HIS FATED MATE

There was a shortcut back to the pack house that Kane led her through. Anna couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed and very much disappointed as they walked back in uncomfortable silence.

She had just lost what might’ve been her only chance to slip away unnoticed and she became even more disappointed seeing as she cared more about what Kane was thinking at that moment rather than how she might never get such a golden opportunity again.

He still held on to her hand as they walked and Anna wondered if he was just as reluctant as she was for him to let go or if he had just totally forgotten about the fact that they were both walking hand in hand.

It wasn’t long before Anna started noticing the lights from the castle and the faint sounds of the music at the party.

Wow, they were still going hard at it, even without the celebrant present.

“How long do these things normally go on for?”

“Huh?” Kane raised a brow in confusion.

“I meant the parties,” Anna said, “How long do you think it’ll take for them to notice that you’re not actually there?”

The edges of his lips curled up into that wonderful shape she was growing fond of, his eyes distant but yet had warmth in them like he was reliving beautiful memories.

Anna was dying to know what went on inside the man’s head and just what exactly he was thinking about.

“This happens every year, I’m not a party person so I don’t usually stay till it ends and it takes them quite some time to notice my absence, by the time they do they’ll still shrug it off and continue till dawn,”

Anna laughed and shook her head humorously, “Happy Birthday to you…” She teased, bumping into his shoulder and earning a chuckle from him.

“Why, thank you!” He gave a mock bow.

Just then, there was a faint rustle in the bushes on Kane’s side. It was almost silent but Anna’s sensitive ears caught it and judging by the way Kane stopped in his tracks, his ears caught the sound as well.

Both their eyes narrowed in suspicion, they looked at each other and then turned their attention back to the bushes.

“Did you hear that?”

Before Anna could reply, she felt someone whip past her ear, like an arrow or a bullet. But she didn’t hear any gunshots.

She gasped at the sudden sting she felt in her ear, Kane’s body tensed and his grip on her wrist became firmer as he pulled her behind his body to shield her from whatever it was that lay beyond the darkness.

Anna reached up to her ear, she felt wetness and she expected the bright red liquid that stained her fingers when she brought them to her eye level.

Kane’s eyes were on her fingers as well and then his gaze drifted to her ear.

“Who’s there?” Kane asked, his tone was dark, dangerous, and was sure to keep anyone who wanted to try anything stupid behind the bushes where they hid.

“Stay behind me,” He said protectively.

Anna stiffened up for a split second, not used to the feeling of being genuinely protected by a person.

Suddenly she could feel the cold night wind blow harshly against her skin and the warmth that radiated off his body as he pulled her closer to his back.

She felt safe.

That feeling didn’t last, Anna didn’t trust anyone, not even the man who was supposed to be her mate.

If she was going to be protected, she would be the one protecting herself and no one else!

They all had ulterior motives and despite all that has transpired between her and Kane, she still didn’t trust him.

Just then, Anna felt a large hand wrap around her waist roughly and pull her away from Kane.

He was caught off guard, she could see it in his eyes as he stared down at their now separated hands.

Anna felt her back press against a sturdy chest, her defense skills kicked in and she balled her fists and prepared to attack.

That was until that familiar smell drifted into her nostrils. That sickly sweet smell haunted her day and night, now that brought back memories that made bile rise up in her throat and her legs weak.

She felt the tip of something sharp press against her pounding pulse on her neck and break the skin.

“Move an inch…”

That voice was enough to make her body sag in the grasp of her captor. It was like a mechanism already imbued in her that the second that scent was near, she had to be submissive, docile, all of the things that she loathed.

“…and we’ll both lose,”

Kane looked like he was about to take a step but decided against it, his eyes were not on Anna’s but he was looking at who Anna could assume was her captor.

“I killed you, Yaakov,” Kane didn’t look surprised to see him alive, not as surprised and shaken to the core as Anna felt at that moment.

“That you did,” Hearing his voice so close to her ears made her eyes water and her legs shake like they had no more strength left in them.

“I have come for what belongs to me Kane,” The sharp object went deeper into her neck, “I don’t know if you heard, but I and Annalisa here, we’re both fated mates and I am sure you must’ve noticed my mark on her skin…That spot right below her beautiful breasts,” Yaakov laughed and tightened his grip making Anna gasp from the pain of feeling her ribs getting crushed by the Alpha’s massive strength.

Kane’s lips twitched and he crossed his arms over his chest, “You and I both know that isn’t true,” Kane said.

“Let her go and we can finish what you’ve started,” Kane’s eyes glowed brighter, he looked like his wolf was fighting for control. That menacing look in his eyes that were also filled with blood lust.

He wanted to rip Yaakov to shreds and maybe Anna as well.

“Anna is my mate and you know it is well against all laws of our kind to covet the mate of another,”

Yaakov had no intention of letting Anna go.

Her heart sunk deeper as she found herself struggling to catch her breath.

“I will fight you Alpha Of GreyThorn, but first I will take what belongs to me and you will watch,”

Kane growled menacingly, his voice no longer that of a man’s.

“She doesn’t belong to you,” He snarled.

“Get your fucking hands off her!”