Page 5 of Owning His Mate

Please,no.

I shake my head, dismayed as my eyes fill with tears. “Don’t.”

I pull my gaze away from him. My traitorous wolf has retreated back into my mind, where I can’t reach her and chastise her for recognizing this…wolf… as my mate.

Instead, I’m alone in my head with a stranger who I know is reading every emotion I’m feeling.

“I don’t want this,” I whisper, letting my tears flow.

As I turn my head to the side, I spot Dove standing with Jackson, her hands covering her mouth as she watches in wide-eyed shock.

Everyone in the room is laser-focused on us. Of course they are. Some of these wolves and tau have probably never seen a mating bond snap into place like this.

I close my eyes, trying to hide from my shame and my turbulent pain, but his fingers grab my chin insistently, the pads pressing hard enough to get my attention as he twists my head back to him.

I can feel his confusion through our steadily growing bond. We’re fated mates. There isn’t supposed to be any hesitancy or rejection, and I can tell he didn’t expect it from me.

Unable to bear his touch, I scramble to my feet. He reaches out, but I shove his hands away when he tries to steady me. I’m as weak as a newborn, my legs barely holding my weight, but I don’t want his help.

“What the fuck, woman?” I don’t blame the confusion and the anger in his words.

This isn’t how it’s supposed to go, but fate was cruel to him when it brought us together.

“Stay the fuck away from me,” I hiss at him, reaching for my magic as he steps closer.

Oh yeah, he’s pissed. I feel his anger vibrating from every part of him as I inch away.

“You’re mine,” he growls.

“I’ll never be yours.” I back up a few steps, putting distance between us, and then I run.

Chapter 2

Kye

What in the hell just happened?

My head swims, and my chest feels tight as my little dark-haired mate locks her gaze with mine for a split second before darting off like a rabbit.

What the fuck?

There was so much fear as our mating bond clicked into place and all I want to do is show her she’s safe. The gathered crowd parts to let her through as she shoves her way toward the exit and another female with moon-touched hair tries to follow her.

Clamping my jaw together, I try to control my irritation. If my mate thinks she can run from me, she’s out of her fucking mind. We’re connected. I now know where she is at every given second, and even if we weren’t, I’m a formidable tracker. There’s nowhere she can hide from me.

Go after her.

My wolf is impatient for me to claim her fully, and so am I. I’ve never felt a damn thing toward a female in my life, but this little hybrid has awoken something inside me I didn’t know lay dormant. The need that pulses through me with every thump ofmy heart is like an adrenaline rush, but the way she ran from me fucking pisses me off.

What the hell is she scared of?

You.

And why wouldn’t she be? I’m a hulking, snarling asshole who is as approachable as a rabid bear.

This was not how I expected to meet my mate.

A blanket is thrust in my direction, but I ignore it. I don’t give a shit that I’m naked. The only thing I care about is that the bond between us isn’t calm. Her panic and fear pinball around my mind, and when she doesn’t come back inside, a wave of panic washes through me.

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