Page 7 of Mysterious Mate

“We’ve received some intel,” Weston said, his tone grave. “It seems your husband and the Shadow League have hired a group of mercenaries to track you down. They’re highly skilled and very dangerous.”

Willow’s heart sank. She had known this wouldn’t be easy, but the reality of the threat was daunting. “What should I do?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Nothing. We just wanted you to know. We’ve doubled the guards and increased surveillance,” Weston replied. “We’re doing everything we can to stay ahead of them. But I need you to be extra cautious. Don’t leave the main keep without my permission and keep the phone we gave you with you at all times. If anything seems off, hit the panic button.”

Willow nodded, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She couldn’t afford to let fear paralyze her. She had come too far, risked too much, to let Frank win.

As the days passed, the tension in the mansion grew palpable. Willow remained vigilant, constantly aware of her surroundings. She trusted the security team, but the knowledge that Frank’s mercenaries were out there, hunting her, kept her on edge.

One night, unable to sleep, Willow wandered the halls of the great keep. The quiet was unsettling, every creak and rustle amplified in the stillness. She found herself in the library, a room filled with towering shelves of books and a large, ornate fireplace.

As she stood by the window, staring out into the darkness, she heard a noise behind her. She turned, her heart pounding, but it was only Weston.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked, his voice soft.

Willow shook her head. “Too much on my mind.”

Weston nodded, understanding. “I know it’s hard, but you’re safe here. We won’t let anything happen to you.”

Willow appreciated the reassurance, but the fear was always there, lurking in the back of her mind. “I just want this to be over,” she admitted. “I want Frank, his minions, and their cronies to be brought down and put away. Then maybe I can start over.”

Weston looked like he wanted to say something, thought better of it, and then said, “You will. You’re stronger than you realize. You will get through this.”

Willow took a deep breath, trying to draw strength from Weston’s words, but there was something about them that made her wonder if he really believed them. She had to believe that she could make it through, that she would see justice done. For now, all she could do was stay strong, stay vigilant, and trust in the people who were fighting to protect her.

CHAPTER 4

CAGE

What the fuck was Colby up to now? The wily lynx-shifter had always been an incurable romantic, but it seemed ever since he’d claimed his own fated mate, he was also rainbows, roses, and unicorns for the rest of the world to find theirs.

When he’d approached the SUV containing Mercy and Willow Carlyle, it had been as if someone had punched him in the gut and then hit him over the head with something in a barroom brawl. The dizziness, nausea and her scent had been almost overwhelming. He’d tried to cover it up, but the knowing grin on Mercy’s face had told him she hadn’t missed a thing, which meant she would tell Brie, which meant Colby had already been informed.

Cage paced the length of the secure computer room, his jaw clenched, his fists balled at his sides. The room felt smaller, suffocating. His current agitation was a stark contrast to his usually calm and controlled demeanor. Cage was known for his laid-back attitude, always one to keep his cool no matter the situation. But now he was barely able to restrain his temper. He turned sharply to face Colby on the computer monitor, his eyes blazing with anger.

“What the hell were you thinking, bringing that woman here?” Cage’s voice was a low growl, barely contained fury simmering beneath the surface.

Colby leaned back in his chair, an amused smirk playing on his lips. “I didn’t know she’d be your fated mate, Cage. How could I have known that? There’s no way I could have known that.”

Colby’s tone was light, almost amused, but Cage could see the twinkle of mischief in the lynx-shifter’s eyes. Cage wondered if Colby knew how lucky he was to not be in the same room as him, where Colby would have had to face Cage’s murderous rage.

Cage glared at Colby, feeling the heat of his anger rising. “Don’t play innocent with me, Colby. You had to have known exactly what you were doing. Dropping Willow Carlyle into my lap for me to babysit? Knowing full well I’ve been busy with Resistance business for the past year?”

Colby shrugged, his smile widening. “Well, you’ve been so busy saving the world, I figured you needed a distraction. Besides, it’s not like you’ve had time to see to your own needs, and God knows from what we’ve been able to learn, Frank Carlyle hasn’t been seeing to hers for years.”

Cage’s growl deepened, a sound that would have made most men back away in fear. But Colby just chuckled, clearly enjoying the situation.

“You’re a bear, after all,” Colby teased. “Surly and in need of some female companionship. You have to admit, Willow Carlyle is a lovely woman. All that tawny hair for man to wrap in his fist and those luscious curves can make for the best handholds when you want her to stay in place.”

Cage growled again, and Colby laughed. The bastard really was enjoying himself. The real problem, though, wasn’t Colby’s meddling. It was the fact that Cage had known the instant the SUV had driven up to the plane. The moment he laid eyes on Willow, he knew she was his fated mate. And she was a freaking human.

“She’s human, Colby,” Cage said, his voice thick with frustration. “How am I supposed to deal with that? And she’s running from a husband and the Shadow League, not to mention she probably knows more than she even thinks she does. What she knows could potentially devastate our world.”

Colby’s expression sobered slightly, though the amusement never completely left his eyes. “Once she’s turned and taken as your mate, she’s not likely to tell the world about shifters, now is she?” he reminded Cage.

Cage shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple. She’s got a life, a history. She’s been through hell, and now I’m supposed to just... claim her?”

Colby’s gaze softened, his tone becoming more serious. “Look, I get it. The situation is complicated. But you know as well as I do that finding and claiming your fated mate is rarely as easy as just hitting them over the head and dragging them back to your cave.”

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