Page 1 of Roommate Wanted
Prologue
Lyall
The exhibition hall buzzed with pretentious distillers and mediocre single malts. We’d dominated this event for fifteen years, yet Conall’s restlessness was a live wire under my skin. Ewan and Callum were off checking out the competition. We had a great central location this year.
Conall was uneasy, and it wasn't like previous times because I always knew what my wolf needed. A growl erupted from my chest, and I quickly looked around, but the humans hadn't noticed.
Cut it out. What is wrong with you?I asked him.
He was silent, but the jittery feeling remained.
We need to leave. There's something—we need to leave now!Conall’s response was abrupt and feral as it echoed in my head.
The urgency in him was oppressive, and I waved Ewan over. I eyed the clowns as they sauntered over with the subpar whiskey in their hands.
“Ah need tae leave. Conall is—summin’ is wrong,” I said as their jovial expressions vanished.
“There arnae any rogues here. We wud know,” Callum whispered with a frown.
“No, it’s not something here. I think he wants me to go on a run or see something,” I said as my stomach churned. “I have to go.”
Without another word, I turned and rushed toward the exit, shutting down their calls as they spoke to me telepathically. It was usually a tool utilised by all pack Alphas to assure safety and give out orders, but tonight my wolf was not himself. There was little relief as the night’s cool air met us.
I followed Conall’s lead as we rushed through streets and alleys, only stopping when he needed to regain what he was searching for. He stopped in front of a large pub in the corner of the street. I glanced at the street name and realised we were miles away from the exhibition centre.
There were people outside smoking, and I could hear the music blaring from inside. I walked in, prepared for danger, but when I stepped inside, there was no sign of any other shifters. The atmosphere was chilled, with some people laughing while others engaged in more serious conversations at the booths. I moved through the crowded pub until I reached the bar, where I could see around all sides of the pub.
My heart skipped a beat as realisation dawned on me.
The scent of alcohol and that stale smell that lingers in every aged pub was sinking into my skin. I glanced around the crowd, nudging Conall, who was conveniently silent now. I closed my eyes at the sounds of people, inhaling again until my eyes snapped open.
She is here. Our mate is here. Conall stated the obvious.
My eyes scanned the pub again, looking for our wolf, and I pushed away from the bar to prowl through the crowd. She smelled better than a 60-year-old cask but richer. I sniffed the air again. No, her scent was addictive.
I frowned as her scent grew stronger, but it didn't stop my legs from moving toward her. I paused. Something was wrong. Then I saw her. She sat like a queen hiding among peasants, unaware of the storm headed for her. Her black hair grazing her shoulders, eyes wide and as dark as my hair. Her ebony smooth skin, curves that made my incisors throb and my hands tremble.
Her head tilted back. Her hand flicked her hair back. My eyes dropped to her neck. She was stunning.
Oh, what I would give to see her in her full glory.
Every instinct screamed.Claim. Mate. Bind. This time, I couldn't differentiate between my voice and Conall’s.
Conall was wild, desperate to tear out of me and dive on top of our mate. At the same time, I fought him and my instincts. My pulse roared like a waterfall. Saliva pooled in my mouth—Conall’s drooling habit be damned.
This was fate.
Our fate.
The age-old ancient pull to devour her, mount her, breed her.
Until the truth pierced through my stupor, stabbing me in the chest like a sledgehammer, slicing me open. I paused and sniffed the air again, realising that it changed nothing.
It didn’t matter if she was a shifter or a human.
She was ours.
Chapter 1
