Chapter 1
I’m crowned, everyone is eating, and the party has officially begun.
I’m sitting on my throne, itching to leave, when a new, delectable scent wraps around my nose and ties itself into a neat little bow.
My eyes nearly roll into the back of my head, and I stand almost unwillingly, inhaling deeply as I try to find the source.
Leaving the platform, I move into the throng of people dancing, making out, and some full-out fucking. The scent practically has my face on a leash.
Chocolate brownies and cedarwood.
Fuck.
I follow it through the crowd until I finally find its source.
Her.
She moves through the room without a care in the world, dancing, laughing, completely unaware she has every instinct inside me by the throat.
And that’s only from seeing the back of her.
Women try to dance against me as I move through the crowd, hands brushing over my arms and chest, but I barely register them. All I can do is watch the magnificent creature expressing herself ten feet in front of me.
“Alpha, do you want to go to a dark corner, maybe?” a random she-wolf offers in a sultry voice, running her hands over my chest. “You seem tense. I could help you with that.”
Without looking at her, I remove her hands.
“No.”
Then I walk straight toward my light.
I tap her shoulder.
Three things happen.
The smile on her face disappears instantly.
Her eyes grow damn near as wide as baseballs.
And lastly, those big brown, chocolate-Hershey-Kiss eyes scan me from my stomach all the way up to my face.
Her lips part slightly.
Then the scent of fear hits me.
I grin, hoping to ease it. I don’t want her afraid of me.
More importantly, underneath the fear is another scent that keeps me rooted exactly where I stand.
Lust.
“Hi. Which pack are you from?” I ask loudly enough to be heard over the music.
Her brows pinch together as she leans toward me.
“Huh? It’s really loud in here!”
I move closer.
She almost steps back, but I cup her elbow to steady her.
Her gaze drops to my hand before snapping back to my face.
“I asked what pack you’re from. I’ve never seen you before.”
I take a millisecond to inhale that fucking addictive scent again before forcing myself to step back.
My wolf is awake now, thrashing against the walls inside me like I’ve shot him full of adrenaline.
He has never been this aggressive.
She glances around like whatever she’s about to tell me is some huge secret. Her teeth catch her bottom lip before she finally rolls her eyes, apparently deciding something, and grabs my lapels to pull me down so I can hear her.
“My best friend brought me,” she yells near my ear. “She said I could meet someone, hopefully.”
The thought of another man touching her sends a bolt of anger straight through my temple.
My jaw clenches.
I roll my shoulders, trying to play it off, but step fully into her space anyway.
She looks up at me, then down at the nearly nonexistent space between us.
Before I can bend toward her, she takes two quick steps backward.
I follow.
Undeterred.
Her eyebrows shoot up.
Another step.
I follow that one too.
She plants a hand against my chest, arm fully extended to stop me.
“Are you security or something?” Her eyes narrow suspiciously. “Why are you trying to back me toward the door?”
I glance behind her and spot the balcony.
Perfect.
I chuckle. “If we step out there, I’m sure you’ll be able to hear me better.”
She looks over her shoulder at the balcony, then slowly turns back to me.
Her eyes narrow even further.
Brows pinched.
Lips pursed.
I can practically see her debating whether I’m about to murder her.
Finally, determination settles across her face.
She lifts the bottom of her formal gown, probably so she can walk easier, then sticks out her arm for me to lead the way.
Ha.
No one tells me where to go.
Ever.
Yet I do it without hesitation.
Once we step through the balcony doors, I wait as she blatantly looks me up and down.
Slowly.
Her gaze travels from my shoes to my chest before finally reaching my face.
Interesting.
The door hasn’t even closed completely before she starts in on me.
“What is your problem? Did I do something wrong? Or would you like me to leave? Because if you wanted that, you could’ve just said—”
“Why would I want such a beautiful, radiant woman like you to leave this dull party?”
Her mouth snaps shut.
Her entire face scrunches like she just swallowed a lemon.
“Huh?”
Fuck, she’s cute.
Her brows pull together, lips still slightly parted as she stares at me like I’ve suddenly started speaking another language.
This woman couldn’t hide a thought if someone paid her.
“Are you okay, dude?” She tilts her head, studying me. “Just a minute ago, you were giving off some bossy-ass vibes in there, and now you’re acting like this.” She gestures up and down my entire body. “Are you drunk?”
“No, I’m not drunk. And to answer your first question, I’m fine.” I walk past her toward the balcony railing. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable in there.”
I can feel her eyes following me.
My skin reacts to her stare like it’s a physical touch.
“Noooo worries.” She rocks slightly on her heels. “Is there something you wanted to talk about or say? If not, I should probably find my friend.”
“You ask a lot of questions.”
I turn and lean against the railing, crossing my arms as I watch her.
She blinks.
Then her eyes narrow.
“You’re vague and mysterious,” she shoots back before crossing her own arms and mimicking my stance.
Something about her scratches an itch in my brain I haven’t felt in a long time.
I press my tongue into my cheek to keep from smiling.
“What’s your best friend’s name?”
“Why?”
I raise a brow.
“Answering a question with a question is also mysterious, if I do say so myself.”
Her lips twitch.
Then she smirks.
And suddenly, she starts laughing.
Hard.
Not some delicate little giggle either.
Her head tips back, one hand going to her stomach as the other waves in front of her face.
I stare at her.
What the fuck is so funny?
When she finally comes up for air, she wipes underneath one eye.
“What is this? Did Mari put you up to this?” She shakes her head, still laughing. “Look, I know I’m lonely, and I’ll admit I’m a little desperate, but there is no way some sexy six-foot-something giant is going to walk up and flirt with me on my first night out in years. So what did she give you?”
She starts toward me with that determined look again.
My dick twitches.
I cross my legs at the ankles and wait to see what she’ll do.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I can confirm that I am flirting with you.”
Her laughter dies immediately.
She gives me the most disbelieving look I’ve ever seen.
Without really thinking about it, I mind-link the wolves making out in the corners of the balcony.
Leave.
They quietly disappear.
She doesn’t even notice.
The little spitball steps directly into my space, all traces of fear gone.
“Pfft. Oh yeah, buddy. You’re flirting with me.” She pokes me in the chest, then points at herself. “Well, I don’t believe you, and I want you to call Mari right now and tell her you completed whatever mission she set you up on. Because she mysteriously vanished the second you tapped me on the shoulder.”
The little vixen actually taps my shoulder with every word.
My mouth threatens to curve again.
“Mmhmm. You need proof, don’t you?”
I push away from the railing and stand to my full height.
“Proof that you’re a setup? No.” She rolls her eyes, but then something changes.
Her shoulders draw in slightly.
The playful look slips from her face.
Her eyes move over me before dropping to herself.
“I can see that just by looking at your gorgeous dark-green eyes and then looking at myself. A five-foot-six, midsize, chubby girl.” She gestures between us, but her smile doesn’t quite come back. “This shit only happens in books and apps.”
There it is.
She actually believes that.
My amusement disappears.
“You think I’m a shallow asshole because of my looks?”
Her head jerks up.
I’m not even offended.
Normally, I would be.
But with her, I can almost taste the challenge—and underneath it, something else.
Insecurity.
I start walking around her.
She follows me with her eyes before smacking her lips and blowing out a hard breath.
“Nooo. Look, I’m sorry.” She uncrosses her arms, fingers briefly worrying at the fabric of her dress. “It’s me. I’m insecure and an overthinker. I really didn’t mean to offend—”
Her forehead creases.
“What are you doing?”
I test the balcony door to make sure it’s closed.
Then I turn back to her.
“I’ve complimented you. I’ve confirmed that I’m flirting with you, and all you’ve done is try to insult me.”
The growl in my voice becomes harder to hide.
Her eyes widen.
“I’m not sure what kind of men you’ve been with or what games your so-called friend plays with you, but I’m not those men. And I’m not a game.”
“Hey now!” Her spine straightens immediately. “You don’t know me, and I don’t know you. I wasn’t trying to offend you, okay?” Her hands fly up defensively. “It’s just been rough.”
While she stumbles over her explanation, I stalk toward her.
She’s so busy talking that she doesn’t notice how close I’ve gotten until I’m already there.
Her words die.
Her breath catches.
Those huge brown eyes flick toward the door.
Then back to me.
Her lips part.
“No more words.” I lower my voice. “Proof, yeah?”
I wrap my arms around her.
Her entire body goes rigid for half a second.
Then her scent engulfs me.
Chocolate brownies and cedarwood.
Fuck me.
I pull her close enough that there is no mistaking exactly how badly I want her.
Her eyes drop between us.
When they come back to mine, they’re wider.
Darker.
One hand moves beneath her chin, tilting her face toward mine.
Her eyes search mine.
I wait.
Just for a second.
Then comes the slightest nod.
That’s all I need.
I take her mouth.
Devour her.
Her surprised gasp disappears between us as I back her toward the balcony railing. I brace my hands against the bars on either side of her, holding myself there as her body presses against mine.
Her fucking lips feel like clouds pulled straight from the Moon Goddess’s personal collection.
It only takes a second for her to respond.
And I am not disappointed.
Her hands plunge into my hair, fingertips circling against my scalp in a way that damn near has precum leaking into my pants.
A low sound rumbles from my chest.
Then she bites my fucking lip.
Hard.
I jerk back.
Her eyes immediately widen.
I run my tongue over my lip.
Blood.
Her hand flies toward her mouth.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
My wolf has been riding me hard since I first caught her scent, and I feel another bar break from the cage I’ve been trying to keep him in.
“Don’t apologize.” My voice comes out rough. “Just hold on, okay?”
Her brows lift.
But I’m already going for her again.
She giggles—right up until my tongue enters her mouth.
The sound turns into a moan.
Fuck.
Her eyes flutter closed, and her fingers tighten in my hair.
That moan travels all the way down to my toes before shooting straight back up and settling in my balls, tightening them almost painfully.
I need control.
I break the kiss.
Her lips are swollen now. Her eyes open slowly, dazed, and for one insane second I almost go right back for her mouth.
Instead, I move to her neck.
Stupid fucking idea.
Her scent is strongest there.
Chocolate.
Cedarwood.
Her.
And now it’s drenched in lust.
My canines extend.
My wolf surges forward.
Before I realize what I’m doing—
I bite her.
Hard.
Her entire body jerks.
“Fuck!”
Her hands slam against my shoulders.
“Let go!”
A growl tears from my chest.
Her expression changes instantly.
The haze disappears.
Pain twists her face, followed immediately by pure fucking outrage.
“Did you just fucking growl, wolf boy?” She shoves against me harder. “Let me the fuck go! That hurts!”
The words finally cut through the fog.
I release her immediately and stumble backward.
She grabs her neck, eyes huge as she stares at me.
Shock.
Pain.
Anger.
And the look on her face tells me she’s currently deciding whether she can kill me with her bare hands.
I should feel ashamed.
I do.
I’m shocked.
Embarrassed.
And underneath both of those—
Fucking satisfied.
A single word thunders through me.
Mine.
I pull out my handkerchief and wipe my mouth.
Her eyes follow the movement before narrowing into slits.
“You bit me.”
“I know.”
Her jaw drops.
“Why in the fuck—”
The balcony doors crash open.
A few drunk otherworld beings stumble through, throwing out slurred apologies while trying to keep themselves upright.
So much for making her think I locked the door.
She got my point, though.
I glare at the intruders until their smiles disappear and they stumble back inside, shutting the doors behind them.
I turn around.
She’s gone.
I blink.
Gone.
Now, I’m not a fucking psycho.
I know she was real.
Just as real as the firepit of anger burning through my chest because my mate has run away from me.
A roar I don’t even know I’m capable of tears out of my throat.
The music inside stops.
I storm back into the ballroom, pushing through the throng of people.
Faces turn toward me.
Bodies move out of my way.
“Where is she?”
My wolf and I are so intertwined that even I barely recognize my own voice.
My Beta appears almost instantly, brows drawn together as he scans the room.
“Where is who, Alpha?”
“My fucking mate.”
His face goes completely blank.
Then his eyes widen.
The entire room erupts in whispers.
But underneath them, I hear something else.
Something that isn’t a whisper.
Gravel crunching rapidly beneath someone’s feet.
Then her voice.
“Stupid-ass fucking male. That shit fucking hurt. Who the fuck did he think he was? What the fuck is wrong with me? That I even—”
Without another glance at anyone in the ballroom, I head toward the side of the house where most of the gravel paths are.
My crazy mate has climbed over the balcony and gone down the ladder beside the tree.
I inhale.
Her scent is faint.
But it’s there.
Enough.
I follow it toward the cars, searching between them.
I’m about to call for her when I stop dead.
Call her what?
My mouth slowly closes.
I didn’t ask her name.
Not once.
This entire fucking time, I’ve had my tongue down my mate’s throat, bitten her, scared the hell out of her—
and I don’t know my fucking mate’s name.
I close my eyes.
“Fucking idiot.”
I drag my fingers through my hair and tug.
The motion immediately brings back the memory of her fingers doing the same thing only minutes ago.
My jaw clenches.
This is not the time. Find Mate. Punish idiot self later, my wolf snaps.
I’m trying. We invited almost five hundred guests. She has a head start, and you’re the one who pushed me hard enough to bite her in the first place and make her run. Let me fucking think.
He growls inside my head but finally shuts up.
I mind-link Sean.
Close the gates. Nobody leaves pack territory.
On it.
I sprint the three miles to the main gate.
A line of cars has already formed as guests try to leave.
I check every damn one of them.
Nothing.
My frustration grows with every car.
Then I see one disappearing down the road.
My stomach drops.
“Why the fuck is that car leaving?”
I grab the security wolf by the front of his shirt.
His eyes widen as his hands immediately come up.
“It was already out when we got the call, Alpha.”
Fear pours off him.
Then—
I smell her.
I freeze.
Immediately, I release him.
The scent isn’t coming from the road.
It’s inside the guard shack.
I follow it.
His tablet.
I grab it and bring it outside.
“That car that just left. Its information is on here?”
He nods quickly. “We keep the driver’s licenses of everyone coming and going off pack territory.”
“She was the last one?”
Another nod.
I shove the tablet back toward him.
“Find her.”
His fingers move quickly across the screen before he turns it toward me.
And there she is.
There she fucking is.
Everything inside me stills.
Her face stares back at me from the screen.
Those big brown eyes.
That mouth.
My mate.
And underneath her picture—
Liora Bennett.
My thumb moves across her name.
Liora.
I finally have her name.
A slow smile pulls at my mouth.
I’m going to find her.
My mate.
Liora Bennett.
She is mine.
