THE ALPHA’S FORBIDDEN MATE

CHAPTER 8: THE FIRST DEADLINE

240 words.

That’s all I needed to hit 5000 and lock the Dreame contract.

I cracked my knuckles. The noodles were still warm.

The apartment was quiet. Safe. Mine.

`Ping.`

Not my phone. My _head_.

A sharp, hot pulse behind my eyes. Like someone snapped a rubber band inside my skull.

I dropped my pen.

`Raven.`

Not a voice. A thought. But not mine.

I stood up too fast. The chair screeched.

My neck burned. Right where hair covers skin. Like I’d been lying in the sun too long.

`Drake.`

The name appeared in my mind with his face. Tired eyes. Black shirt. Walking away from my door last night.

That was impossible. I’d never even spoken to a werewolf. I didn’t believe in—

`Ping.` Again. Stronger.

Pain bloomed across my collarbone. I ripped my shirt collar down.

Nothing was there.

But it _felt_ like a brand.

My phone buzzed. Real this time.

Unknown number.

`You feel that?`

`Drake.`

My hands were shaking.

`What are you talking about?` I typed.

`The bond.`

`It’s activating.`

`Don’t panic. I’m 10 minutes away.`

I laughed. Out loud. Hysterical.

Bond? Mate? This was a contract job. Nothing more.

`I don’t want—`

The front window rattled.

Not from wind.

From a car door slamming.

Across the street. The same black SUV from last night.

Lila.

She wasn’t in the car.

She was standing under the streetlight. In a red dress. Heels.

And she was staring straight at my window.

Her phone was to her ear.

My phone buzzed again.

`Don’t open the door, Raven. Do NOT open the door.`

`Drake.`

Lila smiled. Slow. Like she’d been waiting for this.

She mouthed two words through the glass.

`I. See. You.`

My neck burned again. Hotter this time.

And in the mirror on my wall, just for a second,

I saw it.

A faint silver crescent. Like a bruise. Starting to form on my skin.

His mark.

Without him touching me.

The bond was choosing for us.

Lila took one step toward my building.

`Drake, where are you??` I typed frantically.

`2 minutes. Lock the door.`

But I heard it.

Footsteps. In the hallway.

Coming to my door.

Three knocks. Soft.

Just like last night.

“Ravendon,” Lila called through the door. Sweet. Deadly.

“I just want to talk about the contract.”

My chest felt like it would explode.

Because the mark on my neck was glowing now.

And Drake wasn’t here yet.