Mated to you

Chapter 1- There's more

She paused by a towering tree, lungs burning, the bark cool against her palm. A breeze stirred the air, cedarwood and musk. Before she had a chance to exhale, his voice cut through the silence behind her.

“Seriously, you need to rest,” he said, fatigue threading through the irritation in his tone. His hand raked through dishevelled hair, the gesture taut with frustration.

She turned slowly, throat dry. “I was just exploring. This place… it doesn’t look like your home. Where are we?” He exhaled, gaze steady. “This is our home. The other place was just a convenience. This is where I’m really from.” She almost asked how he’d found her but stopped herself. Of course he had. It was probably his animal instincts. “Its so large.” She said dryly. He ignored her, stepping closer to her. “Come on, don’t make me carry you back.” He extended a hand toward her. She hesitated, still afraid of what he was. But the moment his skin brushed hers, her racing heart slowed, and the pulsing panic dissolved into something warm and familiar. His fingers curled around hers, firm, but not forceful. If it were up to him, he’d scoop her into his arms and carry her back to the estate. But he could feel how fragile her trust had become. Letting her walk on her own would have to do. She took a step, then another, her hand still in his. The forest floor was soft beneath her feet, muffling their movement. He didn’t speak, but his presence loomed beside her, steady, watchful, unbearably close. She hated how her body responded to him. The calm he brought. The way her pulse synced to his pace. It felt like surrender, even though she was still walking under her own power. He glanced at her, amber eyes unreadable. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.” She didn’t answer. Fear wasn’t the problem, not this time, it was the invisible pull he had on her, the way he made her forget why she’d run in the first place. Her steps slowed, his jaw clenched as he fought the urge to pick her up. “Are you okay?” He asked, voice low and threaded with concern. She nodded. A lie. The ground tilted beneath her, a slow nauseating spin. Still, she pressed on, unwilling to ask for assistance. After a few minutes she begun to sway slightly, enough for him to notice that she was not okay. “I’m fine,” She said, waving him off. “I just need a moment to breathe.” She said, pausing as she sucked in some much needed air. Her cheeks flushed, not with embarrassment, but something deeper. Fever, or maybe the cost of holding herself together. He stepped closer, gaze dark with worry. His fingers brushed her forehead, then swept a strand of hair from her face with aching care. “You’re burning up,” he murmured, brows furrowed. Without another thought, he swept her up and headed toward the estate. She didn’t bother arguing, she’ll revisit everything she hates about this situation when she wakes with more energy, for now, she let herself rest against him, feeling the rise and fall of his warm chest, her fever now wrapping itself around her, consuming her every thought, even the ones of him.

Long, dark claws tore through her torso, blood pooling beneath her as she staggered back. She turned, to see Reign, his human form unravelling in an instant, replaced by the beast she’d seen once before. He lunged, a blur of muscle and fury, colliding with the white wolf that had clawed her open. His growl was deafening, a guttural roar that vibrated through her bones.

She jolted awake.

Nightmare.

It was just a nightmare.

Her breath came in shallow bursts. Sweat clung to her skin, her brow damp as she wiped it with a trembling hand. Her chest ached, not from wounds, but from the phantom memory of claws, of blood, and of Reign’s beast.

“Reign.” She said, voice soft and trembling.

He held her hand, acknowledging her with the slightest head nod.

“My dream, it felt so real, I’ve never dreamed like that before.” She took in a slow breath. “I was being clawed apart by a large white wolf.” Her voice cracked, and Reign’s grip on her hand tightened, steadying her. His amber eyes flickered, unreadable, distant. “Just rest, okay, your fever should break soon.” He said, jaw tight, rising to his feet. “Where are you going?” She asked, her curiosity edged with unease. He paused, back half turned, the tension on his shoulders betraying more than his words ever could. “I’ve got some stuff to take care of, if you run this time, I won’t be able to protect you, so please stay within the boundary. The estate is big enough to entertain you until I’m back. I will have some of the pack expose themselves to you, you’ll have people to talk to.”

Her brows furrowed in confusion. “Boundary? Exposed pack? How long will you be gone for?” she asked. He sighed, low and tired. There was so much she didn’t know. Without hesitation he continued to the door. The sound of his footsteps retreating down the hall which scraped against her nerves. Was he really ignoring her now? She stared at the doorway, the silence pressing in. The fever still lingered, a dull warmth beneath her skin. Rest sounded wise, she supposed, if only to escape the ache of unanswered questions.

Her eyes fluttered shut, breath shallow. The memory of claws and amber eyes drifted at the edges of her mind as sleep reclaimed her, slow and heavy.