CHAPTER THREE

My heart slams in my chest as I wonder what's going on. Is this guy going to kill me? Is he a human predator?

Or even worse. Could he be…a Rogue wolf?

I can feel how strong his hands are, how strong his muscles are wrapped around my body. I feel like he could lift me into the air without even trying, like I could disappear into his arms. He feels even stronger than Sebastian.

I made a mistake coming this deep into the woods. I should have been more careful.

I realize that I am at his mercy now.

Is he going to hurt me? Or something worse?

But slowly, he releases his hand.

"Don't make any noise," he says.

I feel a wave of relief as I catch my breath, and as I realize he's not going to kill me.

I also feel…something else. The sound of his voice, the timber of it, goes right through me. I feel my entire body vibrate. It's a feeling I've never felt before. Like…being transfixed by a piece of music.

It's a voice I've always known somehow. It's like it's the voice I've been waiting for my entire life.

I want to hear it again.

I need to hear it again.

"I won't hurt you if you tell me the truth," he says.

This time his voice is softer, smoother. Again, I have that feeling, this time tingling down through my fingertips.

Why am I reacting to his voice like this?

Can it be that…maybe…this is my mate?

A rogue?

That can't be. I push the thought out of my head. It doesn't make sense.

And yet, I know how I feel. And my body isn't lying.

I feel like he is. But how am I supposed to know for sure what that feels like? I’m not 18 yet. If I were, I could know by smell, or touch, or by looking into his eyes. Then, I would know for sure.

Now, I feel something special. But I just can’t know for sure.

I know I need to turn around, face him, look into his eyes.

But I'm scared.

What if he's hideous? What if I'm wrong?

Slowly, I begin to turn, my heart slamming in my chest.

And then, I see him.

I am mesmerized. His eyes, large, pale-blue eyes, just a foot away, hypnotize me, staring back, right into mine.

I can hardly breathe.

He is the most gorgeous man I've ever seen. He has a body to match the eyes—tall, with broad shoulders, a chiseled jaw and the smoothest skin ever. He has jet black hair, longer than Sebastian's, and wild. Untamed.

Just like him.

I can see a certain kind of wildness in his eyes, and I know instantly that he is a Rogue. He has an edge to him, a wild, dangerous, unpredictable edge.

As he stares back at me I notice a moment of confusion. It's like he realized it, too, at the same moment, that maybe…I am his mate. The connection is undeniable.

But he quickly shakes it off and gives me a confused look.

"Are you a spy?" he asks. "Did they send you to find me?"

Now I am the one that's confused.

"What!?" I say. "A spy? No!"

He looks me over, as if trying to decide if I'm telling the truth.

"Then what are you doing out here?" he asks.

"I was…" I begin to say, then stop. What was I doing? I'm not even sure.

"Running away," I say.

"Running away? From what?"

"Um…." I stop. I don't know what to say.

I should say: Violet. Sebastian. All of it. My life.

And now that met this rogue, a part of me even wants to say: my wedding.

But I can't say that. He would assume I'm already taken. And that's the last thing I'd want him to think.

"My pack," I say. "I wish I could tell you more. But I can't."

He studies me for a long time, then finally he smiles.

My heart flutters. It is the most beautiful smile I've ever seen, revealing rows of perfect, white teeth.

"You keep secrets," he says. "Like me."

"What secrets do you keep?" I ask without thinking.

Was that too forward of me? I shouldn't have said anything. That's just like me, always speaking before thinking my words through carefully.

He looks away.

"Too many," he says.

He sighs, and surveys the woods, as if examining them for imminent danger.

Clearly, he has decided I am no longer a risk. And now he's focused elsewhere.

My heart falls as he looks away. Why has he stopped looking at me?

Does he not also feel that I am his mate?

Was I wrong about him?

I try to use my common sense. Me, mating with a Rogue? My Dad would be horrified. So would Sebastian and the entire pack. It is strictly forbidden.

Our love would be strictly forbidden.

Plus, maybe he already has a mate. Who wouldn't want to be with this guy….And then I realize. I don't even know his name.

"I'm Rachel," I say.

He stops studying the woods to look at me. He merely nods.

"Aren't you going to tell me your name?" I ask.

"I shouldn't," he says.

"What!? Why?"

He looks at me now, his gaze as intense as ever.

"Because everyone who knows me ends up in trouble. Better just not to know me at all. I'm trouble, Rachel. I can tell that you're different. You're…special. I don't want you to be ruined with a guy like me. I'm damaged goods."

My heart races at his words. Did he just call me special? Maybe he does feel something for me?

"I don't know what happened in your past," I say, "or who you're running from, or what you've done. But everyone deserves a second chance. Maybe others can't see the good in you. But maybe…I can."

He turns and stares at me, letting his guard down for one moment, just a flicker of an eye.

Then he puts it back up.

"Lance," he says.

Lance.

My heart swells at the name.

"There's danger in these woods," he says. "There's a big pack out looking for me. I need to go now, to keep moving. Don't stay anywhere near me. Go back the way you came, and I'll go the other way."

My heart breaks at his words, at the thought of being apart from him, even for one second. The idea is more than I can bear. It's almost like I feel my soul ripping in two.

My heart also breaks as I realize: he doesn't seem to care about being with me as much.

He starts to leave.

I can't let him.

Without thinking, I cry out:

"Take me with you!"

I can't believe I said it, but I did.

When I say it, I realize: I do want to go away with him. Wherever he goes. Anywhere he goes. I want to go away and never come back.

He stares at me, clearly fighting something within himself.

"I can't," he says.

"You have to," I say. "I….can't be away from you."

He comes close, so close that his eyes are less than a foot away. He reaches up with a smooth palm and caresses my cheek. He runs his hand softly alongside my neck.

It is the most exquisite touch I've ever felt.

"Rachel," he whispers. "Sweet Rachel. I always hoped that I'd meet you."

I close my eyes, savoring the moment.

I could sense him leaning in closer.

Was he going to kiss me?