Page 7 of Fearful Mate

The wolf pinning the man to the forest floor snorts, her gaze locked on Caine.He tilts his head to assess her before nodding.“You can change back.We’ve got this.”

She releases the man before bounding away.I track her with my gaze until she reaches Peyton who holds out a fluffy white robe for her.Quickly, the shift falls over her and she is back to her human form.She hastily slips the fabric over her arms and cinches the belt before she and Peyton both make their way toward us.

“Why are you here?”she asks the man who is now being held up by Godrick.

Aaron glares.“Why are you?”

Her eyes narrow before she turns and speaks directly to Caine.“This is Aaron.He is second in charge of the Hunters.I met him once.He and Silas have an agreement to keep them away from us.”

“Excuse me?”Sayer cuts in.“Who the hell are you?”

“Lola.I came here to join your pack, but he showed up.Now I want to know if he is following me.”

“He could be tracking me,” I say, not knowing if it is possible but fearing it all the same.

“He’s here for me.”Everyone turns their attention to Iris once more.“This is my brother, the man Max thinks he killed.”

Aaron glares at Iris before trying to break free from Goldrick’s grasp.He roars when he cannot escape but that doesn’t stop the poisonous words falling from his lips.

“You’re a whore.Our father’s greatest disappointment,” he seethes.“Look at you, spreading your legs for these animals.As if that wasn’t bad enough, you’re breeding their filth now!”

You could hear a pin drop in the forest, everyone shocked into silence before the air is rend in two by the sound of a slap.Aaron’s face whips to the side, blood dripping from his nose.We all stare at Lola, this strange new woman, as she breathes harshly and fights to hold back her wolf.

“I should rip your fucking throat out,” she says with a low growl.“Count yourself lucky this isn’t my pack.”

She is vicious and strong, ferocious in her defense of these people she does not know.I am in awe of her strength and beauty.I want to hold and praise her, but I know it’s not the time for that now.Soft sobs emanate from Iris, and I watch her mates as they try to comfort her.I know she lost a brother, or thought she did, but I never knew he was this man.

This man, Aaron, is pure evil.He was always the lead whenever tests or experiments were performed on me.Just seeing him here has a frisson of pure fear and blinding rage running down my spine.

“Take her home,” Caine tells the twins, nodding at their sobbing mate.“Aaron is going to lockup, and we will deal with him in the morning.”

They nod and lead her back across the field, soft words whispered between them.Caine turns to Lola with a nod.“Thank you.You are welcome to stay as long as you like.”

“I appreciate that.”She doesn’t take her eyes off Aaron as she answers, “I want to help with him.”

My instincts scream at me to intervene but my wolf whines in my head, stopping me.I may not always be able to control my animal, but I do trust his instincts, so I remain quiet.

“Nothing will be done tonight,” Godrick says.“Iris needs a moment to process the fact that her dead brother is actually alive and a venomous pig.She should be there to decide his fate.This impacts her as well.You can stay with Emmaleigh and Nico.I know Thomas’s old room is empty.We will deal with this shit in the morning.”

****

Lola

I am enraged.I am sad.I am confused.All those feelings swirling inside me, coupled with my volatile beast, do not make for a good combination, but I take several deep breaths, keeping my cool.Caine takes Aaron away to lock him up for the night while Godrick leads me through the compound toward a house.

My mate disappears into the inky darkness.My heart is already breaking.He won’t look at me and already avoids being near me.I don’t know if I will be able to survive a second refusal.I never considered that I had a real chance of finding a second fated mate, but now that he is a reality I don’t want to give him up.I want a mate who wants me as badly as I want him, whether he is a dire wolf or not.

Godrick knocks on the dark wooden door waiting for someone to open while my mind runs away with the possibilities this new life could offer.A few seconds later, a stunning woman with dark hair and a beautiful smile opens the door.

“I’ve brought you a houseguest.I hope you don’t mind,” Godrick says with a chuckle.“Lola, this is Emmaleigh.”

“Hi.”The word sounds ridiculous falling from my lips but I honestly don’t know else to say.At least I didn’t fucking wave.

“When did you guys go out?I didn’t know there was a raid,” she questions Godrick with a frown.

“No raid.She wandered in all on her own,” he replies with a snort.“Came right up to the gate looking to find a new pack.”

Emmaleigh stares at me but I’m not focused on her.What does have my attention is the smell emanating from inside her house.It smells like the first rain of summer on a stormy night.My mate has been here, and not just for a visit.He spent many hours and days in this house and his scent is still coating everything.

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