Alpha Orion’s Wolfless Warrior

HAYLEE “Haylee, you know dad didn’t mean that, right?” Piper defended through the link. I didn’t respond, running faster into the woods, hoping to lose the connection in a bit. I’d always been a fast runner, but I lacked the stamina that other werewolves had. If I had a wolf, and my full werewolf abilities, I’d have tapped into my speed and run ten times faster. Maybe dad was right after all, maybe I was truly ‘a useless disgrace that had no business coming into this world’. What a beautiful way to speak to your child, right? “You know he just likes to talk stupid,” Piper continued. “He never means anything. Plus, he had a lot to drink at that pack event, mom said so…” I upped my speed. “Haylee…” Finally, the connection began to waver, and her voice grew distant. My legs throbbed, ribs ached, and sweat dripped down my body like rain, drenching my clothes. My throat was parched also, but hydration was my least concern at the moment. The wet grass crackled under my big boots as I covered more distance, dust lifting in the air. The woods tonight were as quiet and chill as I usually loved it, save for the cry of crickets and night birds. I finally spotted a huge tree and increased my pace, my body humming with all the pent-up energy I needed to dispel. My gloved fists clenched as I slowed down, and the moment I was finally at the foot of the giant tree, I threw my first punch. The second followed in rapid motion, until the ninth. “Argh!” I screamed into the echoing silence. “Take that, Beta Graymore! The rest of the pack calls me useless already. How about you pick another title, you f*****g loser!” I staggered back after hitting the side of the tree’s trunk one last time. Tears were cascading down my cheeks now, hot against my burning skin. I’d definitely bruised my knuckles. I took out the bottle of water which was strapped to my waist, violently loosened the cap, and brought the bottle to my lips. Suddenly, in the middle of my drinking, I froze. Blinking, my gaze skimmed over my surroundings, and a cold chill ran down my spine at a realization. I’d run past our territory. I was standing a few miles off from our boundary. Actually, it had to be more than just a few miles. I couldn’t recognize this place at all. “Shit.” I cursed under my breath. My fingers worked fast as I closed the bottle and slipped it back into the pocket of my combat pants. But I was only one step in when I smelt it. I turned to retreat, but a scent hit me—ripe, juicy mango dessert. It rooted me to the spot. My hand dropped to the cool blade at my waist. “Who’s there?” I demanded. The grass rustled. I drew my knife, brandishing it in front of me. “I didn’t mean to cross the border! Come out and we can talk!” A low growl answered. A gush of delicious-smelling wind rushed past me. I swung the knife, but the figure vanished toward the base of the tree. I shrieked, snapping my eyes shut at the sight of a bare, muscled ass beside a pile of clothes I hadn’t even noticed in the first place… “f**k!” His deep voice rumbled, making my knees buckle. “You can open your eyes.” His voice was a little stern, and I found myself not liking it, opening my eyes with a frown. A frown which dissipated the moment I finally saw his face. Aside from being a six-foot, ripped god, he was stunning. Icy gray eyes, a sharp jaw, and a dark stubble. He looked dangerous, and roughly… twenty-five? He was a little too rough around the edges, nothing like my dream man who was going to smother me with all the love and affection in this world. And yet my body ached to touch him… “Why do you smell like mangoes?” I blurted out. “I hate mangoes…” Or used to. One second I was standing in front of him, and the next, I was pinned to the tree, with his breath fanning my face. And a good inch of my knife lodged in his stomach. “Urghhh…” he grunted. “Would you stop using your blade on me?” He snatched it off with ease and flung it to the ground, then pressed me further against the tree when I tried to move. I couldn’t think straight. He was filling all my senses. “You don’t know?” He asked harshly. “Are you pretending?” “Pretending?” I frowned, my brows crinkling. He c****d his own brow, pressing even closer against me. For some reason, I clutched his shirt, needing to be even closer to him. Warmth spread across my chest, and downwards, too. “Why’d you feel so good?” “Mmh..” he muttered, placing a hand on my waist. “I taste good, too. Want to check?” I leaned in without a single thought, and our lips clashed in a desperate kiss. His big arm hooked under my thighs and he lifted me off the ground, while my legs automatically wrapped around his waist. His hard on pressed against my center, and I grounded against it, unable to help myself. His lips pried mine open as he continued to devour me, and heat invaded my body. I used to think French kisses were disgusting. Right now, I had my both hands holding his face in place as I sucked on his tongue like a needy girl. Someone moaned aloud. Me. His grip immediately tightened around my thighs, and his kiss turned ravenous and downright animalistic. His lips started to trail kisses from my jaw to my skittering pulse, and the act sent a spark of hot pleasure between my thighs. He latched onto the sensitive skin along my collarbone and my n*****s instantly peaked against the fabric of my shirt. I’d never been kissed or touched like this before. He kissed me like he wanted me. Needed me. My body was a puddle of need for this man. Our lips found each other’s again, and my fingers threaded into his hair, pulling him closer. He was the first person to pull away, after what seemed like hours of endless kissing. “Mate.” He whispered against my bruised lips. I blinked. Blinked again. But he didn’t disappear. He didn’t correct himself. Everything seemed to click in place right in that moment. All the emotions, the scent… He was… my mate. The one I’d been so hung up on finding on my eighteenth birthday four years ago… at least one thing to make me feel like I belonged in the pack. My heart started beating fast, and my hands began to shake. I could barely breathe as I stared at him. Then, for a brief moment, my lips lifted into a smile, but the feeling faded fast. My chest tightened instead, my eyes filling with sad tears. The crack of thunder in the sky momentarily distracted me, and a heavy downpour followed in seconds. We got drenched in no time. I looked up, stunned. “W-where did that come from?” He grinned at me, his lips shining with my lip balm. “A sign that the Alpha has found his mate… it’s raining in other packs as well.” Oh s**t. “Little mate…” He rasped, his eyes a darker shade of gray. “Why can’t I feel her?” “Feel who?” Came my dazed reply. “Your wolf.” His answer caused my blood to freeze. “I can’t seem to reach her.” I stared speechlessly at him for a few seconds, then pushed him off me with all my might. He only staggered a few steps back. Taking the chance, I snuck under his arm and picked up my knife. I whipped around to point at him, “Don’t you dare follow me!” He raised his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t mean to insult you…” he spoke calmly. “Whatever.” I spoke breathlessly. “Just please… stay back.” He didn’t say anything to that, just kept his fists clenched beside him. I spun around and bolted, somehow knowing that he’d keep to his word. With every step I took away from him, my chest and bones physically twisted with pain. I eventually fell to the ground when I crossed into our territory, bursting into tears. Twenty two years of my life, and this was the first day I’d actually felt… alive. But I couldn’t… we couldn’t… * Days later, I hurried into the dining area, slightly sweating from having to run here from a brief personal training. Piper’s husband-to-be and his family were arriving tonight. There were contracts to sign, wedding preparations to discuss, and an alliance to seal. Piper would never forgive me if I wasn’t there to hold her hand through it all. I blew out a breath of relief when I saw that our guests weren’t here yet. “I’m sorry.” I apologized to everyone, my throat bobbing when I glanced at dad who had a huge scowl on his face. “Do you enjoy embarrassing me?” He didn’t hold back. My breath caught. Mom tapped his arm, “Harry, please.” I took a seat beside Piper who smiled and squeezed my palm in hers. “You look really pretty, sissy.” She mind-linked. I gave her an awkward smile back. “You look stunning yourself, bride-to-be.” I glanced across the table to see our parents engaged in a back and forth. Piper pinched me, dragging my attention back to her. “Ignore them.” She linked. “Do you think he’s going to like me? I know this is a contract…” The dining doors opened and our butler rushed in, going to whisper something against dad’s ear. Dad straightened at once, appearing the most serious I’d ever seen him. “Let him in.” He ordered. Piper jumped away from me, and I cleared my throat, straightening as well. I sat composed, until a familiar scent attacked my nostrils. I jerked in my seat, whipping around. My eyes locked with his—the man who I’d not been able to stop seeing in my dreams after he’d kissed me senseless days ago… my mate. He stopped sniffing as well, his jaw clenching as his eyes landed on mine. “Welcome, Alpha Orion.” Dad spoke behind me. “We’re honored to have you here.”