Page 57 of The Worst Mate Ever

I kept running until I reached a clearing in the forest. The space still carried traces of children’s scent, making it clear that it was a popular spot for the pack’s pups to gather and play.

I decided to lay out in the opening for a moment, my heart racing from my run through the forest, now exhausted from the exercise that two months ago wouldn’t have even phased me.

Walking over to the large boulder, I discovered a comfortable spot in its shade where I could lean back and gaze at the expansive afternoon sky. The birds sang and the water in the stream hummed, giving the impression of an oasis in the center of the forest, a small little getaway, perfect for resting and relaxing.

Watching the clouds drift by, I began to feel my eyes drooping with exhaustion. The pregnancy was taking its toll, and I knew that if I didn’t return home now, I would find myself dozing off in the middle of the forest.

I forced myself to stand and walked from the clearing. I barely noticed the birds had stopped singing. The only sound now was the stream as it hummed and trickled through the clearing.

It was the prickling sensation at the back of my neck that alerted me to the shift in the atmosphere, the ominous quiet. I wished the warning had come sooner.

Suddenly, two huge men jumped down from the trees above me. A scream escaped me as I bolted and my feet propelled me forward, the two men in hot pursuit.

I realized my stupidity as I tried to figure out a way to fight them off without shifting. My stubbornness now coming back to haunt me.

I couldn’t shift. Not without the risk of harming my child, and now, all the strength I had been so confident in was useless. I could try to shift my claws and fight, but fighting back would also risk harm to my child.

Brady and the others had been right to keep me safely locked away. Worst of all, Brady probably would have let me go to the school tomorrow. If only I had been patient, I could have avoided the exact situation Brady warned me about.

I immediately recognized the vampire as he leaped from the tress, his grin betraying his recognition of me. I identified the rogue much faster than the vampire, his burned face and buzzed hair impossible to overlook.

“You aren’t going to get very far,” Thorne called out to me with a chuckle. “May as well just come with us willingly. Struggling will only get you hurt.”

“Yeah, like I’m going to fall for that line!” I retorted, shouting over my shoulder as I put one foot in front of the other.

“You have my word as a gentleman,” he laughed mockingly. “You will not be harmed as long as you are in my care.”

“Don’t make promises to her you can’t keep, bloodsucker!” Tristan growled interjected.

The anger in his voice pushed me to speed up, praying I hadn’t gotten lost in the clearing. I prayed again and again to whoever might be listening to just get me out of this alive. I swore I would never sneak around my family’s back again to do something dangerous like this. If only I were able to get away and be safe and sound in the packhouse once again.

I pushed myself forward, not daring to look back even as I heard them getting closer. I kept my eyes in front of me, scanning the tree line for any sign of the packhouse through the breaks in the trees. I could tell I had to be getting closer. I sensed that I was close to reaching a clearing as the trees and bushes became less dense.

My foot caught onto a root, my arm flailing as I fought to keep my balance. In a split second, my instincts took over and I instinctively hugged my belly as I braced myself for the impending fall, twisting my body to avoid any impact on my stomach. A single thought shot through my mind as I saw defeat closing in. “I’m so sorry, Brady. I should have trusted you.”

“Got you,” Thorne declared, his arms ensnaring me, his voice tinged with triumph.

I thrashed against his hold, my screams piercing the air, demanding release. I fought hard against him, shifting my claws, now that I had no other choice. As if a wild creature backed into a corner, I stubbornly refused to surrender, embracing the fight that remained my only choice.

“Easy now. We don’t want to harm you, do we?” He whispered menacingly in my ear.

As Tristan approached, I froze in place, my eyes widening with fear. My heart raced in my chest as I caught sight of the vampire, his sunglasses concealing his dark red eyes.

“Let me have her,” Tristan demanded, his tone menacing.

Thorne glanced back at Tristan with disinterest, his grip tightening, betraying no intention of relinquishing his hold as the golden wolf drew nearer. “I don’t think so, Tristan. I’m under strict orders from Minerva to bring her in unharmed. You best go find your revenge elsewhere.”

Tristan’s growl deepened as he inched closer to the vampire, his teeth elongating, as his shift pushed against his human skin.

“That wasn’t the arrangement I had with Minerva!” he snarled.

“It is now,” Thorne coolly replied. “Her orders were clear. It’s time you got over it.”

With a swift turn, Thorne dashed into the forest, erasing the distance I had painstakingly covered in my attempt to get back to the packhouse. I could feel the vibrations of magic along my skin as he ran, a strong metallic scent coming in and then fading away in the blink of an eye. As I looked up at Thorne, I couldn’t help but notice the cork from a bottle clenched between his teeth. His lips curved into a chilling smile as he sprinted.

He doesn’t know that I’m pregnant, thank the gods. The potion Diana gave me every day was working to hide the scent from anyone other than Brady. I wasn’t yet showing, and I had no suspicions of the pack leaking information from the packhouse.

“Fear not, Little Wolf. Minerva merely wishes to have a look at you. Once Tristan concludes his affairs, you’ll be released unharmed,” Thorne assured me, his pace unrelenting.

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