Valentine's Mate
Yazar
Roanna Hinks
Okur
363K
BölĂŒm
15
Skye has been living a quiet life in a human town, haunted by the loss of her pack and family. She struggles to fit in, but the thought of finding her destined mate keeps her and her inner wolf, Nyla, from falling apart. On her birthday, which coincides with Valentine's Day, Skye decides to visit the local fair. Drawn by a luring scent, she encounters Theo, a rogue wolf who has found a family among the fair workers. Theo has been yearning for his mate, and when he first saw Skye, he knew she was the one. With the most romantic night of the year approaching, Theo is determined to claim his mate and ensure she is never alone again.
Chapter 1
SKYE
I pushed open the door to my tiny apartment, stepping inside and shutting the world out behind me. I turned to survey the small space that was supposed to feel like home, but it just didnât.
Iâd stumbled upon this quaint town about half a year ago in my quest to find a place I could call home after the war. The war that had decimated most packs, including my own.
A brutal conflict between three power-hungry alphas had resulted in the loss of countless innocent lives. Each alpha had wanted what the others had, and in their quest for power, theyâd declared war and lost.
Iâd heard that all three alphas had killed each other, but I couldnât be sure. All I knew was that Iâd lost everyone I loved in that battleâmy family, my friends. My survival was thanks to my father, whoâd ordered me to run.
Despite my willingness to fight, even die trying, my father had other plans. My two older brothers held off the wolves while my father dragged me to safety. When we reached the border, my father looked shattered, terrified.
Heâd never wanted this life for us. Our alpha was the worst of them all, taking whatever he wanted without a care for those who followed him. My father hugged me goodbye, then handed me a necklaceâa locket that had belonged to my mother.
He carried it everywhere, and before he returned to my brothers, he told me that my mother was a part of me, as were he and my brothers. He kissed my forehead and disappeared back into the war zone. I stood there, frozen, until a loud howl and a sudden severing of my connection to my family told me they were all dead.
I ran then, tears streaming down my face. I ran for days, with nothing to my name, no money, nothing. The worst part was becoming a rogue overnight.
It was a struggle, especially since Iâd always lived in a pack, even if it was a dark time. A stirring in my mind pulled me back to the present. Nyla, my wolf, was awake.
I didnât turn to look at her; sheâd been asleep most of the evening while I was at work. It had been just Nyla and me since the war. Pushing away the dark thoughts, I moved deeper into the apartment and headed to the kitchen.
I was starving, having not eaten for the past three hours. Working in a bar wasnât so bad, especially since it was a good place to earn cash. Iâd worked in several bars over the past few months, always making sure I had enough money before moving on.
Nyla moved closer as I grabbed an apple from the bowl. I needed to get real food, but that would have to wait until tomorrow.
âDo we have any meat?â Nyla asked, clearly unhappy with our food situation.
âNope,â I replied, glancing back at her.
Her yellow eyes met mine, and she grunted. âI hate fruit.â
I didnât respond and was about to turn away when she stopped me.
âCan we go for a run?â she asked, her question catching me off guard.
I let Nyla run when we leave a place. I only have a few essentials, basically a bag that I live out of, which she carries when we move to the next town.
Living among humans had been easy. We avoided places where other rogues might be, since we didnât know the rules of being one. Weâd mostly kept to ourselves, unsure if being near others was even an option.
As a child, my father would tell me stories of how ruthless some rogues could be, how they sometimes went feral if they were without a pack for too long. I didnât want that for myself, but as we moved around, I noticed a lack of wolf packs, which made me wonder if the war had spread elsewhere.
I shook my head, looking at Nyla. I knew she hated not being able to run freely. Plus, if she went for a run, she might find something for us to eat.
âYeah,â I finally said, causing Nyla to perk up. âBut only if you stay within the forest. We donât want anyone thinking weâre a threat.â
Nyla nodded in agreement.
âWe can check out those tents in the field,â she suggested, causing me to frown.
âI was about to sayââ I began, but she interrupted me with a grunt.
Her gaze remained fixed on me as she prepared to speak again.
âSkye,â she started, tilting her head slightly. âYou need to let loose a bit. Weâve been on the run for months and no oneâs on our tail. We can stay here longer if you want, but ultimately, itâs your call.â
I didnât respond, but I knew she was right. No one was pursuing us, and honestly, I didnât think anyone would. They were all too busy trying to kill the alpha.
My heart plummeted at the thought of all those lives lost. I looked at Nyla, her expression softening as she realized what was on my mind.
âYou couldnât have known,â she murmured. âThat madman wanted what he couldnât have and dragged the whole pack down with him. You were only nineteen, Skye. You had your whole life ahead of you, and Papa wanted you to live it for them.â
A wave of sadness washed over me, but I knew I couldnât dwell on my family. My hand instinctively went to the locket Iâd worn every day since my father gave it to me. My mother had worn it when my father gave it to her.
Inside were photos. One side held a picture of my parents, and the other side held a picture of us kidsâme and my brothers.
âSkye,â Nyla whispered, pulling me back from the brink of a dark abyss. âA run will do us both some good.â
I knew she was right.
Without a word, I tossed the apple into the bin. There was no point in eating it. I was sick and tired of those damn things.
I moved away from the kitchen and walked over to the table near the small couch. I took off my locket and pulled my wallet out of my pocket, placing them in a box on the table for safekeeping.
The apartment was secure, but I still didnât trust anyone. I glanced around the room and quickly changed into something more comfortableâa dress.
At work, I usually wore jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers. I thought I only owned two pairs of jeans, a few tops, two pairs of leggings, one pair of shoesâmy sneakers, and one dress. That was all I could fit into a bag to carry.
After changing, I headed back to the door and stepped outside, only to be greeted by my neighbor and landladyâOlga. She looked at me and smiled.
âSkye,â she said, taking me in. âI thought you just got back from your shift. Did you forget something?â
Since Olga was human, Nyla stepped back slightly, making sure she wasnât seen. Keeping my cool, I smiled.
âIâm just heading to the store,â I said. âIâm hungry.â
Olga nodded. âFeeling warm, are you?â she asked, eyeing my dress.
I felt my cheeks heat up, like a kid caught doing something naughty. âYeah,â I said. âThe bar was boiling. Jed wanted to keep the heat cranked up all evening, but I couldnât stand it.â
Olga nodded, but I couldnât tell if she bought my story. I sure as hell didnât.
Nyla giggled as Olga spoke again. âOkay,â she said and turned to leave but then stopped. âOh, I forgot to mention. Thereâs a little fair in town. Itâs over in the field area and will be here for a few days.â
I stared at her. Well, that answered the question Nyla and I had been pondering.
âTheyâre offering a discount tomorrow evening,â she added, which made me frown. What was so special about tomorrow?
Nyla started to speak, but Olga seemed to read my mind and blurted out, âJudging by your expression, you donât know what tomorrow is,â she said, looking slightly puzzled. âItâs the day all you young folks call the love day.â
I remained silent, which made her sigh.
âValentineâs Day,â she clarified, which made me tense.
Shit, Iâd forgotten about that. But for me, it wasnât just Valentineâs Day; it was also my birthday, and I wasnât about to tell Olga that. Can you imagine her reaction? She loved making a fuss, and in the few months Iâd lived here, sheâd celebrated every milestone with gusto.
Clearing my throat and aware of how hungry Nyla and I were getting, I knew I needed to get moving.
âValentineâs Day,â I echoed. âThatâs nice.â
A smile graced Olgaâs face as she prepared to speak, but I beat her to it. âOlga, I apologize,â I said, my gaze shifting from her to the front door and back again, a smile playing on my lips. âI need to make a quick run to the store before it closes. My stomachâs growling.â
Olgaâs eyes met mine, and she nodded in understanding. âOh, Iâm so sorry, sweetheart,â she replied. âIâll let you get going.â
Returning her smile, I pivoted and made my way to the exit of the building. Without a backward glance at Olga, I stepped out, setting my course for the edge of the forest.
Nyla sidled up to me, letting out a sigh.
âIâm famished,â she grumbled. I ventured deeper into the forest, heading for a secluded tree.
Swiftly, I slipped out of my dress, folding it neatly and tucking it into a hidden crevice, out of sight. I stepped back, allowing Nyla to take the reins.
Once she had transformed, her fur shaking off the remnants of the shift, Nyla moved away. She ventured deeper into the forest, on the prowl for our next meal.
