Page 5 of Wolf Fated

Despite the wind whipping past my face, the scent of my mate lingers, torturing me with its alluring promise. My wolf rages within, snarling and snapping, desperate to turn back and claim what is rightfully ours. The instinctual drive to possess her, to mark her as mine, is overpowering.

I grit my teeth, digging my claws into the earth as I wrestle for control. As Alpha, my duty must come first. The wards have been breached, a threat that cannot be ignored lest it jeopardize the safety of our entire pack.

My soul aches to return to that diner, to drink in the sight of her verdant eyes and let myself drown in their depths. I thrum with the need to pull her into my embrace, to bury my nose in the crook of her neck and breathe in her intoxicating scent until it's seared into my very being.

A frustrated growl rumbles low in my chest as we near the border with the Ironjaw pack's territory. Our tensions with Jonah Cooper's pack have been simmering for years, a constant undercurrent of hostility that threatens to boil over at any moment.

If I catch any of his wolves trespassing on our lands, there will be consequences. Severe ones. And vice-versa. Cooper isn’t known for his leniency. I cannot afford to show weakness, not with the fragile peace between our packs hanging by a thread.

My jaw clenches as we break through the tree line, the border looming before us like an ominous barrier. The wards crackle with ancient magic, their power a tangible force that raises the fur along my hackles.

Zane shoots me a sidelong glance, his eyes reflecting the same turmoil that rages within me. As my Beta, he understands the gravity of the situation, but he also knows the depth of my newfound connection to my mate.

In the distance, the trees rustle with a subtle movement, and my wolf tenses, prepared to unleash his fury upon any threat that dares encroach upon our territory. As the figure emerges from the shadows, a wave of relief washes over me, quickly followed by a surge of frustration.

"Damien," I growl, my tone laced with equal parts exasperation and annoyance.

The young wolf shifter freezes in his tracks, his eyes wide and sheepish as he takes in our battle-ready stances.

"Alpha," he murmurs, dipping his head in a show of respect tinged with trepidation.

I level him with a stern glare, my jaw clenched tight as I rein in my temper. "What have I told you about wandering beyond the wards?" I demand, my voice a low rumble of barely contained authority.

Damien winces, his shoulders hunching as he shrinks back from the weight of my reprimand. "I'm sorry, Alpha," he mumbles, his gaze firmly fixed on the ground. "I was just exploring, and I lost track of where I was."

A muscle ticks in my jaw as I fight the urge to shake some sense into the wayward pup. He's still young, barely into his second decade, but his recklessness and disregard for the rules have been a constant source of frustration. I’ll have to have a word with his mother about this. A week or two being grounded from shifting will hopefully make the youngster think again.

"The wards are in place for a reason," I growl, my tone brooking no argument. "You know better than to venture beyond them without proper escort and permission. Alpha Jonah will spare you no mercy if he finds you in Ironjaw packlands and you know it."

Damien nods meekly, his shoulders slumping in acknowledgment of his transgression.

With a weary sigh, I wave him off, dismissing him from my presence. "Go home, Damien."

As the young wolf scampers off, his tail tucked firmly between his legs, I turn to Zane, my expression a mixture of exasperation and resignation.

"Pups," I mutter, shaking my head.

Zane's lips twitch with the ghost of a smirk, and he simply nods. We weren’t any different when we were Damien’s age. Both Zane and I would explore our territory for a week at a time, losing ourselves to our wolves and our instincts, and the delightful scents of the forest.

As we make our way back toward the diner, the weight of the female's presence settles over me once more, rekindling the embers of anticipation that had been momentarily doused by Damien's antics.

As we approach the diner's entrance, I pause, drawing in a deep, steadying breath and wrestle my wolf back under my human skin. The air is thick with the female’s alluring scent, a heady blend that sets my pulse racing and my mouth watering with barely restrained need.

Zane shoots me a sidelong glance, his expression a mixture of curiosity and understanding. With a slight incline of his head, he gestures to the diner's entrance, a silent invitation to lead the way.

My heart thunders in my chest as I steel my resolve, pulling the mantle of alpha around me like a well-worn cloak. This is it, the moment I've been waiting for, the potential crossroads that could forever alter the course of my life.

With a deep, steadying breath, I step forward, pushing through the diner's doors and into the unknown, my wolf howling in anticipation of what lies ahead. Instead all I see is that the stool where my mate had been sitting is now vacant.

Chapter Four

Sarah

I savor every bite of the juicy burger and golden fries that Sally placed in front of me, my taste buds rejoicing at the simple yet delicious flavors. It's been too long since I've had a proper meal, the last few days a blur of mindless driving and tasteless fast food consumed on the road.

I worked too many overtime hours and skipped too many meal times while I struggled to afford a New York life supporting two people. Getting home at midnight and up at six in the morning to do it all again meant I didn’t often think about dinner or breakfast and just grabbed a coffee and bagel before I hit the subway. Mark didn’t exactly supply the cupboards with food or snacks either. It’s amazing I still have the curves I do.

As I eat, my gaze darts around the cozy diner. Conversation has started again and I don’t feel like the center of attraction in a circus as I finish my meal. The two cups of coffee I drank and hours on the road has me seeking the ladies rest room. I’m returning to my seat at the counter when the diner's front door swings open, the bell above it tinkling merrily. I glance up at the pull in my gut, my gaze instantly snagging on the figure who strides through the entrance.

---