Page 12 of The Alpha's Forced Pregnant Mate

Despite my better judgment, I let Julian shift back to wolf form, and then return fully dressed in human form to discuss the deal we had just made. It was maybe one of the stupidest things I’d ever done, but I needed food and rest before I was going to be able to fight my way out of his grasp again.

It could go two ways. Either he was being honest and the Reckless Stalkers would guard the Silverfang Creek perimeter, sparing our wolves from harm while we investigated the demon issue or he lied, and by the time his lies came to light, I’d be far away from him and back in the fold of my pack, safe.

No matter how it shook out, it was the best chance I had to live another day.

Julian told me about his tenuous new territory and how they had found multiple demon hotspots while scoping it out. When I tried to turn the conversation back to Danny and Naomi he refused, but I managed to suss out that his original plan had been to have Faye find a witch for his sad little ‘pack’ in exchange for protection.

Now, he just wanted me as his ally. He was smart enough to know that the Silverfangs weren’t going to offer him and his ragtag bunch of wolves an alliance, but me alone? I could sacrifice for my pack. I’d never be his mate, but if he was willing to help me hunt so Keifer and Bruce could have some time with their family after months on the road, it would be worth it. Especially if it meant we killed some demons and got some information about why the attacks were increasing so suddenly.

So I agreed to go with him and his little pack, and he agreed to swear an oath.

We were going to work together, and there would be no funny business. Julian laughed at that part.

“You can’t deny me forever. I’m your mate. I don’t intend to forget that, just because we have some little oath. I won’t interfere with your work, but when we’re not hunting… all bets are off, Whitney.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“I just might. You provide plenty of inspiration.”

I wanted to rip his head off his shoulders and kick it down the hiking trail like a soccer ball, but I restrained myself. Julian really was one of the best fighters around, and he’d be one hell of an asset, if only he would drop the mate shit.

We agreed to meet up later tonight at a riverside restaurant called Taurus and hammer out the details of how all of this would work. Julian insisted that there was increased activity near his new pack’s territory and that I needed to come and see it in person. I was skeptical, thinking he just wanted to isolate me, and insisted that I be able to bring an ally of my own. The idea made Julian growl, but he agreed when I pushed.

We walked back down the trail in awkward silence, unwanted attraction, at least on my end, and the threat of violence coursing between us. We parted ways at the trailhead, him disappearing into the trees and me heading for my car, but he called after me, “Whitney…don’t think we’re done with this conversation.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said without looking back. “We have to hash out the details, but trust me. We’re done talking about the mating stuff.”

He didn’t reply, so I just kept walking to my car. I didn’t feel any better when I got in and shut the door behind me. My mate was a fucking lunatic. A gorgeous, powerful, determined lunatic that I couldn’t stand, and had to work with. I had no idea how I was going to make this work.

Chapter 6 - Julian

Letting Whitney go felt impossible, but I had no choice. My more animalistic side was howling for me to just grab her and take her back to Reckless Stalker territory, but we had made a deal.

And I can’t believe she bought into my lies.

Part of me felt a little remorseful that it had to be that way, but Whitney was a lot more than I expected. She was wild and ferocious enough that I thought I’d lost to her multiple times during the fight. When she threatened to call in her reinforcements, I’d had to think on my feet, and I’d abandoned my hope for a pack witch, choosing instead to keep Whitney from having the entire wrath of the Silverfangs come down on me.

I’d spun a tale for her and somehow she’d believed it. All that time, though, I’d formed a much different plan in my heart.

Get her to my territory, isolate her, and make her mine. All I needed to do was hold her until she agreed to the mating ritual. Hell, I’d lock her in my cabin if I had to. Anything to keep her at my side.

I had been drawn to her immediately, but my obsession was kept in check until I had pinned her the first time. Once I was able to smell her, feel her skin, and hear her heartbeat, it was all over.

Everything had been taken from me in life. My parents, my pack, my best friend…I sure as hell wasn’t going to lose my mate. Somehow fate had gifted me the strongest, most beautiful she-wolf, and I deserve her after everything I’ve lost.

I’ve made mistakes, but I’m not a bad man. At least not fully. I should be able to have this one good thing.

For now, though, she was meeting me at Taurus, a steakhouse on the river, to discuss what happens next. I’ve convinced her that the demons are more prevalent in my territory than hers, and while it wasn’t totally a lie, I’ve come to understand that activity is growing everywhere.

And I needed her isolated to keep her. I almost understood Danny’s obsession with Naomi now that Whitney was in my sphere. My mate is burning me from the inside out with how badly I want her. The difference is that Whitney would make my pack stronger. Danny had lost everything because of Naomi, but I’d be a fool to let Whitney go.

The restaurant was dimly lit and wood-paneled, and I could smell the savory scents of cooking meat wafting through the air as soon as I walked through the doors. A hostess showed me to a booth near the back, and I slid into the seat facing the entrance, wanting to be able to see Whitney as soon as she walked in.

She was angry, but there was no way she could refuse me now. We were in the middle of a demonic crisis, and she knew as well as I did that we needed each other. The Silverfangs were stretched thin as they were, and the Red Canines weren’t going to be able to just throw wolves at the problem while they were rebuilding. We were the best choice to combat the demons.

My head whipped up as soon as the door opened, and my breath caught in my chest when she entered the restaurant. She was wearing dark jeans and a tight black sweater with a plunging V-neck that revealed the creamy swells of her breasts. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail that exposed her long, delicate neck. She’d done something with her make-up to make her eyes look even more gorgeous than they had earlier in the day.

She’d also washed the blood from her cheek and from her hair. Whitney was a woman of many sides I was learning. Beautiful, deadly, strong, but still somehow elegant. She was perfect.

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