The Big Bad Wolf Mate

I felt like time had stopped and the words that just fell out of my mouth had to have been a dream, right?

"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! This can't be happening!" Chase muttered as he paced around the forest.

I agreed with him, that ferocious animal that almost attacked us couldn't be my mate. He just couldn't be. There was no way he was, I didn't feel anything like Mik said she felt when she met Cole. No butterflies or a zing, hell I didn't even feel horny just scared shitless. And to make matters worse, he didn't seem too impressed either.

"We have to talk to my father about this. There is no way anyone in my family will be mated to that, that thing." He grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him, dragging me from the woods back into the vast green yard of the pack house.

I knew this couldn't be good if Chase was reacting this way but I had no clue who this mysterious wolf was. Could he have been the same one my Uncle warned me to stay away from? How ironic would it be if it were true, that the very one he told me was a horrible creature would end up being my mate.

When we stepped onto the front porch I pulled my hand away trying to regain feeling in my fingers when I felt a sudden shiver run down my back. I turned around and locked eyes with a well built, tattoo-covered hunk with beautiful long, curly brown hair brushing over his shoulders. Every inch of him was covered so much pure muscle or ink that you could barely see his bare skin underneath the intricate artwork. My heart started pounding when he glared at Chase with an unreadable expression then stared at me with a stoic look as he backed away slowly, disappearing into the trees.

My fear had now been replaced with anger as I thought about his expression. He seemed irate about how Chase was treating me and yet completely oblivious to his possessive action. And why did he follow us here anyway? He wasn't the slightest bit enthused to be my mate back in the forest but now that there was another man laying his hands on me, he wanted in on the action! I didn't care what Chase or my Uncle had to say, if he was indeed my mate, I needed to know how he felt.

Just as I was about to storm off the porch after him, Chase came out the house, looking just as pissed off as before but my Uncle was quiet and calm.

"Ember, would you tell me what happened while you two were in the woods? My son isn't making any sense about this wolf who might be your mate."

"I don't really understand it myself Uncle Mark, because I have no clue what happened. Chase was just trying to protect me and before I knew it I was being drawn to him by a magical string that I couldn't let go of. I don't even know who he is, can someone enlighten me?"

"Ember, that wolf was Alpha Sloan, the very same one I told you was killing prowlers for fun."

And there it was, the moon goddesses match for me, a terrifying, killing machine. Why did this have to happen to me? Not only was I practically considered a prowler myself but I was mated to the very person who could possibly kill me because of it. I closed my eyes and sighed wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

"Father, what are we going to do? She can't be with him, he's not fit to have someone as good as Ember as his mate." Chase had started to shift when my Uncle walked up to him and placed his hands atop his shoulders.

"There's nothing we can do, son. This is something Ember and the Alpha have to work out."

I looked between the both of them like they were crazy, talking about me as if I weren't there and couldn't make my own decision. I stomped my foot down, drawing attention to myself and walked between them, turning to face Chase.

"IF he is my mate, I will not allow anyone to tell me what I should do. It is ultimately my decision to see this through so quit being such a jerk and let me handle this. I am a grown woman and I can take care of myself."

Turning towards the house, I grabbed the handle of the door and flung it open, barreling inside towards my room. The girls were on the couch looking down at the floor, confirming they had heard the whole conversation that had taken place outside and it only made me angrier. I huffed loudly and ran up the stairs, slamming my door so hard it shook the walls. I didn't know whether to be upset, excited or sad that my mate turned out to be this horrendous wolf who caused so much turmoil within the surrounding packs but I knew, no matter what, I needed to talk to him.

I devised a plan to sneak out again tonight and return to the woods, awaiting my dark knight. I had made my mind up and no one was going to change it. A light knock on my door made me snarl in agitation.

"WHAT!" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Em? Let us in!"

I took a few deep breaths and opened the door letting them in. I felt horrible for how I reacted because they only wanted to help but I just wanted to be alone for a while to deal with the mess that had become my life.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Ok but it's going to be pretty awkward if we're just sitting here in silence!" Kam said as she walked through the door and sat on the bed.

"We could drink it out of you!" Mik said with a smile.

I laughed knowing fully well I couldn't stay mad at them and that any liquid they would bribe me with would get even the deepest secrets from me in seconds.

"FINE!" I said falling onto the bed an throwing my arms over my head. "I think I found my mate."

"Thats amazing, Em." Kam clapped.

"Ughhhhhhhhh." I responded in an exasperated tone.

"Or not?" Then she said confused.

Mik started laughing hysterically as she fell to the floor. "How is it that we both found our mates and couldn't give a shit less?"

I looked at her with the same puzzled look as Kam, only for completely different reasons. I never thought much about my mate because once I turned 18 I was trained for Luna but then my life changed drastically four years later when my brother left for Alpha training and returned with his mate, making me the next one up for the title. I may have only gotten one year of coaching but it was enough to give me the authoritative tone and show others how strong I could be until my father decided I wasn't good enough and needed a man to take over his pack, my true mate or not.

We talked for a while before the girl's eventually fell asleep while I stared out the window into the treeline. I could feel him near but the challenge would be when I approached him and if he would attack me or run away. Either way, I was going to try to find him and get this whole thing sorted out.

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Chase is a little too protective, don't you think? (And before you ask, NO he doesn't have the hots for his cousin)!

But her Uncle really is a great guy, isn't he?

So Ember wasn't too excited about her mate either! Wonder why?