Chapter 4

Five years ago, Luke Marshall had walked into a bar, the same bar he’d been inside for eight years straight, perhaps even longer. He’d walked into that bar as the alpha of the pack, and nothing life-changing had ever occurred. He’d seen groups over that time celebrating their transition. Some large groups, others small. He’d often had a drink with them, given them a slap on the back in celebration, and waited a couple of days before moving on.

That night, it had been different. He’d walked into that bar and the moment he inhaled, he smelled her. His mate—the woman who was meant for him.

He’d seen her take a drink of her beer, wrinkle her nose, and step out of the bar. Luke hadn’t been able to stop himself. He’d followed her, intrigued by the woman, besotted. There was no escape from it. None whatsoever. She was a newbie. Young. Eighteen freaking years old.

He was a nomad. He’d taken a vow to be on his own. Each time he came back to this fucking pack, he broke that bastard vow, but he loved the town, adored the people, and when he came to them in their time of need, he’d kept his word in protecting them. They were all good people, a great pack that banded together.

This woman, this young girl—because that was what she truly was—had shaken his world. Kissing her had been a fucking nightmare to him.All he’d needed in his life was his bike, the open road, and that was it. Not women. Not anyone.

Until he scented her.

He had to be cruel. She had known who he was, and had felt that pull. He had to reject her. Maya was too young, too … new … too shiny. She was not the kind of woman he would imagine as a mate for himself. He was too jaded. Luke had seen the cruelties of the world and knew without a shadow of a doubt that Maya wasn’t ready. She had to be protected.

Being cruel was part of who he was. It was how he learned to survive. So for the last five years he’d constantly convinced himself not to return, to stay as far away from her as possible. Only he found himself coming back repeatedly, more often than ever before, to perhaps catch a glimpse of the woman he couldn’t have.

Maya Simpkin was a fucking dream. A beauty with full, rounded hips, big, juicy tits, and damn, her ass. He hadn’t seen it in so long, but he loved her ass. Of course, after that first year, the last four had been impossible. She was never around. He had politely asked about her without drawing attention, and they had told him she’d gone camping, or hiking, or she was running an errand. She avoided him. Like now. He saw her coming out of the woods, and she wasn’t alone.

He looked at the man, Jordan, he recalled his name was. They were dressed from their run. The full moon had been high up in the sky. He knew Jordan had a crush on her. The few times he’d visited, Jordan had been his right-hand man, and he had talked about her nonstop. Not that he minded. He learned a lot from the man.

Maya was an adored member of the pack. Even before she turned, she was a nice person. Sweet, kind, loving. She would do anything for anyone. She worked at the DIY store, even though according to Jordan, she hated the place. She hated decorating or having to fix anything. She loved to read and to bake.

“Alpha,” Jordan said, drawing his attention.

“Where have you two been?” Luke asked.

Maya lifted her head. “It’s a full moon, we just came from the woods, I’m pretty sure you can figure it out.”

She went to brush past him, but he grabbed her arm.

“Maya doesn’t mean no disrespect, Alpha,” Jordan said.

He hated being called Alpha.

“Do you, Maya?”

“No, of course not.” She turned to look at him. “No, Alpha.” She pulled out of his grip, bent forward, and gave him a little curtsey. “I’m so pleased you could grace us with your presence.”

She bowed her head forward and he gritted his teeth.

Maya smelled amazing. His mouth watered for a taste of her. He wanted to pull her in close and press his whole body against hers. To feel her wrapped around him, and damn it, he wanted to feel her wrapped around his dick. He felt himself getting hard.

Five years. Technically longer, but it had been just over five years since he was with another woman. He couldn’t bring himself to look at anyone else. She dominated his fucking world. He wanted her, and couldn't stop thinking about her.

“Alpha, is there anything you need? I was not told that you required anything.”

He looked toward Jordan. “You may go home. I hope you enjoyed your run.”

“I did. I was going to help Maya home.”

“I can walk myself home. I’ve been doing it for a long time. Trust me, I know the way.” She stood and was about to walk past him again and he captured her arm, not letting her go.

She glared at him, her lips pressed together. He stared right back at her. She was so beautiful, even hating him like she did. Did she realize what she was doing? How hard was she making him?

Jordan hesitated.

“I’ll make sure she gets home,” Luke said.

“O-okay.”

And that was another reason why Jordan was never going to win her over. He’d tried to get his advice on how to win Maya, to become her mate. That was never going to happen. She belonged to him. Ashely washismate, and no matter what men tried to do, they would not win. They had a bond, nothing and no one could break it.

Luke didn’t let Maya go. Instead, he waited, watching Jordan leave until they were alone.