Chapter Two

*Quinn*

I was ninety-nine percent sure I was actually losing my mind. 

The reasons I was so certain were that, first, I was sitting right at the edge of our protected lands staring into the forest. Somewhere I hardly ever ventured unless it was needed.

But the intense pull that I felt to this piece of the land today made it extremely hard to stay away, even if I didn't know the cause for the pull.

So I've been laying here in the field for hours, just enjoying the sunshine. Staring into the forest at all of the different animals wondering about through our land, basking in the scorching heat from the day. Waiting for whatever reason I've been pulled here to come to light.

And the second reason, I was almost positive that I could hear at least a dozen sets of feet hitting the earths floor coming straight towards our land. 

At that thought my brain finally snapped out of it's internal fog.

Fuck. This is why I'm here, this is why I felt the pull to be here so strongly today. This has to be some kind of attack, someone is coming to ambush us and harm the pack.

Jumping up, shifting mid air with my paws hitting the ground a second later, letting out a howl to alert the pack warriors and guards on duty of the incoming threat. I start out deeper into the forest intent on stopping whatever threat was coming our way no matter how big, I could hold them off until our warriors got here to help me.

But As I approached the sound of footsteps coming towards us a welcome scent invaded my nose.

'Mate.' Rang loud through my head in the gruff voice of my wolf as he starts fighting to take over my control.

'Get to her Quinn, get to our mate NOW!" He roared.

Mate? How? I never thought I'd see the day where I found her. I've been waiting since the exact second that I turned 18, and here I am six years later all alone. I had given up hope at ever finding her.

I barreled my way through the trees, feeling the breeze whipping it's way through my black fur. My pack warriors nipping at my heels, desperately trying to keep up with me.

I usually tried to keep pace with them, but at the moment all I could think about, all I cared about was getting to her.

The stench of fear and anger permeated through the air as I inched closer. My initial thought was that she was in danger, and then my wolf Maddox took all control from me. Casting the man aside, letting all of my basic instincts take over, I just had to get to her. I had to protect her from whatever was trying to harm her.

I rushed further into the forest, desperately searching for any sign that would lead me in her direction. Side stepping around trees, trying to keep my footing and not fall face first into the forest floor and then, there she was. 

Blonde hair tangled and ratted, flowing behind her. Clothes tattered, with dirt covering almost every inch of her body, cuts and bruises lining the fronts of her shins.

And she was running straight for me, with at least a dozen other men chasing her, and trying to close ranks around her small form.

What the actual fuck is happening right now?

I wasn't sure if everyone thought of their mate as beyond beautiful, but I was left speechless. Her scent is intoxicating, leaving my lungs burning, making my chest ache and feel like it's on fire all in one go as Maddox pushed harder to get us to her. She smelled like lavender and chamomile with a drop of honey all wrapped up in one. I'd never known that something could smell so sweet, so inviting. She was like a siren, calling all of my deepest darkest desires to the surface just for her.

I couldn't wait to take her and mark her as mine - put my scent all over her body so everyone would know who she belonged to no matter where she went. But first, I had to save her from whatever danger she was in from these men behind her.

The next thing to register in my mind was her screaming out to me for help.

"Help. Please, please help me."

That gut wrenching sound of her screams almost tore my heart in two, if i had been in human form it would have dropped me to my knees.

Letting out another howl to signal where I was located, I opened the mind link within our pack. 'I found my mate, she's under attack. Protect your Luna at all costs.'

'Yes Alpha.' Rang out hundreds of times throughout my mind, confirming everyone in my pack knew they had their Luna but she was in danger.

When I reached the women who owns my soul, it broke my heart that I couldn't even stop to say hello, or get a good look at her enchanting face. Jumping straight over her head, landing with a loud thud, I let out a menacing growl from deep within my chest at the men who were trying to surround her. Warning them to back off, that they wouldn't be taking her from me. The men came skidding to a stop about a hundred feet away, staring wide-eyed at me. Ready to shift and try to attack at a moments notice, until their leader spoke out.

"Alpha Quinn, my name is Ezra. I'm a warrior for the Black Ridge Pack. The girl behind you belongs with us, she is the daughter of our Beta Donovan. She is a deserter but She is meant to be Alpha Stone's next mate by the full moon.

Oh, the fuck she is. I'll tear everyone of these men apart and anyone else who tries to come for her, she isn't going anywhere, least of all back to Alpha Stone. He killed two women that he was mated to and he would never ever take my mate from me. I'll never let anyone take her from me, and I'll die protecting her if that's what this comes down to. 

I can feel the sudden anger rolling off of my mate in waves as she's crouched down behind me. The men try to take a step closer to us, trying to surround us completely. 

If these assholes think that I'm scared of them, they've got another thing coming. There's a reason I have the reputation I do, I'll tear them limb from limb without a second thought and send all of the pieces back to their alpha one at a time. 

If they even take another step onto my land it would give me a better reason to tear them apart. Although I don't really need a reason to kill these men. I know Stone will come for my pack either way, if they chased her this far that has to be a reason for it. He's a possesive bastard and I highly doubt He will just let this go.

I'm starting to figure out why she ran from him, but what made her come to me? 

Honestly? I don't care what caused her to run to me, just that she's here and I won't let anyone harm her. 

The wind blows through the field and our little stand off, carrying my scent to the women crouched behind me. I can feel the moment her body tenses and she figures out that I'm her mate, but we don't have time to talk about that or celebrate the fact right now.

"You cannot have her Alpha Quinn," Ezra's voice rings out, I know he's trying to sound intimidating but it makes me want to laugh. If this warrior thinks he's going to come between us it's a mistake he will pay for with his life.

I crouch down, ready to pounce on this stupid fucking pup that thinks he is going to take my mate from me. I don't give a shit if he wants to speak to me, I'm not shifting right now.

"Stone will attack your pack for this Quinn, shift so we can talk and try to work this out."

'They cannot take her from us Quinn, I will burn everything to the ground in search of her.' Maddox growled.

'Agreed.'