Twisted Fate Book 2: Longed for Mate

Book 2: Longed for Mate

ANOUD

Scoping the Pack House should have been routine. I’d come to the Howling Moon pack as part of the protection detail for the royal visit. The Lycan prince was a childhood friend and he often brought me on missions and visits because I had a gift from the Goddess to feel intentions in a room.

This skill had saved us from a few assassination attempts. It was also more fun to be away from his parents. They weren’t fans of our friendship, thinking I was using him to get the luna position.

Being a mutt in the queen’s eyes didn’t help either. My dad lost his mate and ended up sleeping with my human, Malaysian mother after a night of heavy drinking. That meant I inherited her curvier figure and darker complexion.

The wolf community was pretty insular, so most of the women were blonde, tall, and statuesque. I was a bit shorter, which had earned me the nicknames Runt and Mutt. But Prince Ralph didn’t care about that.

After years of training with the most elite force in the US, I’d earned the respect of my peers. What the king and queen didn’t know was that Ralph was gay. He was mated to his beta, and they were deeply committed to each other.

They’d talked about their options and decided to abdicate once his younger brothers were old enough. The twins would make great leaders, but for now, we had to keep up the charade.

The moment I set foot on this territory, I knew my mate was here.

My wolf connected with his instantly. They were bonding in our minds as I was drawn to the alpha’s office. I brushed past his secretary and walked in.

We both said, “Mate” at the same time. It was perfect. I moved toward him in a daze and threw myself into his arms.

He kissed me passionately, hard hands roaming my body desperately. It was perfect. Until it wasn’t. He pulled away with a growl that made me tremble.

His intentions had changed. Rejection.

“Please, don’t reject me,” I pleaded, falling at his feet. “I don’t care what the reason is. Another woman? I’ll wait. My looks? I’ll change anything. Please. Please.”

“Your looks?” He sounded surprised. “How would you improve them?” He lifted my chin to examine my face.

Oh Goddess, it was my looks. I’d been told I was beautiful in my own way, but I knew I didn’t look like most wolves. My dark hair, my dark skin, my dark eyes.

Why hadn’t I prepared for this? He was still looking at me, his thumb tracing a pattern on my neck. He wanted an answer.

“I’ll…I’ll train more, dye my hair, wear makeup, get surgery, anything. Give me six months and I’ll be anything you want.”

He sighed heavily and turned away, his hands falling to the arms of his chair.

***

I’d lived with the Royal Lycan Pack for most of my life. I started training informally at six and then began training to become an elite warrior at sixteen. Eight years of training, fighting wars, killing.

Now, at twenty-four, I’d endured unimaginable torture to become an elite. To be good enough to serve and protect our future king. Before today, I would have laughed at anyone who’d suggested the elite training was lacking.

I could literally tear grown men apart with my bare hands. And I had. I’d never cracked during our regular torture training, stamina training, or in the heat of battle.

But now, I was closer to cracking than ever. Moments after my mate dropped his hands from my face, his eyes glazed over. The prince had arrived, and he had to go greet him.

I followed a moment later and completed my check of the pack house, reporting back that there was no threat before our beta allowed the prince to enter. That was four hours ago.

Four hours of standing guard, back to the wall, watching as my mate entertained my friends and his pack members. One tall blonde woman in particular.

Of course he had a lover. He was an alpha, a god among us. That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, that every touch of her hand on his arm or back didn’t make me want to smash her perfect face.

I pulled myself back into the room and surveyed it again. It was almost nine o’clock, and whiskey had just been brought out.

“Anoud, you have to try this,” Ralph suddenly said, pushing a glass under my nose. He smiled at me, oblivious to my pain. “They make it on site, and it’s as good as that Elements of Islay collection you drink. Well, maybe not quite as good, but try it.”

Sweet Ralph. “I’m still on duty, Your Majesty, but it smells delicious. I’m going on a border run shortly,” I said, adding a plea through our mind-link. “Ralph, I’ll explain later, but please, don’t draw attention to me right now.”

He quickly hid his confusion with a nod and began to turn away. But my mate had to step forward, much to his date’s annoyance.

“Do you enjoy whiskey, Anoud?” he asked. I couldn’t hide my reaction when he said my name. I felt a shiver of pleasure run down my back.

I cleared my throat and nodded. “Yes, Alpha. My mother’s family was involved with production in Malaysia, and I spent holidays with them when I was younger. It’s a passion.”

“I’ll have some sent to your room then. We always appreciate feedback from a connoisseur.” Although my mate meant it as a compliment, the rest of the room took it as a jibe.

The blonde woman snorted. “Good one.” Several others laughed.

I felt uncomfortable and just nodded again. Thankfully, my replacement arrived soon after, and I slipped away to run a patrol.

Howling Moon was a modest-sized pack. I managed to patrol the perimeter in a few hours, sensing no hostility from the pack or any potential rogues lurking in the nearby free lands.

Relieved that there were no imminent threats to investigate, I checked in with the team leader and ended my shift. By the time I returned to the pack house, it was just past eleven thirty at night.

I shifted back into my human form and took advantage of the outdoor shower to wash off the day’s grime. I glanced around and realized there were no towels or clothes in sight. Great.

Why couldn’t all packs have readily available clothing? It was late, and I knew where my room was. If I moved quickly, I might make it there without running into any of the staff.

But I was certain I’d leave a trail of water droplets in my wake. Sorry, mate.

Just as I walked into the kitchen, he stormed in and practically threw a blanket at me. He wrapped it around me, pulling me close to his body.

“Did you do that to provoke me, being naked for anyone to see? Water dripping down your perfect little naked body? That’s my body to see, mate, mine alone,” he hissed, launching an assault on my neck as his hands gripped me tightly.

His fingers dug into my flesh, pulling me closer. He bit, kissed, licked, and sucked along my neck with a rough intensity. I realized we were moving and suddenly found myself falling backward.

He had pushed me into his office and locked the door before turning back to face me. His cheeks were flushed, and his breath was as ragged as mine.

Desire washed over me, and I let the blanket drop, advancing toward him. His eyes darted down, watching my body, and then suddenly I was on the floor, pressed into the coarse carpet.

He pulled my arms above my head and returned to my neck. Shifting his position so one hand was free, he began to fondle my bare breasts. His fingers tweaked and flicked my nipple before his mouth enveloped one.

All I could do was moan and arch against him, lifting my hips to meet his.

“Keep your hands there.” He moved between my legs, and his mouth was on me before I could object.

Pleasure surged through me almost instantly, but he didn’t stop, licking and sucking and groaning with his own pleasure until I shattered again. All I could do was scream.

All I could do was tremble in ecstasy as he watched me, calming me with his hands and soothing words.

After a moment, I regained my senses and pushed him over, straddling him and grinding into his crotch. He moaned as I mirrored his kisses, marking his neck with purpose.

I ran my hands down his broad chest, tracing the lines of his abs. I spread my hands to either side and began to follow the V leading to his cock. I needed to feel him in my mouth, in my hand.

I needed my mate inside me now.

Suddenly, his hand shot out, and I was roughly pushed away.

“Stop. Stop.” His breath was ragged and fast.

“You need to go to bed. That’s enough. This was a mistake.”

A mistake? He left before I could even formulate a response. He was gone.