Page 4 of Wolf Fated

“Ward breach. North Eastern region near Berry Gulf,” I say, knowing exactly where the breach is. My senses sharpen, attuned to the disturbance. My wolf prowls restlessly, a low growl rumbling deep within my chest as I prepare to defend our territory from the threat.

I clench my jaw, my teeth grinding together as I struggle to maintain control as another waft of the delicious scent filters through the door Zane left slightly ajar. The scent of the female is a siren's call, pulling at me with an irresistible force. My wolf snarls and rages within me, pushing against the confines of my skin.

I need to see to the ward but…a needier force drives through me.

Have to go inside.

Have to know.

Zane darts down the steps to the cruiser but pauses when I still hover on the landing. “Just a minute, I have to see…”

I don’t finish the sentence.

I push through the doors and into the warmth of the diner, and the scent of the newcomer arrows into me. It's unlike anything I've ever encountered before, a tantalizing blend of wildflowers and warm summer rain, with an undercurrent of something deeper, something untamed and utterly captivating.

My senses snap on high alert as I scan the diner, trying to pinpoint the source of this intoxicating aroma.

And that's when I see her.

Seated at the counter, a vision of fiery beauty catches my breath in my throat. Long, crimson tresses tumble over her shoulders in gentle waves, framing a face that could have been sculpted by angels. Full, pouty lips sip from her coffee mug, and I let my gaze linger on the delicate arch of her neck, the gentle swell of her curves beneath the fabric of her sweater.

She’s absolutely gorgeous.

No wonder the goddess was holding out on me. Good things come to those who wait, but absolutely stunning mates come to wolves who border on feral.

It's her eyes that ensnare me, emerald pools of depth and vulnerability that reach into my very soul when she looks up. A crease tightens her brow as she scans the diner but then she sees me. Her gaze catches on mine. Locks.

In that moment, everything else fades into insignificance, and all I can focus on is her, this woman who has managed to awaken the most powerful thing within me. My one ardent want has now impossibly materialized.

Mate.

Mine!

My wolf howls in recognition, a feral, possessive sound that echoes through the depths of my being. Mate. This woman, this captivating creature, is my mate, the other half of my soul that I've been searching for all this time.

Suddenly, the world shifts on its axis, and everything I thought I knew is thrown into chaos. All the loneliness and despair that had been weighing me down moments ago evaporates like mist in the morning sun, replaced by a fierce, all-consuming need to claim what is mine.

My heart thunders in my chest, the blood roaring in my ears as every part of me yearns to close the distance between us. I force myself to remain still, my muscles coiled tight with the effort of restraint.

The savage instincts of my wolf rage within me and a small voice of reason whispers at the back of my mind. I cannot simply take what I want, not without risking everything we've worked so hard to protect. The ward breach still needs to be addressed, the threat to our territory and our pack assessed and dealt with.

And she is a human female with no idea what she’s just done or who we are to each other.

I can’t rush in and force her to be my mate. She’s not a wolf shifter female. She’s human. She’ll feel the bond now that I’ve sighted her, but not as fast as I will. I need to take this slowly or I’ll risk losing her altogether.

With a monumental effort, I tear my gaze away from the object of my desire to Sally. I nod to her. “Set her up at the Wolf’s Bite. Keep her safe.”

Sally’s knowing gaze slides to the female and a soft smile plays on her lips. I don’t miss the spark in her eyes when her gaze returns to mine. “It’s about time. Don’t worry, Alpha. Leave it with me.”

My wolf howls in protest, clawing at the edges of my control. He doesn’t care a ward was triggered. All he wants is to claim his mate. He doesn’t care she’s human. He doesn’t care that even though she is our mate, she deserves a choice to stay or go. She is my mate and even if it tears me in half, I’m determined she’ll have a choice.

With a steely resolve that belies the turmoil raging within me, I bolt out of the diner and into the forest. I pull off my uniform, leaving articles of clothing strewn on the ground behind me, Zane close on my heels. I shift into my giant russet animal and tear through the forest, planting each paw into the earth with determined force and fighting the pull of my wolf that would forgo my duty as alpha and take us back to our mate.

Chapter Three

Mitch

My paws pound the loamy forest floor as I race toward the border, every muscle straining with urgency. Zane lopes beside me, his powerful strides matching mine as we navigate the familiar trails that crisscross our territory.

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