Page 13 of Alpha's Unwilling Mate

“Your job is here with me. You’ve mated the alpha. There are many responsibilities that come with that.”

“I appreciate that you’re the head of both groups now, but I have a job I love. As a nurse, I help provide a needed service. You know how important it is to have reliable medical care for shifters. We can’t go to a human hospital or clinic.”

“I’m not just the head of both groups.” The words snapped from his lips. He was on me quickly, rolling me to my back and looming over me. “I’m the alpha, your alpha. I want to hear you say it.”

I shook my head, my heart aching. “No.”

“The moment you took my blood, my cum, you accepted me as such,” he snarled.

“I accepted you as my mate, nothing more,” I fired back.

“I know you lost your brother. I get that you’re hurt—”

“You get nothing,” I yelled, lifting my head until my face was inches from his. “Being my mate doesn’t make you my alpha. My alpha died, and no one will ever take his place. Not even you.”

“I won’t argue with you about this. You’re emotional.”

I headbutted him, slamming my forehead against his nose, not caring when the spray of his blood rained down on me.

“Son of a bitch!” he roared, lifting a hand to staunch the flow, and I used the opportunity to shove him off me.

I leapt off the bed, not bothering to search for clothes since I’d strip once I hit the outdoors. Funny how I’d just thought there was nothing he’d suggest I wouldn’t be onboard with. Apparently, I’d been wrong. I slammed the door open, not stopping when I heard my name bellowed behind me. I hit the stairs at a run, taking them two at a time as I made my way to the front door.

“Get the fuck out of my way,” I snarled at the few of Bastion’s group, who seemed ready to step in and stop me.

“Raina!” Bastion thundered, but I didn’t care. I needed air. I needed…anyplace that didn’t smell of Bastion James.

One man stepped in front of me. “The alpha is calling you.”

“Not my alpha!” I screamed, and they echoed in my head on repeat, making me hot and dizzy. I channeled all of it into moving him out of my way. I hit him with all I had, heard the oomph as he lost air. Then he was flying away from me as a growl filled the air. My growl. I flung the door open and took two steps before a woman moved in front of me.

She had long dark hair, but it was her eyes that drew my gaze. So pale blue it was like peering into Caribbean waters. They seemed to hold so much knowledge. She bent at the waist, bowing to me, and when she rose, her eyes twinkled.

“I was waiting for you,” she said, and I hurriedly glanced over my shoulder, expecting to see Bastion looming behind me.

“I’m speaking to you, Raina,” she said, drawing my gaze back to her. “You’re the person I’ve been waiting for. Now, we begin to live.”

I shook my head, not understanding her. How could a stranger have been waiting for me? And what did she mean that they’d start to live now? They were already living. I turned from her and shifted mid-leap, quickly switching from human to wolf. I hit the ground running, knowing I needed to get away.

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I would easily fall in love with Bastion. We’d known each other less than a day, and I was already mated to him. When wolves mated, it was for a lifetime. I accepted that. What I couldn’t accept, what I’d never accept, was that Bastion James was my alpha. That he’d never be.

I’d already had one of those, and Rowan had been my whole world. I’d shared all my hopes and dreams with him. He’d been my confidant, my best friend, my protector. He’d been my alpha, then he’d died.

I’d talked to him the day before the accident. We’d had an argument. He’d called, demanding I come home, and I’d argued that I wanted to stay at college and take another course. Rowan had put down the law as only he could.

I’m your alpha, Raina. No matter where you go, I will always be your alpha. I expect you here within the week. Do I make myself clear?

I’d hung up, mad at the world but knowing I’d head home the next day. He’d died before I’d been able to leave. While I’d fumed over his summons, my brother had been killed in an explosion. His last words still resonated inside me. Bastion couldn’t be anything more than my mate. Rowan had been my alpha, and he always would be.

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