2

SERENA

Is this real life? I’ve had a lot of dreams about escaping that cell, but so far none of them have involved stumbling upon my fated mate under the full moon. I blink at the gorgeous man standing across from me, my throat tightening. I forget to breathe. Am I dreaming? I dig my fingernails into the flesh of my thigh, pinching.

Ouch.

I’m awake. This is real. And before he even says the word, I know it’s true. The most delightful sensations are washing over me, lapping at my skin and enveloping me like a warm blanket. I’m flooded with endorphins and adrenaline, a euphoric high that has me feeling half drunk. I’m so aware of the connection between us, the pull yanking me to him. He’s beautiful, and my inner wolf is spinning and preening with the realization that he’s ours.

Mate.

I’m not sure what I expected in a mate, but he’s nothing like the boys from back home. He’s all man. Over six feet tall and broad-shouldered, a wall of solid muscle standing across from me with washboard abs and biceps thicker than my thighs. Everything about him is rugged and masculine, from his square jaw covered in thick, dark scruff, to his curls of dark chest hair, to the happy trail leading down to the massive rod between his legs. I’ve never seen one that big before- I’m staring a moment too long, my cheeks heating in embarrassment when I flicker my gaze back up to meet his.

His eyes are the brightest, clearest blue, such a stark contrast to his dark features. They sparkle with the silver of his wolf as he takes a step closer, and the way he’s looking at me makes my knees weak. Like he’s completely enthralled. Awestruck.

My feet move on their own, bringing me a step closer. Closing the distance between us. He extends a hand, reaching up to cup my cheek. As soon as his fingertips graze my skin, I almost sigh in pleasure at the delightful sparks that ignite beneath them from the contact. As he stares into my eyes, his are so wide; so earnest. His lips part, and I’m mesmerized by the way they move when he speaks.

“Who are you?”

Butterflies take flight in my tummy in response to the rich, deep tone of his voice and goosebumps break out over my skin. I open my mouth, but no sound comes out- for a moment I forget my own name; I’m just completely captivated.

“Serena,” I breathe, my eyes locked on his. “Serena Harper.”

“Serena,” he repeats, and my name has never sounded as sweet as it does on his tongue. The corner of his mouth ticks up into the most devastatingly handsome smile I’ve ever seen. “Reid Raines.”

Damn, even his name is sexy as hell. His close proximity has his scent swirling all around me, sage and sandalwood and citrus, intoxicating me like a drug.

“Where did you come from?” he asks, and I’m so distracted by his presence that his question takes a moment to register.

My jaw goes slack as I search for the words to respond. “I… I don’t know…”

Reid furrows his brow, searching my face as he tilts it upwards. “Are you lost, little wolf?”

I wet my lips with my tongue, swallowing hard. “My pack was attacked. I don’t know where they were holding me, but I finally got away…” my voice breaks as I trail off, flinching and instinctively taking a step back. Reid’s hand slips from my face as I do, and my gaze falls to the ground as I draw a breath, trying my best to hold it together. I didn’t realize how comforting Reid’s touch was until it’s gone- I immediately long for it again. Is that the mate bond at work? I don’t even know this man, yet his physical effect on me is already so profound.  

“The shadow pack?” he asks cautiously.

My eyes return to his, and the look in them sets my teeth on edge. That look of awe and admiration is gone, replaced by sympathy. Pity. In his eyes, I just became a victim.

I may be many things, but I’m no victim. I refuse to be. I grit my teeth as I nod my head.

Reid sucks in a breath, and I can see him turning over my admission in his mind. He’s clearly at a loss for words. I’m expecting more questions about my pack or my captivity or how I got away, but when he speaks again, he doesn’t demand answers from me. Instead, his voice is gentle, his eyes kind.

“Why don’t you follow me back to my packhouse? You’ll be safe there. It’s late, so we can talk more in the morning, figure things out.”  

His suggestion gives me pause. It can’t be this easy… can it? I’ve been mistreated for so long that I don’t even know how to respond to his kindness.

“Your packhouse?” I ask hoarsely.

He nods.

“You’re an Alpha?” I don’t even know why I ask, because of course he is. I can feel the dominating alpha energy rolling off of him; I should’ve pegged it from the start. The males in my own family have the same energy. Had.

Reid nods again.

Damn, fate’s a cruel bitch.

“Okay,” I whisper.

He smiles, and I hate what it does to me. Warmth spreads in my chest, my heart beats faster. Damn him and that gorgeous smile.

He turns at the waist, giving a little flick of his head. “Come on.”

The air around Reid shimmers as he shifts to his animal form, a big, beautiful wolf with glossy black fur and clear blue eyes. I call my own wolf forward, tingles spreading over my body with my shift. My wolf is fucking ecstatic to be let out to run with her mate, and I can’t hold her back from immediately leaping toward Reid, rubbing up against him. While I may have reservations about this whole mate thing, she’s clearly got none.

I follow Reid through the forest, and our wolves are playful the whole way to his packhouse, giddy with excitement over finding one another. My wolf enjoys being around his so much that she actually fights my attempt to shift back once we arrive- something that she hasn’t done in years, since my wolf and I integrated in my early teens. She lets me through, and once I’m back on two legs I take in the large packhouse spread out before me, soft light spilling out through the huge windows that overlook the forest.

Reid leads me across the back lawn and I blindly follow, still taking in my surroundings. Including that naked body of his- because holy fuck! It’s like a work of art. My intense physical attraction to him sure isn’t going to make this thing easy.

He stops in front of a large rectangular chest on the patio, tipping up the lid and reaching inside. I watch as he rummages around for a moment before pulling out what looks to be two items of clothing. He straightens and twists at the waist, offering one to me. I take it from him, unfolding it to see that it’s a black t-shirt, which I quickly pull on overhead and shimmy down my body. It’s definitely a man’s shirt- it’s way too big on me, falling down to my mid-thigh. I untuck my long hair from the collar, looking back to Reid as he tugs a pair of sweatpants up his hips, his eyes flickering over my form.

Not gonna lie, I could get used to him looking at me like that. I’ve had plenty of guys look at me, but nobody has ever looked at me quite like that. While other guys have looked at me like they want to fuck me, Reid looks at me like he wants to worship me.

 His eyes travel up to meet mine again, and my heart sinks when I see his expression change. Suddenly he’s not looking at me with reverence anymore, but with sympathy. I’m back to being the victim in his eyes.

“You okay?” he asks, searching my face.

I blow out a breath, reaching up to run a hand through my hair. Playing it cool, aloof. Like his shift in demeanor doesn’t crush me a little. “Yeah.” I glance up at the packhouse. “Nice place.”

A proud smile tugs at his lips. “Thanks. C’mon, I’ll set you up in one of the guest rooms.” He leads the way to the glass patio doors, beckoning for me to follow.

I do, taking in my surroundings as we enter the packhouse. The vaulted ceilings boast thick wood beams, and everything about the interior is rustic and homey even though it’s clearly newer construction. If Reid decorated this place himself, he’s got good taste. He leads me around the corner and up an open staircase to the second floor, down a hallway that’s open on one side to the living room below.

He stops in front of an open doorway, turning to face me and gesturing inside. “You can stay in here,” he says, and I step past him and into the room, glancing around.

The first thing I see is the large four-poster bed, and considering I’ve been sleeping on a piss-stained mattress on a concrete floor for I don’t know how long, this place is an absolute palace. I take a few steps closer, my fingers itching to reach out and touch the soft bedlinens.

“It’s not anything fancy, but…” Reid starts, and I spin around, cutting him off.

“It’s amazing,” I gush, clasping my hands together in front of me. “Thank you.”

The corner of Reid’s mouth turns up into that ridiculously handsome grin again as he leans a shoulder against the doorway. “No problem. I’m right next door, so if you need anything, just holler.”

I tilt my head, unable to keep the little smirk of amusement from my lips. If Reid’s right next door, then this isn’t a room in the guest wing. I grew up in a packhouse, I know that the guest rooms are always apart from the alpha and his family. It seems that Reid wants to keep me close.

“Okay,” I nod, trying my best to keep my eyes locked on his face rather than letting them roam down to his bare chest- because if I thought he looked good out there in the dark tonight, he looks ten times better in the light.

Reid’s staring back at me so intensely, like he’s fighting the same struggle. This damn mate bond has the sexual tension between us cranked up to a hundred; it suddenly feels like there isn’t enough oxygen in the room for the both of us.

“Okay,” he breathes, nodding his head resolutely and pushing off of the door frame. “I’ll let you get some sleep and we can talk tomorrow.” He steps backwards into the hallway before I can respond, murmuring “goodnight” and pulling the door closed behind him.

As soon as I hear the latch click, I blow out a breath, looking around the room. The bed looks so soft- it’s practically calling my name. Before I fall onto it, though, I listen for the sound of Reid’s footsteps retreating and quickly pad over to the door, clicking the lock. And with that simple act, I feel a true sense of privacy for the first time in… weeks? Months? I honestly have no idea; I lost track of time and the days bled together in that windowless cell.

I flip the light off before heading back over to the bed, peeling back the plush comforter and slipping between the soft cotton sheets. I nearly sob in delight at how good it feels to be in an actual bed with actual sheets again- it’s amazing what comforts we tend to take for granted. As I settle back onto the feather pillow, tears well in my eyes, slipping down the sides of my face and soaking into the pillowcase. 

I don’t deserve this. I can’t let myself get too comfortable here, not when I know that everything good in life comes to an end. Not when I know what’s coming.