Marked by the Alpha: My Forced Mate

Chapter 2

The first rays of sun cut through the trees, but Mia didn’t move.

She stayed on the cold, wet ground, staring at the empty spot where the wolf had stood. Her hand pressed hard against her neck. The mark still burned there, like a hot brand.

It wasn’t a dream.

“Mia! Oh my god, are you okay? What happened?”

Lila’s voice was loud and scared, pulling her back. Her best friend ran over, eyes wide. Mia tried to speak, but her throat was dry. Her voice wouldn’t come out.

“I… I don’t know,” she whispered. “I saw something.”

“Something what?” Lila helped her stand, brushing pine needles off her jacket. “You’re shaking. Did you see a bear? If that’s what it was, we’re never coming back to this stupid cabin again.”

But Mia knew it wasn’t a bear. Bears don’t have golden eyes that glow like fire. Bears don’t leave marks on your neck that burn like this.

She looked at her hand, at the faint red mark she could feel but not really see. And she knew, deep down, her life would never be the same.

Last night, she’d been marked.

And whatever did it… was coming.

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Back at the cabin, the party was over. The music was off. Beer cans were all over the floor. Everyone else had passed out or left. Lila didn’t push her to talk about it, which Mia was thankful for. She just sat with her on the couch, gave her a warm blanket, and left her alone.

By the time they got back to the dorms, the sun was all the way up. Mia felt like she was in a fog. Every sound was too loud. Every light was too bright. Her neck still throbbed, a constant hot reminder of what happened.

She tried to tell herself it was just a wolf. Just a big, scary wolf. But she knew it was more. The way it looked at her, like she was something it owned. The way it marked her, like she was its property.

That night, she couldn’t sleep. She kept tossing and turning, her hand flying to her neck every few minutes. When she finally fell asleep, she was back in the woods. The wolf was there, staring at her with those golden eyes. This time, it spoke to her.

*Mine.*

She woke up screaming.

Her heart was racing. Her body was covered in sweat. The dream felt so real. The voice in her head, low and possessive, sounded like someone was right there in her room.

Then her phone buzzed.

A text from an unknown number, sent just a minute ago.

It read:

*I’m coming for you, mate.*