cold, hard ground and yawn. My body aches and my bones are chilled—it was like sleeping in a freezer

irl in the cell; she se

y. My mouth is like a desert that has not seen rain in years. I wonder what grandmother is doing, what she

r and motions for me to go with him. It would not be smart of me to refuse. I glance back at the girl. I do not want to leave her, but I will

ays. I nervously nod my head and follow him out of the brick building. When the sun hits me I am blinded, my eye

about three houses in a row with more farther in the distance. The three homes are vast, but the one in the middle is mesmerizing. It is white on

efore a young, handsome

xcited, just from this small encounter I

running out the door and straight towards m

! Get ba

though I was a child when she told me that. "Hey there, aren't you just a big sweetheart," I coo at the slobbering dog, his stubby tail wagging like crazy. He jumps up at me,

sions are full of surprise. I pat the dog on

he guy at the door welcomes us and the man, w

ky curtains framing them, like white waterfalls, they pool on the wooden floor. As we venture further int

my knees and beg for forgiveness. I miss her terribly, and I b

resistible aroma floods the air; it is woodsy, fresh, and very masculine. I never want not to smell it as the particular scent has my knees w

fferent; she is being affecte

being able to calm down. Andrew chooses one of the two,

t thump

room. Bookshelves line two opposite walls, and they are filled with hundreds of books. The walls are a dark gray,

ind the des

stare at his addictive, handsome face. It is unreal, inconceivable—this creature set before me is something I could not fathom even in my limitless imagination. The scent took over my brain the second the door opened, and now I feel the intense need it to brea

" Andrew says, remind

of a warrior from long ago—like the man beside me—intimidating me so easily. My body slightly shakes under his harsh gaze, my knees growing we

. On the inside, I cannot help but hope the order was for me, but it was not. Andrew's footsteps flee

ok

sounds smoother, lik

k at

ser to me. I cannot bear to look at him. I can

ng more serious like I am a child an

...territory, I don't even know what's happenin

e! His hand slowly slides from my jaw to the back of my neck, and I study his emerald green eyes, the eyes of my mate. I have found him, the person that grandmother has told m

his hand while the other continues to rest on m

from his handsome face, landing my eyes on the wall. Maybe if I do not look at him, I will gain back the ability to spe

cell?" He asks, no

n't k

" he cor

know hi

n the right direction aga

e to lay in the dirt, but I will not turn him in. Something tells me he w

them," he assures me,

The Alpha, my mate, nods.

woman with caramel colored hair. She has an apron wrapped around her body and white tennis sh

a?" She as

it sounded so beautiful, so desirable. Before I know it I am being led out of the room by the woman, Marina

welcoming smile. "Come on ho

ut

ng her. My head spins when I enter the dark room, as his scent is everywhere, everything seems to hold it. In the center of it all is a bed, a bed with silky sheets peeking out from the side. My face flushes all possible shades of red. I tear

ona. They will be on the bed when you are done." Before leavi

r shut and I k

This is all so bizarre, but knowing my mate is down the steps, so close, makes me feel less unco

ost insane, most unbelievable day of my life. Why did the creek possess me, as if it grabbed onto my feet and used me like a puppet? He

es after checking to make sure the doo

ove, breath—like he has cast a spell over me. Never have I been so undecided. Of course, I cannot help but think about abandoning my old life, leaving it all behind to be with someone made for me. A mate, oh, how sweet the possibilities sound. Th

of the wate

nto the bedroom and thankfully find the pile there. The bedroom door is closed, so I venture out and quickly change. Sti

in here and curse myself continuously for wandering over the stream and throwing myself into this mess. Wishing it never happened will not get me out of this situation. My mate, gosh his he intimida

oftly asks, though, she k

has, even since I was a child. Every time I peer into them, they bring me back, r

oice wa

me to cross over. You know that I barely had a cho

geline, you are home. Finally, a

man you have set me with will? Because he is my mate? It doesn't make s

e place, a place where no one could hurt me, yet there I was more hurt than ever. As a child, I felt abandoned, left in a room and forgotten about by the two people who are supposed to love me

er set up a bed and dresser for me, even a toy box with dolls and such. Though I often did not want to play with toys, but the other children in our pack. As I watc

lse can see her, talk with h

olf tells me, coming

d turn towards t

g breath, I quietly sneak down the hall until I reach the sam

her when she

t does she

she seems a little off.

talking

direction, away from the staircase, but I am not fast enough. "Hey, it's you," the familiar voice calls out to me, and when I relu

'm not

tanding beside h

y brother

re, though the idea of it is quite evident. He must have parents, and a brother is

you. My brother wants to see

ngel

without saying a word. Henry glances at hi

I have to get back to my grandmother. She doesn't kno

said you c

ow can you point me in the direction of th

alk to him about it. He just told me to go c

d my

Fine. Take