Alpha's Unwilling Mate Book 2: A Rogue's Secret

Ada

No, no, no! The last thing I need is a mate.

I’ve never really wanted one… Well, that’s not entirely true. As a young girl, when I first heard about mates, I was intrigued. But that was a long time ago. That was before my own kin tried to kill me, succeeded in murdering my mother, and I ended up with a relentless rogue on my tail.

Now, having a mate would only complicate things, especially if he’s part of a pack. Oh, what if he tries to force me to join his pack? The rogue scent is my shield, protecting my secret. My bloodline could be sniffed out by those who know of it, and joining the pack link would give them access to my mind.

No way, that’s too risky. Even if he’s the best mate in the world, he’s not worth sharing my secret with… not again.

And who’s to say that my mother didn’t romanticize the mate bond like she did with the other rogues? I’ve learned the hard way to take her stories with a grain of salt. I can’t afford to be fooled again.

Even if there is something romantic about the idea of finding the one male designed for me and me alone.

No, I need to stop that. I shake my head, trying to rid it of the pretty words my mother planted there. I’d almost forgotten about the notion, and I’d like to forget it again.

Give him a chance.

My wolf had been quiet long enough for me to sort through my thoughts, but the idea of dismissing him completely clearly didn’t sit well with her. That’s probably why she led us to this clearing and stubbornly refuses to move as the scent grows stronger.

If this wasn’t helping us regain some strength, I’d be even more furious. But my legs are tired and my eyes are adjusting to the forest around me, now that we’re not constantly on the move.

“We can’t give him a chance—what if he’s another Viktor?” I try to reason with her, something new for us since we’re usually on the same page.

Not Viktor… Mate!

If I could roll my eyes, I would.

“I know he’s not Viktor—hell, if Viktor was our mate…” No, that’s not even worth thinking about, especially when his intention is to form an ‘alliance’ to benefit from my bloodline.

Essentially trapping me as his chosen mate and forcing me to bear a litter of pups with my blood and his name. The shiver that takes over my body isn’t something either one of us can control. At least we agree on that.

Mate different. Mate good.

From her tone, I can tell she’s getting frustrated with me, and I don’t like it. She’s all I have these days, and it hurts to argue, especially over some male we’ve never even met. Another reason to resent the idea of mates if it’s going to drive a wedge between me and my wolf.

“How do you know? How do you know that he’s good when we’ve not even seen him yet?”

Trust.

That’s the second time she’s said that damned word to me today, and I’m tempted to ignore it, but I can’t. She’s been with me through thick and thin, and she’s always had my back.

I mean, I’d rather not think about it, but even on the day we got attacked by other Nevilles, I still recall how she refused to sit still inside of me and insisted we leave the apartment.

What if I’d listened to her? Forced my mother out with me? Would she still be here? Would I still be on the run?

Stop.

I sigh inwardly, grateful for her grounding me as my thoughts start to spiral. I feel bad that she has to do this often, but it strengthens my love for her, and I can tell that she likes being my rock. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without my wolf.

Before I can thank her, there’s the sound of shifting leaves up ahead that has us straighten in response. Fresh cotton and hints of lavender fill my head more strongly now, and for a second, I forget where I am. I’m taken back to a time when I had clean sheets and the luxury of scented candles—a time when my mother was alive and still able to care for me.

A stark contrast to the damp forest floor surrounding me now.

Mate here.

She needn’t have said anything because I can tell. Every single hair on our body—which is a lot—stands to attention as the air feels practically electric between us.

A large brown wolf with reddish tints to his hair stands one hundred yards in front of us. For a second, I forget how to breathe as I take in the thick fur, the amber eyes, and the magnetic pull connecting us.

Okay, maybe my mother wasn’t exaggerating when it came to being drawn to our mates.

His mouth opens slightly, as if trying to speak in wolf form, which amuses me a bit. But then I sense something on top of the memory-inducing scent... I sense his pack.

Like a spooked horse, all I can think about is the threat of other wolves, the connection he has to them that might pass across to me. The threat they might pose to my escape across the border.

What if he can sense my bloodline, being my mate and all? What if he forces me to stay and Viktor finds me?

Without giving myself another second to waver or her a chance to talk me down, I take control from my disgruntled wolf and rush for the trees, trying to get us as far away as possible—almost missing the sight of the beautiful man taking the place of the creature, who raises an arm out towards me as I run.

Almost.