His unclaimed mate

5

t waiting around for David to come and pick me up. It didn't matter how many times I told her that he had rejected us and had mated someone else, she wouldn't give it up. I guess that was how a mate bo

y what I needed if I wanted a shot at happiness. Perhaps, I could find another pack to take me in as a prospective member, or maybe

favorable thoughts of David to the back of my mind. I pushed the door open and entered the cool air-conditioned space. The

nd I'll be right with you." I gave her a small smile in return before walking over and taking a seat in an empty b

rom jumping around like a pair of crazy monkeys. There were dark bags under her eyes, and her lips were pulled into a tight line. I didn't envy her position, but my

eyes, giving myself a moment to relax for the first time in seventy-two hours. I had pushed myself to the limit trying to

h them, stating what pack they belonged to, their reason for the visit, and how long they would be staying. I remembered having to fill out all the paperwork when I left for the college in the city. I

he direction of the voice. The waitress had bright blue eyes and cornflower colored hair pulled back into a b

o start," I asked with a faint smile as my

ed from me with a bounce in her step. I frowned as I watched her wal

sleek black car pull into the parking lot, and I immediately got an anxious feeling in the pit of my

hold all of them. The way they carried themselves set me on edge. Their gazes seemed

han the male on his left-hand side. The taller one had a boyish look to his face, and his lips were lifted up in the corners like he was on the verge

tly back towards them and made a comment that had the twin on the right grimacing and shoving him hard from behind while his brother laugh

of shifters wafted toward me as the air circulated around the room. This was definitely not what I needed right now. I didn't know a lot of the packs this far from my own, but I c

al. It didn't matter if the space belonged to her or not. If she was in it, she saw it as hers. It was a quirk that m

happened to be a booth behind mine. I immediately cursed myself for picking this seat. Okay, Scarlett, you know how to mask your scent for short periods of times. It will be fine, I tho

, and it was hard to keep my wolf locked within. I was taking in shallow, short breaths to keep their scents from ove

as Brittany decided to return with my tea

dn't want to be that customer, but I couldn't risk staying. "You kn

" She gave me a friendly wink as she set the cup down in front of me. Great! She thought I was some kind of pauper o

" I said

ly before she turned and walked

p and swallow me whole. It would solve all of my problems. My wolf began

more shifter, one that I hadn't seen coming. His eyes roamed the room, and our gazes met.

e eased himself down into the seat across from me. My wolf growled deeply in my head at another shifter entering her space without invitation. I clenched my hands into tight fists under t

ark chocolate. "I didn't know we had anyone coming through the territory today. Noah never mentio

the table. "Well, I'd like to say it was a pleasure, Da

rip. "Where are you running off to so quickly? Afra

raid that I might," I said dryly. Amusement ran through his eyes as he pushed himself up to stand in front of me

id Noah say anything to you about a visitor coming through

oah isn't expecting anyone." I felt my heart rate skyrocket as the diner seemed to grow very still and silent. The amusement on Dane's face began to

nd made a quick break for the door. I didn't try to hide the fact that I was running. They alrea

hime on the door echoing behind me. If I could just get to my truck, a

t wasn't like I was going to sit down and try to explain that to them. I was an outsider with

ght of a large man leisurely leaning against the car as if he hadn't a care in the world. His scent pulled at my senses and had me back

made me want to shout 'there is a god, and he's spoken

towards the surface. His pupils dilated, and his brows furrowed in slight confusion as if he had been expecting s

und. I've felt this feeling before... When was that? I thought to myself as I continued to stand in shock. The feeling was so familiar yet unnamable. "Alpha," a deep voice rumbled from behind me. That had me shifting slightly, regaining control of myself

er questioned with a dark look in his eye

turned back to the alp

me, "Take her, quietly. You've already drawn enough attention to us chasing her in human territory."

cause any trouble. If you just let me go, I'll be on my way, and I promise

you were, you would have been the stupidest on

his men escort me to the boundary line of his territory and be done with? There was no reason for anyon

, only to be met with fingers pressing in on the pressure point on my neck. I stared into

lift my hand to touch it, only to find that I couldn't move my arms. My eyes slid open, and I found my wrists tied to the safety bar on the bac

e," a familiar voice spoke to me. I turned my head to see Dane sitting casually in the seat

gave me a sheepish smirk, a challenging light reflecting back at me in his murky eyes. "I don't know how they did things in whatever place you came from, but I

You never question what you're told. You just follow blindly like sheep instead of wolves. You get laz

lpha. There are lots of wolves out there that like to play at the title these days. You seem like someone who needs a real lea

rown. "I don't need anyone else to le

h amusement. I growled in frustration, frantically pulling

t the back of the rounded head in front of me, purposefully tugging harder at my bindings. The twin in the passenger seat twisted around with a harsh

as nice as I am," Dane remarked

? I want to speak to him right now! This kind of

ed. I bit my tongue, visualizing how satisfying it was going to be when I strangled their alpha to death with my bare hands for having them kidnap me without a true

e asked, leaning forward in a manner that was slightly c

him in anger. "Screw you, asshole!" I shoute

and wiped it away. He inspected his hand for a moment before flipping those da

h is illegal by the way!" I yelled loudly for everyone in

ap you?" he questioned

truck was probably still sitting untouched in the parking lot. This unfamiliar pack of shifters probably would have thought about all of this and c

mate running around out here somewhere? Should we be expecting him?" he questioned me. I knew this was some kind of interrogation. They still must have believed I

t the car had stopped moving and was parked outside a large house... or maybe mansion was the correct word for it

how all their warriors were made to look. His gaze shifted to where I was sitting in the backseat as the rest of the group started to

whatever thoughts he had been thinking. He didn't say anything to me. Instea

d biting on it, trying to use my canines to loosen the knots. I froze when I heard the voices come closer to the car for a moment

nder my assault. There were a couple minutes of adrenaline-fueled frenzy as I worked quickly to free myself. The sound

was actually surprised to find it unlocked. Either they had to be the worst kidnappers in all of history or extremely overconfident. I rippe

d only impede my wolf if she got tangled up in them as I shifted. A loud growl that reminded me more of a lion than a wo

ere growing darker by the second. "Are you trying to run from me?" His voice sent a shiver of fear up my spine, and

ted moving towards me. His long, powerful strid

d I made a choice not to answer you. I think you're smart enough to deduce that one for yourself,

ate of undress. I felt safer with him at my front than at my back. My wolf rumbled her agreemen

pproached him. "You really must be the stu

opped in front of him, glaring up at him. "So, is this normally how you handle things around here? Forget diplomacy! You just

for rogues,"

You know that I'm not a rogue." He h

him cross his ar

speed. I slapped him hard across his face. The force of my strike had his head snapping quickly to the side. I could feel t

. I swallowed hard at the sight, shifting back a step as he reached out with both hands and gripped my arms. His touch sent my

" I said aloud. "I al

but this is still happening. You are mine whether you want it to be or not," he said through his teeth, acknowledging our unspoken connection. His w

es, I repeated his response over again in my head, and I started st

t type of person rejects their mate? Even if I didn't want you, I would never rejec

ou to behave?" he asked me with a serious tone. Unable to process what had happened, and against what I actually wanted

ze, Alpha Noah. I should have kept a better eye on her." He bowed his h

Take Murphy and check in with Ryder about the perimeter details. This morning's issue has set me back on schedule." Dane

state of undress. I growled at him as I covered myself the best I could with

s head. I tried to keep myself from staring at his body, his wide chest dusted with dark hair that trailed down his lean stomach, disappearing

nt. It was a mix of melted snow, pine needles, and masculine musk. I found myself inhaling a little deeper, unable to resist the urge.

and started walking away, expecting me to follow. I rolled my eyes. It was just li

everywhere my gaze trailed. It seemed he was very aware of my presence behind him, but he didn't say anything as we

the door once I was inside. I looked around curiously. "So you have a prett

ying to figure out how it was possible that I had been given another mate. I had never h

he tension between us. He looked at me with curiosity, probab

e main pack, however, is about three hundred." He looked back at me, and I did my best to keep my mouth from falling open. This guy had to be

ld say in response to the information he had given me. It's not

ften short and to the point. I stared at him blankly as I waited for him to say any

ve a feeling she won't be too happy about you bringing me here, and honestly,

no need for you to concern yo