Page 7

7

MARIE

C oming here alone seemed like a good idea at the time.

I thought that Jonathan’s presence here would set Graham off, but it turns out he was never going to let this go. It’s not even about me, it’s about something being taken from him, and like a child who doesn’t like being told no, not even by the moon goddess, he’s throwing an alpha-sized tantrum.

“But your mate is out there, Graham. If you mark me, you’ll never find her. She could go through life alone.”

She might be better off but now isn’t the time to tell him that.

All wolves long to meet their fated mates. Lots choose to take a chosen mate, forsaking their chances to find their fated mate, once all the possible opportunities to meet them have been exhausted. But they would only mate someone that they loved, and they would never, ever, take someone else’s fated mate away.

To wolves, disrespecting the magical connection the moon goddess has bestowed is sacrilege, even if it’s not the future you were hoping for.

“Or she could be dead, and I’m not in line to get a second chance mate.” His fingers dig into my arm as he hauls me along.

I use my weight to slow his progress, but the sight of a truck parked tight against the trees sets my heart pounding. That vehicle may as well be a gun, because if he gets me back to his pack house, I’ll never escape. His pack is known for being extremely well trained as warriors and excellent trackers.

One lone female in unfamiliar territory doesn’t stand a chance.

“Why are you doing this? You know Jonathan will come. You can’t keep me forever. Every alpha at the conference saw our bond snap into place. Even if you mark me, they’ll come for you.”

If Jonathan petitions the other alphas, tells them that Graham has kidnapped his mate, they’ll believe him. Even if the bond breaks, the idea of which makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry, I have to believe that Jonathan knows I’d never have done it willingly.

The other alphas would want to speak with me, at the very least, to confirm his story.

But with a new bond formed with Graham, would I become so attached to him that I’d lie to protect him?

I’ve never heard of anything as fucked up as this, so I’ve no idea how it would play out. Which means Graham probably doesn’t either.

“I’ve marked him already, Graham. If you mark me, it’ll be like we’re a throuple. Do you really want Jonathan Jones to be able to feel your emotions, know where you are?”

Graham’s attempts to force me ahead are apparently taking too long, or too much energy, so he switches strategies. Instead of pulling me, he lifts me around the waist and tosses me over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.

“Don’t think about shifting, Marie.”

The command settles over me and I curse myself for not doing it sooner. I can’t draw my wolf out, my mind literally unable to contemplate starting the change.

Damn him.

I thrash and kick, but his hold is iron.

“Keep kicking, Marie. I’ll mark you right here, and fuck you bent over this railing with my enforcers here to watch.”

Graham’s voice is ice cold, and I freeze, knowing it’s quite likely he’d deliver on his threat.

“Or maybe, you’ll play nice since you don’t want Jonathan dearest to feel the pain of someone else fucking his mate, and her enjoying it.”

He’s vile, quite literally the most despicable man I’ve ever come across.

How did I not see it?

“You’re sick. Sick in the head, Graham,” I whisper the words so he doesn’t feel obliged to reprimand me in front of his warriors, but I know he can hear me.

“Maybe. But at least I’m not afraid to take what I want. What kind of alpha lets his luna go to another man without a mark on her neck? A man who doesn’t deserve a fated mate, that’s who.”

His chest and back vibrate with his fury as he strides toward the car. One of his henchmen darts forward and yanks open the back door, ignoring my venomous glare and slamming the door shut when Graham tosses me inside and points a finger at me in warning.

One enforcer slides in each rear door, despite my attempts to kick and shove them away, boxing me in on the back seat. Graham climbs behind the wheel, his jaw set in a hard line, and every muscle in his body tenses. When he swivels in the seat, his wolf is shining in his eyes, and I know I’m in real trouble here.

He means every word. There’s no reasoning with him.

“If he comes for you, I’ll kill him, Marie. You know I will. If you want to save his life, you’d be better off accepting this and realising you’re mine. Or he’s going to pay the price.”

Silently, I hold his gaze, trying to burn a hole in his head with my furious stare. He will not hurt my mate.

He bristles, unused to anyone being able to stand up to him. But I’m a luna now, or will be shortly, so I don’t feel the need to submit to him just because he’s trying to intimidate me.

It’s working, and inside, I’m trembling, but I’m too stubborn and too pissed off to show him.

As the engine turns on, the truck rumbling to life, Graham pulls away, pointing the vehicle toward his home, my palms sweat.

Don’t let him move you.

My father drilled this into me growing up. If someone takes you and needs to move location to do whatever they plan to do, it’s not going to be pretty, so you need to put up a fight if you can.

Two bulky men have me sandwiched in the back of a moving truck, so my options are limited. But they’re not completely non-existent. These men underestimate me, think I’m some meek damsel in distress. Far from it. They’re going to rue that mistake.

Closing my eyes, I empty my mind, praying to the goddess that this is going to work. Without thinking, without calling to her, I feel her anger as she pushes to the front of my mind, knowing I need her without me needing to ask.

My wolf.