Page 55 of His Mate

I woke with a start, the shrill snap of a twig breaking through the silence. My eyes flew open, and for a moment, I didn’t understand what was happening. It was still dark, the fire reduced to glowing coals, and the moon hung low in the sky. I could feel Rowan stir beside me, but something wasn’t right.

I stiffened when I heard muffled voices, low and hurried, speaking just beyond the edge of the camp. I blinked, trying to make sense of it. Shapes moved in the shadows, figures slipping through the trees, silent but not entirely hidden. My pulse quickened, and I felt Rowan tense beside me.

“Kendra,” he whispered, his voice rough, his body already shifting as he began to sit up. “Stay close to me.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. I pressed myself closer to him, my heart racing as I peered into the darkness, trying to make out the shapes that seemed to be closing in around us. Then, out of the shadows, figures emerged—ten, maybe more. They moved with practiced precision, surrounding us on all sides.

Rowan stood slowly, pulling me to my feet with him, his eyes scanning the figures. They were human, I realized, their faces grim and hard in the dim light. Their clothes were worn, patched together with bits of leather and old military gear, and they carried weapons—rifles slung over their shoulders, knives glinting at their belts. I didn’t recognize any of their symbols, but something about them made my skin prickle with unease.

One of them stepped forward, a tall man with dark eyes and a scar running down his cheek. His gaze flicked over Rowan, then to me, and there was a coldness in his expression that sent a chill down my spine.

I didn’t like it one bit.

“You’re surrounded,” the man said, his voice low and gravelly. “Don’t try anything.”

Rowan tensed beside me, his eyes narrowing. “Who are you?” he growled, his voice biting.

The man ignored the question, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he looked Rowan up and down.

“A wolf and a human,” he muttered, loud enough for the others to hear. “Interesting combination.”

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The tension in the air thickened, and I could feel Rowan’s muscles coil beside me,ready to spring into action if needed. But I could also see the odds—there were too many of them. We were trapped.

“We’re not here to cause trouble,” I said quickly, trying to defuse the situation. “We were just passing through. We didn’t even know?—”

“You didn’t know?” the man interrupted, his voice cold, skeptical. “Didn’t know what? That we’d be watching? That the Resistance doesn’t take kindly to wolves or their little spies?”

The word Resistance echoed in my mind, and I felt a sudden chill sweep through me. I’d heard rumors—whispers of a group of humans who hated wolves, who fought against them wherever they could. But I never thought they were real. And certainly not out here, in the middle of nowhere in the forest.

“We’re not spies,” Rowan said, his voice steady but dangerous. “We’re not with them.”

The man sneered, stepping closer. “You expect us to believe that? A wolf traveling with a human? What, are you keeping her as a pet?”

Rowan’s eyes darkened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. I could feel the tension radiating off him, the barely contained fury. “She’s not my pet,” he growled. “She’s my mate.”

A ripple of murmurs spread through the group, and I saw the man’s face twist in disgust.

“A wolf mating with a human,” he spat. “Even worse than I thought. Wolves don’t take humans as mates unless they have an agenda. You’re spies, both of you.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, the man raised his hand. “Enough,” he barked. “We’re takingyou both in. We’ll deal with the wolf first, then decide what to do with the girl.”

“No!” I shouted, panic surging through me as the group started closing in on us. “You don’t understand; we’re not with them!”

But my words fell on deaf ears. The man nodded to one of the figures, and I saw a glint of metal—a syringe. Before either Rowan or I could react, one of the Resistance members darted forward, jabbing it into Rowan’s neck.

“Rowan!” I screamed, reaching for him as he staggered, his hand flying to the spot where the needle had pierced his skin. His eyes widened, and I saw the fight leave him in an instant. He swayed on his feet, his body growing heavy, his movements sluggish.

“Kendra…” he gasped, his voice thick and strained as his knees buckled beneath him.

I rushed to his side, trying to catch him, but he was too heavy, and he collapsed to the ground. His breathing was labored, his eyes half-lidded, and I could see the drug taking hold, pulling him under.

“No, please!” I cried, kneeling beside him, my hands shaking as I pressed them to his chest. “He’s not dangerous! You don’t have to do this!”

The man from the Resistance sneered again, motioning for the others to grab us. “Take them both.”

Rough hands grabbed me, pulling me away from Rowan, and I struggled against them, my heart racing. They dragged Rowan’s limp body across the ground, binding his hands behind his back as if he were still a threat.

“Rowan!” I screamed again, thrashing in their grip, but it was no use. They hauled me to my feet, dragging me and Rowan deeper into the forest, and there was nothing I could do about it.

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