The Billionaire secret mate

Chapter5

Nora looked outside the city disappeared behind them tall trees surrounded the road now, their branches bending beneath the storm.

Where are we going?

My house

I thought you said you were taking me somewhere safe but I am, this doesn't look safe.

Then the car slowed. Ahead, enormous iron gates emerged from the darkness. They opened before Kieran touched them.Nora sat up beyond the gates stood a mansion not a mansion but a fortress.

Black stone walls rose into the night, illuminated by scattered lights. The architecture was beautiful in a cold, intimidating way. It looked ancient. Like it had been standing there long before the city around it existed. Kieran drove through the gates, they closed behind them.

Nora stared at the house. How many people live here?Enough to contain the house, that's not an answer.

It's the one you're getting,?She sighed I hate you already, Kieran glanced at her oh no, you don't,her heart skipped, she hated that it did

He parked beneath a covered entrance. Before Nora could open the door, Kieran was already outside. He walked around the vehicle and opened her door,She hesitated his hand remained extended she looked at it then at him.

Finally, she placed her hand in his the instant their skin touched, heat shot through her nora gasped kieran's entire body stiffened for one terrifying second, non of them moved, his eyes turned gold Nora pulled her hand away, what was that?Kieran looked down at his palm, it was nothing, i will tell you everything tonight,I'll tell you what you need to know.

Nora followed. Inside, the mansion was even more intimidating. Dark wood. Stone floors. Tall windows. Paintings of people Nora didn't recognize but as she walked past one portrait, she stopped. A young man stood in the center dark hair, sharp features, cold eyes.

Nora stared she looked at Kieran is that you?He stopped, with so much calmness, he said no that is not me. Nora was still not convinced she looked at the painting again the resemblance was undeniable

Your father?

Yes.

Nora studied the portrait there was something unsettling about his eyes something familiar ten she noticed a woman standing beside him her heart stopped she stepped closer. Who is she?Kieran didn't answer nora's fingers trembled she knew that face even after all these years she knew it, that's my mother, she said with so much shock, Kieran closed his eyes, Nora turned toward him, you knew my mother?

Yes, she saved my life when I was seventeen, she frowned, you're telling me my mother knew your family before I was born but why didn't she ever tell me? Because she wanted you to forget us, something tragic happened, she was just trying to keep you safe.

Before Nora could ask another question, a sharp pain tore through Kieran's chest, he stumbled Nora instinctively reached for him “Kieran?” He pushed her away. Don't. His voice sounded strained.She stared at him.

stay back, his breathing became heavier, his hands curled into fists.

Nora kept shouting his name in fright but Kieran constantly pushed her away, something was happening to him and she was not understanding it.

Nora watched in horror as the veins beneath his neck darkened, his shoulders jerked he dropped to one knee, a sound escaped him, not a groan but a growl.

Nora froze.

His eyes were completely gold now. His pupils had narrowed into something almost animalistic. His teeth looked sharper. His fingers dug into the stone floor. Cracks spread beneath his hands. He raised his head and for a moment, she saw the man she'd met. Then the beast beneath him surfaced.

His body changed. His shoulders broadened. Muscles shifted beneath his shirt. His fingernails lengthened into black claws. His breathing became a deep, savage rhythm.

Nora pressed herself against the wall. She wanted to scream. She wanted to run. But she couldn't stop looking at him.

Because beneath the terrifying transformation, she could still see Kieran. His eyes. His pain. His struggle. He was fighting something inside himself.

Get out, he growled.Nora's eyes filled with tears but you're hurting.

That doesn't matter but it matters to me, she said in tears. His eyes widened, for one second, the beast seemed to retreat.Kieran gripped his head don't say things like that because I don't know what I'll do if you keep looking at me like that.

He looked at her. The beast in his eyes was still there but so was something else something dangerously human.

You're my mate.Nora's heart pounded. I don't understand what that means. It means my instincts will want to protect you. He swallowed. And possess you I don't want you to be afraid of me.

But I am, are you going to hurt me?

His answer came immediately. Never. The certainty in his voice silenced her then the mansion lights flickered. Once. Twice.

Kieran's head snapped toward the hallway. Nora watched his expression change his eyes narrowed someone has entered the house.

Nora's heart began to race. One of the creatures? Kieran's voice was barely audible. My brother. Nora frowned. You said your family was dead.I said my father was dead, He reached for her hand, this time, she let him take it. Stay behind me.

A man's voice drifted through the darkness. Cold. Amused. Familiar in a way Nora couldn't explain. The voice laughed softly After all these years... Footsteps echoed closer. ...you finally found her. Nora's fingers tightened around Kieran's. Then the stranger stepped into the light. And Nora's heart stopped. Because he looked exactly like the man in the portrait. Except, he was supposed to have been dead for twenty years.