CHAPTER FOUR

Lucius grins as he sees me walking toward him.

My father looks flustered. His cheeks are red. He probably thought I wasn't coming back.

"Here she is," he says. "Our beautiful Kayla."

Lucius holds out his hand to kiss mine.

I grimace.

He stops smiling. "Is something wrong?"

I shake my head. "No."

"Then let me kiss your hand."

"I'd rather not."

My father steps forward. "There will be time for all that after the wedding."

I stare at the ground.

I'm not sure how to act. I've only ever been around the men in my village. I don't know what to say to Lucius. I don't know how to behave.

Sebastian's face comes to mind.

He always knew what to say. He never had trouble talking to people.

He would know what to do.

I wish he were here.

"Well, let's get going, shall we?" Lucius says.

My father nods.

He leads me to the horse and carriage. A footman is waiting. He opens the door for us. I avoid looking him in the eye, ashamed.

"After you," Lucius says.

A lump forms in my throat.

I hate him. I hate him.

The thought of having to touch him makes me want to puke.

"Come on Kayla," my father urges.

I look at him. His face is going red. I am embarrassing him.

"Where is mother?" I ask. "I want to say goodbye."

"Your mother is busy," he says.

"She's not coming to wave me off?"

He shakes his head.

I give up the fight.

Not even mother will say goodbye.

He raises his arms to hug me. I ignore them, and step into the carriage.

Lucius grins and steps in after me.

The footman comes in last, pulling the door shut behind us. It shuts with a click.

I press my hands to the glass and look out.

My father watches me.

For the first time I see the pain in his eyes.

I realize this is not what he wants for me, either. Brock, our Alpha, made this decision. My father is his beta. He has to obey. If I'd run, Brock would have punished him.

Now it's too late to tell father I understand.

It is too late to go back and hug him.

The carriage jolts. We are off.

I peer out the window and spot my mother, running out the house. Her face is tear stained.

My throat clenches. I press my hand to the glass.

It's too late.

She is out of sight.

My future husband leans forward and puts a hand on my knee.

I recoil from him. I hate how he touches me.

"What's the matter?" he asks. "Don't you want to kiss me?"

"No!" I cry.

He looks surprised. "Why not?"

"You repulse me."

His face darkens. "You will kiss me sooner or later."

He folds his arms and sits back in his seat. Within minutes, he is snoring.

I look at the footman for the first time.

He is handsome. His eyes are kind.

He looks at me with empathy.

Suddenly, I am shocked by a feeling deep inside of me.

It is a strong feeling.

I don't know what it is.

I have never felt it before.

It brings me comfort.

My mind begins to race.

My hands begin to shake.

Questions begin to circle in my head. A small voice that grows louder and louder with certainty.

Could it be...?

Is this feeling...?

Have I found...?

Is this my true mate?

Then, suddenly, a certainty comes from deep within. An answer to my questions.

Yes!

This is my true mate.

I look at him again. My heart beats wildly.

I think he feels it too.

His eyes are bright. Full of life. Full of desire.

It's as if I can read his mind.

He feels what I feel.

He knows it is true. Real. That we are meant to be.

I place my hand to my mouth and gasp.

He smiles. It's beautiful. A little shy. Slightly perplexed. But completely right, and extremely comforting.

It helps me forget the nightmare that is my future husband.

I don't know what to do right now.

My hands are shaking.

I stare out the window, watching the world pass by.

But how can this be?

I do not know this man. Yet I feel like he is mine. That I have always known him. That he was always there.

I don't even know his name.

I turn back to him.

"What's your name?" I whisper.

He leans close to me, whispering in my ear. "They call me Tanner."

"Tanner?"

He nods.

I look into his eyes again. I see the truth. This is my true mate.

Mine.

I can tell by the jolt in my stomach. The sensations inside me.

"What is your name?" he asks, softly.

"I'm Kayla," I say.

He touches my hand lightly. Sparks of sensation race through me.

"I think... I think you're my mate," he says.

"I think so too," I whisper back.

We both look at Lucius.

"What do we do about him?" I ask.

Tanner fixes his eyes on me. "We will escape. When the time comes."

"How?"

He smiles. "I will think of something."

His tone is so sure of himself.

I instantly trust him.

I look at Lucius, sleeping. Out the window, the hills and trees go by. The sun is setting. The sky is a fiery orange and purple.

It is so beautiful. More beautiful than my own village.

"What is it like where you are from?" I ask Tanner.

"It is very different from your home," he says.

"What is it like?"

"It is lonely."

The carriage slows, then rolls to a stop.

I rub my eyes and look out the window.

We are at the edge of the forest, outside of a large mansion. It's not like anything I've ever seen before.

It is gray and stone, with a commanding presence.

Lucius stirs and sits up.

"We're here," he says.

My stomach turns with revulsion.

But I catch Tanner's eye as he crosses past me and opens the carriage door.

I trust him.

He will make everything alright.

I am not alone.

I have found my mate.