Page 1 of Broken Forced Mate
Prologue - Raegan
I’m going to tell him tonight.
My heart pounds as I slip through the gardens behind the Grayhide pack hall. Three months have passed since the pull first hit me, that undeniable recognition that Wyn Lemay is my mate. The bond pulses between us constantly now.
He has to feel it, too. I know from the way he watches me during pack meetings, always positioning himself where he can see potential threats. How he’s spent extra time teaching me self-defense moves that aren’t standard omega training. The protective growl that rumbles in his chest when other alphas get too close.
My brother Oren trusts Wyn more than anyone else in the pack. They’ve been best friends since childhood, and when Oren became alpha leader after our father’s death, Wyn became his most valued advisor and protector of our family.
Which makes what I’m about to do either perfectly natural or completely catastrophic.
Oren rebuilt the Grayhide pack from the ground up after Jerrod’s corruption nearly destroyed us. Our father’s legacy was one of fear and cruelty, turning neighbor against neighbor and using intimidation and violence to maintain control. Pack members lived in constant terror, never knowing when they might face punishment for some perceived slight. Children grew up watching their parents cower before my father’s rage. Omegas were treated as property rather than people.
When Oren took over, he had to earn back the trust that was shattered over decades. Wyn stood by him through every difficult decision, every challenge to his authority, every late night spent planning how to fix what seemed irreparable.Together, they dismantled the systems of fear our father had built. They created new policies to protect omegas, established fair councils for dispute resolution, and opened communication channels that were closed for years.
The transformation wasn’t easy. Some pack members resisted change and clung to the old ways because they understood them. Others tested Oren’s resolve, pushing boundaries to see if he would resort to violence like his predecessor. Through it all, Wyn remained steady at Oren’s side, offering counsel when needed and enforcement when necessary.
Pack dynamics are delicate things. Trust, once broken, takes years to rebuild. Wyn understood this better than most, having grown up on the outskirts of pack territory after his family’s fall from grace. His parents died when he was sixteen, leaving him with nothing but the need to prove himself worthy of belonging somewhere.
That loyalty runs both ways. Oren values Wyn’s counsel above all others, trusts him with the pack’s most sensitive intelligence, and, most importantly, trusts him with the safety of his family. Me.
Knowing that makes my feet feel even heavier as I walk deeper into the garden. Wyn isn’t just my brother’s friend. He’s the person Oren relies on to keep me safe in a world where being an alpha’s sister makes me a target. Where enemies might try to use me to get to the pack’s leader, and one wrong move could endanger everyone I care about.
Wyn takes that responsibility seriously. Too seriously, sometimes. He monitors my daily schedule, knows where I go and when I’ll return. He’s memorized the security for every building I frequent. He’s trained me to fight, to recognize threats, to react quickly when danger appears.
But over the past few months, I’ve sensed something deeper. The way his scent changes when I enter a room. How his pupils dilate when I get too close. The careful distance he maintains, as if getting nearer might break his control.
My stomach churns as I think about how this conversation could go wrong, but I have to take that risk. The bond between us grows stronger every day, and I can’t pretend it doesn’t exist anymore.
The gardens are filled with desert blooms that only open after sunset. Their sweet fragrance fills the evening as I search for the man who’s consumed my thoughts for months. I’ve been coming here for weeks, hoping to catch Wyn during his patrols. Tonight, finally, I spot his tall frame near the fountain.
Damp, dark brown hair sticks to his forehead. Those gray eyes that always seem to see everything scan the perimeter before landing on me. He stands six feet tall with a lean but powerful build, muscles earned from years of training and protecting rather than vanity.
Tonight, he’s wearing dark jeans and a fitted black shirt that emphasizes his broad chest and narrow waist. Everything about him speaks of strength, of a man who could be dangerous but chooses restraint. His face carries the weathered look of someone who spends more time outdoors than inside, with high cheekbones and a mouth that rarely curves upward.
Wyn looks up and does a double-take at me as I near him. “What are you doing out here so late, Raegan?”
“Looking for you.” I suck in a deep, cleansing breath before I add, “I need to talk to you about something important.”
His whole body goes rigid. Those gray eyes narrow as he takes in my appearance, probably noting my carefully chosendress, the way I’ve styled my hair, and the nervous energy that doubtlessly shows on my face.
I spent an hour getting ready tonight. I chose the blue dress because I know it brings out my eyes and braided my hair loosely so it falls over one shoulder, adding just enough perfume to enhance my natural scent without being obvious about it.
The mate bond practically vibrates between us now that we’re close. I can see his nostrils flare as he catches my scent, but he maintains his composure.
“If this is about your security detail for next week’s summit, I’ve already briefed your brother—”
“It’s not about that.” I step closer, and I watch him fight the urge to back away. The mate bond thrums stronger the nearer I get. “It’s about us.”
“Us?” His voice sounds strangled.
Now that I’m closer, I can see the way his pupils dilate, and I catch the faintest hint of his arousal. His hands clench at his sides, and I know he’s fighting the same pull I feel. The same recognition that’s been building for months.
Every instinct I have screams that he’s mine, that we belong together. My wolf recognizes his on a level that goes beyond conscious thought.
Another deep breath. It’s now or never.
My hands tremble as I reach toward him. “I know you feel it, too. The pull. The recognition. We’re mates, Wyn.”
