Page 6 of Tracking His True Mate

“Everyone in Dark Claw is talking about you,” she whispered, turning to face me. “You have no idea the things they’re saying. Is it true? Did you find your true mate?”

I held her gaze. “Yes,” I answered evenly. “At least, I think so. I saw a wolf last night who said he was my mate. He smelled really good, and my wolf seemed to know him, so I guess he probably is.”

Ella’s eyes widened. “People are saying that you were at a hotel with another wolf and that he smelled someone else on you and that he…killed the wolf you were with, Mariam,” she stammered.

My breath hitched. “He didwhat?” I had inadvertently sentenced Alexander to his death in my haste to get away. If I had stayed and calmed the crazy man in the lobby, maybe I would have been able to save him. I sank down onto the living room couch as the gravity of what happened hit me.

“Why would you do that? How could you be so stupid?” Ella hissed. “It was bad enough when you were sneaking around with those boys from school, but this was a wolf from another pack. When his family hears what happened, who knows what they will do. His alpha is going to blame us for his death, that’s for sure.”

Everything she said rang true; Alexander had been a guest on our lands. Jeremy would be held accountable for what happened, and he would hold me responsible for not obeying his orders.

As he should. This is our fault.My wolf shook with fear at the knowledge that we had let our alpha down and that he would be upset with us.

“I need to leave.Now,” I said, my legs shaking as I stood again. Ella gave me a look of disbelief.

“Where are you going? You belong to this pack until your mate can claim you. And then you belong with him.”

I shook my head. “I meant what I’ve always said, Ella. I’m not leaving with him. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

I ran to my room and grabbed the suitcase from under my bed. I hastily began throwing clothes and cosmetics inside. The pressure was on even more now; I had to get out of Dark Claw boundaries before Jeremy found me. Or worse, my mate showed up.

My thoughts were interrupted by voices in the living room. The sweet smell from earlier at the hotel hit my nose, and my blood ran cold.He’s here!My wolf shouted and did a happy spin in my mind’s eye.

Abandoning my suitcase on the bed, I hurried to pry open the bedroom window and crawl outside. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure that they could hear it from inside thehouse. I went completely still, not trusting myself to shift for fear that my wolf would run back to him.

I stopped breathing entirely when I heard several people burst into my bedroom. It sounded like Jeremy and his beta, Neil, were talking with Ella, demanding to know where I was. Heavy steps searched my closet, and someone flipped my mattress on its side.

“She was in here recently. I can still smell her scent,” a deep voice barked. It was the man from the hotel.Our mate has arrived.

I panicked and tried to calm my wolf’s excitement as I tucked lower into the bush below my window. I could feel his presence above me, looking out the window, searching the air for my scent. He frowned and looked down. Our eyes met, and a slow smile crept over his god-like face. “Hello, little wolf.”

Left with no other option, I shifted to my wolf form and instructed her to run as fast as she could. The direction didn’t matter; all that mattered was putting as much distance between us as possible. She whined and protested at the sound of the male’s angry roar from the window. She didn’t have to look back for me to know that he, too, had shifted and was pursuing us.

My wolf’s lungs and legs started to burn, not from the distance but from the strain of trying to move at full speed. She glanced back, and I pushed her to run faster after seeing how close the larger grey wolf was. He didn’t even seem to be exerting himself in the chase. It was almost like he was playing with us, seeing how far my wolf would go before we surrendered.

From the corner of her eye, I saw another wolf leap froma neighboring yard and tackle the grey wolf to the ground.Patrick.

My wolf panicked and turned to try and help him. His attack didn’t harm the grey wolf at all, but his smaller black body would receive the brunt end of his opponent’s frustration if she left. Preventing him from reaching his mate could earn Patrick the same fate as Alexander.

The grey wolf’s eyes widened when she doubled back and stood between him and our best friend. Knowing that we were caught, I shifted to human form. My wolf's white and cream fur was quickly replaced with skin. Patrick shifted, too. He opened his arms to me, and I rushed to him. After a quick embrace, he held me back at arm’s length, checking my body for any injuries.

The other wolf changed back, too, letting out an angry snarl as his bones snapped into place. I gasped at the sight of his naked body. His hair was down, falling long on his shoulders. He must have had it pulled up last night, but that wasn’t what kept my attention. His tall frame was completely filled out with hard muscle, all except the appendage between his legs. Even flaccid, his dick was bigger than any I had seen before. Patrick bristled at my reaction, forcing me behind him so he could face the other man.

“Step away from my mate,” the man growled, his wolf speaking through him. “I’ve already killed one fool for her honor, and I have no problem ending the life of another.”

Patrick gave no indication that he heard the threat. Instead, he turned to look at me. His eyes urged me to run; he was willing to die slowing down the large grey wolf so that I could escape. But there was no way I would allow thatto happen.

I walked around him, coming back into full view of the giant stranger. His gaze swept over me, causing his cock to harden and grow. I tore my eyes away from it, not wanting to see it get any larger.

“What do you want? I’ll give you anything you want if you agree to leave in peace.” My words caused an amused look to dance across his face.

“I like your fire. It will serve you well in our pack.” His human eyes radiated with appreciation before traveling back to glare at Patrick. “However, no one should be seeing your naked form other than me. Especially not another man, such as the one hiding behind you.”

Patrick’s fangs elongated, and his eyes turned canine, but this time it wasn’t from arousal or jealousy. I put my hand on his chest, trying to get him to relax.

The contact between us caused the stranger to shout his outrage again and rush to encircle my waist with his hand. He picked me up and planted me on his other side in a single, assertive motion.

“Little wolf, I will not have you touching other males.” He hooked his hands under my legs and tossed me up over his shoulder. His long hair covered my ass, and my tits were pressed firmly against his back, shielding them from view.

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