Page 1 of Forsaken Desire
PROLOGUE
Ishuffled down the hall on the two-hundredth floor and stopped at a floor-to-ceiling window to gawk at the city stretching before me.
The stars glinted so close from up here. It felt like I could reach out and touch them.
I hugged myself, hoping it’d soothe my anxiety that had persisted since we’d arrived at Crescent Hotel. The lack of open space made my skin crawl. I detested closed-off areas.
If only that were the reason for my anxiety. Dad and I were moving here—hopefully.
Dad went out to a bar nearby to see if he could find any other shifters around. He wanted to dig for information on how this pack was run before the meeting scheduled tomorrow with Alpha Wilder.
Fingers crossed the Alpha wasn’t a douche, because I needed their meeting to go well. Joining this pack meant I could accept entry into the University nearby?—
The best smell I’d ever encountered filled my nose. I couldn’t help but follow it. My mouth watered. It held an undertone ofvanilla, but toe-curlingly better. I careened around the corner of the slim hall that opened to a second. Intricate ivory baseboards carved with elegant designs lined the walls. I breathed in, inflating my lungs. The potency of the scent grew with each step.
I slowed my slight jog as I neared an archway and poked my head into the room. It held multiple large printing machines and a coffee bar in the corner.
Then I sawhim.
He stood at the furthest corner of the office space, facing the printer screen.The smell came from him. My stomach flipped, and I sucked in a deep breath. Wide shoulders tapered to a lean waist, and his dark hair reflected the fluorescent lights, causing some strands to gleam blue.
Turn around. Turn around.
I audibly dragged a breath in, combing my brain for what to say.
“Um,” was all that came out. I was an idiot.
I wanted to groan and turn into a puddle, but before I could dissolve into a bundle of nerves, he turned, halting my breath in my throat.
“Call the repair—” He inhaled sharply. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen, and I had never thought of males as ‘beautiful.’
Our eyes met, and the bond snapped into place, forcing me back a step. My axis shifted to encompass him. Only him. A pure white light stretched from my chest to his, so bright it almost blinded me.
Mate.
I’d found him. He was mine. I staggered forward, tracing my gaze over his features. I had to crane my neck to look up at him.
Those eyes stole my breath away. Dark lashes fringed the intense hazel shade. His lips were parted with shock, but it did nothing to hide the attractive features. He had an even nose,sharp jaw, and lips curving down at the corners as if that was their perpetual state. His dark hair was artfully styled to the side with a slight swoop at the front.
He was the hottest shifter I had ever seen—without a hint of boyish softness—older than me, for sure. It wasn’t odd to have a mate who was younger, but if he felt weird about it, we could wait before starting our relationship. Getting to know each other slowly sounded perfect?—
“No,” he said harshly, and a faint line formed between his eyebrows.
The bond wobbled between us, and he smacked at it as if he could physically force it away. It no longer glowed brilliantly, it had become muted, easy to ignore unless I focused on it.
No, what? My feet started to tingle, and the rush spread to my fingers. What did he mean by that?
A sour taste spread on my tongue. It felt like he’d struck me where the bond connected at my chest.
He moved and for a split second, hope blossomed . . . but was just as quickly ripped away. He tried to move past me, angling his body like I was a pariah. I reached out to grab him, and he jerked back before I could touch him.
“No,” he snarled withsomuchrage.
Bile accumulated on my tongue, and I pressed my hand to my stomach. I helplessly sucked in a deep breath.He smells so good.
And now he was striding past me.
“Please,” I croaked. His body stiffened, but he didn’t take another step. A low growl vibrated from him. I pressed my palm against his lower back. The crisp, white button-down bunched under my hand, tugging it from where the fabric was tucked into a belt.
