Zara

No.

It can't be. This can't be happening. I can't find my mate right now. I don't want to be anyone's mate.

Pain shoots through my limbs with every thought to resist my wolf. She cries and whimpers, crying out, 'mate' every now and then.

I groan, trying to go against her, while she pulls me towards where my mate may be.

The last thing I need right now is an attraction to another man, especially after what I've faced.

I dig my fingers into the soil, taking deep breaths. The inside of my top is wet with sweat from the internal war raging beneath my skin. A growl rumbles beneath my chest and through my throat.

She's never been this wild before. Before, all I could feel was just the wisp of her presence, but I couldn't transform or actively communicate since I was a half-breed and too weak to do so.

This is going to be a disturbance to my plans if left unchecked.

The more I resist, the more my body strains to keep her at bay. If I don't go where she leads, she will definitely go berserk. It's not uncommon for a werewolf to transform during the day of a full moon, but it's seldom a good thing, as such transformations during the day mean that there is less of a connection between the host and wolf. This means that the wolf mostly acts on destructive instinct, which may not bode well for some people.

Especially those who I aim to destroy.

I can't have my wolf killing people before I'm ready to make any more moves, so I let her lead me through the woods.

My feet rush forward, pumping with energy as I rush through the woods. I howl, and leap onto a nearby tree. With incredible ease, I scale up the bark and come to rest atop a branch.

I crouch, sniffing the air.

He's close.

Of course, I don't want to harm him. I just hope my wolf will be satisfied with simply catching a glimpse of him.

I take off my jacket in one breath, and place it on the branch. I'll come back for it later, right now, I need as little restriction as I can get. The heat I'm feeling is unbearable.

I launch myself into another tree, then drop down to the floor as quietly as I can. My heart feels like it'll burst out of my chest right at this moment.

He's so close by. Why haven't I caught sight of him yet?

He gets closer with every heartbeat, and I look around, putting all my senses to use.

My body moves to the side on instinct, barely dodging the man that nearly rams into me. He comes to a stop by the tree I was previously leaning on, breathing so heavily that I can hear his lungs rattling.

His head is bowed. His brown hair with dyed gray tips obscure most of his face, but I know without a doubt that this is him.

This is my mate.

It takes every ounce of me to not run to him like my wolf wants, but with great effort, I manage to stay put.

One of his arms is covered with black ink that swirls around his tanned skin. I follow the intricate design until it disappears underneath his shirt. I want to see the rest.

"Mate," he says, and his voice is enough to set me on a path of no return. It's so deep, like a grumble, but undeniably attractive. My lower belly tightens at the sound of it.

He finally raises his head, and his eyes lock with mine.

As my wolf struggles to close the distance between us, I pull away. I should have noticed the tattoo on his arm sooner.

It marks every member of the Crescentis pack. I remember the stories of their pack. Of how they never spared those who dared to trespass on their territory. Of their hostility towards other wolf packs.

Of the virility of their males.

My cheeks heat up at the last thought.

Women of my pack would usually swoon at how attractive he was, and he was a favorite topic whenever females were gathered.

I can see why now.

A scar runs from the top of his eyebrows and stops at his sharp cheekbone. They only add to his appeal, but what strikes me the most are his eyes.

They are rich brown and shine gold when light hits them.

He pushes away from the tree and moves towards me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I should not be admiring him at such a time.

"Mate," he says again.

My body stiffens in response to his call, and I stand in place watching him as he comes to stand so close that our bodies are pressed together.

Without warning, he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me even closer. He leans over me and presses his lips against my neck.

My wolf's enjoying this. A moan escapes me before I can stop myself.

The feel of his body is amazing—no.

I use all of my strength to push him away. I try not to pay any attention to my wolf's whimpers.

"No. Stay away from me," I caution him, putting as much distance between us as I can.

He shakes his head as though trying to clear his mind. The lustful gleam in his eyes clear. "I'm sorry. I couldn't stop myself." He holds out a hand for me to shake, "I'm L—"

"Lucien Blackwater of the Crescentis pack," I interrupt, folding my arms across my chest. "I know who you are." I don't move to shake him, and so he drops his hand back to my side. The movement makes the thin fabric of his shirt flatten against his chest, clinging against the bulge of his pectorals.

Wow.

I clear my throat and look away from him. He's too distracting for a man who I just came in contact with.

I can't predict what will happen next, because I've stepped into uncharted territory. He wasn't in my nightmare—slash—past life. The uncertainty makes my skin crawl.

"What pack are you from?" he asks, breaking the tense silence between us. He turns his head to the side slightly, sniffing the air.

"Moonstone," we say at the same time.

"Your scent's different. Not like other wolves. Why?" His questioning eyes look so harmless, without any sort of evil intent behind them. Rather, they are inquisitive, like a child's. Where's the roguish brute I've heard so much about?

My wolf continues to whine, begging for more of that delicious body contact. This isn't what I need right now. Or ever. Why did I have to come across him now? Even if I leave now, he won't let go that easily.

I take a deep breath and backtrack even further away from him. "Look as much as I would love to chat, I really have to go."

His eyes slightly widen. He doesn't like the sound of that. "Wait. You can't just leave like this."

"Sure I can," I hop into a tree and stare down at him, "watch me."

"Like hell I will," he lunges forward and jumps into the tree as well, rattling me from the branch I'm on. I jump off before he gets to me and start to run away, but he's obviously faster than I am.

Seconds later I'm grabbed around the waist.

I lean against him for a split moment, appreciating his body warmth and amazing scent.

I push against him, but he only turns me around so that I can face him. I try to break his grasp on me, and I almost succeed until my wolf intervenes, making me wrap my legs around his waist.

"No. No. No!" I mutter. What is wrong with me?

"Mate. Mate!" my wolf chants. "Need mate near."

Lucien looks at me, watching my expression. "Why do you fight it?"

I try to pull away again. "Because," I push against his chest, "I don't," he tugs me back, "need a mate. I don't want one either."

His lips tighten. "Why?" He brings his face close to mine, and our noses touch. Our breaths mingle. Him and I, intertwined.

My legs are still tightly wrapped around his waist even though my hands press against his chest, frantically trying to push him away.

What a ridiculous sight I must be.

"I need an answer, Mate. Why are you rejecting me?"

I give up on trying to escape his grasp and sag into his arms. He can't understand that his presence is the last thing I need.

All I want to do is avenge my people. I haven't even seen them since I had that experience.

I open my mouth to tell him off again, but I catch the scent of another wolf.

"Zara?"

It's Jared.