Unplanned Mate

Layla

“You’re quite the spirited lady, aren’t you?” His voice was almost a purr. He advanced toward me, and without a second thought, I swung at him. Regardless of him being my true mate, he was acting like a jerk, robbing a hospital. Even though a true mate was irresistible to a wolf, it didn’t mean you couldn’t have your own thoughts or opinions.

He managed to catch the stool I swung at him, but my swing was strong and forceful. I noticed his jaw tighten as he caught it. I was also aware that he was using his mind to counter my actions. He yanked the stool from my grip and sent it flying, crashing into things. His gaze never left mine. I didn’t have much to work with, so I lashed out and tried to back away, but he grabbed my arm.

Screw him and his superior strength. It was clearly more than mine. I tried my damnedest to twist out of his grip as he wrapped an arm around me. My arms were trapped by his. He had to lift me off my feet to maintain some semblance of control. His arm gripped me tightly, almost to the point of crushing me.

“Go help Harper finish gathering what we need,” he growled at his men, dragging me backward.

“People need those supplies! What are you doing? Don’t take everything. There are children who need those medications!” Panic set in. There were indeed children here. Were they taking everything? I tried to slam my head back into his, but missed as he moved his head out of the way. He made a slightly irritated sound.

He reached up and wrapped a hand around my throat, pulling me back against his chest and shoulder. I tried to ignore the hard body behind me. Not the time to notice that. I had to suppress my inner she-wolf that seemed to enjoy it.

“Relax, darling. We have people who need these supplies too. This pack has monopolized this hospital and taken supplies unfairly. We’re just reclaiming what’s rightfully ours and what’s owed to the rest. Behave and no one gets hurt,” he whispered in my ear. I could feel him nuzzling my hair. My traitorous body seemed to like that, damn animal instincts.

“I will not relax! I’m not lying. You’ll kill people here if they don’t have the medications they need. They’re innocent in all this,” I protested, struggling against his grip which was clearly a threat.

“Alpha Axel, the others are on their way. Tre has spotted them.”

My eyes widened. The man holding me was Alpha Axel? There was only one lycan known by that name. The most feared lycan alpha? It couldn’t be. There was no way someone like him could be my true mate. Just my rotten luck.

Werewolves were known to submit to him. He wasn’t afraid to attack or confront a pack that wronged him or others who dared to disrespect him. Sometimes it seemed noble, other times unnecessary. Several of his attacks had been brutal.

“Then get them ready to leave. Now.” At Axel’s command, the newcomer left. The others emerged with several cases packed and ready. They knew what they were here for and had cleared out a lot in those cases. I felt Axel release my throat and turn slightly. One of them was holding a bunch of tissues to his nose, though it looked like the bleeding was stopping.

“Get him up,” Axel ordered, referring to the one still unconscious. As one of them reached down to help him, he began to stir. There was a bit of blood in his hair.

“Damn, did she crack my skull?” he asked, staggering as he got up and touched his head.

“I hope so!” I retorted, trying to lunge forward, but Axel held me back.

“Behave. Unless you enjoy being punished in front of others.” Axel whispered this in my ear. I gasped, the implication of his words clear. I could sense his amusement at my reaction.

“Put the cases here,” Axel ordered, and they were placed down. “You have one minute to tell me which drugs you think should be left for the sick. The hospital will get one vial each. Fair? You mentioned children, right?” Axel asked me and I nodded. A couple of the others looked at him but seemed fine with his decision.

“Harper knows the drugs. So don’t lie to me, darling.” His voice had a dangerous edge this time. I just nodded and quickly listed the most important ones we needed. One vial of most should give us time to get more. Plus, a couple of pill bottles.

“I did see a patient list in there. These are needed,” Harper commented, pulling out just one vial and one bottle of the few I mentioned. Then the cases were closed and Axel ordered them out.

I wasn’t prepared when he spun me around to face him. He had some kind of thin tie that he wrapped around my wrists.

“What are you doing?” I demanded, trying to pull away. But before I could, he yanked me forward and tossed me over his shoulder.

“Put me down!” I demanded. His arm was tight around my legs.

“I don’t think so, my spirited lady. Better this way than dragging you. More gentlemanly, in my opinion,” he said nonchalantly, moving quickly with his men down the hall. I noticed those tied up and lying on the floor. Clearly, his men had moved swiftly through the hospital to get what they wanted. It had taken barely any time at all.

I demanded he put me down and tried to get leverage to be let go. He didn’t. Damn, he was strong. Panic set in. He was kidnapping me, wasn’t he? We were already at the doors and out of them. I saw two lycans at the front. They were in their full monstrous wolf form that looked half humanoid and wolf. No one seemed to question him carrying me off.

“Go.” It was a clear command. The lycans took off, as did a few cars, tires screeching. I tried desperately to escape his grip. What the hell was happening? What kind of mate did I have? While his strength and dominance were a huge turn-on to my animal side, I still didn’t like being tied up and carried out of here. I bit down hard into his back, hoping he would let go and I could make a run for it.

Instead, he didn’t let go. He endured the pain of my bite without flinching. However, he did slap my backside so hard it instantly burned with sharp pain. I stopped biting and cried out.

“I can see you’re going to be a handful. I love it,” he remarked.

“What is wrong with you? Put me down, damn it,” I demanded.

“No,” he replied with a dangerous tone. The next thing I knew, I was practically thrown into the back of a large vehicle, like a large SUV. I was dumped onto the seat as if I were nothing more than a sack of potatoes. I almost kicked him where it would hurt the most.

Axel grabbed my ankle to stop me. The man in the seat across from where I was tossed gave a slightly amused sound. I glared at him as Axel manhandled me into the vehicle and pulled me onto his lap. More to control me than anything else, I assumed. Then we were speeding off down the road.

“Uh, not to question your decision, but I’m a bit concerned about why we’re kidnapping one of their doctors.”

I was more sprawled across his lap than sitting on it. I saw Axel turn his head to look at this Harper. His expression was dark, clearly not appreciating the questioning.

“Job as your beta, remember balance matters.”

I could see that this Harper was a very smart man. He hadn’t flinched from Axel’s look. A true beta to his alpha.

“This spirited hellcat is going to be your luna. Unlike some, I won’t ignore a true mate. Even if she is being a difficult little minx.”

Harper raised an eyebrow, and I could see humor in his eyes. Maybe a little shock, but he obviously believed Axel. No one lied about such a thing.

“A difficult minx! You…” I used my bound hands to pound on his shoulder. In all honesty, I wasn’t afraid. I was angry, my animal side wasn’t scared of him. She saw her mate. It saw in simplistic terms a partner and safety. I managed a few good punches. He grabbed my wrists and also got a good hold on my hair. His face was inches from mine. I just stared at him, daring him to do something.

“A most difficult minx,” he half growled. I was taken aback when he ran his tongue across my lips and then pressed his lips to mine for a moment. I could feel his arousal against the back of my thigh. Internally, I reacted, I couldn’t help it. If we were honest with ourselves as the creatures we were, we were more animals than anything else. My body instantly grew aroused but I fought it. Not here, this was so messed up. My kind was messed up.

“Behave yourself,” Axel warned, his voice slightly breathless. I could tell he was trying to hide it, but I could hear it. “Or you’ll see the beast I can become.”

“Go ahead, bite me,” I shot back, my voice low and fierce. “I won’t be owned or trampled on.”

His dark eyes met mine, a spark of amusement flickering in them. Harper chuckled.

“She’s going to be a perfect match for you, Axel. I’ve never seen an omega with such fire. She’s got more guts than half our pack,” Harper teased. I felt a sudden surge of courage, something I hadn’t felt before. It was as if the knowledge of my mate, of what he was and what I might have to become, was fueling this newfound bravery. I was testing his limits, pushing back against his dominance.

“Little girl? You jerk,” I spat at Harper, lunging at him. He leaned back, making no move to touch me. Axel simply pulled me back into his lap, his grip tightening. I shot Harper a glare, feeling Axel’s face buried in my hair, his hand resting there. I didn’t look at Axel. It was all too strange, too new. I barely knew him, and yet my body was reacting to him in ways I didn’t understand. He had attacked the hospital, kidnapped me, and yet my body was responding to his touch as if he had every right to touch me.

“Perfect,” Axel murmured into my ear. I swallowed hard, feeling his tongue trace the shell of my ear. He clearly had no intention of keeping his hands to himself. I maintained a hard expression, not wanting to betray any of my emotions. I had no idea where we were going, or why they had attacked the hospital.

They should be doing well, I thought. I had believed there was an understanding between the hospital and the pack. I decided to keep quiet for the rest of the drive, to listen and gather information rather than let my anger get the best of me. They had me, and I wasn’t about to jump out of a moving car, werewolf or not. We had our limits, and I was beginning to wonder if I was about to discover mine.