- A Lycan Mate?
Ara’s POV
The world tilted as I hung over his shoulder, my mind reeling.
Mate
The word kept repeating through my skull like an angry squirrel.
This mountain of muscle and arrogance is my mate?
My stomach twisted. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not when I’d finally found a place to belong to live the rest of my months.
I’m just a wolfless nobody. A rogue. A dying woman.
The truth settled like lead in my chest. If he knew what I was- who I was- it wouldn’t just endanger me. It would put everyone at risk. Kade. Amara. Luna Celestine. The entire hidden pack that had taken me in, made me stronger, loved me unconditionally.
And if he’s truly my mate….
The thought sent ice through my veins. Mates couldn’t hide from each other. Couldn’t lie. The bond would force the truth to light- about my illness, about the rogue pack, about everything.
Would he even want me if he knew?
A broken, wolfless rogue with an expiration date?
“Are you sure I’m your mate?” The question slipped out before I could stop it.
The giant carrying me didn’t even break stride. “Do I look like the kind who makes mistakes?”
I snorted. “Well, you’re carrying me like a cavernan, so…
His grip tightened. “Would you prefer I drag you by the hair or leg?”
“Put me down and we can discuss civilized kidnapping techniques.” I demanded.
A rumble vibrated through his chest. “You tried to stab me.”
“You snuck up on me!” I countered him.
“You pointed a dagger at my throat,” he scoffed.
“You licked my ear!” I complained.
The second those words left my mouth, I wanted to die. Why would I bring this up here!
There was silence for a second.
“I did, didn’t I?” His voice dropped to that stupid, velvety growl that made my traitorous stomach do flips. “And if I recall correctly, you liked it.”
“I did not- I protested.
“You trembled Was he smirking? I couldn’t tell. Damn him!
i was terrified!” I admitted.
13 A Lycan Mate?
“You moaned,” he teased.
“I absolutely did not. I tried to keep my voice firm.
“Little whimper, right here.” His stupidly large hand patted my thigh. “Don’t worry, little mate, I am gonna lick
more than just your ears next time.”
Blood rushed on my face. I was going to murder him. Mate or not.
Ara! Keep calm! Arguing is not helping here! Think…
“Can you please put me down…” I trailed off as his grip tightened.
“Why? So you can pull another stunt like last time?” His chuckle was dark, humorless. “That little dagger trick was cute, but it won’t work twice.”
I swallowed hard. Negotiation was my only option now. Fighting was impossible- not after seeing him send Kade flying like a ragdoll with just one hand
Running? Please. The man moved like a hurricane. No matter how annoying he was, I had to keep calm.
“Let’s talk, I tried again, forcing calm into my voice.
“There’s nothing to discuss.” He shut me off
“You can’t just kidnap me like some barbarian!” I kicked weakly, my bare feet connecting with solid muscle. It was like kicking a brick wall. If I kept this up, I would surely end up hurting my legs. “Put me down so we can
“So you can run back to your lover?” The growl that rumbled through his chest vibrated against my thighs. “No That’s not happening”
Goddess! Would he ever listen to me or let me finish the sentence? Before I could protest further, the world
blurred.
Trees became streaks of green. The ground melted into a rushing river of brown. My stomach lurched as his speed doubled, tripled until the wind howled in my ears.
“What the “My scream was swallowed by the rushing air. I squeezed my eyes shut, my fingers clutching his shirt like a lifeline.
When we finally stopped, my head spun violently. I cracked my eyes open to find mist curling around towering pines, their tops lost in low–hanging clouds.
“Where am I?” My voice sounded small even to my own ears. I couldn’t tell how far I was due to the speed he moved with.
He didn’t reply. Soon, an abandoned pack house came to sight nestled in the misty woods. Was it his pack? As soon as we reached, I saw a man and woman coming out. Goddess, all these people were tall.
“My my!” A lanky man with mischievous green eyes whistled, “Did you actually kidnap her? is this the she–wolf who stabbed you? Savage!”
“Not in the mood, Silas,” my so–called mate grumbled.
“Can you please put me down now?” I asked again.
He didn’t argue this time. My feet landed on the grass softly, and my shoes were already gone during the
13 A Lycan Mate
commotion.
As he let go of me, I stepped back frantically
Now my eyes actually fell on him. He was built like a giant. His dangerous gaze never left me, “trying to run
away again?”
I shivered as I took a few steps back. The woman then suddenly came to my rescue, “I think you are scaring
her, Your Highness.”
Did she call him your highness! I gulped. The title hit me like a bucket of ice water. My knees nearly gave out. “You are a ro–royalty… I stepped away further. If he found out I was a rogue, we would be done for.
No matter what, I couldn’t let him find out. I didn’t smell like a rogue. So if I stay carefully, I might be ok.
Whom was I kidding? I WAS DOOMED!
The man–Silas–barked a laugh. “You didn’t know? Oh, this is priceless. You stabbed the lycan prince and
lived to tell the talel”
My stomach dropped to my toes
“Ly–lycan… Pr–prince…” I trembled.
Of course, all the royalties were lycans.
I stabbed a prince.
I kicked a prince.
I threatened a prince with a dagger
I tried to protect Kade against…
The royal executioner was probably warming up his axe as we spoke.
“Please let me go. I am really sorry if I have offended you, your highness,” I said quickly.
“Let you go?” His laugh sent ice down my spine, “in your dreams.” Another growled left his lips. Sailas perked up, “is this where you interrogated her? Can I watch?”
Interrogation! Oh no!
“It was a misunderstanding… I thought you were a threat…I meant no harm…” I squeaked.
“Stop,” my mate barked.
Silas stepped forward, hands raised in mock surrender. “Come on, Damon. Give her a break. Get your lycan in
check.”
Damon.
The name clicked into place with horrifying clarity.
Damon Stormvale Ravaryn.
“The Unfavored Pri–prince.” I gulped.
The king’s second son. The warrior who rumored to have slaughtered an entire pack single–handedly just to
get his father’s favor. Apparently he could do anything and everything to please the king.
Out of all the people, he was my matel
“Yes, the unfavored one,” Damon growled
Great! I said that out loud, didn’t I? Stupid Ara! I was doomed, so, so doomed.
I didn’t mean it that way.. I am so sorry,” I apologized frantically.
That guy, Sailas, sniffed the air around me, “you really are a piece of an art! Are you wolfless! It couldn’t get better. The great Lycan Prince Damon got stabbed by a wolfless, fragile. Worman?”
He laughed! Why was he fueling his fire? Was it really necessary?
And how on earth these people could just sniff the air and tell about my wolf!
“Oh it’s cute when you glare like that,” Sailas spoke again. I really hate this guy
“Be respectful to my Mate,” Damon growled at him. Did he just defend me?
Come on, Ara! It’s not time to be awestruck!
“You, Prince Damon “I–Don’t–Do–Attachments‘ Ravaryn, found a mate! And kidnapped her back to a rogue hunting basecamp? Smooth!” His jaw dropped.
I
Rogue hunting! I tried to scan the area. Where was I? I couldn’t tell. This was bad! They were dangerous. I need to find a way to warm the luna.
“Sailas, enough,” the lady beside me warned him.
The tension was palpable. None of them spoke. I clutched the hand of the woman beside me, my eyes pleading, asking for her help.
“Your highness, maybe we should give her some space to breathe. I am sure it is a lot to take in,” the lady spoke. Finally, one sensible person in the camp!
“Come on, Aurelia. Do you really take my brother to be the patient type?” Sailas smirked.
“Enough chatter,” Damon snapped.
Three strides. That’s all it took for him to cross the distance. His arms… those terrifyingly strong arms.. scooped me up again like I weighed nothing
“PUT ME DOWN!” I screamed.
My struggles were pathetic. He didn’t even flinch.
“Don’t go too rough, brother!” Silas called after us as Damon carried me into the packhouse. “You might break
her
Rough? Break me? What now!
