Hated By The Alpha-Chapter 213: Bonding steps

"Then, I’ll just... um, close my eyes and move away," Leon stammered and shut his eyes, steering his body away from Mark.

He successfully turned his back to Mark but still didn’t open his eyes.

He heard Mark’s amused chuckle and frowned.

Did he really think the situation was funny? Appearing naked in front of someone, and brazenly talking about his famn ’pleasure tool.’

He couldn’t stand Mark. He hated guys like that, thinking they were sexy but in the real sense. They were just annoying. He was a guy himself. He knew what to do to please a girl he liked, and it was none of what Mark was doing.

He heard shuffling behind him, and in the next second, he felt Mark’s hand on his shoulder.

"You can turn around now," Mark said.

Leon stood, slowly turning to face Mark.

The first thing he saw was Mark’s naked chest, his eyes immediately diverted, going up Mark’s face.

"What? Are you having a fever? Your cheeks are so rude," Mark tries to touch Leon’s face.

"I’m fine," Leon stepped backwards but suddenly tripped on something, a gasp leaving his mouth as he lost his footing and fell backwards.

"I got you," Mark easily stepped forward and caught Leon’s waist, gently pulling him close.

"You’re so clumsy. Do I need to tie you around my body?" He whispered into Leon’s ear, his fingers softly pressing into his waist.

Leon cleared his throat and placed his hand on Mark’s chest... wrong decision. He felt heat rushing to his cheeks, and he felt his palm flat against Mark’s nipples.

Quickly, he stepped away, wiping his hand on his pants, "You said you were going to dress up. Why are you naked?" Leon glared at Mark’s smug face.

Mark smiled, "But I’m dressed, Pookie. See?" He pinned down to his red shorts.

Leon didn’t want to, but he found his eyes going down, taking in Mark’s thighs, gulping as he saw how snuggly his shirts hugged them.

"You like what you see?" Mark asked, smirking.

Leon snapped back to reality and frowned, "Why are you stalking me?" He questioned, walking out of the clearing.

Mark followed him, "I wasn’t stalking you, I was following you, protecting you." He said as he caught up beside Leon.

Leon didn’t spare him a glance, "I don’t... you..." he paused and turned to Mark.

He wanted to ask him not to protect him, but Audrey had already told him that there was no refusing Mark.

"Yes, you can tell me what you want to say," Mark said, hiding Leon’s hand.

Leon sighed, "Look. I’m not a bad person, okay? I don’t want to keep hurting you when I say no or refuse something. But, if you can just stay away for this one month and -"

"I can’t..." Mark said, placing his arm around Leon’s shoulder and pulling him close.

"You see, it’s instinct, Leon. You’re mine. It’s only right that my wolf and I want to be close to you every time. What if it were another wolf that found you back there? What would have done?" Mark asked, concerned.

Leon paused, staring quietly at Mark’s face. He had a lot to say, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t want this little chit-chat that was developing between them. It was going to make everything harder in the end.

He wanted them to stay strangers, no familiarising; that way, when he wanted to reject Mark, he would so it with no regrets, it would just be rejecting a stranger, not a friend... not a lover.

Mark saw how quiet Leon was and subtly moved closer to him, his hands cautiously cupping his face, "I wish you could see and understand what we have between us. It’s not just a human thing, Leon. It’s soul bound, Leon." He looked into Leon’s eyes, silently imploring him to let him in.

"However, I’m never going to force you to love me. I’m just asking for you to give me the opportunity to spend the month with you since you’re going to reject n the end. At least, I’ll have a lifetime’s consolation when I remember that you shared a month of your life with me. Please?" Mark’s voice was tender, eyes sincere.

Leon hadn’t said a thing. He didn’t know what to say; and Mark’s hands on his cheeks made him want to close his eyes and lean more into the touch.

"Say something?" Mark spoke again, rubbing his thumb over Leon’s cheek.

Leon blinked, clenching his fists as he really couldn’t bring himself to speak. He couldn’t give Mark the answer he wanted to hear, and at the same time, he didn’t want him to don’t feel like refusing his offer.

Mark stared at Leon’s face, feeling the strong urge to reduce the distance between them.

Leon slowly turned his face to the side as Mark’s lips almost pressed on his, his heart pounding like a carnival drum.

Since he couldn’t use his words to refuse, he would use his actions. That way, he doesn’t outrightly hurt Mark.

’Did he really want to kiss me?’ He thought quietly, biting his lip.

Mark sighed, "I’ll take your silence as a yes," he said and smiled.

"Come on, we’ve got plams to make," Mark wrapped his hand around Leon’s wrist and gently tugged him out of the forest.

As they walked inside the psckhouse, Leon still hadn’t said a word. Even as he was led to Mark’s room, he still didn’t say anything.

He realised with fear and shock that he did not speak or resist because he was low-key enjoying starting to enjoy Mark’s hold on him; suddenly, the idea of taking his hand away from Mark filled him with dread, as if he’d be losing a part of him he’d just discovered.

"Do you want to come in? No, I mean, come in, please," Mark said as he pushed his door open, taking Leon in with him.

Leon paused in front of Mark’s door, forcing his brain to work, "I... I have something to do. You can go ahead first." He said, taking his hand away from Mark’s.

Mark sighed, "Fine, I won’t force you. I’ll just have a quick shower and come find you, yeah?" He asked.

Leon slowly nodded and turned away, leaving without another word.

Mark stood in front of his door for a few seconds, staring at Leon slowly walking away from him. He missed Leon already, left to him, he would never want to let him out of his side.

He had gone so many years alone, and he was almost believing that he was going to be mateless forever. But the moon godess decided to bring his mate to him. He would do everything to keep Leon with him.

There was no way he was letting Leon slip away from his hands.

On the other side of the packhouse, Leon wandered into the kitchen, not sure why he was heading in that direction.

The moment he entered, he paused as he felt his jaw hit the floor.

By the side of the tall fridge stood Andrew and Alex, sucking deeply on each other’s lips, the bottle of water in Andrew’s hand lond forgotten as he used his other hand to pull Alex close to himself.

Leon stood there, unable to look away. He stared, surprised that the two guys looked so invested what they were doing, as if they were really enjoying the kiss between them.

Can there really be that kind of sizzling chemistry between guys?

"Ahem, enough, you two get a room," Sandra walked in and stood beside Leon, rolling her eyes.

Leon snapped his head toward Sandra, surprised he didn’t realise when she arrived beside him.

"Don’t worry, you’ll get used to them. They do this often..." She smiled.

"Oh..." Leon nodded, not knowing what else to say.

"Sorry, Leon. We didn’t know you were here," Alex apologised, holding Andrew’s hand and leading him toward the door.

"No, it’s fine... I just wanted to get water," Leon said and moved toward the fridge.

Alex chuckled, "Can I invite you out tonight?" He caught Leon’s hand as he walked past them.

"Me? Um, I don’t know, I think I have something -"

"He’ll go, I’ll come, too." Sandra smoothly cut in, "After all, I’m in the lookout for a new mate," She winked at Leon.

"Awesome, we’ll be going with he big car, right, baby?" Alex asked Andrew.

Andrew shrugged, "Whatever you want, sweetheart." He replied.

Alex smiled and waved at Leon, "See you tonight." He said and left with Andrew.

Leon slowly turned to face Sandra, "I don’t like that. We’re not even that close. I barely know any of you." He said, giving her a stern look.

Sandra scoffed, "Oh, dear. The moment you got to know Audrey, you got to know the whole pack, darling." She winked at him.

Leom frowned, "I’m not going." He said and pulled the fridge open, grabbing a bottle of water.

"We’ll see. Perhaps you want to stay here and get marked by your handsome mate, then you’re welcome to stay. But, if you want to rub away from Mark, the you shoukd follow us out," Sandra suggested.

Leon went quiet, thinking deeply. He slowly stepped closer to Sandra, "Hey," He called.

Sandra turned to him, a smirk playing on her lips, "Yes?" She answered.

"Can you help me out?" He whispered.

Sandra narrowed her eyes, "Depends on what you want." She said.

Leon looked around to make sure no one was coming, then he leaned down to whisper in Sandra’s ear, "Tonight... can you help me escape without Mark’s notice?" He asked, his hands suddenly trembling as he thought of the broken look Mark’s would wear when he realised that he was gone.