Chapter 1: Nude mate

MARA

My heart sliced through me as Ria cried out, "Our mate is injured!" Panic swelled within me—could it be Kael, my former mate from Ravencrest Pack?

Fear rippled through my veins, imagining his wrath if he found me, he will either drag me back to face the pack as a fugitive, or worse, KILL ME! which was his best option.

I knew how much Kael hated me.

“MATE!” Ria kept purring.

“Shut up Ria! Do I have two mates now?!”

That is not Kael, can’t you see?” I snapped back at her when I soon noticed something about the scent we’ve been perceiving.

"Not Kael!" I gasped. Ria purred in agreement. This scent was different—not the familiar honey and jasmine, but a tantalizing blend of caramel and rosemary.

“A new mate?” Confusion and curiosity mingled as I studied the injured wolf before me, caught in a vicious boar trap.

I realized why the beast couldn't shift—doing so would tear its leg apart. Rival packs often used such traps to catch and interrogate enemies.

Despite its shattered leg and exposed bone, the wolf remained stoic, no howls of agony or cries for help.

I knelt, my fingers brushing its thick, blood matted fur. "We have to help our new mate”, even though we’ve never met, but he needed my attention and care. Ria whimpered in agreement, sensing our bond strengthening.

With gentle hands, I examined the trap, trying to figure out how to release the wolf without causing more harm. An eerie calm settled over us, the forest's stillness punctuated by our ragged breaths and the occasional creak of the trap's mechanism until I finally found a way to set the trap free.

Ria and I exchanged a smile, acknowledging our injured mate's remarkable pain tolerance.

As the wolf chuffed, I sensed a plea for help rather than aggression. I shifted back to my human form, relieved it wasn't Kael although I wasn’t so comfortable standing naked in front of a stranger.

Nudity aside, my priority was helping the wounded creature as my desire to help humans and animals, especially wolves was what fueled my interest in Zoology and Medicine studies.

The big grey wolf's glowing blue eyes studied me, intelligently and trusting.

“Hey, Mr. Hefty," I murmured, reaching out a hand for him to sniff. "I'm here to help. I know you can’t shift with that shattered leg. Just let me know if it's okay for me to help.”

His warm breath brushed my palm, granting permission and also making my coochies to swell between my thighs as his scent was so intoxicating that for some reasons, the only thing I want to do right now is for him to shift back and fuck me.

With cautious movements, I positioned a sturdy branch between his powerful jaws. "Try not to bite down too hard or howl. This will hurt."

I did that so that he wouldn’t bite on my hand instead.

“If you want to mark us, you mark us with dignity.” Ria added jokingly.

Surprisingly, he remained comfortable as I worked to free him, not even flinching.

Intrigued by the battle scars and scent of blood on his fur, I couldn't help but wonder about his backstory.

"You must be one tough warrior." His eyes never left mine, conveying a sense of understanding beyond the average wolf.

The trap finally let go, and the large, energetic wolf fell to the ground. I couldn't believe that even with its bone sticking out from the boar trap's force, it remained quiet, neither howling nor crying from the pain. I was amazed by its resilience.

Once the trap was released, I inspected the damage. Blood matted his fur, and the bone protruded at an unnatural angle.

"We need to set this leg and you will need a surgery. But hold on, Mr. Hefty, I’d do a first aid now."

Despite my gentle tone, I couldn't mask the concern in my voice.

As I examined the injured wolf's leg, it was clear that the bone needed support.

Searching the surroundings, I found a sturdy, flexible wooden rope that would help stabilize the fracture during shifting.

With gentle hands, I carefully aligned the shattered bone, with Ria wincing as the wolf skin warmed up under my touch.

"Almost done," I whispered, wrapping the withe securely around the injured limb. The makeshift splint would hold the bone in place, ensuring it didn't move or worsen during transformation.

Ria whimpered, mirroring my empathy for the injured wolf as I worked to repair the damage, knowing our fates were intertwined- he was my mate even though I don’t understand how.

His unwavering trust fueled my resolve as I finished securing the withe, knowing it was crucial to his healing process. "There," I said, meeting the wolf's piercing gaze.

"This should keep your leg stable when you shift but it won’t last, you still need to be operated on. Let me know if you need help standing."

As I finished securing the withe, the wolf's intense gaze met mine and a shiver of cold ran down my spine, a mix of anticipation and wonder.

Slowly, his body began to transform. The air crackled with energy as bones cracked and reformed, muscles rippled, and fur receded.

I watched, entranced, as the wolf melted away, revealing a strikingly handsome man.

His wounds soon closed up without any traces and I was amazed by that fast healing.

“Thank you for helping me.” He said softly but I was lost in checking him out as if he was an antique in a museum.

His chiseled features were framed by messy hair, and a strong jaw hinted at an intimidating judgment.

My eyes traced the contours of his muscular form—broad shoulders, taut abdomen, and powerful limbs, like a Greek statue brought to life.

Despite the pain he must have felt, he stood tall as his transformation was complete. His naked body, now vulnerable in its human form, radiated a raw strength and undeniable allure of his lengthy and meaty joystick which made me wet down there.

Suddenly there was a sudden rustle of leaves announcing the arrival of some people I assume were his pack members due to how he reacted upon seeing them although I was firstly scared at the sight of them.

“Relax, those are my warriors and they are here to rescue me.” He confirmed my assumption while I ran to his back.

The small group of men was led by an authoritative figure I assumed was his beta but unknown to them, a figure had been following them and had hid behind a massive tree.

My mysterious mate, Mr. Hefty and I spotted the intruder simultaneously, our eyes narrowing in unison. It’s funny how neither of us knew each other’s names since we’ve met.

With a commanding voice, Mr. Hefty barked, "Zander, seize him!"

Zander, his loyal beta, lunged into action, sprinting after the intruder who was also running for his life in fear at this point but Zander soon caught up with him and dragged him towards where we were standing pinning the enemy against the tree with a ferocious snarl. The intruder's eyes widened with fear as he realized his mistake.

In a swift fluid motion, my mate drew a gleaming sword from its sheath, the blade glinting ominously under the moonlight.

"You've trespassed on our territory for the last time," he growled, his voice cold and resolute.

I flinched, my heart hammering in my chest at the ferocity of his words. He noticed how scared he had made me and his gaze softened as he turned to me, with a look of apology in his eyes saying "Forgive me," and a devilish smirk saying ‘You know what? Never mind’ at the same time.

And to be very honest, I should add ‘Mr. Fake-it’ to his initial nickname, considering the stark contrast between this icy tone and the gentle, almost tender voice he'd used with me since shifting even though he hadn’t said more than three sentences to me.

It seemed my mysterious mate had layers I'm yet to uncover. The complexity of his character both intrigued and intimidated me, leaving me uncertain of where I stood.

“Please just let me go, I’ll never come back here, I promise you.” The enemy struggled as his pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.

“Sure, you’ll never come back here because I’ll send your head back to your pack.”

Talking about pack, I knew this stray wolf was from Ravenclaw, my pack, I could see the mark which is peculiar to us only on his forehead.

He said fiercely that I couldn’t even find my words but all I knew was that my mouth was widely opened the whole time.

With a sickening motion fast as a flash, he raised his hand as the sword swung through the air and sliced through the intruder's neck removing his head in one swift strike.

I gasped, shock rippling through me as the gruesome scene unfolded right before my eyes.

The lifeless body slumped to the ground, blood pooling beneath it. Zander released his hold, a fierce satisfaction evident in his eyes.

“Very undemure, very uncutesy of our new mate.” Ria whispers to me.

“Well, we are here witnessing a live stream of a beheading scene- all thanks to you ‘Ria the runner’.” I teased her.

“Anyone who dares to cross me will meet the same fate," Mr. Hefty declared, his voice resonating through the clearing.

He wiped the blood from his blade, sheathing it with a finality that sent shivers down my spine.

As the reality of his power settled over me, I trembled because of the gruesome scene which just unfolded before my eyes.

This man…my mysterious mate…Mr. Hefty was not the one anyone can mess with.