Mate, Mine

(Kennedy's POV)

I stood over the unconscious woman sprawled at my feet, the soft glow of the moonlight catching the blood staining her torn clothes. Her breathing was shallow but even. Her dark hair was matted, strands clinging to her sweat-dampened face. A face so delicate, yet marred with bruises and scratches from the fight.

I frowned. This was supposed to be a simple task.

I hadn't been patrolling this stretch of the Northern borders out of duty-I had simply been clearing my head after another tiresome dispute among my council members. The rogues had been nothing more than a distraction, an irritation that required swift elimination. And this girl… She was an unexpected complication.

"Troublesome," I growled under my breath, crouching beside her.

It was then that her scent hit me, something faint and sweet, yet layered with a sorrow so deep it cut through the coldness I'd so carefully nurtured. My wolf stirred, pacing restlessly in my mind. I ignored him. She was a stranger, a weak one at that, and likely a liability.

Yet here I was.

"What am I supposed to do with you?" I asked the unconscious girl. She didn't answer, of course, but even as I considered leaving her there, my wolf growled low and dangerous in my chest.

"No."

The refusal wasn't mine, but his. His ferocity left no room for negotiation, no room for my indifference.

"Fine," I grunted, sliding my arms beneath her battered form. "But you'd better not regret this."

The journey back to the pack was quiet, her scent so invasive and distracting. When we arrived at the main gates of the Northern Pack territory, the guards snapped instantly into a stern, respectful stance, their postures taut with respect-and fear.

"Alpha," one of them said, his voice even, but his gaze straying to the girl in my arms. He didn't dare to ask any questions. They never did.

“Take Jerry to the infirmary," I said shortly. "Now!."

"Yes, Alpha."

I walked through the settlement of the pack, and wolves turned and stared, whispering to one another. It was not often that their Alpha brought anyone into their private world, and definitely not unconscious ones covered in blood. I ignored them all, my attention on reaching the infirmary.

Jerry was already waiting by the time I arrived. He was leaning casually against one of the counters, his arms crossed and a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"Well, well," he drawled, pushing off the counter and sauntering toward me. "What have we here? A damsel in distress? Don't tell me you've gone soft, Ken."

I shot him a glare. "Save your jokes for someone else. She's injured."

Jerry raised his hands in mock surrender, though his grin only widened. "Alright, alright. Bring her over."

I set the girl down on the nearest cot, stepping back as Jerry immediately got to work. Whatever his playful attitude was towards life, he was strict and attentive with his craft.

"She's a mess," he muttered, pulling out various herbs and salves from his kit. "What happened to her?”

"Rogues," I said, crossing my arms over my chest as I leaned back against the wall. "She was fighting them when I found her."

Jerry turned around, looking back over his shoulder. "She survived a rogue attack? Looking like this?"

"She fought hard."

It wasn't praise, it was a fact. The girl was scrawny, obviously underfed, but when she'd swung that piteous branch at the wolves, there'd been a spark behind her eyes.

Jerry hummed and turned his attention back to her. "She's lucky you found her. Another few minutes and…"

He left the sentence unfinished.

I said nothing. I didn't know why I'd bothered saving her. I didn't save strangers.

"After all," Jerry said some time later, tone lightening again, "her injuries aren't too severe. A few deep cuts, some bruising, and she's clearly exhausted. But nothing I can't fix."

"Good. Do it quickly.

Jerry snorted. "Always so impatient. You know, most people would say 'thank you' when someone's saving the life of the woman they dragged in."

"Don't push your luck."

Jerry laughed, a low, teasing sound. "You're no fun, Ken. But fine, I'll save her."

It wasn't long before Jerry finished his work, his salves and bandages covering the worst of her injuries. She looked fragile lying there, but her breathing was stronger, steadier.

"She'll wake up soon," Jerry said, putting away his stuff. "And when she does, you might want to try not scowling at her. You're scary enough as it is."

I didn't pay any attention to him, but continued staring at the girl. Jerry sighed dramatically, muttering under his breath something about how I was a lost cause, and then left the room.

The silence after that was deafening.

I watched her for a long moment. Her fine features were still screwed up in pain, even in sleep. My wolf shifted again, restless.

Then her eyes flickered open.

Dark and wide, they blinked fast, the same as if she couldn't believe where she was for a few seconds. Then, she just stared at the ceiling, her confusion palpable.

Then her gaze shifted to me.

The instant our gazes met, something primitive and beyond control ripped through me. Heat spread, every nerve in my body lit with a feeling I'd never known. My wolf roared, his voice low and possessive, growling over and over in my mind.

Mate.

The word raged inside of me, an undeniable and absolute thing.

"Mate," I said aloud, the word escaping before I could stop it. My voice was low, rough, and full of raw intensity I hadn't meant to reveal.

Her eyes went wider, all confusion giving way to shock.

"Mine," I added, the word slipping out like a vow.

She froze, strained, staring at me. She said nothing, didn't move-only looked at me like what I said was something she couldn't understand.

And I couldn't blame her.