Markus crept towards the kitchen, keeping his steps as light as possible and his breaths low. Charles was always by Sam’s side, he knew it, even if the the old codger avoided him like the plague and pretended otherwise. He was going to catch him.

As he approached the closed door of the kitchen he picked up a pair of voices, and he knew exactly who they belonged to.

“Will you be wearing your winter ball suit for the wed- sorry, bonding ceremony?” Charles-cradle-snatcher-Godfry asked.

“Oh, I hadn’t really thought about it.” Sam’s voice was soft as usual as he replied.

“I have to admit I’m only asking because I have been in a slight panic since I got my invitation, I haven’t the foggiest what one wears to this kind of event.” Markus had to hold back a scoff, Charles was so full of himself…

“Oh, you can wear a suit,” Sam reassured. “you can just treat it like a human wedding.”

“So this ceremony in the temple, it’s the same as the vows at a wedding?” Charles asked. Markus rolled his eyes, he comes to their pack as a representative, lives in their home for months and for what? If he can’t answer such basic questions about werewolf culture, clearly he was spending more time studying their omega’s ass than their ways and traditions.

“Well… we say vows, but they’re not the same ones you would say in a church and we also make our own, we also do a hand binding bit - I think some humans do that too?” Markus couldn’t understand why Sam was being so patient, answering Charles’ stupid questions with serious replies. “But the biggest difference is just our goddess, I guess.”

“Yes, I wasn’t even aware werewolves had their own religion until Karliah and Cassie announced their bonding ceremony!” Charles exclaimed. “How does that work?”

“Well, it’s not… I guess the simplest version is… the Goddess is essentially mother nature.” Sam explained slowly. “That’s really the only rule that all wolves follow, from there the packs can diversify a little - we call it being more or less traditional. Our pack is more traditional than most, so we still have bonding ceremonies and the Goddess is directly mentioned and included in all of our celebrations or life events like births, funerals and alpha coronations.” Markus felt his head lolling as he let himself be rocked by Sam’s gentle voice, he got to hear it so rarely… why was that? He felt almost sleepy as he thought about it… why didn’t Sam talk more? It was so soothing… “But if a pack is labelled as simply ‘traditional’ you know they take the Goddess very seriously, they pray regularly and attend temple services, they decorate their pack house with statues and paintings of her and her symbol.”

“So less or ‘non-traditional’ packs have little to no acknowledgement of the Goddess?” Charles’ voice cut through Markus’ mind painfully with another of his idiotic questions.

“Everyone believes, even non-traditional packs, they just don’t involve her in their daily lives.” Sam answered.

“Ah, I think I understand.”

“To them she is her own force,” Sam continued, “she will do as she likes and she doesn’t need the prayers of wolves to give her power, they believe it’s enough to simply do their best to look after her Earth.” hearing him talk about the goddess made Markus want to go to temple for the first time in months… not for any particular reason… he just wanted to bask in the atmosphere… with Sam’s voice to keep him company.

“And what do you believe?” Charles asked. Before Sam could answer, Markus decided he had heard enough, he stomped into the room.

“Why on Earth would you be discussing our deity with our omega?” He asked, looking between the shocked pair with thinly veiled glee, he knew it.

“Simply trying to educate myself before Cassie and Karliah’s big day,” The vampire answered with a half-smile. “I wouldn’t want to appear ignorant during such an important ceremony.”

“I wasn’t aware you were invited.” Was the only thing Markus could think to say.

“Well I was, and am honoured to have been.” Charles was still giving him that weird blank smile and Markus bristled, this man was a spy, a traitor, he didn’t deserve to stay in their home another minute let alone attend a bonding ceremony, he was probably only going to show up to spy on even more packs.

He gritted his teeth before replying, “Well, I don’t think it would be appropriate for you to be there.” he said.

“And why would that be?” Alarm bells rang in his head, they sounded suspiciously like his father’s voice saying ‘for fuck’s sake, do nothing’ on repeat. He couldn’t say he knew he was in with the council…

“I don’t want you spending time around our omega any more.” It wasn’t even a lie, Markus thought, because they both knew he had a problem with Charles hanging around like a starving animal drooling over Sam.

Charles’ face tightened, “May I ask why?” he asked cordially although his expression said otherwise.

“No, but I will say that this includes the bonding ceremony,” Markus knew he didn’t have leverage over the vampire, but that wasn’t going to stop him from creating some, let’s see how much he really ‘cares’ about Sam, he thought. “if you plan to attend then Sam is not permitted to.”

“Now wait a minute-” Charles began, just as Sam started to splutter in the corner.

“My decision is final.” Markus stated firmly before stalking out, the image of Sam’s crumpled face rattling his mind and rendering his thoughts incoherent.

~

“What do you mean you can’t come?” Cassie whispered, her eyes stinging with hurt. Karliah’s fists clenched unintentionally, she hoped Sam didn’t notice, it was hard for omega’s to remain composed when an alpha was displaying aggression near them, their fight or flight was much more in tune with the actions of their much larger counterparts.

“Markus won’t give me permission if Charles is going.” Sam muttered, looking ashamed. “Charles offered to stay home but I can’t do that to him, it would be rude - plus he’s the only member of the vampire alliance attending so I know they were counting on him to immerse himself in our culture with the ceremony…” Cassie turned on her heel to look up at Karliah, her eyes watering and her bottom lip trembling.

“I’m going to kill him.” She managed to snarl through her tears.

“I think it would be safer if I do it, less chance of you getting hurt.” Karliah replied solemnly. “Let me go see what I can do.”

She really didn’t have time for Markus’ nonsense today. She couldn’t just drop off her mate without the fellow alpha causing a drama, Goddess, she couldn’t wait until Cassie stopped visiting this mess of a pack…

Karliah didn’t need to explain she wasn’t in the mood for chat as she brushed past many pack members on her way to the office, her wolf was radiating her fury in dominating waves that kept every person at bay easily.

Karliah rapped on the office door sharply and was greeted by Markus pulling the door open hurriedly, it seemed he was expecting someone else.

“Oh, hi.”

“Hi. I need a word.” She let herself in, pushing past him.

“Actually, I’m a bit bus-”

“Markus,” She snapped, “why are you trying to get yourself killed so young?” her clenched fists crossed over her chest.

“I… What?” He shut the door and followed her in.

“It just seems that time and time again you go out of your way to upset my mate, or upset your own mate, which in turn upsets my mate.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He huffed. She moved closer to him, allowing her wolf to radiate it’s aggressive energy into the room at full volume.

“Why can’t Sam come to our bonding ceremony?” She growled.

“Omega can’t leave the pack h-”

“Without alpha permission,” She interrupted, her tone scathing. “what are you, a lemon?” He rolled his eyes like a sulking child.

“I haven’t explicitly said he can’t go.” He mumbled.

“Good, I’ll let him know he has permission now.” She smiled coldly. “I’m glad this is sorted, I like Sam and would hate to have to kick his mate’s ass.” His eyes flashed with surprise and anger and she instantly regretted revealing that she knew that Sam was his mate. But now she was too deep and for some reason, alphas found it ridiculously hard to back down once they had begun something - especially if that something was a conflict.

“Are you threatening me?”

She stepped forward again, bringing her face close to his and baring her canines, “Warning you.” she snarled, narrowing her eyes at him.

“What makes you think you could take me?” He appeared confident enough on the outside but she felt his wolf hesitate to meet hers in their battle of dominance. He genuinely wanted to know the answer, luckily it was simple.

“Alphas with marked mates are always stronger.” She shrugged, backing away and pulling the door open, “We’re not cowards, afraid of what insignificant people think of who we love.” she left swiftly, hoping her words had penetrated even a single layer of the stone around his heart.