Royal Alpha Shifters

I stood in the hallway bracing myself against the wall for a moment. A rogue tear escaping my eyes. I would not let myself cry in front of them. That really hurt. Pain radiated from my butt. I may have broken my tailbone this time. I lifted my shirt trying to look at my lower back. I will definitely have a bruise this time. I took a deep breath. I couldn't stay here long. People would be coming to breakfast soon. I made my way slowly up to the 5th floor. I grabbed the cleaning supplies from a closet and started working my way through the bathrooms going back down to the 1st floor. Pain radiated from my backside as I worked. It was making cleaning much harder. I kept repeating these things to myself. I can endure it. It's been worse before. The beta broke my hand that one time. It was my left hand which is my dominant hand and chores took twice as long for about 4 weeks. Then there was the day the other poured scalding hot tea on me. Those burns took a good while to heal. I was on the 3rd floor when he found me again.

*****

Chapter 1

Bailey

“I’m sorry but there’s no other way, Bailey. We gave you a whole extra year to come to terms with this,” my father grumbled.

I quickened my pace toward the meadow, my jaw aching from clenching too hard. “I was hoping you’d come to your senses, but obviously not. I can’t believe you did this to me! I’m not going to agree to this . . . I won’t.”

“You have no choice, Bailey. We did what we thought would keep you safe. You’re of age now, and mating with Kade will keep you safe and pass on our bloodline.”

Actually, I did have a choice. My father was the alpha of our pack, but my loyalties remained my own. I didn’t feel the pull that everyone else did when it came to following orders. While they had to follow them; I didn’t. Growing up, I had often wondered if there was something wrong with me. But as I got older, it all began to make sense. I had a gift—I was a rare female alpha—and it needed to stay hidden.

“Keep me safe? You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve kept myself safe my entire life. Maybe I should’ve left when I had the chance.” They both tensed and hung back while I took the lead.

They were angry, yet it was almost as if they were scared of fighting against me, afraid I would leave and never return. I wanted to do what was best for our pack, I really did. But mating with Kade wasn’t the answer. I was basically being given away like a mail-order bride.

There was a time when I lived for the pack, when I would do anything to save my people. The white wolves were slowly reducing in number, and now everyone was desperate, struggling to make ends meet before we were wiped into extinction. I was twenty-four years old, and a daughter of the Northern pack alpha. It was my duty to continue my lineage. The only problem was, there were no other unmated alphas around other than my best friend, Sebastian, and the supreme douche, Kade Whitemore.

There was no way I was going to align myself with that jerk. He was the alpha of the Yukon pack, violent, and an overbearing know-it-all who’d rather see me on my back with my legs spread open than being his equal. I’d rather die than be forced to be his mate for all eternity. Why couldn’t I mate with Sebastian? Thinking of sleeping with him gave me the willies, but anything was better than Kade.

Anger racked my body and I sat there, seething . . . until I felt him. He was coming for me; I could sense him drawing near. The closer we got to the meadow, the more I could smell Kade and his excitement—his lust. Hopefully, he could smell the rage and disgust coming from me.

Wolves mated for life; it was a sacred union. It wasn’t like a human marriage where you could end it by signing a piece of paper. Our unions weren’t something you did lightly. It was also not a decision I was going to let my parents make for me. The only way to escape would be to kill him, and the last thing I wanted to do was start a war between packs. There had to be another way.

Up ahead, in wolf form, Kade kept his stare dialed in on me. He was large—like all alpha males tended to be—but I wasn’t impressed. He could smell my indifference and in return growled low, challenging me. I glared straight at him, not backing down, nor lowering my head. No one would ever make me submit.

Shifters needed the magic of the moon to change into their wolf form, but the strongest of our kind could transform at any time of the day. Most of the wolves in our pack had that advantage, except on the nights of the new moon. Only alphas had the ability to change on those nights. Tonight, there was no moon, so being the arrogant jerk he was, Kade decided to show up as his wolf. Figures.

Everyone backed away except me and my father. Kade sidled up to us and brushed his body against mine, marking me. Next, he pushed his nose between my legs and sniffed. Anger consumed me and I was close to shifting, but held back. “You do that again and I’ll have me a nice, white fur coat for the winter.”

His lips pulled back in a wolfish grin before he transformed into his naked, human self. “I was only getting a taste of what’s mine.”

Most white wolves had similar traits—light colored hair and blue eyes, with the occasional exception of green. My parents both had the bright blonde hair and had passed it down to me, along with their crystal blue eyes and immaculate strength. However, their strength wasn’t with them today which made me wary. My father didn’t even attempt to defend my honor.

Raking my gaze over Kade, he had platinum blond hair, striking blue eyes, and a body that even I hadn’t seen on the men in my pack. He was much larger, in more ways than one, and one of the youngest alphas in the country, most likely in his late twenties by the looks of him. Fortunately, when his gaze found mine, I didn’t see my future mate in those eyes.

Crossing my arms at my chest, I stood stock-still, waiting on my father to get done talking to him. I only wished he’d take heed of my loathing and leave. I wasn’t going to go with him. Everyone else got the choice of who they mated with. I wanted the same luxury.

Back and forth the men conversed heatedly, the tension filling the cool night air. The moment my father’s blue eyes met mine, I knew something was wrong. Please, don’t let it be so. He clutched my face in his hands and kissed me on the head. “Say goodbye to the pack. By sunrise, you’ll be on your way with Kade to your new home.”

“What?” I shouted, pulling away. “You’re supposed to be our alpha! Are you really so spineless?”

Our pack sucked in a collective breath at my daring words. Kade smirked and I made sure he could feel every ounce of my hatred. I pushed my power so hard at him, he stumbled back.

My dad was working hard on biting his tongue. “To ensure the survival of our packs, and to keep you safe, there’s no other way. We have to honor our promise.”

“Screwyour promise, and screw you,” I hissed. “It was yours, not mine.”

“It was the packs, Bailey. There’s no way around it.”

There’s a way around everything. My power roiled but I couldn’t unleash it . . . yet. It wasn’t the right time. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and huffed. “I’d like to speak to my intended for a moment, alone. I’ll say my goodbyes to everyone once we’re done.”

My father nodded in agreement and walked away, looking back at me once before turning his back. My pack followed close behind him, along with my mother who had tears streaming down her cheeks. The Yukon pack, however . . .

“Your people need to go,” I demanded.

Glancing over his shoulder, Kade nodded to his second in command and they disappeared through the trees.

When they were out of earshot, I pursed my lips and spat, “Out of every single pack in the world, you came to this one to claim me. Surely you could find someone who’d be glad to take you.”

“True, but I wanted you.”

“What makes you think I’m going to leave with you tomorrow?”

Kade laughed and sauntered over, leaning close so he could smell me; I stood my ground and didn’t waver, even when he brushed up against me. I could rip his heart out in the blink of an eye. He moaned and grew hard between his legs. “You’re mine, Bailey,” he growled, circling around behind me. “You were promised to me, and I’m not leaving without you.”

“You don’t even know me.”

Pushing himself against me, he reached around and placed his large hands on my thighs, holding me to him. Wolves were physical creatures and we loved touch, but I didn’t want him touching me.

“So help me God, if you don’t back up, I’m going to rip out your throat.”

Instead of letting me go, he held me tighter and chuckled in my ear, rubbing his scent all over my body. His hands gripped me, moving to touch me inappropriately. “I’d like to see you try, sweetheart. I love a good fight. The more you resist, the more I like it.

His pheromones were extremely high, choking me, and with that I could smell his need to mate, to claim me. I needed to do something fast without unleashing my power. I struggled in his hold, but the more I moved against him, the wilder his scent grew. He wanted the fight, and I couldn’t give him what he wanted.

Taking a deep breath, I swallowed back the bile and leaned into his touch, putting one of my hands over the one he was grabbing me with.. I had to make him believe I didn’t want to fight. All I needed was a little bit of time.

Rubbing myself against him, I gasped as his growl deepened and he bit down hard on my neck, drawing blood. Biting your mate was an intimate act only to be done when you’re actually mated.

“Now everyone will know you’re mine,” he whispered gruffly in my ear. “I'm going to have you until you scream. I’ve waited long enough to get you, and now that I have you, there’s no escape.”

“I tell you what,” I rasped, slowly trying to pull away, “why don’t I go tell my family goodbye, and then you can do whatever you want with me.”

Gripping my arms, he turned me around and ripped my shirt off my body, making me gasp. “Actually, I have a better idea. How about you put that mouth of yours to use and then you can say goodbye. You need to start acting like my mate and do as I say.”

I refused to be a victim for the sake of my pack.

“Kade,” I moaned. “Take me now.” All I needed was a clear shot to his neck. I had been with human men before, but never another wolf. I’d heard it was the best sex ever, and I planned on experiencing it one day . . . but not yet.

Chuckling, Kade lifted his head and I hid my fangs behind my closed lips. “Begging me already? I’m disappointed, little wolf. I thought you would put up more of a fight.”

I knew I needed to act fast. I opened my mouth wide and locked them on the inside of his neck. In one quick move, I ripped out as much flesh as I could. His blood ran warm down my throat, making me gag. I spit it out, along with a giant mound of flesh from his body.

Falling over to the side, he grabbed his throat and gurgled, choking on his own blood. I refused to be a slave to him when I was more powerful. Holding the wound on his neck, he growled as his eyes started to change into that of his wolf. He tried to shift, but it wasn’t working.

As I jumped to my feet, Kade grabbed a hold of my ankle and I fell to the ground.

“You’re going . . . to pay . . . .”

I needed to get away before the packs could hear our struggle. Luckily, I wriggled out of his hold and kicked his hand away. Knowing he would be dead in a matter of minutes, I summoned my magic and let the force shimmer around my body. Kade’s eyes went wide in disbelief. Letting the magic overtake me, I shifted into my wolf form and took off. I never once looked back. I didn’t want to leave everyone behind, but they left me no choice.

I would never see my family again.

Chapter 2

Bailey

For days, I traveled through the wilderness, keeping to the forests as I crossed the border from Canada to the United States. I had never been that far south, and I didn’t know where to go or what to do, considering I had no clothes or money. I would rather be a lone wolf than spend the rest of my eternity with an abusive douchebag. I’d never seen any of our male wolves treat their mates like that, and I wasn’t going to let anyone be that way to me.

Once I made it to the mountains in Wyoming, I was beyond exhausted. Thankfully, Kade’s scent had worn off to where I couldn’t smell him anymore. My paws hurt, I was filthy, and I was so hungry I could eat a whole deer—if I wasn’t too tired to hunt one. I could survive as a wolf for as long as I needed to, but I missed the amenities of everyday life. A nice, hot shower would’ve felt great.

It was then a smell of a crisp, clean lake floated past my face. It was just up ahead. Making my way there, I noticed it was mostly frozen and nestled in a small valley between snow-capped mountains. Luckily, there were still parts of it that weren’t frozen, which reflected the moon’s light. The water was way below freezing, but being an Arctic wolf I could withstand those temperatures with no problems at all.

Looking around, I knew there was nothing close by other than a couple of smaller animals and a bear that was about a mile away. I wanted to make sure it was safe before shifting. Once Kade’s pack started looking for me, I’d be a hunted wolf. I didn’t want to run for the rest of my life, but I had no choice.

Stepping into the water, I walked down the rocky slope and shifted. Holding my breath, I completely submerged myself, letting the cool, fresh water cleanse me. I ran my hands over my body and through my hair to make sure every place Kade touched had been washed thoroughly. He’d made me feel dirty from the inside out.

After a few extra seconds submerged under the water, I lifted my head and took in a deep, ragged breath. I always wanted freedom, but running for the rest of my life wasn’t what I considered being free. Slowly, I started out of the lake but came to a halt.

I wasn’t alone anymore.

The wind had blown the scent of a nearby wolf in my direction and it wasn’t just any type of wolf. It was an Arctic, just like me. He wasn’t one of Kade’s pack or mine, but it was still dangerous being out in the woods alone without my pack’s support.

Quickly rushing out of the water, I crouched behind a set of bushes. I breathed in again, hoping I was just being paranoid. But there was definitely another wolf around and it was an unmated alpha male. He was about half a mile away and moving closer by the second. Closing my eyes, I transformed into my wolf and darted out of the bushes and away from the lake. From the vibrations on the ground, he faltered for a second and stopped before picking up his pace. I was tired and weak, hoping I could outrun him.

The answer came swiftly enough when I heard his growls behind me, only a few feet away. Don’t look back, I chanted over and over in my mind. My muscles burned and started to shake, but I had to keep going. After only another couple of minutes of racing through the forest, I came to a complete halt when the mysterious white wolf lunged and landed on my back. My body gave out and my legs buckled underneath.

When I recovered from the fall, I was pinned to the ground, the other wolf staring curiously at me with his glowing emerald eyes. There was no hostility or any indication he wanted to hurt me, yet when I smelled other wolves approaching, all I could think about was fleeing. Slipping out from under his hold, I bolted through the trees but didn’t get very far.

The last thing I saw before everything went black were those emerald green eyes staring down at me. Except this time they weren’t coming from a wolf, they were from the most handsome face I’d ever seen.

They were almost familiar . . .

***

Ryker

“Is that really her? What is she doing all the way down here?” Cedric asked.

Bailey had turned back into her human self almost immediately after subduing her. She was too weak to keep hold of her magic, which was why she was limp in my arms as I carried her through the woods to the ranch. The rest of the pack followed closely behind in wolf form. “I don’t know. The last I checked she was still in her territory.”

“What are you going to do with her?” he asked.

“No idea. She looks at me like she has no clue who I am. I don’t get it.”

“Are you going to tell her?”

“When she wakes up.”

“Why do you not sound happy about that? All the guys in the pack would give their left nut to find their mate.”

I snorted. “You don’t know Bailey. She’s an alpha female. Need I say more?”

“Have the visions started yet? You drew blood when you bit her.”

And I could still taste her on my lips. Even if I didn’t know she was my mate, her blood would’ve been answer enough. “No, they haven’t, but I can feel the connection. Her mind is starting to open up.”

“What’s going on in there?” he asked, excitement in his voice.

“Not that I would actually tell you, but right now it’s nothing but quick flashes. I can’t tell what they are.”

“Man, I bet she’s going to be pissed when she wakes up.”

“I have no doubt.” I was going to have my hands full. Even when I met her years ago, she was a spitfire.

Cedric slapped me on the shoulder and laughed. “Better you than me, bro. I doubt she’ll put up a fight for long though.”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” I grumbled. We finally reached the ranch and I made sure the pack kept their distance.

“Do you want me to get the council together? They’ll want to know what’s going on.” The council was simply the alphas of each pack in the surrounding areas—my allies.

I looked down at Bailey. “Send word. It shouldn’t take long for them to arrive. They’ll want to know if trouble’s coming. I have no doubt Bailey’s pack will come looking for her.”

“And what if they attack?”

Stopping at the door, I sighed. If they came looking for her, they’d fight to get her back. “I’ll kill them.”

I carried Bailey inside and went straight to my bedroom to lay her down. Now that I’d drank her blood, I could get in her head. I wanted to know what made her run from her pack, but all that was showing in her mind were flashes of me and the woods. It was strange seeing myself through her eyes.

Tucking her platinum blonde hair behind her ear, I leaned down close, breathing her in. “Bailey, wake up.”

She stirred with my touch but her eyes stayed closed. One of the first things about the bond was that we could see visions of our future. I thought it would’ve happened as soon as I’d tasted her blood, but it hadn’t yet.

A few hours later, I could hear a couple of the other alphas approaching. Sliding off the bed, I grabbed a T-shirt and jeans out of my closet and threw them on before making my way out to the living room. Thankfully, with the bond, I didn’t have to worry about Bailey trying to escape.

There were five alphas, including myself, but only two had shown up, Ian and Tate. The others had a longer distance to travel. Cedric nodded and disappeared out the door to stand guard.

“Thanks for coming on such short notice,” I greeted as they entered.

The Northwestern pack alpha, Ian Randale, came forward and shook my hand. He was my age and an unmated gray wolf who was tall with light brown hair and green eyes. In fact, all of the alphas in the council were unmated. Ian, however, was one of the youngest alphas to ever receive the title. He defeated the original alpha at only fifteen years old, through combat no less. The alpha before him had been a Machiavellian douchebag. We were all ready to see him go.

“No worries.” He bent his head in greeting. “I’m here to help.”

“Me as well,” the other alpha agreed, shaking my hand. His name was Tate Grayson, leader of the Great Plains pack. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes; the exact imitation of his father who had stepped down as alpha and made him their pack’s leader.

My story was different; I was chosen by the entire pack.

“Thank you. And you know I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t important.”

Ian’s brows furrowed. “What’s going on?”

I glanced at them both. “I found my mate.”

Their eyes went wide. “But no one has found their true mate in years,” Tate remarked.

“Until now. I’ve known who mine was for years. I could just never get to her because of her pack. Now she’s here.”

“I’m happy for you . . . but what does that have to do with us?” Ian asked.

I blew out a heavy sigh. “I’m pretty sure her pack is going to start looking for her. There could be other wolves coming into your territories asking about her. I want you to be ready.”

His muscles tensed. “Are we talking a simple formality, or war?”

“There won’t be a war unless they come here demanding her. If they do, I can handle them on my own. I just want you both to be prepared.” They both nodded and it was a huge relief.

Out of nowhere, visions from Bailey’s mind blasted into my head. They were vivid and not the simple flashes from before. Not only were they full-on dreams, but in them I was claiming her. It was as if I was actually there experiencing it.

“You okay, brother?” Tate asked, zapping me out of my thoughts.

No, I wasn’t okay. I was very turned on. Clearing my throat, I put my hands in my pockets to cover my excitement. “I’m fine. The visions seem to be starting up.”

They both chuckled, knowing very well what I was referring to. Ian spoke first, “I know what that means. My grandfather told me stories. Horny 24/7. But you know, that was when they were made to wait until the full moon to bond.”

“I doubt she’ll want anything to do with me at the moment. I only got a taste of her blood during a fight. She wasn’t exactly willing.”

Smirking, Tate shook his head. “Something tells me you wanted to bite her though. Am I right?”

As much as I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t. Every male who got near her would know she was mine, mated or not. “What can I say?”

Ian patted me on the shoulder. “Good luck with your hand tonight.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled.

He started for the door with Tate behind him. “Oh, and if her pack does come for her, I’ll stand behind you.”

I gave my appreciation and then glanced at Tate who nodded.

“My pack will too. I never thought I’d see the day when the magic returned to our people. Maybe I’ll even get lucky one day.”

Once they were out the door, I headed back upstairs and it took every ounce of strength I had not to get on the bed with Bailey. All I wanted to do was have her.. I’d wanted to do that every day since I saw her in college. It enraged me to see her around human men. I didn’t like them touching her or breathing around her, but there was nothing I could do at the time.

It was going to be a long night.

Chapter 3

Bailey

“I take it you don’t want to go back with me.” Sebastian’s eyebrows raise up as he puts my bags in the trunk and slams it shut.

I look straight into my best friend’s bright blue eyes and they spark with power. “Would you want to go back to a cage?” I had enjoyed my freedom at college, but I know as soon as I step back into the pack, my life will not be my own anymore.

Sighing, he opens the car door. “You might think you’re alone in this, but you’re not. Things will change, B. I just need you to give it a little more time.”

“Time? I don’t even know what you’re talking about. I am alone, Sebastian. The only people I have are you and my parents. Everyone else stays away from me.”

“I’m sure your parents missed you.”

“And you didn’t?”

Chuckling, he runs a hand through his bright blond hair. “I missed your smart-ass mouth. It was boring while you were away. You always had a way of keeping me entertained.”

I lean against the car and smile. “I’m surprised my father hasn’t asked you to be my mate.”

His grin disappears as he looks away. “I think Darius has other plans.”

“Like what?” As soon as I ask, my skin tingles and burns. A mysterious wolf is near. His power calls to mine and I want to succumb, but I will not go down that easily.

Sebastian narrows his eyes, studying me, and then goes into full alert. “Bailey, get in the car.” His eyes focus on something across the street and I know who it is without even looking. He’s a wolf and an alpha. For the past five years, I had sensed him near, but he never once approached. Not until now. “Get in the car, Bailey,” Sebastian growls again.

I don’t want to get in the car. Instead, I turn around and get my first glimpse of the mysterious wolf. He’s standing beside a black Jeep with his arms crossed angrily at his chest. His light brown hair is hidden underneath a navy baseball cap, and he’s dressed in a white T-shirt and ripped jeans. His bright green eyes meet mine and my wolf stirs deep inside, calling to him. The only word floating through my mind is something I am not expecting.

Mine.

Our eyes meet, but the connection breaks when Sebastian forces me into the car. “What is wrong with you?” He slams the door and gets in, squealing the tires as he races us down the street and away from the green-eyed wolf. I look back through the window and he is gone.

My world shimmers and I am sucked into another place and time.

Hands hold me down, but it’s not out of aggression, it’s passion fueled. I moan as the green eyed wolf pushes himself towards me, claiming me. I love the way his skin feels against mine and the way we move together. I’ve never felt so close to anyone before. It’s almost as if we’re connected somehow.

“Bailey, wake up,” a voice called. It was the voice in my dreams, the voice of the wolf.

When I finally woke up, I wasn’t in the woods . . . and I definitely wasn’t alone. His scent surrounded me, not only in the air, but on my body. What the heck? Clenching my teeth, I growled and tried to roll off the bed, with no such luck. Apprehended, with an arm across my stomach, I felt him straddle my waist, chuckling as he pinned my arms above my head.

“Let me go,” I demanded, glaring up into his glowing gaze. His touch made my body tingle, almost like an electrical current passing from his body to mine. It was strange, yet I welcomed it, even though my mind was telling me to knee him in the junk.

“Good morning to you too, Sleeping Beauty. I trust you're well rested?” he asked, smiling wide. I half expected him to look at my body, but he kept his focus on my eyes. Point for him.

My cheeks burned. “I slept fine. But if you don’t get off of me, I’m going to rip your eyes out. Your choice.”

He smirked and rolled off. There was a T-shirt on the edge of the bed he snatched up and slipped on. He wasn’t mated, because if he was I would smell another female on him. There was nothing other than the woods, the unique scent of our Arctic bloodline, and something else. I just couldn’t place what that other smell was.

“Calm down, Bailey. You know I’m not going to hurt you.”

I snatched the blanket off the bed and wrapped it around me, huffing. “You’re right, you’re not.” He laughed and it only ticked me off more. “How do you know my name?”

Staring at me with those hypnotic eyes, he ran a hand through his tousled, light blond hair. “I’ve known you for a long time now.”

“You mean stalked,” I clarified. I had to admit, he was a good looking stalker. All I could think of was wrapping my legs around his body and gripping that hair of his while he spread me wide. I could see it clearly in my mind from my dream. It felt so real, as if it actually happened.

He chuckled darkly and bit his lip. “Oh, it will happen, angel. What you saw and did in your dream was our future. It wasn’t easy sleeping beside you when I couldn’t touch you.”

Eyes wide, I jumped out of the bed and backed against the wall, clutching the blanket tight. “How did you know what I was thinking?” Surely, I didn’t say it out loud. I was about to go into full panic mode when a calm swept through my body like warm lavender. I didn’t feel like myself. “What’s going on?” I whispered.

Cautiously, he edged closer. “Bailey, it’s okay. My name’s Ryker. I want to help you, not hurt you. Through our bond I can calm you down, but I can’t do it forever. Right now, I need you to listen to me. There’s so much I need to tell you.”

“Through our bond? What are you talking about?”

Holding out his hand, he beckoned me closer. “Here, take my hand and tell me what you feel.”

I stared at his hand before he snatched mine instead. Immediately, my body lit up like fire, coursing through every vein. I could feel each emotion inside of him like they were my own. There was passion, happiness, concern, and even . . . love. How could that be? The longer I touched him, the more I wanted—the more I craved. I didn’t want to let go.

“Why do I feel like this when I don’t even know you?” I asked.

Ryker pulled me close, and all I wanted was for him to put his arms around me, to touch me with those strong hands of his. “You do know me, Bailey. It was a long time ago, but I knew I would never forget your face as long as I lived.”

Eyes wide, I gasped. “When? Where? I don’t remember you other than seeing you in my dreams a little bit ago. Well, that, and your eyes seem familiar. Why do they seem familiar?” I muttered the last question to myself.

Tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, he smiled and caressed my cheek. “I was there the day that other wolf picked you up from college. I was pissed when I saw you leave with him. The day I was able to come for you, was the day I lost you.”

“So the dream actually happened? Why don’t I remember you from that day? And how could you even sense me? I was under a shielding spell. No other wolves should’ve been able to find me.”

“Magic doesn’t work against a mate, angel. Don’t get me wrong, whatever voodoo stuff you had surrounding you made it difficult, but I was still able to find you. I had to tread carefully when you went back to Canada, however.”

“Oh my God, how is this even possible? I’ve never heard of mates being able to do that.” I’d never actually heard anything about what happened when wolves mated. I felt so lost. Letting go of his hand, I stepped back. “Whatever you’re doing to my emotions, stop.”

The warmth went away and I was back to feeling in control. I had to get out of there. I thought Ryker would try to stop me, but he didn’t as I stalked past him and down the stairs. There was nowhere to go but out. The magic grew inside me and as soon as I opened the door, I was ready to shift. Unfortunately, there were six wolves standing guard.

“You have got to be kidding me.”