The sky is already dark by the time I make it back home after training.
The entire day, my mind has been preoccupied with thoughts of the beast that is currently inhabiting my house.
I can’t deny that I am excited to see him again, but the fact he could be an escaped prisoner does not bode well for either of us.
Even if he is, I am determined to get to the bottom of this situation. Maybe it’s the mate bond causing me to be partial, but something just doesn’t add up.
The severity of his wounds causes me to believe he was abused, but maybe I am wrong. Maybe he is a prisoner who has done terrible things and those scars were punishment.
Whatever the reason, I need to figure it out quickly.
Upon opening the front door, my eyes widen at the massive beast standing just inside. Somehow, he looks a hell of a lot healthier than when I left him.
Holding my hands up, I take a few cautious steps back as he slowly approaches me. Now that he is standing up, he looks even larger than before.
His enormous head easily reaches my chest, and I am no small female.
He whimpers as I ease away from him, so I stop moving. I stand completely still as he begins to inspect me. His snout moves along my body, taking deep breaths as he goes.
Slowly, I reach out to touch him. I am not entirely sure how he is going to react, but when he trembles and cowers beneath my hand, anger swells inside me.
I realize instantly that he is no dangerous criminal.
He is a victim of abuse.
The revelation enrages my wolf, and I can’t control her when she comes forward, my body morphing with natural ease.
A thick emotion swells in my heart as she begins to rub her body along his. When he begins to do the same, each place he brushes against sends soft waves of electric pulses through me.
My mother tried to explain to me the effects of a mate bond, but she was right when she said there were no words to describe it. The connection between us is evident.
After letting them spend some time getting to know each other, I shift back to my skin.
A deep purr rumbles in his chest as I run my fingers through his fur, and he buries his snout against my belly.
“My promise to you is this,” I tell him. “Nobody will ever hurt you again, big guy. I will make sure of it.”
An entire week has passed, and the excuses and lies are getting harder to come up with.
The wolf still hasn’t shifted. Whatever happened to him really messed him up for his wolf to not relinquish control back to his skin. It’s kind of like a defense mechanism in the shifter world.
I can’t say he hasn’t tried to shift, though. The first time was extremely painful for him.
His body had trembled and shook, his massive paws turning to even larger human hands before returning back to their original form.
Needless to say, I haven’t pushed him. I’m trying to give him as much time as he needs because he has already been through enough.
Jackson has been more than suspicious, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep him away from my house.
Luckily, my dad has been busy training the younger warriors, so he hasn’t really paid any attention to what’s going on.
The wolf lies beside me now on my couch, his tail curled around my thigh. This is where we have been sleeping for the last several nights.
He won’t let me out of his sight when I am home, and when I have to leave for daily training sessions, he whimpers and waits by the door until I return.
I am thankful his body has completely healed all the way now. The extra sessions my wolf spent healing his wounds really sped up the recovery process.
If only he was strong enough to overpower his wolf now, I would be closer to finding out who he is.
Deep in thought, I don’t even notice my front door opening.
“WHAT THE FUCK?!”
I immediately recognize the voice as Jackson’s, and my heart sinks into my stomach.
The wolf quickly jumps up and hovers over me, a furious growl ripping from his chest. Before I can warn Jackson to stay back, the wolf launches at him.
Jackson doesn’t even have time to shift before the wolf pins him to the ground.
My mate is so much larger than Jackson, so much stronger. I know this is about to take a turn for the worst, so I wrap my arms around the beast’s neck and hug him tightly.
Immediately, he relaxes in my hold, and when I smooth the ruffled fur on his neck, all of his attention turns to me.
He presses his snout against my cheek lovingly, completely forgetting about Jackson.
Behind him, my oldest friend stands slowly and takes a few steps back, his hands raised. The wolf stays relaxed, but his eyes follow Jackson’s every movement.
“Holy shit,” Jackson whispers. “Who the fuck is that?”
“Please don’t tell anyone. I found him close to the pack border a week ago. He was badly injured, and I have been taking care of him.”
“YOU WHAT?!” Jackson shrieks, causing the wolf to tense again.
“Lower your fucking voice,” I hiss. “He is my mate.”
His eyes widen in disbelief. “Your mate? Are you sure? Goddess, he’s fucking huge!”
Once the shock finally wears off, he watches the wolf curiously. “Why is he in wolf form, and what’s up with all the scars?”
“He can’t shift,” I reply. “As for the scars, I’m pretty sure he is a victim of abuse.”
“Who would do something like this?” he says. “A sick bastard, that’s who. Does Alpha know about him?”
“Not yet. I’ll tell him, but not yet. At least let me see if I can help him shift first. He isn’t a threat to me, and you know how my dad feels about rogues.”
Jackson glares at me, the muscles in his jaw clenching.
“Okay, you have one week, or I’ll tell him myself. This whole situation could be dangerous. Whoever did this to him is probably looking for him.”
He pauses for a moment as he seems to think. “Wait, what if he is the prisoner who escaped from the Gorion pack?”
“Even if he is the prisoner, there is no way in hell I’m going to let them take him back and continue abusing him. Everything will be fine,” I assure him. “You worry too much.”
He runs a hand over his face and sighs. “Your dad is going to flip his shit, you know?”
“I know,” I tell him, “but I’ll deal with him when the time comes.
“Now, I need to get ready to go meet my parents for breakfast. I don’t need to give my dad any more reasons to be suspicious of me. Wanna come?”
“Hell yeah,” he says. “I’m starving.”
He waits in the living room as I go to my room, the massive wolf stalking close behind me.
“I’ve got to go again,” I tell him as I pull some sweats on. “I’m scheduled to train today, but I’ll try to make it quick. I left food and water out for you in the kitchen.”
I press my lips to the top of his head, and he gives me a small whimper, but I see acknowledgment flicker in his eyes.
Leaving him here alone is getting harder and harder to do, and as I walk out the door with Jackson, I wish it was my mate I was going to have breakfast with.
