Page 10 of The Wolf's Mate
“You have a mate?”
Tallie is beautiful, but the smile she gives me at the mention of her mate magnifies her beauty tenfold. “I do. You met him, actually. My mate is Thorne.”
My jaw drops. “Thorne is your mate? Damn, he’s hot.” I laugh, then remember I said I wanted to go to his room earlier. “Sorry for what I said?—”
Tallie waves off my apology. “No apologies necessary. Rip deserved that for being a jerk. Just don’t cast him aside yet. I promise, once he cares about you, he will stop at nothing to make sure you are happy and safe.”
Not sure I believe that, I nod at Tallie anyway. She is his cousin, after all, and probably sees a side of Rip that not a lot of other people see. I know very little about him, other than our first impression wasn’t great. I have a hard time believing it will get better.
Once inside the packhouse, Tallie leads me up a grand staircase, making me feel like Cinderella. At the top of the stairs, she pulls me to the left, after explaining the right is for guests, and all the rooms are full because of the influx of people in town. “You and Rip are the only ones down this hall. The first door will lead you inside. I’ll make sure someone comes by soon and drops off dinner and something for Grass. Do you need anything from me?”
I smile and shake my head, ready for alone time. “I think I’ll be fine.”
“Good. Well, if you need me, just stop someone in the hall, and they’ll come find me,” she promises. Doesn’t sound like the most effective method, but I nod anyway. “I’ll come by in the morning.”
Tallie finally lets go of my arm and offers me one last smile. “I’m excited to have you here in Lycan Forest. I think you’ll be good for Rip.”
With that, she turns back the way we came, leaving me alone with Grass and my muddled thoughts.
Chapter 5
Rip
Idon’t look back when I leave Hettie in Tallie’s capable hands. The meeting could not have gone worse. I thought I had been prepared for the arrival of my human mate, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Her warm, sweet scent filled my senses and awoke a deep, primal part of me.
The elders of Lycan Forest warned me that the draw to a human mate is more powerful than that of an alpha to an omega. It was all-consuming, and the need to mate would be nearly impossible to ignore. Ender had promised he’d find the right human for me, but I didn’t believe him until now.
I’d been so close to losing myself, so close to reaching out and touching her…but then she flinched. She fucking flinched away from me. It took everything in my power to keep my wolf at bay. He raged inside me, ready to defend the human from whatever demons still plagued her thoughts.
One little human who hasn’t even been here a day is unraveling me piece by piece. I fear what will happen when there’s nothing left to unweave.
Thorne walks by my side, dark eyes glancing over at me occasionally, but he keeps his mouth shut. If he senses the unease in my wolf, he wisely keeps it to himself. For now. I know it wasn’t his fault that Hettie threatened to go to his room, but I saw nothing but red in that moment. Never—until that moment—have I ever considered hurting my best friend, even when he mated my damn cousin.
For now, I push those thoughts to the side. I need my mind clear for the arrival of one of the other kings of Mescos. The only other person who knows what I’m going through and may provide insight on how to save my people. The visit is unexpected and terrible timing, but not one I’m willing to miss.
The alpha outside the meeting room bows at my arrival. “King Alpha Rip, King Malix and Queen Rose are awaiting you. Do you require anything?”
“Tell the kitchen staff to bring out food and mead.”
The alpha nods once, opening the door. I sense the Dragon King even before I see him. His presence is strong, and my wolf is on alert. Malix isn’t my enemy, but I’m also not keen on having a dragon in Lycan Forest. Especially this dragon. Another king in my territory makes me uneasy.
Malix sits at the opposite head of the table with his new wife to his left. This is the first time I’ve seen Rose. She’s a pretty human, petite with deep red, almost brown hair, a stark contrast to her pale complexion. The two of them rise as one, hands clasped tightly together.
If I thought the Dragon King was powerful before, it’s nothing compared to the power radiating from him now. Is this what Ender meant when he said Hettie would strengthen me?
“King Alpha,” Malix’s deep voice thunders in the otherwise silent room, “I would like to introduce you to my wife, Rose Briar.”
Rose breaks apart from Malix, coming over to me. Malix tenses, torn between letting Rose go and pulling her back. I don’t know the woman, but I doubt she will take kindly to having someone else dictate her moves. Much like Hettie.
“It’s nice to meet you, King Alpha.” She offers her hand. I take it, only because I’m in the mood to piss off Malix—just a bit. I swear I hear him growl when our hands touch, and the room temperature rises a few degrees.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rose. Should I give my condolences for ending up with such a hot-tempered mate?”
“Careful, wolf,” Malix warns.
Rose ignores her husband and laughs. “He’s not so bad.” She smiles, a wistful expression on her face. This human actually loves the dragon. Stranger yet, Malix seems completely enamored with her.
“Where is your mate? I thought Malix mentioned Ender was bringing someone over from Grym Hollow.”