Chapter Four

F L O R E N C E

“Mate.”

My whole body freezes. For a while, it seems that the world has gone white. A strange feeling engulfs me. Something warm. Something demanding. Something hungry.

Hungry for the man who stands before me.

My hands fly to my mouth as I stagger back. Did I really say that? Did I really say mate?

Perhaps my adrenaline and fear just got the best of me. Perhaps this isn’t even real. Maybe I’m just hallucinating things because of what I experienced in the Sacred Grounds.

I shake my head, closing my eyes and telling myself that I didn’t say that. Telling myself that I didn’t just find my mate in this wretched place, wherever this is. I take one step back. And another. And another.

Until I find myself almost falling off the stairs.

I scream and try to balance myself, but the man reaches for me and takes my hand, pulling me to steadier ground.

Closer to him.

So close that I have to open my eyes and look at his face.

My mind goes blank.

The man is...handsome. But not in a way that is typical, not in a way that is natural, even. He has a chiseled face reminiscent of statues of gods, a perfect balance of planes and angles. His hair is wavy and black, so dark that it’s almost blue in this dim light. He’s towering over me, his lean body relaxed and graceful even though he’s holding my whole weight in place.

But the most striking thing about him is his gray eyes. Cool, gray eyes that are as dark as storm clouds. Just as mysterious, just as powerful. Electricity spreads in my body as he grips my arm tighter, his gaze never leaving mine. I feel like he can see right through me. I feel like I want him to see through me...

And judging by the sheer surprise on his face, I can tell that he heard me say that word.

I snatch my arm from him but I don’t dare stagger back again. For some reason, a warm spot is left on my arm after he lets me go, and I feel strangely bereft at the absence of his touch.

For a whole moment, the man and I just stare at each other.

He doesn’t know that I’m fighting down the pulling sensation in my chest and the strong desire to grab his face and capture his lips.

What the hell is this feeling?

I even forgot I was about to escape and I’m a prisoner here!

I force myself to snap back to my senses and prepare to leave, but then another man appears behind him.

“Alpha Niccolo, I heard that the...” the man trails off. He sees me and his eyes widen. “Your prisoner, Alpha! She escaped!”

“I got this,” the man I called my mate says. His voice sounds like music. “Prepare us a room upstairs. I need to talk to her.”

The other man bows in confusion. “Of course, Alpha Niccolo.”

So...he’s an Alpha. Alpha Niccolo.

I know every single Alpha in this state, but never have I heard anyone of this name.

I open my mouth to ask him, but he just turns around and motions me to follow him.

I expect myself to kick him and run while he has his back turned, but to my surprise, everything in my body just feels the need to obey him. Before I knew it, I'm already walking behind him, following him like some sort of a puppy as he navigates what looks like an underground maze made of concrete and slimy moss.

This isn't right. The hum of energy and hunger in my body is not normal. I'm drawn to him. I'm stuck with him.

This Alpha Niccolo is really my mate.

And I got called 'his prisoner'.

My mate...had me kidnapped and imprisoned.

Rage boils in my heart and I want nothing more but to hit him from the back and get away for good. However, my body doesn't react. I'm just obeying him obediently like a well-trained circus animal until we stop in front of a metal door.

He opens it and stands aside. "After you."

Reluctantly, I step inside and find myself in what looks like a sitting room. It doesn't smell musty, for some reason, and the upholstered furniture actually looks decent. Still, I don't sit until he takes the high-backed chair in front of me.

"Sit," he says.

Once again, I subconsciously follow his order.

My blood is boiling hot, but not from anger. In better light, he looks even more captivating, and my mind is starting to conjure images of him without his black robes on.

What's wrong with me?

Alpha Niccolo raises his eyebrows as though reading my mind, and I hang my head, looking at my muddy clothes.

"So what are you doing in my land, Florence Levine?" he asks smoothly.

The sound of my name coming from his lips makes me weak, but I force myself to talk. "The Sacred Grounds is no one's land. I came here to save a boy who is in danger. You have no right to punish me for saving a life, for going to a land that belongs to nobody."

To my surprise, he lets out a low laugh. I should be annoyed but my skin heats up.

"A pact is made so no one would cross me, my dear Florence," he says in a low voice, almost a purr, as he stands up and walks right in front of me. He puts his finger under my chin and makes me look up at him. "Did you not know that? This cursed land is mine. The rules are made for me."

I swallow hard. His touch is setting me on fire. I clamp my legs tighter to suppress the strange feeling between them.

"Then let me go." I sound breathless. Needy. "Let me go and I will not say anything. I will dedicate my life to keeping your secrets. I can protect your land. I can do everything you ask, just let me go."

He smiles. "I'm sure you can."

I gulp hard. "Please. I have no use for you. Just let me go."

"Oh, I do." Alpha Niccolo leans closer to me. So close I can almost taste his lips. "You're not going anywhere . . . mate."