October 10th

It was an unusual but attractive scent coming from the other side of the border. It was interesting and peculiar and somehow built enough curiosity up inside me to compel me to gingerly cross the borderline, the gentle crunch of the leaves resonating from my steps in the otherwise silent forest.

I suddenly paused and took in a short breath, realising what I had done. Stepping into another Alpha's territory...in the middle of the night...? Did I want a premature death?

But after a few agonising moments, the forest remained still and I let my anticipation crumbled. After a deep sigh of relief, I almost laughed how easily I had let fear grip me and stepped further into the unknown territory.

After all, I still hadn't found the source of that scent.

I pushed a low branch with a brittle network of twigs out my path and kicked up a mass of leaves with every kick. Judging by the fact that there was no beaten track, wolves clearly didn't often cross this territory which brought the question of 'why' to my attention but I quickly pushed the thought away as the scent got stronger.

The most curious thing about it was that no noise accompanied it. There was no rustling in the bushes, no footsteps anywhere around me, no faint evidence of breathing and not a single gesture of life. Everything was quiet and it no longer seemed so peaceful. An air of eerieness seemed to descend amongst the trees and it unsettled me.

Just as the idea of turning back was becoming very appealing, a voice sounded.

"Hello," it said.

"Shit," I cursed as a jolt of surprise seized me.

I whipped around to see the figure of a man before me. How the fuck did he creep up on me so quickly and so discretely?

I looked up slowly. His sheer height made his size immense regardless of the breadth of his shoulders and strength of his build. It was enough to intimidate me and I took pride in being particularly hard to frighten.

He wore the black hood from his sweater over his head so that it left his eyes covered. His face had a menacing expression about them with defined cheekbones casting shadows on his chin and outlining his sharp jawline creating something exceedingly beautiful but at the same time chilling and cold.

"What do we have here?" He said his words dripping with amusement.

I stayed totally silent and stumbled back a few steps.

"You appear to be on my territory little wolf," He continued in a melodic voice. He had a slight accent elongating his words, only intensifying the fluidity of his voice.

"I-I was just leaving. I'm sorry," I said quickly.

He let out a short laugh, "Leaving already? You haven't even told me your name...or more importantly why you dared cross my border without permission."

"It was a mistake," I said. "I'll go now."

"No," he said, after looking me up and down. "...You can stay."

It felt like more of a command than an invitation.

"What kind of man would leave a pretty girl like you alone in the woods?" he said. "It's late and cold. Let me take you to somewhere warm."

"I'll be fine on my own," I said, not loving the idea of going anywhere with him. "Thank you though."

By this point, he had stepped close enough to reach forward and run a long finger along my cheek before pausing at my chin. I froze.

His touch was so soft and gentle yet it triggered something powerful inside me. I could feel his stare burning into me but I refused to look back. I kept my eyes fixated on a tree ahead, completely still and quiet.

"There's something intriguing about you," he said eventually.

I said nothing.

"You're different," he continued.

I forced a smile, "I'm flattered but I've really got to go."

He let out a short laugh and only brought his fingers to my hair and then down to my neck again.

"That's not how this is gonna work, Sweetheart," he said. "Now would you please look at me?"

He then reached for his hood and pulled it down revealing his whole face. From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of some tousled dark blonde hair and a well-sculpted broad forehead appendaged with dark, thick eyebrows and a perfectly shaped nose. But I couldn't bring my self to look into his eyes. For some inexplicable reason, I was terrified of what I might see.

"Look me in the eye," he demanded.

"No," I said keeping my eyes on the tree. "I can't."

"So you're a defiant one? All the more fun for me," he said grabbing my face in one of his huge hands and forcing me to face him.

I scrunched my eyes shut.

"Open your eyes. Do not make me say it twice," He ordered in a firm authoritative tone. He didn't even have to raise his the volume of his voice before some subconscious instinct made me do it.

I cautiously and slowly opened my eyes only to reveal the most beautiful eyes in existence. They were a brilliant shade of blue with a dark outer rim and gold flecks streaked through them like intricately woven threads. Nothing like what I expected at all. But underneath the comforting mask of colour, was an underlying evil. Something that sparked a churning sensation deep inside.

My wolf was screaming something in my ear. Just a four-letter word. And that is what I feared, not the eyes. The concept that this man, stood tall and dangerous in front of me is my...

mate.

A little grin twitched at my lip as I looked up to him.

The more I looked into those beautiful eyes, the more I was sure. His touch, his voice, his scent. It all added up.

This man is my mate.

He now smiled and held out his hand out to me.

Oh, the smile. He was simply the most handsome man I'd ever had the joy of looking on. The way his face creased with it and the way it triggered indented dimples in his cheeks to form and his brightly coloured eyes to glint even more. It made me forget how terrifying he had previously seemed.

"Who are you?" I asked as I shook his hand.

"Your mate I suppose," he said deeply trailing his hand up to hold my face. I stood there in complete stillness utterly hypnotised by the mellow tone of his voice. "Pleased to meet you."

I slowly brought my hand to his soft cheek, passing his impeccable jawline and lips. He placed his hand on top of mine.

A few moments later our fingers were entwined.

"I knew there was something about you," he said.

I smiled and let him kiss my hand.

I then caught his scent again. It was so rich and authoritative and his eyes so blue and mesmerising and his build so powerful and strong. He was just like they described him.

Just how my father used to describe the man every wolf feared.

"Alpha Leonardo Loren," I whispered.

His eyebrow raised.

"I mean...urgh...you remind me of him," I said quickly.

"I do?" he replied an amused smile creeping onto his lips.

I nodded.

"Why thank you. I hear he's very handsome," he joked.

I blushed and looked down for a moment to hide it from him.

"But since I'm still standing here alive I would assume you are not."

"Why's that?" he asked.

"Because of the stories. The evil, the suffering, the fear, the death that he brings to everyone in his path. They used to terrify me. They still do in fact."

"Then we should get out of this dark forest," he said taking my hand. "We wouldn't want to come across anybody like that tonight."

"Wait, my home is this way," I said resisting his gentle pull in the opposite direction. "I live in Kellington."

"Kellington? What are you doing so far from home this late at night?" he asked.

"I was on a run," I said.

He narrowed his eyes and let out a low hum before he tugged my hand again, "Well, you must be exhausted. Come, come."

"So I need to go home," I repeated.

He smiled again but this time with a little twinge of frustration.

"You're coming home with me," he replied pulling me with a little more force further away from the border.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I can't," I said. "My brother will worry about me and I have to be at work at 7 am-."

He let out a short breath, "Your brother will be informed. Don't worry about your job. Now come with me."

I furrowed my eyebrows and opened my mouth to speak but closed it shortly after.

"Come," he repeated when I made no movement.

He looked and spoke as if he was fighting hard not to lose his patience but did he not hear me?

"What?" was all I could say.

"Do I have a halfwit as a mate? I don't know what simpler way to put it," he said, his face straightening. "You are coming with me," he added slowly and clearly.

"Why?" I questioned.

"Because you..." he said pulling me closer to his chest, "Are mine now."

I stood for a moment inhaling his alluring scent, pulling me into his trance.

He then took my hand firmly and continued walking.

" I don't even know your name and I'm supposed to come home with you? And who's pack is this?" I asked, suddenly snapping out of his spell. "And who gave you the right to decide what I do?"

He didn't answer but his grip on my hand tightened.

"Wait," I ordered, stopping moving again. "I demand that you answer my questions and stop dragging me like some kind of animal!"

"For fuck's sake," he growled before spinning me around and grabbing my arms, pulling me into his chest. "I tried to be calm and gentle with you but now I have lost my patience."

I tried to shove him off me but he was impossibly strong. So as I wriggled and squirmed, I felt his eyes on me. He glanced down at my neck, uncovered by my hair before looking back at my face.

"Don't even bother trying to fight me. You can't win," he said still with a low growl. "Now what is your name?" He said still in a deep but softer voice.

"Get the fuck off me," I answered before trying to struggle out of his grip again. And yes I have an awful mouth, little kids can learn a lot from drunk dads.

"Beautiful name," he remarked.

I managed to break a hand free and slap him across the face. A notion of anger swept over his features turning the amused expression into one of indescribable rage. The gentle being that was once stood in front of me was gone now. In his place a murderous monster.

He pulled me back into him, this time, pinning my back against his chest and wrapping a tight arm around my throat.

I stopping fighting him and instead brought my hands to his arm, trying to ensure it doesn't take what little capacity to breathe I had left. For the first time in my memory, I felt helpless and unsafe. This man could do anything and I don't know him enough to know he wouldn't.

"This whole stubborn empowerment thing is really hot, but save it for the bedroom sweetheart," he growled. "Now did I mention how I don't like repeating myself? What is your name?"

"You have not told me yours," I gasped. "Yet you are the one dragging me through a forest in the opposite direction to my home."

His grip tightened around my throat and I whimpered.copy right hot novel pub