link. I can only mind link Lycer but not Xavier and that’s not going to help.

I blink and look at him. I must have zoned out for a bit because there’s a plate of food in front of me. Waffles, yogurt, and two strips of bacon. Bacon. . . My mouth starts to water.

I eat a bit of the food, the subject of mind linking still in my mind. I eventually push the food aside and move it to the bedside table. “Celeste, are you okay?” Xavier looks at the plate of food, knowing I never turn down breakfast.

“Mark me” the words slip out of my lips before I can stop them. Xavier coughs, having swallowed his food wrong. I think I startled him.

“W-What?” He stutters after chugging down half of his coffee. My eyes meet his, brown on green.

“Mark me,” I say again. He pushes his food aside too, pulling my hand into his.

“Why the sudden urge to do this?” I move closer to him, sitting in his lap. He looks down at me, love in his eyes. I’m pretty sure I’m looking at him the same way.

“I-” I pause, “I’ll feel a lot better if I can contact you at any point. I won’t even be able to sleep without you after being away from you before!” I exclaim, feeling a puddle of nerves form in my stomach. “What if I end up getting sick again? What if something happens to me or you? And what if something happens to Lesa or someone and no one else is around? Or-“

His lips land on mine. I pull away, sighing against his lips. “Are you sure?” My eyes widened. I nod although a shaky breath leaves my lips. He tilts my head up and presses his lips to mine again. I wrap my arms around his neck, moving myself so I could straddle him. He moves his lips to the corner of my mouth and slowly down my neck, making me gasp a little. I tilt my head back, allowing him more access. He moves his lips in such a delicate way that I think he’s afraid he is going to break me. I feel him shake slightly but I don’t know if it’s in anticipation or if he’s nervous. His lips move to the spot directly between my shoulder and neck, making a m**n slip out of my lips. “Are you sure?” His repeated question makes me worry he doesn’t want to do this but when I catch a glimpse of his eyes all I see is desire. Desire to go further, desire to mark me, desire to make me his forever.

“Yes,” I whisper and then I feel his teeth sink into that spot and tears gather in my eyes. I feel the venom like substance go through my skin, twisting around in swirling patterns and curves, forming the name of the man who is now mine forever. Xavier.