Chapter 3

I charged at the man trying to hold me hostage, tackling him to the ground. My enormous body weight pinned him down, restricting his movements and keeping him from attacking me. He raised his arms to shield his face, but I could see the fear clouding his hazel eyes.

Then, I felt a warm hand comb through my fur, sending shivers of delight through my body.

I had always imagined that a mate’s touch would be electrifying, almost magical. This wasn’t quite that, but it still felt… nice.

A soft whimper escaped me as his hand traveled up to my ear. He gently tugged on it, leaning closer, his breath stirring the fur around it.

"Could you please shift for me, love?" he whispered.

Something inside me snapped.

I didn’t want him calling me love. I didn’t want to be his. I wanted to be my own person, free and untethered.

Yet deep down, beneath all the resistance, I knew the truth—I did want to be loved.

And that terrified me.

I wanted the love and affection that had been stolen from me when my parents were murdered. But I didn't want to belong to anyone. I just wanted to be alone.

I turned, snapping and growling in his face, before attempting to run again. Suddenly, I felt something grip my tail tightly and yank hard. A sharp pain shot up my spine, forcing me to collapse onto the ground with a whimper. I turned my head, locking eyes with him.

Pain, hurt, and anger were clear on his face, and for some reason, it saddened me.

"Shift. Now!" he commanded in his Alpha tone.

The Alpha tone was an authoritative voice that only those born into Alpha bloodlines could use to control and direct their pack members.

Depending on how strong the Alpha was, they could even use it on wolves who weren’t part of their pack.

I saw no way out. My wolf made it even harder to focus, constantly whining and begging me to stay. The bond between us was already affecting her, making her desperate to be near our mate.

Slowly, I shifted back, my body shrinking and reshaping until I was left lying in the grass—naked.

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shield what little I could. But before I could react, my mate stepped forward and draped a blanket over me.

I didn't thank him.

"What is your name?" he asked as I snatched the blanket from him.

I ignored him.

"Why did you run away from me?"

Again, I remained silent.

"Answer my questions!" he snapped, his voice laced with frustration.

I looked up at him with disgust, my expression filled with defiance. How dare he think he could yell at me like I was some nobody?

"My name is Iris," I spat. "And I ran away from you because I don't need someone like you forcing me into a life I don’t want. And I won’t stop until I escape."

A flicker of hurt crossed his face, and my wolf whimpered, urging me to take my words back. But I refused to back down.

"I don't give a damn what you think you're going to do," he growled. "I will do whatever it takes to keep you here with me."

The sun had started to set, and the cold was creeping in. He must have noticed me shivering because, without hesitation, he scooped me into his arms. I flinched at his touch, but I couldn't help the way my body instinctively melted into his warmth.

He carried me back inside the pack house, but this time, he took me to a different room. He gently placed me on the bed before closing the door behind him.

Before either of us could speak, there was a sharp knock. Damien—my mate—turned to answer it.

The man from earlier, the one who had tried to stop me, stood in the doorway, looking furious.

"Alpha Damien, is there a reason you’re keeping a filthy rogue in our pack house?" he demanded. "Many of us were curious to know."

So, my mate’s name was Damien.

"There is no need to insult her, Blake," Damien growled. "She was scared and confused. Now, why don’t you go mind your damn business? And make sure to tell the others to stay out of the Alpha’s business."

Blake stiffened but bowed his head before turning and walking away.

Damien slammed the door shut and turned back to me, his expression dark with rage.

"You won’t even give me a chance to show you the kind of person I am," he snapped. "You’ve already decided you don’t want me as your mate?!" His voice rose with frustration. "Do you think that out of all the beautiful she-wolves in my pack, I chose you? A rogue I know nothing about?!"

Before I could say a word, he turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

I let out a shaky breath. He was angry. And he was right. I hadn’t even given him a chance, but the truth was—I didn’t want to give him one. I just wanted to be alone.

Something deep inside me whispered that I deserved to be alone. That it was better that way.

I had spent so many years alone… why should I change now?

Exhausted and defeated, I climbed off the bed and curled up in the corner of the room. Resting my head against the wall, I let my thoughts consume me until, finally, sleep took over.