Page 4 of Their Mate

I barely registered the sound of Jacob screaming, the way his body was ripped from mine. He fought, oh god, he fought so hard, but the thing that had him wasn’t human. It was a wild beast with claws and teeth and insatiable hunger in its glowing eyes.

I had frozen. I had been utterly useless. Just watching as my brother was dragged into the darkness, his screams choking into gurgling gasps.

And then it was gone, taking my brother away. Just like that. No warning. No reason.

Only blood left behind.

I had tried to chase after him, to dosomething,but by the time I reached the main street, people were already shouting. The Watch had arrived, and there were soldiers in black armor storming the area with their rifles raised.

It had been too late to save him. Too late to stop the monster that had torn him apart.

That night changed everything.

I enlisted in the Watch the moment I was old enough. I trained harder than anyone else. I pushed myself to the brink of endurance until they had no choice but to recruit me into therealfight. I was assigned to the team they sent to hunt the monsters before they could strike again. The ones who did what had to be done.

Now here I was, ready and waiting for my time to show them all what I was worth.

I clutched the rifle a bit more tightly, staring through the scope, my sights trained on the pub’s upper window and then down to a lone figure standing in the lower one. The forms inside shifted, casting long shadows against the tattered curtains.

I could end it right now. One bullet.

But no.

I wanted them all. Not just Logan. Not just the pack. The sister, too. If she had sided with them, she was no better.

Soon.

Soon, the Watch would send the order, and I’d finish what I came here to do. I smiled faintly, watching the shadows move within the pub as the packs settled in for the night.

For now, I waited.

For now, I hunted.

When the time was right, I would be the monster in the shadows.

And I would not fail.

CHAPTER 2

Six months ago…

Jamie Buchanan

“Got the money?”

My voice carried softly, echoing off the damp brick walls as shadows pooled around us. I’d chosen an alley tucked far away from London’s main streets, shrouded in just enough darkness to keep our business hidden. A fine drizzle fell softly, settling in tiny beads across my leather jacket and soaking the tangled red hair at the nape of my neck.

She stepped from the shadows, her silhouette lean and graceful. The faint moonlight traced over her features: intelligent, calculating eyes fixed unwaveringly on mine. Her black coat rustled gently, reminding me of a crow’s wings, and her dark hair shimmered.

“Yeah,” she replied smoothly, holding up a battered canvas bag. “I’ve got it.”

I watched her cautiously. Girls like her—girls with a calm, dangerous look behind their eyes—had always given me pause. I’d learned the hard way, surviving on the gritty, dangerous streets of the city, that pretty faces often hid the sharpest knives and I’d bet my life savings that this was one to be reckoned with.

“Your employers were clear,” I said, leaning casually against the wall. “The brother’s got to be unharmed. That’s a lot harder than you’d think around here.”

The corner of her mouth turned up into the faintest smile. “I was assured you’re the man for the job.”

I snorted softly, amused. “Sure. I’m the idiot they pay when it’s a suicide mission. The rogue fool they call in when the sensible blokes say no.”