Chapter 2 Mine

Kael slammed the heavy wooden door of his study. The sound bounced off the walls. He leaned his hands on his big desk, breathing hard.

His wolf was going crazy. The animal scratched and clawed at his insides, desperate to get out. Find her. Go get her. She is ours.

Kael closed his eyes. He could still smell her. The wet scents of rain and flowers. He could still see her face when she pushed his hand away.

I don't belong to anyone.

Her voice echoed in his head. It made his wolf angry. It also made him want her more. Kael was the Alpha. He told people what to do. But she had looked at him like he was nothing.

His hands tightened on the edge of the desk. His nails grew into sharp claws and dug deep into the wood. The wood cracked under his grip.

A knock hit the door.

"Enter," Kael said. His voice was rough.

His Beta, Adrian walked in. Adrian stopped when he saw the broken desk and the blood on Kael's hand.

"You need to calm down," Adrian said slowly.

"I am calm," Kael lied. He pulled a cloth from his pocket and wiped the blood off his hand. The cuts were already healing. "Did you find her?"

Adrian handed him a piece of paper. "Elena Vale. Twenty-three. She works at the border clinic. Lives alone in a small house off the main road."

Elena.

Kael said the name in his head. The name felt warm. His wolf stopped scratching. The beast went quiet, listening.

"She has no pack," Adrian added. "No family. She keeps to herself."

"She is my mate," Kael said. His eyes turned bright gold. "She isn't alone anymore."

Adrian took a small breath. "There is a problem. My scouts checked her house before I came here."

Kael froze. The room felt cold. "What did they find?"

"Tracks," Adrian said. "A lone wolf has been watching her house for weeks. He stays hidden but he is getting closer."

Kael crushed the paper in his hand. A deep, angry growl rumbled in his chest. Some wolf was hiding in the dark. Watching her. Smelling her.

"Who is he?" Kael asked. His voice was cold as ice.

"We don't know yet," Adrian said. "He is smart,but he is waiting for something."

Kael marched toward the door. The floor shook under his heavy boots.

"Wait," Adrian said, stepping in front of him. "You can't just go to her house. She is already scared of you. If you show up and start giving orders, she will hate you."

"I don't care," Kael snapped. "She is in danger. I will not leave her alone."

"She is stubborn, Kael," Adrian said. "She won't just obey you. You will lose her and you know that."

Kael pulled the door open. The wood hit the wall with a loud bang.

"She can hate me," Kael said quietly. His eyes burned like fire. "She can fight me. But she will do it under my roof. Where I can keep her alive."

He walked out into the dark hallway. He was going to get his mate. And he was going to kill the wolf who was watching her.

---

Elena locked her front door.

Her hands shook so much she could barely turn the lock. She leaned her head against the wood and closed her eyes.

Her chest hurt. It was a deep ache. The further she drove from Kael, the worse the pain got. It felt like a string tied around her heart was pulling tight. Her skin felt hot. Her shirt felt too rough against her body.

She walked into her small living room. It was too quiet. She felt cold and alone.

Snap.

The sound came from the back of the house.

Elena froze. Her heart stopped. She stared at the dark hallway.

She had good instincts. And right now, her instincts told her to run.

She stepped back slowly. Her hand found the wooden handle of a kitchen knife. She pulled it from the block with a soft scrape.

She lifted her chin. She was not going to die hiding in her own home.

The shadows in the hallway moved.

Two bright gold eyes opened in the dark.