15: First Trimester

"How fast does the mating process go?"

Grey looked at Marisol from his desk. He put the file in his hand down to focus on her question. "Usually fast."

"How fast?"

"Well, most couples would have been mated by now."

"Are we not mated yet?"

Nolan, who had been working from the couch stood up, pretending he didn't hear her question as he made his way out of his Alpha's office. Grey cleared his throat. "No, we aren't. A couple becomes mated once they have sex and the female has the male's mark."

"Mark?"

Greyson stood up and walked to where she was sitting. He sat beside her and grabbed her waist. After a moment, she realized what he wanted and she stood to sit on his lap. She couldn't help but blush from their proximity. If she thought about it more, she'd never experienced such carnal desire for someone in her life.

Grey grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. He let her fingers gently rub against his elongated canines. She gasped softly, feeling the hardness and sharpness of them.

"D-did you just shift?"

"Just my teeth."

"S-so a mark is your bite. Where?"

"Anywhere you want. You can choose. Some females choose their neck, others choose their wrists, some choose other parts."

"But why? What does a mark do?"

"The mark is largely due to a carnal need the males feel. It solidifies the bond. Once marked, the scents of the couple are intertwined that way other males know when a female is taken. Likewise for females."

"Does it hurt?"

"No. I've been told it's orgasmic. Marisol, you have to understand that the mating process is personal and... erotic." His hand gently ran down her back and she shivered. "Our process will be different than anyone else."

"When will me finish the process?"

"Whenever you want. You decide, beautiful."

Marisol stayed silent for a moment and she smiled as he played with her hair. He didn't speak, letting her soak in everything he just told her. "Do you want to? Finish the process, I mean."

He stopped and gently turned her head to him. "Yes. I want to do...unspeakable things to you."

She shivered again and felt her panties moisten. She looked down, smiling. She jumped from the door swinging open and quickly got off his lap.

"I'm sorry, Greyson, I didn't realize you were busy."

That was Irabella. Marisol smiled. "No, he's free. I'll go."

"Actually, Marisol, if you would like to stay, you may. You're part of the pack now, and as Luna you should be informed as well."

Greyson stayed where he was, but pulled her back into his lap. She was embarrassed to do something so intimate in front of so many people, but she did enjoy it. So she sat there, but didn't speak, and listened to the meeting. She didn't understand some of it because some of the information was in a file that she couldn't read. No one took the time to read it to her.

It didn't offend her or make her angry. It just made her sad that she couldn't be an active participant.

❥

"You're not going."

Marisol turned to Grey's voice. She scoffed, buttoning the cuffs of her blouse. "I have a career, Grey. I have cases I have to handle."

"Let someone else take them."

"They can't. I have been working on these briefs for weeks."

"You can't go, Marisol. Do you understand how much danger you are in?"

"Nolan and Abigail are great fighters. You told me that."

"Marisol–"

"Greyson, I am going to work."

Grey let her walk out of her room and downstairs where Brad and Tala were waiting for her. He watched as they all made their way out of the pack house. Nolan walked up the stairs and stood next to his clearly pissed Alpha. "Take Abigail and follow her."

He pushed himself away and went to his office where he linked two other guards. When they arrived in his office, he ordered them to follow Nolan and Abigail with the intent to keep an eye on Marisol.

So that was how Marisol ended up in her office with not only two bodyguards but four. Emilia and Brad stood awkwardly by her desk. They didn't know how to act normal with so many people around.

"This is a nice office," someone whispered.

"Thanks," Marisol responded. "Only took me four years to get it. Okay, can we please act somewhat normal. Emilia these people are Grey's bodyguards that he insisted on following me everywhere."

"Right," Emilia trailed off. "Well here are some case files that you need to go over as well as your opening statement. I was told to cancel your meeting for today."

"Why? By who?"

"Adams."

"Who's Adams," someone asked.

"My dick boss. I'm sorry who are you two again?"

"I'm Annabelle," someone said.

"And I'm Lila. Mr. Weston told us to come with you."

"Listen, I'm all into the boss ass bitches you are," Emilia stated, "but don't you think this is a little excessive."

"Maybe, but he pays our paycheck," Annabelle answered.

"Touche," Emilia responded.

Marisol looked up as her door swung open. "Aye–" Cooper hesitated as he saw how many people were in her office. "There's an emergency meeting in the boardroom right now."

"About what?"

"A new case or something."

"Alright, I'll be there soon."

Marisol stood up and grabbed her recorder. She also grabbed a pen and paper for Emilia to write notes. When she realized the other four were going to follow her, she stopped and turned to them. "No, legally you cannot hear the new case. But even more, if you follow me I will go crazy. So please, stay and I will be back soon."

As Marisol sat at the round table, listening to Adams speak about how lucky they were about this case, her head cocked to the side. She smelled him. Grey. What the fuck?

"Alright, let me stop talking," Adams cooed. "Let me introduce Grey Weston's case."

You have to be fucking kidding.

"His firm is suing Maxim industries for a breach in contract."

Marisol didn't listen to the rest of the meeting. When it concluded, she stood up, went back to her office and began getting ready to leave.

"She's mad," Abigail whispered.

"Shh, don't anger her," Emilia responded.

Marisol swung the door open, putting her purse on the table beside the couch. "Greyson Weston!" Nolan took the time to run up the stairs to Grey's office. Grey stood, clearly nervous about what would happen. "She's pissed," Nolan warned.

"Do you think if I stand here and don't speak she won't find me?"

"She has a better nose than me, dude. She'll find you and still kick your ass. She's blind, not stupid."

Grey winced as his office door slammed open. His very angry mate stood with her hands on her hips. As usual, she just kept her head forward, unable to detect where exactly he was. He stayed as quiet as possible, hoping she would just turn around and leave. But she didn't.

"I know you are in here."

He sighed. "Have I told you how beautiful you look today?"

"Oh, no, you do not get off that easily. You hired my firm!"

"Wow, look at the time. I have to go shift or something," Nolan mumbled eagerly, making his way out of the office. Grey gave him a look as Nolan left, but then turned his gaze to his mate. "You said you wanted to keep working–"

"Yes! That's what normal people do."

"You are not a normal person, Marisol. You are a Luna, now. If you want to work, fine, but I have to make sure you are protected. Since your firm took my case, I can keep my people around you at all times."

"I understand you feel the need to keep me wrapped in bubblewrap because you think I'm weak–"

He growled softly. "I do not protect you because I think you are weak, I protect you because you are important."

Marisol's anger slightly dissipated from his comment. Any other day she would have run into his arms, but she was angry. He shouldn't intervene in her work. "You could have told me."

"It's easier to ask for forgiveness. Come here, Marisol." Seeing her stern expression, he sighed. "Please?" She acquiesced and walked toward his voice. He grabbed her waist and gently guided her to him. "I know you are mad, and I am sorry. But this is a compromise. You can still take more cases."

"You don't understand. I understand why you did what you did, but people already think I slept my way to the top. And now my boyfriend puts us on a case? I don't slut shame, but the men I work with do and it doesn't feel good. I'll be the slut of the office."

His heart swelled momentarily from her calling him her boyfriend, but that quickly vanished. "What do you mean they think you slept your way to the top?"

"I'm the only woman at my firm. I take a lot of shit and I don't want more."

"I didn't realize." He kissed the top of her head. He attempted to hide the anger that coursed through his veins. "Don't tell them how you know me, then. They don't know you're a surrogate. When you start showing just say it's your boyfriend's."

Marisol nodded and laid her head on his chest. She sighed, hearing his heartbeat.

"Have you thought about switching firms?"

"It doesn't matter. I'm sure it will happen wherever I go. Besides, I refuse to let men dictate what I do."

"What do they say?"

"They just comment about my hair or my clothing sometimes. The other day my boss said he preferred me in dresses. He just gives me the creeps."

"What's his name and social security?"

She laughed. "You are not going to kill him or something."

I'm a dumb bitch who posted Ch. 15 before 14. MY B. AGAIN, IM A DUMB DUMB BITCH.