Page 5 of Falling for My Shifter Enemy

Not to mention, she looks...irresistible. I shouldn’t be thinking this, not after everything she’s just been through. She’s standing there, disheveled from the kidnapping, her light brown hair cascading out of the messy bun it had been trapped in. Her glasses are askew, one lens slightly fogged from the cold air. Her petite frame is swallowed by those shapeless clothes she hides behind, yet there’s something about the curve of her hips peeking beneath that oversized shirt that pulls my attention despite myself.

It’s not that I never expected to meet my fated mate—I knew, one day, it was bound to happen. But never in a million years did I think it would be someone fromWhispering Pines. My teeth grind together at the thought. Rivals. That’s what her pack is.And yet here she is, standing in front of me. The irrational part of my brain—the human,calculatingpart—screams that this is a cosmic mistake, that nothing good can come from this bond.

But my wolf? My wolf doesn’t give a damn about rivalries.

He’s already clawing at the surface, his sharp pull toward her undeniable, primal. His certainty burns in me. Heknowsshe’s ours. That she needs to be claimed,protected. It’s like he’s been waiting all this time, watching from the shadows of my mind, for the day he’d find her—and now that day is here, and he’s not about to letanythingstand in the way.

“Mine,” my wolf growls inside me, a low, possessive sound.

Ryan and I stand a few feet away, his arms crossed as we discuss the next steps. My attention keeps drifting back to her—Chloé. My mate. She hasn’t stopped watching me since I shifted back into human form, and I can feel the weight of her gaze like a physical touch. The mate bond hums between us, a constant reminder of what I now have to protect, whether I like it or not.

“We need to secure the area,” Ryan says, cutting through my thoughts. His voice is sharp, but there’s a thread of worry running beneath it. “Make sure there aren’t any other threats.”

I nod, forcing myself to focus. “My team is already sweeping the perimeter. There’s no sign of anyone else, but we’ll do a second check just to be sure.” My voice comes out rougher than I intend, the tension in my body still simmering from the fight.

Ryan’s eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t argue. He knows I run my pack like a machine, efficient and precise. “Good. And what about Chloé and Zoe?” His tone softens when he says their names. I don’t miss the protectiveness in his voice, especially when it comes to Chloé.

Marcus steps forward, his expression unreadable but resolute. "I'll take care of Zoe," he says, his voice steady. His eyes flick to Zoe, and for a moment, I catch a glimpse of something more—something deeper between them. "She'll be safe with me."

Ryan nods, a satisfied look crossing his face before he turns his attention back to me. "And Chloé?"

My wolf snarls at the thought of anyone else being responsible for her safety. The bond between us flares, an almost painful reminder that she’s mine to protect. I clench my fists, fighting the overwhelming possessiveness that surges through me. "I'll take her back with me," I say, my voice low and final. "To Howling Pines."

Ryan’s brow furrows, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Are you sure that’s wise, Theo? She’s a Whispering Pines wolf, not one of yours."

I meet his gaze head-on, my wolf pushing to the surface. "She’s safer with me than anywhere else."

I can tell from Ryan's expression that he knows there's more to my request than just concern for her safety. The way his eyes narrow, studying my face—he must sense the mate bond forming. He's not stupid; he knows I wouldn't insist on taking a rival pack member unless something significant was at play. The tension in his jaw tells me he's already piecing it together, and he's not happy about it.

"She's been through enough trauma today, Theo," Ryan says carefully, his words measured. "I don't want to subject her to more stress by sending her into unfamiliar territory with..." He pauses, choosing his words deliberately, "...someone she barely knows."

My wolf bristles at the implication. We might be strangers now, but she'sours. The possessiveness that courses through me is almost painful in its intensity. I know Ryan would fight me on this if he had to—he's always been protective of his pack members, especially Chloé. But I also know he can sense the shift in dynamics between us, can probably smell my wolf's claim on her already. Fighting me on this would only lead to conflict neither of us wants.

"Two days," I say, my voice leaving no room for negotiation. "Just until we're sure there's no lingering threat. Then she can decide what she wants to do."

The look Ryan gives me speaks volumes. He knows as well as I do that two days with a fated mate could change everything. But he also knows he doesn't have much choice—not unless he wants to challenge an Alpha protecting his mate.

Ryan holds my stare for a long moment, the tension thick between us. But then, finally, he nods, though I can tell he’s not entirely convinced. "Fine. But we’ll be in contact. I expect regular updates."

I nod curtly. "Agreed."

Without another word, I turn and walk toward Chloé. Her eyes widen slightly as I approach, and I can see the uncertainty swirling in them. She’s still processing everything that’s happened—everything that’s changed. And I can’t blame her. Hell, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it too.

"You’re coming with me," I say, my voice gruff. It’s not a request. It’s a fact.

Her lips part, as if she’s about to argue, but then she hesitates, her eyes searching mine. I can see the conflict warring inside her—the fear, the confusion, the pull of the mate bond. She doesn’t fully understand it yet, but she feels it. Just like I do.

After a long moment, she nods, her voice quiet but steady. "Okay."

I gesture for her to follow, and together, we make our way toward my truck. My wolf settles slightly, knowing she’s with me, but the tension between us is far from gone. This bond, this mate connection, complicates everything. But for now, all that matters is keeping her safe.

As we drive through the darkened forest, the silence stretches between us, heavy and charged. The moonlight filters through the trees, casting long shadows across the road. I grip the steering wheel tightly, my thoughts racing. What the hell am I supposed to do with this? With her?

Chloé sits quietly beside me, her hands resting on her lap. I can feel the weight of her presence, the mate bond humming between us like a live wire. It’s almost too much, the way it pulls me toward her, demands that I protect her, claim her. But I can’t. Not yet. Not like this.

I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, watching the way the moonlight plays across her face. There’s a vulnerability in her that tugs at something deep inside me, something I’ve spent years burying. She’s not what I expected. Not what I thought my mate would be. But there’s a strength in her too, a quiet resilience that I can’t ignore.

The truck slows as we approach the Howling Pines pack house, a renovated industrial building that looms large in the distance. It’s a symbol of my power, of everything I’ve built. And now, I’m bringing Chloé into it. Into my world.

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