"Fuck, what is happening?" I muttered to myself, trying to make sense of the sudden onslaught of emotions coursing through me. This wasn't just some ordinary attraction; this was something deeper, more primal. And as much as I didn’t want to get my hopes up, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that it could only be one thing, my fated mate.
My eyes focused on the source of my salvation and the first thing I saw was the bright red hair. Then the scene in front of me cleared and fogged up at the same time. Internally I knew what I was seeing. My best friend, and the woman he told me he loved. But the possessive side of me came to the front and all that mattered was that someone else was touching my mate. The red anger clouded my eyes and I let out a growl.
“MINE,” I growled. I focused on my target and threw myself at the man who dared to try to take what was mine.
I hit his body with the force of mine and we both went crashing into the opposite wall. Before we had even landed, I had my hand fisted and began to punch the person who threatened my happiness. I was vaguely aware of him trying to defend himself, and I could hear screaming, but it was all lost in the anger I was consumed by. Then I felt someone grab my arm and electricity ran from their touch through my whole body. I whirled on the offending party and came face to face with a pair of vivid green eyes that shined with anger themselves. Then everything else came into focus as the citrus scent invaded me again. I started to feel the rage rush away as I focused on my beautiful fated mate. From the way her long red hair fell against the soft white skin of her naked flesh. A growl left my mouth again as another red rage flooded into me. Even as I was aware of my mate shouting at me, I was only really focused on her beautiful body and the mass of lust that was coursing through my veins.
“Mine,” I growled again and saw her eyes widen seconds before I lunged at her.
Chapter 6
Erica
Tinglesracedthroughmybody, making my skin prickle with an electric heat I'd never known before. My heart thudded against my ribcage, as if trying to escape its confines. The world around me faded into nothingness, leaving behind only the sensation of this powerful, inexplicable connection.
"Wh-what is this?" I whispered, breathless, unable to tear my gaze away from the man across the room. From what I could see he was tall, broad-shouldered, and radiated an aura of raw power. And he was undeniably, impossibly beautiful. My fated mate. This couldn't be right. I wasn't supposed to have a fated mate, not when I couldn't even shift. It had always been my greatest shame, being a werewolf who couldn't become a wolf. Yet there was no denying the magnetic pull that drew me towards this stranger. But the bubble shattered as I saw the stranger's fist connect with Damon's face. Rage surged through me, fierce and fiery, as I watched Damon crumpled on the floor, barely even defending himself.
"Stop it!" I screamed, launching myself at the attacker. "How dare you attack someone like that, and a Beta as well!" My hands balled into fists, ready to fight for Damon's safety. I grabbed the man’s large arm just as he was about to punch Damon again. The man snarled and instantly whirled to face me. His eyes were stormy, filled with fury. But then something shifted within them, and I felt the power of our fated mate bond surging between us. It was an overwhelming force that neither of us could resist, and suddenly, the anger in his eyes melted away, replaced by a hunger I'd never seen before. My heart hammered against my chest, betraying me. I couldn't deny the connection between us, no matter how much I wanted to.
The man looked me up and down, and looked like he was taking in every detail. I glanced at Damon, who was just lowering his arms. I could see his face was already bruised down one side and there was blood from somewhere, not that I could tell where. He was holding himself like his left side was injured.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” I shouted at the guy angrily and he stood up. I pushed him, or tried to as my hands hit solid mass and he barely looked like a fly had buzzed by him. He was watching me with an almost amused look and it just made me more angry, so I shoved at him again.
“You can’t come storming into someone’s room and start pounding on them! What were you, born in a cave?” His mouth twitched into what looked like it was threatening to be a grin.
“Oh, you think this is funny, do you?” I had just met my fated mate, but I was so angry that I clenched my fist and punched him in that smirking, perfect jaw of his.
Or I tried, at least. His reflexes kicked in and he grabbed my wrist before I could make contact. He glared at me as I struggled to pull my arm back.
"Liam," Damon gasped from the floor, wincing in pain. As soon as I heard the name, my eyes widened. Liam? Damon's best friend, future Alpha of the Silver Stone pack, one of the largest packs in Europe. An Alpha. I hated Alphas. I backed away. He looked back at me as I did and he looked me up and down again. His eyes flashed the light gold of the Alpha rank and I realised I was naked. He ran his tongue over his lips briefly and my eyes were drawn to the action, focusing on them as my mind flooded with images of kissing them, biting them, feeling them all over my body. My heart hammered in my chest as I stared at him, the Alpha heir, my fated mate. The room seemed to close in on me, and my nakedness suddenly felt like a glaring vulnerability. Panic surged through me, and I instinctively tried to back away from him.
"Mine," he growled once more, his voice dark and possessive. He lunged towards me in an instant, his strong arms wrapping around me before I could even react. My scream was muffled by his lips pressed against mine, forceful and demanding, leaving no room for resistance. The moment our lips met, something within me clicked into place, and I was powerless against it. Lust flooded my body, making me ache for him, my traitorous desire betraying my own convictions. It was as if bolts of electricity coursed through my veins, igniting a fire deep inside of me, a fire that only he could quench.
"Please," I whispered between heated kisses, my voice barely audible even to myself. It wasn't a plea for him to stop, but rather an unspoken acknowledgement of the undeniable connection between us. He responded with a low, throaty growl, his hands roaming over my body with teasing caresses that left me trembling. There was a primal hunger in his eyes, one that both terrified and excited me in equal measure.
"Perfect," he murmured against my skin, his breath hot on my neck as he nipped and kissed his way along my collarbone. The bond between us was all-consuming, its magnetic pull overriding any sense of self-preservation I may have had.
In one swift motion, Liam backed me up against the wall, lifting me off the floor with ease. As if drawn by a force beyond my control, I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist and clung to him, our lips locked in a passionate dance that left me breathless.
"Goddess, you're perfect," he whispered, his voice ragged as his hands explored every inch of my body. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, the line between pleasure and pain blurred beyond recognition. As my world narrowed down to the intoxicating sensation of his touch, I couldn't help but wonder what this meant for us, for our future. I was meant to be leaving next week. But in that moment, lost in the dizzying whirlwind of desire, fear, and longing, it didn't matter. All that mattered was the unbreakable bond between us, a bond that had been forged by fate and sealed with a single, desperate kiss.
A sudden flash of memory pierced through the haze of lust and desire, jolting me back to reality. My mind was flooded with images of Alphas from my past. The one who had tried to kidnap me and killed my parents when I was only five years old; the one who had manipulated me into joining his pack at eighteen; the night in the alleyway with that dangerous Alpha just a few years ago. But the memory that hit me the hardest, extinguishing the flames of passion that had been consuming me, was of Christian, the Alpha heir who had died protecting me. Suddenly all I could see in my mind was his cold dead eyes staring at me accusing me. The weight of that loss pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating, as Liam's hands continued their exploration of my body.
"Stop!" I choked out, shoving against Liam's chest with all my strength. The force of my push caught him off guard, and we both toppled to the floor. As he tried to regain his balance, I scrambled away from him, still naked and trembling.
"I can't do this, I have to go."
"Wait, what’s happened?" He reached for me, concern etched across his handsome face. I flinched away from his hand and tried to back up further. His face changed to panic, and he shook his head.
“No, you can’t leave,” he growled as he grabbed my legs and pulled me across the floor back to him. “You are my mate.” My chest heaved with panic as I tried to shove Liam away from me, desperate for any chance of escape. He grabbed my wrists in an iron grip, halting my efforts and pinning me to the floor.
"Get off me, you bloody bastard!" I screamed, my voice raw with fear and rage. "Baby, calm down," he growled, his eyes darkening.
“Stop!” I could feel his Alpha command try to invade my senses, but I pushed back against them and growled back at him. His eyes widened, and the arrogant bastard’s expression shifted into a sudden, triumphant grin.
“Oh baby,” he whistled, “Damn!” I glared at him and growled again. I could feel every muscle in my body taught, ready to jump into action. My survival senses were activated and struggled against his hold.
“Damon, get over here now,” he called, the Alpha tone still clear in his voice. I saw Damon appear cautiously in my field of vision. He was battered and bruised and blood was running down his face. I could tell that it hurt to move. He was watching the Alpha carefully, but then he glanced down at me and his eyes widened.
