Page 4 of The Alpha’s Forced Plus-Size Mate (Silverfang Creek Wolves #3)

“Marry me. ”

The words bounced around inside my skull like a ping-pong ball, the haze of sleep still making everything fuzzy. One thing was for certain, though—I couldn't be his mate, I just couldn't.

“I'm sorry,” I said, pulling my hands out of his grasp. “I can't do that. I won't.”

Danny's eyes flashed dangerously. “You won't?”

“No. No way. I don't care what the little ceremony said. It's bullshit.”

“It's not,” Danny insisted. “Naomi, I promise. Everything is going to be okay. I won't hurt you. You're safe here.”

“Safe?” I scoffed. “If I was safe, why did your driver drug me, huh?”

“Because you were running away,” he replied, not even trying to deny it. I had known the moment before passing out that something was terribly wrong with me, and his easy admission confirmed it.

I tried to get a good look at him but my eyes feel like they're crossing if I tried too hard to focus. He was attractive, that much I could discern. He kept his dark curly hair just long enough for the curls to form around his ears. Pieces of it hung in front of his steely gray eyes, and it was the same color as the dark scruff on his square jaw. Danny was tan from the tips of his fingers all the way to his face, not a tan line in sight, telling me that he spent plenty of time under the hot Georgia sun.

And those lips. They were frowning right now, but they were full and looked soft, with a perfect cupid's bow. The thought crossed my mind of what they would feel like pressed against my own. Wait. What am I thinking?

“I'm not a prisoner here,” I snapped. “You can't keep me. Let me leave.”

“Leave and go where?” he demanded.

“Back home.”

“Home? You think the Silverfangs want you back? You think you'd be better off there?”

Ouch, That one stung. I narrowed my eyes menacingly at him, ignoring that he was twice the size of me. “I'm not yours.”

“You are,” he said firmly.

“I'm not.”

“You are.”

“I'm not.”

Danny growled, dragging his hand through his hair and shooting to his feet. “You know what? You keep telling yourself whatever you want. I'll give you some damn space to figure yourself out, Naomi, but you're going to have to come to terms with this eventually. You. Are. Mine.”

With that, Danny stomped toward the door, but not before plonking a plate of pastries on the side table next to the pitcher of water. Then he was out of the room, shutting the door behind him hard enough to emphasize his annoyance, but not quite a slam. If he hadn't been my kidnapper, it might have been funny.

Once he was gone, I allowed myself a few minutes to sit on the bed, my thoughts whirling a thousand miles a minute. When the dizziness threatened to overtake me, I flopped down, lying flat on the soft blankets. The ceiling was a smooth white, the texture painted into it, and I stared up at it, trying not to panic.

I wasn't supposed to be anyone's mate. Especially not his. The ceremony was a sham. Fate was wrong.

But was it?

The idea was tempting. Most would call thoughts like that the beginnings of Stockholm Syndrome, but wolf culture was different from human culture. Kidnapping of mates wasn't—great, but it also wasn't unheard of.

That didn't make me any less furious. But my mouth was so dry it felt like I had been chewing sand, and my stomach had started growling the second I saw the pastry plate. Sighing, I pushed myself up and grabbed the pitcher, filling a plastic cup and then taking a long swallow. Once my thirst was quenched, I filled it again and set it down, digging through the food.

A Danish seemed the most appealing, so I snatched it and took a bite. It was heavenly, sweet and fluffy with the perfect amount of blueberry, and I moaned a little at the taste. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until now, and the food was doing wonders for the fog that had overtaken my brain.

By the time I had finished the Danish and the plate of pastries, the food had perked me up. I had no idea what to do.

Was Danny really my fated mate? Would he really keep me prisoner if I tried to leave? And what was with the kidnapping and the drugging?

Oh god, I had to find a way to call Kate. She was probably panicking.

It was a lot to take in, and I found myself getting frustrated just trying to sort it all out. My emotions were everywhere, and I needed to get out of here.

Carefully, I got up from the bed. When I made sure my legs could hold me, I padded over to the window. It had a small latch, but it was locked, and when I pulled on it, it wouldn't budge. There was no lock on the door, but when I tested the handle, it was locked from the outside.

Dammit.

There was a bathroom attached, but the window was far too small for me to climb through, especially with the screen in the way.

What the hell? I was really a prisoner.

The idea made me feel sick to my stomach, and I rushed back to the bed and dropped onto it, burying my head in the pillows. I wanted to scream, or cry, or both, but mostly, I just wanted to get the hell out of there.

It didn't seem like that was happening any time soon, though.

“Hey.”

The word made me jump, and I sat up, clutching a pillow in front of me. Standing in the doorway was a short woman with curly black hair and big brown eyes. She had a round, pretty face and a bright smile on her full lips. The red scrubs she was wearing were faded, and she was wiping her hands on a rag.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“My name is Rhonda. I'm your nurse, and I'm here to take you to one of the pack boarding houses until you're settled in.” Rhonda paused. “That is, Danny said, unless you want to just stay here at his house.”

“Oh no, no, no,” I said, shaking my head. “I'll go with you. Please.”

“Okay.”

Rhonda didn't seem put off by my eagerness to get the hell away from Danny, and she beckoned me forward. I stood and followed her, but as soon as we stepped out of the room, my foot caught the carpet, and I stumbled, pitching forward. Rhonda managed to catch me and help me upright, a frown on her face.

“Careful. I don't want to let the Alpha's new mate get hurt on my watch.”

All I could do was give her a glare.

She chuckled and led me out of the house. Danny's house was a two-story house surrounded by trees—he clearly valued privacy. There, a white van with the words 'Red Canines Pack Medical Unit' painted on the side was waiting. She opened the back door and helped me in before shutting the door and climbing into the front seat.

“How are you feeling?” she asked as we started driving. “I know you're probably still a little disoriented. Did you eat?”

“Yes,” I told her.

“Good. It will help you feel a little better. How about your legs? Still sore?”

“I'll be fine,” I told her.

“Mmhmm.” She didn't sound convinced. “I can get you some more painkillers for the aches. If you want them.”

I sighed. “Yeah, that would be good.”

“Alright. We're heading to the boarding house, and that's where you'll stay until the mating ceremony.”

“I'm not mating with him,” I insisted.

“We'll see about that.” Rhonda laughed.

The rest of the drive was silent, and when the van stopped, she helped me out. In front of us was a squat white house painted a light blue. It had a wide front porch, and several rocking chairs and potted plants decorated the landing.

“This is one of our pack's boarding houses,” Rhonda told me. “You will be staying here while you're in Red Canine territory—that is unless you choose to move in with Danny before the ceremony. You may make that choice at any time. As of right now, there are two other women living here. You all have your own rooms, and they know that you're arriving today.”

I frowned. “Are they kidnapped mates too?”

She huffed a laugh. “No, Honey. That distinction is uniquely yours. Come on, Danny already brought your stuff over.”

She helped me inside. The floors were hardwood, and the furniture looked old and comfortable. Rhonda led me up a set of stairs, down the hallway, and stopped in front of a wooden door.

“Here we are. Why don't you have a seat and rest for a while? Your room is all set up.”

I nodded, and she opened the door for me. Inside, it was just like the rest of the house. It contained a four-poster bed with a quilt, a vanity, a dresser, and a closet. For entertainment, there was an older television and a small stack of books. My duffel bag, which I hadn't seen since the semi-truck, was sitting on the bed.

“I'm going to go now, but the other girls will be in to say hi.” Rhonda told me, “You should be fine from here on out, but if anything happens, Danny knows to call me. Have a good night, Naomi.”

With that, she shut the door, and a moment later, I heard the click of the lock.

Of course.

It was like I was under house arrest, and the feeling was horrible. My heart was beating a thousand miles a minute, and a sheen of sweat broke out on my forehead. The walls felt like they were closing in, and the air was getting thin. I felt like I was going to faint, or throw up, or both.

Slowly, I forced myself to sit on the bed and close my eyes. Breathe. Just breathe.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

After a few minutes, my heart had stopped racing and my breath came a little easier. When the wave had passed, I got up and started unpacking my clothes, putting them away in the dresser and the closet. There was no sign of a cell phone or any kind of electronic communication device, and that meant there was no chance for me to call or text my friends.

It had been almost a full day since the mating ceremony, and I was sure that at least someone would have noticed that I was gone.

Unless—unless they really didn't care.

The thought was a painful one. It made sense. They were probably partying right now, glad that I wasn't around, and not even sparing a thought about me. Tears sprang to my eyes, and I bit my lip hard. Now was not the time for tears, no matter how much it hurt. Right now, I needed to find a way out of here.

My planning was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. The lock clicked over again, and a small woman with dark hair entered. She was carrying a white plate that held a turkey sandwich and a handful of potato chips.

“Hey,” she greeted me softly, “My name is Natalia. I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you some lunch.”

“Thanks,” I said. “I'm Naomi.”

“I know.” She smiled. “Can I sit with you?”

“Sure.”

Natalia perched herself on the end of the bed, watching as I picked at the chips. “Are you settling in okay? Do you have everything you need?”

“For the most part.” I took the plate from her and set it on the bed next to me, my appetite long gone. “I guess you and the other woman here are supposed to watch my every move, huh?”

She shrugged. “Danny has us look after you, yes. He wants to make sure you're taken care of.”

“Doesn't he trust me not to run away?”

Natalia laughed, shaking her head. “Not in the slightest.”

She was friendly enough, and I had nothing else to lose. So instead of picking up the plate, I leaned in closer to Natalia and lowered my voice. “Listen, I know asking you to go against your Alpha is crazy, but I have to get—”

“What is it that you have to get, Naomi?”

Danny's deep voice came from the doorway, making both of us jump. He was leaning against the doorframe, watching me like a hawk. How in the hell was he so quiet?

“N-nothing,” I stammered.

He gave me a flat look and strode into the room, standing tall over both of us. I shivered at his size but held my ground, raising my chin and meeting his gaze.

“Natalia, get out,” he said.

“But, Alpha—”

“I said, get out,” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. He scowled down at the sandwich plate and picked it up, thrusting it toward Natalia. “Make this again. It looks sloppy. My mate deserves the best.”

“Y-yes, Alpha.” She got up and left, throwing me a worried glance.

When she was gone, Danny fixed his glare on me. “You think you're going to play my pack against me? Think again. She would have never done whatever it was you were about to ask her.”

“Whatever,” I snapped. “She could have. And she would have if she didn't fear you.”

“Mm.” Danny came to sit on the edge of the bed, causing me to jump up to get away from him. I didn't want him near me.

I kept waiting for Danny to berate me more or tell me that there was no use trying to escape, but he didn't. Instead, he surprised me by watching quietly as I finished putting my clothes away. Every once and a while, I'd catch him staring, but he didn't speak or move.

“Can you not watch me?” I snapped after a few minutes, the tension getting to me.

“Why not?” He sounded genuinely curious.

“Because it's creepy. What do you want, Danny?”

“Nothing.”

“Then why are you here?”

“You're here.”

The statement was so simple and so direct that I couldn't think of a response. Huffing, I finished putting up the measly amount of clothes that I packed, annoyed and flustered. I tried my best not to look back at him, but in my quest to avoid eye contact, my still-cramping legs got tangled up with one another, and I tripped.

Before I could fall, though, Danny was at my side, wrapping a large hand around my arm and pulling me upright. The movement put us chest to chest, and my breath caught as I stared up at him. He was beyond handsome, with a jawline that could cut glass, and the stubble on his chin only added to the rough look. His eyes, steely gray in the lighting of the room, were framed by thick lashes, and his mouth was full and inviting.

Kissable, even.

I could feel the heat radiating off of his body and smell his heady scent. It was like sandalwood and a cool autumn night, and it was so enticing that I leaned closer. Oh, why did he have to feel so good when I was supposed to be hating him?

“Don't worry,” Danny purred, “I've got you.”

“D-don't touch me.” I pulled out of his grasp, stumbling back and nearly falling again.

I couldn't stand the way he was looking at me like I was the last drop of water in the desert and he was dying of thirst. It was making me dizzy.

“Leave me alone,” I muttered before sitting down heavily on the bed.

Danny frowned, the corners of his lips turning downward, and I hated the twinge of guilt that came with seeing it. He gave me no peace, sitting down beside me and catching a strand of my hair between two of his fingers and tucking it behind my ear. When he put his hand on my knee, I gasped, frozen as he came ever closer.

“I won't be leaving you alone. Not now, not ever.” He breathed the words against the shell of my ear, and I shivered, hating myself for the reaction.

Before things could go any further, Natalia returned with my newly perfected turkey sandwich—which was fine before, thank you very much. I thanked her profusely, glaring at Danny the entire time for being so rude to the poor woman. She left, giving Danny and me one more nervous backward glance before disappearing out the door. Then we were alone again.

“Eat,” Danny commanded. “You need it after sleeping for so long.”

“I wouldn't have had to sleep so long if someone hadn't poisoned me,” I grumbled but took the plate. The food was good, and my starved stomach had burned through the earlier pastries in no time flat, so I was hungry. Even if I didn't want to admit it to Danny.

“How do you feel?” he asked after a moment.

“How do you think I feel? I've been drugged, kidnapped, and locked in a room. My head hurts, my legs are still sore, and I've lost my pack. Oh, and there's the whole thing where I'm apparently your mate.”

“So the aches and pains are better?”

“That's not the point!”

“Then what is the point?” Danny sighed, shaking his head.

“I don't want to be here.”

“And why not?”

“Because—because you've done nothing but show me that you're an asshole,” I snapped, “If you wanted to talk to me, you could have just asked, but instead you had your driver kidnap me. You've locked me in here. You've threatened me. And now you're just sitting here, and you won't even let me leave this room!”

“I'm not going to apologize for that,” he replied. “We were fated to meet. The ceremony was only meant to jump-start it all. As far as the kidnapping goes, I knew you wouldn't have come otherwise.”

“Maybe not, but it was wrong,” I countered.

Danny sighed, his hand tightening into a fist. “What can I do to make you comfortable here?”

“Let me go,” I told him.

“That's not going to happen. But I can try and make your life easier if you’ll let me. For now, just eat. We don't have to talk until you're ready.”

I hated to do what he said, but I wasn't about to let the food go to waste. So, with Danny watching me intently, I devoured the sandwich and then got up to take the plate to the kitchen. He followed me.

Danny beat me back to the bedroom door, propping himself on the doorframe with one arm above his head as he loomed over me upon my return. He gave me so little space and made me feel so small, even if he was doing nothing but existing.

“Don't want you to fall again,” he rumbled, but I knew better. He just wanted to be in my space and have control over me.

“Yeah, thanks,” I grumbled. “Move.”

He stepped aside, but not without touching me again. It was a casual brush, his hand against my lower back, but it sent sparks up and down my spine and made me shiver.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Fine,” I muttered.

“Naomi, why don't we go sit back down.”

“No, thank you. I'd rather not.”

“You're still wobbly.”

“And you're annoying.”

Danny sighed. “Naomi, come here.”

“No.”

“Come. Here.”

I was a bit like a deer in the headlights, stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I wasn't quite sure how to escape. Danny took my hand, and the sparks were back. I could feel him all around me, the heat of his body, the power radiating off him. I couldn't breathe. His touch was gentle, and his calloused thumb rubbed circles on my palm.

“Naomi,” he breathed. “What do you want? What do you need?”

Head spinning, thoughts all over the place, all I could do was be honest. “A shower—alone, obviously.”

He nodded once and walked me back to the bed, his hand on the small of my back. Danny had me sit, asking which clothes I wanted, and then disappeared into the bathroom for a split second. I heard the shower kick on. When he returned, he motioned for me to enter.

“The shower is running. I got it all set up for you. Enjoy.”

“Thanks,” I whispered.

I had to walk past him once more and felt that pull of attraction as our bodies came within inches of each other again. Then, finally, I was in the bathroom, able to shut the door. Finally, finally alone, with no one else's eyes on me.

The door only had a flimsy knob lock that any self-respecting werewolf could knock down with barely a finger, but I turned it anyway, just for the sense of privacy. Undressing, I folded my dirty clothes and set them on the ground, checking over my shoulder at least ten times to make sure Danny wasn't somehow in the room and watching me.

As the room filled with steam, I pulled back the curtain and prepared to step inside. With the shower running, I almost didn't hear what was going on outside the door. But I heard a rustling and paused, my stomach sinking when I realized what it was.

Danny was settling himself onto the floor outside the bathroom door, waiting on me. I sighed, stepping under the hot water and letting it cascade over me. It looked like he was going to keep tabs on every move I made. It was going to be a long night trying to figure out how to escape.