Page 48 of His Mate

But it was one of the things I loved about her.

She stirred then, a small sigh escaping her lips, and I sat up straighter, my eyes fixed on her. She blinked, slowly at first, her gaze unfocused, and I could see the moment she remembered where she was, the tension flooding back into her body as she realized she wasn’t alone.

“I—” she started, her voice raspy, but I shook my head, stopping her before she could finish.

“Don’t,” I said, my hand brushing her arm. “You don’t need to explain anything. Just rest.”

She hesitated, her eyes searching my face, and I knew what she was thinking—that one of us, or worse, both of us could have been hurt, that she hadn’t trusted me enough to come to me before running off on her own. But none of that mattered now. She was here, with me, and she was safe.

I stood then, moving over to the hearth where the fire had finally caught, its warmth filling the small cabin.

“You need food,” I said, more to myself than her, as I scanned the cabin for anything I could use to cook. There wasn’t much, but I knew the forest held plenty. “There’s a river nearby. I’ll get us something to eat.”

I turned toward the door, but her voice stopped me, quiet and unsure. “Rowan…”

I glanced back at her, my hand resting on the doorframe, waiting.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes soft, filled with something I couldn’t quite name. “For coming for me.”

“I’ll always come for you, Kendra,” I said, my voice low, rough with truth. “Always.”

And then I stepped out into the fading light, the river rushing nearby. I was determined to catch us something to eat. Without another thought, I stripped off my clothes, leaving them folded by the cabin door. The shift came easy, as it always did—a rush of heat through my veins, bones cracking, lengthening, fur sprouting along my skin.

It was over in seconds, and when I stood again, I was on four legs, my senses keener, more focused. The world was clearer in this form—colors more vivid, sounds more distinct. I could hear the rustle of leaves, the scampering of small creatures in the underbrush, the distant calls of birds as they settled for the night. I could hear everything.

I took a deep breath, my heightened sense of smell catching the scent of prey not too far off—a deer, maybe, or a rabbit. I could taste the metallic tang of blood already, my instincts guiding me as I loped into the woods, my paws silent on the forest floor. The wind shifted, bringing the scent of my target closer.

A rabbit.

Perfect. It was small, but enough to tide us over for the night.

I slowed my pace, my body lowering to the ground as I stalked through the underbrush, eyes locked onto the small creature ahead. It was nibbling on some grass near the riverbank, oblivious to the danger that lurked in the shadows. I waited, each second feeling like an eternity, until the moment was right.

Then, with a burst of speed, I sprang forward, my paws silent, my jaws snapping around the rabbit’s neck before it even had time to react. The kill was clean, quick, and I held the warm body in my mouth. I felt the satisfaction of the hunt settle into my bones, but there was no time to dwell on it.

Kendra needed me.

I padded back through the forest, the rabbit dangling from my jaws, and as the cabin came into view, I shifted again, the change happening just as smoothly as before. My body returned to its human form, the familiar pull of muscles and cracking of bones leaving me feeling lighter, more in control. I got dressed, tucked the rabbit under one arm and headed inside.

Kendra was sitting up in bed when I returned, her eyes flicking to me as I stepped through the door. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room, and she watched me as I stoked the flames higher, laying the rabbit beside the fire.

I worked quickly, skinning the rabbit with the precision that came from years of survival, from having to fend for myself after the collapse. It was a routine I’d fallen into so many times that I didn’t even need to think about it. My hands moved automatically, slicing the meat and preparing it to roast over the fire.

As the rabbit cooked, filling the cabin with the rich, smoky scent of roasting meat, my mind drifted—back to a time I’d tried to forget, a time that still haunted me whenever I closed my eyes.

It was the early days of the Collapse, before we understood the full scope of what was happening and before we realized how quickly everything would unravel. Back then, I still had hope. I still believed we could hold on to what was left of our world.

I still had her—my Eva.

We were engaged, planning a future together in a world that was crumbling beneath our feet, but we were determined. I’d promised her that we’d survive this, that I’d protect her. But promises meant nothing when the world decided to tear itself apart.

The wolves came out of nowhere that night. They were faster, stronger, more brutal than anything we’d ever faced. I’d fought one off, barely managing to shift in time, but there were too many of them. I remember the way Eva screamed, the way she called out my name as they dragged her away into the woods. I remember the sound of her voice cutting off and the eerie silence that followed.

I ran after them, shifting mid-stride, my heart pounding, fear coursing through my veins. But I was too late. By the time I found her, she was gone. The wolf that had killed her looked up at me, blood staining its muzzle, and I tore it apart without hesitation, rage blinding me. But it didn’t matter. Nothing had mattered after that.

Not until Kendra.

I blinked, the memories fading as I came back to the present, the smell of the cooking rabbit filling my nose. I clenched my fists,trying to push the images of Eva’s lifeless body from my mind. That had been a different time. A different life. Kendra was here now. She was alive, and I would not fail her the way I’d failed Eva. I couldn’t.

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