They’d used guns, which had proven useless against us when in wolf form. Our hides were thick and impenetrable, except to one very particular material.
Silver. A blade or a bullet made from the precious metal would pierce right into our flesh. This place hadn’t stocked up on such resources, that much was becoming increasingly obvious. We were more vulnerable when in our human forms, our skin being much more exposed and defenseless against weapons. Once any danger presented itself, we would shift and were much safer because of it.
I’d instructed my people not to kill needlessly, but the numbers of humans proved to be large and even though we were protected from normal bullets, we were not immune to fire. They used a fair number of grenades and flamethrowers and several of my people were hurt. The betas defended themselves and once the captives from down below joined our ranks, we’d pulled out. I didn’t want to be there any longer than necessary.
I’d given the command to escape this place and make camp several miles away where they’d be safe. I’d instructed them to leave without me because I had my own mission to complete. I’d come back on my own. I’d come to find my mate.
I sniffed the air and her scent carried on the breeze. It was sweet, an aroma of apples and peaches and fragrant wildflowers and as refreshing as rain. I took a deep breath and savored the moment, knowing she was close.
It was my destiny to find her. Fate demanded it. Now it was only a matter of time.
A twig cracked in the distance. The birds went silent. The fur on my back raised in excitement. I began to run. She was out there, and she wasn’t far. I could feel it.
I sprinted through the forest, my paws falling silently onto the dirt beneath me. I wove through the trees in stealth, ensuring that every step was as noiseless as possible. I was the predator and she was my prey. She wasn’t going to know that I had found her until I wanted it to be known. Until then, I was going to enjoy the chase.
As I came across her traveled path, it quickly became clear that she hadn’t been trained in the ways of the forest. She did nothing to conceal her footsteps or the branches and leaves that had been broken or pushed aside as she made her way through the brush. It was easy to track her this way, and I loped along her trail until I knew she was very near.
I slowed down, padding softly down the defined dirt path until I saw the blue of her jeans and the green of her shirt peeking through the brush. Carefully, I circled around so that I could see her face for the very first time.
I sat on my haunches and licked my lips. I waited as she came around the bend, striding slowly through the forest as though she didn’t have a care in the world, like she didn’t know I was coming for her. Maybe she did or maybe she didn’t. Maybe she just thought she was safe.
She wasn’t. Not from me. She’d never be safe from me again.
She lifted her eyes finally and came to an abrupt stop, pulling in a panicked gasp as she took in the sight of me. Her fingers clutched at her chest and she whined so softly that it was almost imperceptible, but I heard it anyway.
I’d found her and now she was mine.
My mate.
Perfection.
Deep green irises regarded me with surprise, flecked with gold and hazel around her dark human pupils. A small nose and a pointed chin gave her an air of delicacy. Her cheekbones were flushed from the effort of her hike and it only served to deepen her beauty. Soft, elegant mahogany waves hung to her waist and I yearned to trace my fingers through every strand. I longed to pull it hard, force her lips to mine, and kiss her like she was meant to be kissed. I wanted to do a great many more things, but none of them involved her fully clothed. I licked my lips, imagining her beautiful little body naked. She wasn’t very tall, but her body was well formed. Her breasts would fit in the palm of my hand and I wondered if her nipples would be a pretty pink or a lovely tan color. It wouldn’t be long until I found out. Her slender waist gave way to curvy hips and I salivated at the thought of the taste of her on my tongue.
There was something deep in her eyes that I hadn’t expected though.
Defiance.
She didn’t know her rightful place. She would soon though. She was my omega and I was her alpha and nothing was ever going to change that.
It was time I taught her exactly that.
Chapter Four
Dawn
The wolf standing ahead of me on the path was the most majestic creature I had ever seen. For a moment, I just stood there dumbfounded, taking in the sight of him. A streak of terror raced through me and I immediately pushed it away, unwilling to showcase my fear in front of such a dangerous and unpredictable beast. He was the supreme predator and he’d be able to sense my terror from a mile away. I had no doubt he would take advantage of that if he noticed even the slightest hesitation.
I couldn’t stop myself from admiring such an elegantly powerful animal though.
The first thing I noticed was his irises, which were unlike the yellow-eyed betas I’d encountered earlier. They were a brilliant ice blue that reminded me of some of the bluest waters of the ocean, multifaceted and glittering like freshly cut gemstones. His coat was deep shadow and flecked with gray and white, which made him seem all the more magnificent while also extremely dangerous. He was much larger than the others, so when he was sitting at full height, he was much taller and certainly much stronger than me. If I stood right next to him, the top of my head would only reach the bottom of his chin. He carried with him an air of expectancy as he watched me, and his demeanor gave the distinct impression that he was used to being obeyed. Even more so, he expected me to obey him.
I knew who he was. This was the alpha and he’d found me.
I’d been naïve thinking that I could escape and that he wouldn’t be able to track me down. I’d seen the battle below. I’d witnessed how the wolves had taken the advantage and I’d known the humans were fighting hard, but they were going to lose. I should have known that I would too.
He growled softly, the sound somewhat tender and also terrifyingly haunting in the same breath. It rumbled deep down into the pit of my soul and I felt myself begin to answer. My heart started to pound, and my blood raced. Shamefully, my nipples peaked inside my bra and the seat of my panties dampened with arousal.
This couldn’t be happening. I wouldn’t let it.
He transformed right before my eyes, changing into his human form in a fraction of a second. If I had been looking away, I would have missed the whole thing.
His eyes remained just as hauntingly blue. I tried to ignore the fact that he was completely naked, but it was so very difficult.
“Omega,” he breathed, his voice low and chilling and deeply arousing.
He wasn’t any less majestic in human form than he was in wolf form. A perfect specimen of a man, he stood over six feet tall with exceptionally well-defined muscles. His biceps were thick, and I absentmindedly wondered if I could fit my hands around them. Corded muscles flexed as he assessed me, likely deciding whether to pounce with aggression or to approach me with caution. A thick beard covered his chin, but it only highlighted the strong, firm cheekbones just above it. Thick brows made his eyes seem dark and ominous as they stared back at me, which only made my body react even more strongly to his cool appraisal.
Muscled thighs rippled with tension as he debated his next move. But everything paled in comparison to his cock.