Alpha Markus and Celeste novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53 – Celeste
Celeste P.O.V.
The walk back to the Packhouse was exhausting. Every muscle was screaming at me. Kara was giving me her strength to make it.
When we got to the pyre, Markus finally stopped me.
“It’s time, Celeste, we need to get Ruby ready to meet the moon goddess.” He said as he gently took Ruby from me. My knees started
to give way and I felt two arms on either side of me, holding me up. I turned to look at Gillian and Dany on either side of me. Maya
wrapped on Danny’s other side.
Markus gently laid Ruby’s body on the table. They quickly began the task of cleaning her body of the dirt and blood. Markus began helping the final set up of the pyre. I wanted to help, but my legs couldn’t move anymore. My eyes were glued to the body of Ruby as she slowly became her old self. She looked beautiful and asleep. Once they were done, they wrapped her up in the ceremonial white
cloth.
Markus lifted her up to the top of the pyre, then he came up to my side and gathered me to him. I was about to move forward to send her to Selene when Maya mind linked me.’Celeste, can I?’I knew she was closer to Ruby not only here, but when we were in Blood Moon
Pack.
‘Of course’ I said.
I saw Maya move forward. Danny at her side. Markus looked at me and I nodded, so he passed the torch to Danny.
“Ruby was not always the nicest person but she was always honest. She liked to do things her way and hated being told how to do her job. It always landed her in hot water with Alpha Geoff. She never screamed when she got beat. She was too proud for that. When she
came here, she was softer, kinder. Like she didn’t have to put up that front. She told me she wanted to be a warrior, she didn’t want a mate, she just wanted to protect those that couldn’t protect themselves. Like Celeste always did for all of us. She wanted to get strong
and train. She would have been a fierce warrior. Selene, please help her become who she wanted to be.” Her voice broke at the end and
Danny came forward and lit the pyre.
We stood there all together until the pyre was nothing but ashes. Then Markus led us all into the dining room where there was a light
dinner set out for us. As much as I wasn’t hungry, I didn’t want to worry Markus and the doctor had already scolded me once about not
eating. I pushed some of my food around for a bit.
‘Luna please eat. We need you strong. I can’t lose anyone else,
Maya’s voice came through the mind link.
I’m fine Maya, I am not going anywhere,’ I said and smiled across the table to her and took a bite of my food.
‘Tuli?’ Came Markus’ tentative voice after dinner. We were sitting in the living room.
“Hmm?’
‘We need to question the prisoners. I would prefer you not to be there, but I won’t stop you if that’s what you want’
I need to be there, Markus. We need to put an end to this once and for all.’
“You will need to let us do what we need to love. It won’t be pretty. We can’t show hesitation,
Atlas answered back.
‘We understand. Do what you need to, I just have some questions of my own.’
“Markus, we need to have that conversation with Danny’s contact,” Gillian said into the silent room.
“OK. Then we head to the dungeons,” I said, getting up. This was everyone’s cue to clear out of the dining room. Markus, Gillian, and
myself started heading to the office.
“I’ll be there in two minutes.” Danny said, leading Maya to the third floor.
‘Maya, do you wish to be part of this? I could talk to Markus, ‘I asked her. This was as much her fight as it was mine.
I don’t think it would be wise. I am not as strong as you. I don’t have the stomach for what is going to happen in the dungeons. /
would just be a distraction,’ She said weakly.
‘There’s nothing wrong with that, Maya. You have a kind soul. It’s good that you won’t let this stain it. That is what makes you a
‘It’s Malakai. He is one of Mrs. Wriley’s grandchildren. His mom works at the Packhouse too. They often help her.’
‘Go see him. Make sure he’s OK. Tell him we will make him whatever he wants because he was so brave,’
said.
‘Yes Luna, he will be so happy. He devours everything you make,’
she laughs.
Danny walked into the office. “Is she going to be OK?” Markus asked him.
“Yes, she’s a tough cookie. Plus, our Luna is keeping her busy.” He said, smirking at me. Markus looked at me, a confused question in
his eyes.
I just shrugged. “Of course, she is officially my Gamma female in two days. We have duties and like Danny said, she’s a tough cookie.
She can handle it.”
‘Thank you, she needed to feel a sense of purpose. She’s been unhappy without duties,
Danny’s voice flitted through my head.
‘She just needs to be reminded of how important she really is to everyone sometimes. I am glad she has you, but sometimes being
told you are enough by someone other than the person that was made to love you makes a bigger impact.’
Well, let me be the one to tell you today, that you are an amazing Luna and we are all the better for being in your life,”
he said.
“If you’re done having private conversations with my mate, can we get the call going? We have some unpleasant business to
complete today that I prefer not to push it to tomorrow,” Markus said with a raised eyebrow as he noticed the glazed looks on Danny and
me. I couldn’t help but laugh as I slid my arms around him as I was already sitting on his lap. His jealousness was cute. Danny went red
and started to dial his contact’s number on the landline so he could put it on speaker phone.
‘Do I want to know why Danny blushed?’ Markus asked as the phone rang.
Just having a chat about Maya and he told me I was amazing…you know. Normal things,
teased.
‘So you’re going to leave me with those words without context? Do you hate Danny that much that you would let me kill him today?’
he asked.
‘A little jealousy never hurts in the bedroom,’ Ipurred.
It hurts Danny,’ he grumbled before we heard Gillian’s cough. Someone had answered and they were waiting for Markus to
respond.
Danny tried to cover a laugh with a cough as we both realized we were caught. Gillian, it seemed, took pity on Markus and mind
linked him the question because, suddenly, Markus cleared his throat and answered.
“Yes, we have them in the dungeons. We are about to go interrogate them but I believe the information you have may help steer the
interrogation in our favour.”
“Alpha Markus, to be honest, the only thing I have found out is who these people are. I don’t know that they will necessarily make or
break your interrogation.”
“I appreciate any information you have for us,” Markus said.
“Very well. The man with the long blonde hair is named Levi Garth and the one with dark hair is named Lucas Rogers. They belong to
the Desert Moon Pack near Tijuana. Sadly, we haven’t found a connection to the Blood Moon Pack.”
“I do,” I said, “Luna Luisa’s maiden name was Rogers. They must be related somehow.”
“Cousin” Markus said, as if suddenly something made sense.
“Pardon?” Danny said.
“It’s what Lucas said while he was on the phone. He called the other person cousin! That must be how they are related. Gillian, can
you contact dad’s contact from the council? Maybe he can look up the registries to see if we can connect them to confirm the
relation.”
“I will give him a call,” Gillian said.
“Thank you so much for all of your help, Todd. I’ll be sure to let Alpha Rhett know how much help you have been to the investigation.
“Markus said.
“Thank you Alpha Markus. Danny, we’ll keep in touch.”
“Sounds good man,” Danny said before he hung up the call.
We stood in silence for a moment as Gillian made his call. Once it was done, and he confirmed that the council member would call us
back tomorrow, there was no putting it off anymore.
“Let’s go question the prisoners.” Markus said, his eyes flashing black, then back to grey.