Escaping Fate Book 2

I wake up the next morning, my body entwined with Alpha Matt’s. My eyes flutter open to see this attractive, stern, yet gentle man sleeping beneath me.

One of his hands is cradling my head, the other resting on my back, and my face is nestled under his chin.

As I replay the events of last night in my mind, a blush creeps onto my cheeks. I snuggle closer into Matt, feeling him stir and wake up. He plants a kiss on my head and rubs my back, both of us lying there in our nakedness.

“I could get used to waking up with you in my arms,” he murmurs sleepily above me. I glance up at him, my cheeks warming as his hand continues to trace circles on my back.

“Have you developed a fondness for me, Alpha?” I tease, looking up at him while he still holds me close to his chest.

“And if I have, would you accept me?” His expression is serious.

I thread my fingers through his hair, pondering over what to say. I mean, I adore Matt. He’s been my pillar of strength my entire life. He’s practically family. I just don’t know how everyone else will react.

Actually, I do. My brothers will explode, and my sister will try to dissuade me.

I gaze into Matt’s deep black eyes, trying to decipher his intentions.

“If I agree, what does that mean?” I ask. “My family won’t be thrilled about us being together. I mean, once they find out about last night, they’ll be upset and start a fight.”

He looks at me, as if searching for the right words to frame his response.

“I want you to be mine,” he declares, his voice firm. “You will be exclusive to me until either of us find our mates—if that’s what you want. I won’t mark you, but I will make it known that you’re my chosen mate.”

A ruckus outside the house interrupts us, and I glance at him, worried. His eyes dart to the door, and we hear shouting and stomping. I draw his face back to mine and plant a gentle kiss on his lips.

“I agree,” I whisper, our lips barely apart. “I want to be yours, too, until I find my mate.”

Matt drapes a blanket over us before flipping me under him and trailing kisses down my neck to my chest, eliciting a soft moan from me. He starts to tease my nipple. My arousal is palpable in the room.

He plants light kisses on my face and runs his finger between my lips, teasing me. But the noise outside grows louder, and we pull apart.

He sighs before giving my folds a playful spank. “We’ll continue this later.” He kisses me, rises, and heads to his closet.

I run my fingers through my hair and start to get up as well.

“Wait,” he calls out, his face still buried in the closet. “I have something for you to wear for now. We can get you some clothes later.”

After a moment, he approaches me with a sky-blue top adorned with floral details and a pair of black shorts. I look up, puzzled as to why he has my clothes in his room, but he just kisses my forehead and starts to get dressed.

He slips on a black tank top that accentuates his muscles and a pair of dark blue jeans, then slicks back his hair. The man is a sight to behold. He glances at me, his stern demeanor softening as he takes me in.

I start to arrange my hair, leaving it loose to hide some of my hickeys. But Matt comes up behind me and brushes my hair off my shoulder, making it clear he wants people to see them.

As we step out of his room, Matt trailing behind me with his arm draped around my shoulder, two pack members gawk at us, their eyes wide with shock at the sight of the alpha and me together.

We’re navigating through the house, nearing the dining hall, when I hear it. A gaggle of girls squabbling over my brother Adrian.

Alpha Matt growls, silencing them instantly. They all turn to look in our direction, their faces a picture of horror, unable to utter a word. Alpha Matt pecks my cheek and sends me off to the dining hall before he starts to reprimand the group of girls.

As I enter, all eyes are on me and whispers fill the room. I shrug it off and fix myself a small plate of food, mostly fruits, and pour a glass of orange juice.

Before I can even reach a table, my sister rushes up to me. “Please tell me it wasn’t him! Tell me the pack gossip is wrong.”

Her eyes are pleading, but I can’t lie to her or about him. I give her a hug, and we both head to our usual table, which is still vacant. She sits next to me, scrutinizing me as others continue to watch and whisper.

“Before you start yelling, can I explain?” I glance at my plate and pop a blueberry into my mouth. Lillith smacks her lips, clearly annoyed. I roll my eyes. “Okay, I won’t explain. I don’t really need to anyway.”

Before Lillith can respond, Kira and her friends join us, their faces twisted in disgust.

“So, the rumors are true. You’re a dirty girl, aren’t you? I didn’t think you had it in you.” Kira grins at me while Lillith glares at her, ready to pounce.

“I mean,” Kira continues, “I heard you two came down together this morning. He even kissed you in front of everyone. You must have some kind of magic to snag him.”

I’m about to stand up when my brother Adrian grabs my wrist and pulls me towards him. My other brother, Josiah, and his mate, Megan, are watching too, their faces just as angry. Their eyes are fixed on my hickeys.

“Who? Who did you sleep with?” Adrian demands, his alpha tone ringing out.

I refuse to back down, even as everyone around us stares in shock. I look at my brother. His eyes are filled with fury, his jaw clenched so tight that veins are popping out.

But before I can answer, Kira does it for me. “You didn’t hear? I thought everyone knew by now. She slept with Alpha Matt last night. They were seen leaving his room together this morning, all lovey-dovey.”

She grins at me while my brother’s grip on my hand tightens, starting to hurt. I glance at Josiah, who’s also seething. Lillith looks just as furious.

I knew this would happen if word got out about what happened, but it doesn’t matter. I made my choice when I slept with Matt. No matter who I’d slept with, it would’ve ended just as badly.

“Let go, Adrian. What I do in private is none of your business! Since when do I have to justify myself to you?” I yank my hand out of his, anger flaring.

Lillith stands up and moves to stand next to Josiah and Megan.

I’m seething at their behavior. “I don’t have a mate yet, so what does it matter!”

“So you’re just chasing ranks?” Adrian shouts. “First it was a warrior, then a beta’s son, and now the alpha. Did you think people wouldn’t notice?”

That’s the last straw. I slap my brother as hard as I can. The sound echoes around us, and everyone backs away as people rush off to find Alpha Matt to stop the fight.

“How dare you!” I scream at him as he glares at me, looking ready to attack. “I’m your fucking sister, and you’re talking down to me? Who I fuck is none of your business. I don’t owe you an explanation.”

He glares at me. “I’m the future alpha of this pack! So when a wolf decides to sleep around and stir up drama, it is my business.”

I try to walk away, knowing this argument won’t end well, but my brother grabs my hand again.

“I wasn’t done talking to you!” he snaps.

I yank my arm back. “Well, I’m done talking to you.”

Adrian looks at me like I’m something disgusting. Like I mean nothing to him.

I snap without thinking. “This is ridiculous! Why is it that when I sleep with someone, I’m suddenly less than, but you, Josiah, and Lillith can fuck anyone and it’s normal?

“How many women have you been with? Or Josiah? And you, Lillith? Don’t you dare look down on me when you all act like horny wolves on steroids.”

I try to leave, but Megan grabs me. That’s the last straw. I use her momentum against her and throw her into the wall. She charges at me, but I kick her hard in the leg, making her fall. My brother growls at me for hurting his mate.

She charges at me again, and I quickly pounce and land on her back, knocking her to the ground.

My entire family is growling at me as Megan pushes me off, scratching my ribs. She tries to bite me, but I kick her legs out from under her, making her fall face-first and break her nose.

“Enough!” Alpha Matt yells, glaring at my family.

He looks at my bruised wrist, the result of my brother’s grip, and my bloody side, then walks over and wraps his arm around me. Adrian growls at him.

They growl at each other until my brother finally submits.

“Just look at yourselves!” Matt exclaims. “She’s your own sister, and yet you all teamed up against her without giving her a chance to defend herself. You should all be ashamed.”

His anger is palpable as he pulls me close to his chest. “You’re all alpha by blood on one side and royalty on the other, yet she’s the one you always single out.”

Adrian glares at us, his anger still evident. “You’re her alpha, and she’s barely eighteen! You’re twice her age. You helped raise her, and yet you slept with her. You didn’t even give her a chance to find her own mate!”

I glance at my family, irritation seeping into my bones. I know they love me, but it’s always the same story. I’m always the one singled out, always the one being lectured. They act as if I’m less than them because I’m younger and have a different father.

But their father may be king, my father was next in line. We’re of the same damn rank!

Alpha Matt pulls my face towards his, forcing me to stand on my tiptoes as he leans down to kiss me gently. He’s making it clear to everyone that I belong to him. The growls from my family grow louder. Once he releases me, I turn to face them.

“You can’t force me to want a mate. I’ve already told you that I’ll attend the upcoming mating ball, but even if I find my mate there, I don’t want them. I’m the head tracker and one of the strongest warriors.

“You can look down on me all you want, but don’t pretend to understand what I go through. I train every day, help the pups with their work, tend to the gardens, hunt, and assist the omegas. While you all stand around doing God knows what.

“When was the last time any of you contributed to this pack?”

As I finish my tirade, my brother rushes towards me and grabs me by the neck. He’s never been one to lay a hand on me, but I guess things have changed. When he tries to push me against a wall, Alpha Matt lunges at him.

They’re attacking each other, full force. I watch them, horrified. This isn’t like them. They’re usually so level-headed. But it might be because they’re both alpha wolves and Adrian refuses to submit.

“See what you’ve done?” my sister snaps.

Josiah and the others are glaring at me. I can’t take it anymore. I leave the dining hall and rush to my room, grab a backpack, and stuff it with light clothes and essentials.

I wait until I’m sure no one is watching, then I run. I run as far as I can, sending Alpha Matt a mental message that I’m sorry, and then I cut off all my links. No one will be able to find me.

I run to a place I haven’t visited in years.

The Blood Moon Pack.