The Unexpected Mate

Chapter 8: The White Wolf's Warning

The clearing remained silent.

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

The newcomer's golden eyes stayed fixed on Tiana.

As if she were the only person standing there.

The attention made her uncomfortable.

Very uncomfortable.

Who was this man?

And why did he look at her as though he already knew her?

The stranger tilted his head slightly.

A small smile touched his lips.

"You really do look like her."

Tiana's stomach dropped.

Her.

Again.

Another person comparing her to her mother.

Another person who seemed to know things she didn't.

The frustration returned immediately.

"What does that mean?"

The man opened his mouth.

Timothy stepped forward.

"No."

The newcomer raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

Timothy's silver eyes darkened.

"You don't speak to her."

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Dangerously tense.

The stranger laughed softly.

"And there he is."

His gaze shifted toward Timothy.

"The possessive Alpha."

A low growl rumbled through Timothy's chest.

The bond inside Tiana reacted instantly.

Warmth spread through her body.

Protective.

Possessive.

The emotions weren't entirely Timothy's.

Somehow she could feel them.

And that realization frightened her.

Because part of her felt them too.

The stranger noticed her reaction.

His golden eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"Interesting."

The smile slowly returned.

"It seems the bond is much stronger than expected."

Timothy's expression became unreadable.

"Leave."

The stranger chuckled.

"I just got here."

Then his gaze returned to Tiana.

And for the first time, genuine concern appeared in his eyes.

"Be careful who you trust."

The warning hung in the air.

Before anyone could respond, the stranger stepped backward.

His body shifted instantly.

Golden light flashed.

The white wolf returned.

Seconds later, he disappeared into the darkness of the forest.

Leaving behind only questions.

And an uneasy feeling that this was far from the last time Tiana would see him.

For several moments, nobody spoke.

Tiana finally broke the silence.

"Who was that?"

Timothy's jaw tightened.

The reaction alone told her the answer wasn't simple.

"His name is Adrian."

"Adrian who?"

"Adrian Blackwood."

The name meant nothing to her.

Yet everyone else reacted.

Several wolves exchanged nervous glances.

Rachel looked worried.

Lyra looked annoyed.

Very annoyed.

Tiana immediately noticed.

"What's wrong with him?"

Timothy exhaled heavily.

"He's an Alpha."

Tiana blinked.

"Another Alpha."

"Yes."

The answer didn't explain much.

Apparently Timothy knew that because he continued.

"He leads one of the oldest packs in the country."

That got her attention.

Oldest.

Powerful.

Important.

"So why does everyone look nervous?"

Timothy's eyes shifted toward the forest where Adrian had disappeared.

"Because Adrian never does anything without a reason."

A chill ran through her body.

The warning suddenly felt more significant.

Be careful who you trust.

What exactly had he meant by that?

The pack began moving.

Several wolves shifted into their human forms.

Others remained wolves.

The clearing transformed into organized chaos.

People gathered supplies.

Checked weapons.

Prepared for travel.

Tiana watched everything with growing disbelief.

Twenty-four hours ago she hadn't believed werewolves existed.

Now she was standing in the middle of a supernatural army.

Her life had become completely insane.

Rachel approached carefully.

"Tiana."

The older woman's voice sounded hesitant.

Almost guilty.

Tiana looked away.

The hurt was still there.

Rachel noticed immediately.

Pain flashed across her face.

"I know you're angry."

"Good."

The answer slipped out before Tiana could stop it.

Rachel winced.

Instant regret followed.

No matter what secrets Rachel had kept, she loved her.

That much had never been in doubt.

The older woman sighed.

"You have every right to be upset."

Tiana remained silent.

Rachel looked toward the sky.

"When your mother gave you to me, she was terrified."

The words immediately caught Tiana's attention.

"What do you mean gave me to you?"

Rachel's eyes filled with sadness.

"The night she died."

Tiana froze.

Every part of her focused on Rachel.

"Tell me."

Rachel swallowed hard.

"Your mother knew people were hunting her."

The statement sent a chill through Tiana.

"The Shadowborn?"

Rachel nodded.

"And others."

Others.

The single word unsettled her.

How many enemies existed?

How many dangers surrounded this world?

"Why?"

Rachel looked away.

"Because of what she was."

The answer frustrated her immediately.

Again.

Another half-truth.

Another secret.

Another unfinished explanation.

Before she could press further, Timothy's voice echoed across the clearing.

"We leave now."

Every wolf immediately obeyed.

The authority in his voice was undeniable.

Rachel squeezed Tiana's shoulder.

"We'll talk more at the pack house."

Tiana wasn't convinced.

She was tired of promises.

Tired of waiting.

Tired of secrets.

Yet for now she had little choice.

The group began moving.

Timothy remained close beside her.

Close enough that she could feel his presence.

Close enough that the bond reacted.

Every single time.

The forest swallowed them quickly.

Dark trees surrounded the narrow path.

Moonlight filtered through the branches overhead.

Everything felt strangely quiet.

Almost too quiet.

Tiana glanced toward Timothy.

He looked alert.

Focused.

Listening to sounds she couldn't hear.

The sight made her curious.

"What?"

Timothy looked down at her.

"You keep staring."

Heat rushed to her cheeks.

"I was not."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

The expression transformed him.

Made him look younger.

Less intimidating.

More human.

"I've been alive a long time, Tiana."

The smile widened.

"I know when someone is staring."

Embarrassment flooded her instantly.

Timothy actually looked amused.

The realization shocked her.

The fearsome Alpha wolf had a sense of humor.

Who knew?

Then the bond pulsed.

Warm.

Comforting.

Dangerously comforting.

And for the first time, Tiana realized she was beginning to enjoy being around him.

That realization terrified her.

Because she still didn't know the truth about herself.

Or about him.

Or why destiny had decided their lives belonged together.

The journey through the forest was quiet.

Too quiet.

Tiana walked beside Timothy while the rest of the pack surrounded them.

Some wolves moved in human form.

Others remained wolves.

Everyone appeared alert.

Focused.

Prepared for an attack at any moment.

The atmosphere made her nervous.

The Shadowborn had retreated, but nobody seemed convinced they were gone.

Tiana certainly wasn't.

The image of the red-eyed creatures lingered in her mind.

The way they had looked at her.

The way they had spoken about her.

The way they had feared the silver light that burst from her body.

Whatever had happened in that clearing wasn't normal.

Even by werewolf standards.

And nobody seemed eager to explain it.

Hours passed.

The deeper they traveled into the mountains, the colder the air became.

The forest slowly changed.

The trees grew larger.

Older.

More ancient.

The silence felt different here.

Sacred.

Almost alive.

Tiana found herself glancing around constantly.

Trying to absorb everything.

Trying to understand the world she had been thrown into.

Suddenly the trees opened.

Her breath caught.

A massive stone structure stood ahead.

Lights glowed from dozens of windows.

The building looked like a castle mixed with a lodge.

Ancient yet powerful.

Beautiful yet intimidating.

The structure sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking miles of forest.

Tiana stared.

"That's the pack house?"

Timothy nodded.

A hint of pride appeared in his voice.

"It has been home to our pack for generations."

The sight left her speechless.

She had expected cabins.

Maybe a collection of houses.

Not this.

The place looked like something from a fantasy novel.

Several wolves smiled at her reaction.

Apparently they were used to it.

As the group approached, large gates opened automatically.

More wolves waited inside.

Dozens of them.

Men.

Women.

Children.

All watching.

All staring.

And every single one seemed to know exactly who she was.

Tiana immediately became uncomfortable.

The whispers started the moment she entered.

"That's her."

"The Alpha's mate."

"She's finally here."

"She looks just like—"

The speaker stopped abruptly.

But Tiana noticed.

Everyone seemed determined to avoid finishing certain sentences around her.

The frustration returned instantly.

Timothy noticed.

His expression softened.

"Ignore them."

"Easy for you to say."

A few nearby wolves looked away awkwardly.

The Alpha almost smiled.

Almost.

The massive front doors opened.

Warmth flooded out from inside.

The scent of food filled the air.

For the first time all day, Tiana realized she was starving.

The group entered.

The interior was breathtaking.

Stone walls.

Wooden beams.

Massive fireplaces.

Elegant staircases.

The place looked more like a royal residence than a pack house.

Tiana turned slowly.

Taking everything in.

"This is insane."

A few wolves laughed.

Timothy looked pleased.

Then an older man approached.

His silver hair reached his shoulders.

Several scars crossed his face.

Yet his eyes were kind.

Very kind.

The man stopped in front of Tiana.

Emotion filled his expression.

Unexpected emotion.

As though seeing her meant something important.

Something deeply personal.

"Welcome home."

The words stunned her.

Home.

The simple word hit harder than expected.

Before she could respond, the man bowed his head slightly.

A gesture of respect.

The action shocked everyone.

Including Timothy.

"Marcus."

The older man smiled.

"What?"

Timothy looked genuinely surprised.

Marcus chuckled.

"I've waited eighteen years to meet her."

Tiana froze.

Eighteen years.

Again.

Everything seemed connected to that number.

Marcus noticed her expression.

The smile faded slightly.

"My apologies."

He offered his hand.

"My name is Marcus."

Tiana shook it cautiously.

"Nice to meet you."

His eyes softened.

"You have your mother's smile."

The statement hit like a punch.

Again.

Always her mother.

Everyone knew her.

Everyone remembered her.

Everyone seemed affected by her.

Yet Tiana knew almost nothing.

The unfairness of it frustrated her.

Marcus seemed to realize his mistake.

Regret flickered across his face.

Timothy immediately stepped in.

"She needs rest."

Marcus nodded.

"Of course."

The older man stepped back.

But not before giving Timothy a meaningful look.

A look Tiana definitely noticed.

And definitely didn't understand.

Timothy guided her toward a staircase.

"Come on."

She followed.

The bond pulsed softly.

The sensation had become almost constant.

Like a second heartbeat.

Always there.

Always reminding her of him.

The realization made her nervous.

"What happens now?"

Timothy glanced at her.

His expression became serious.

"Now you learn the truth."

The answer made her stomach flip.

Finally.

The truth.

No more secrets.

No more lies.

No more half-answers.

At least that was the hope.

Timothy led her to the second floor.

A long hallway stretched before them.

Several doors lined both sides.

The Alpha stopped in front of one.

Then opened it.

The room beyond was enormous.

Large windows overlooked the mountains.

A fireplace crackled in one corner.

Bookshelves covered an entire wall.

The space felt warm.

Comfortable.

Safe.

Tiana stepped inside.

"It's beautiful."

Timothy smiled faintly.

"I'm glad you like it."

Something about the statement made her pause.

Like it meant more than it should.

Then realization struck.

"This is your room."

Timothy's expression instantly became guilty.

Tiana blinked.

Then laughed.

Then stared.

"Wait."

The Alpha suddenly became very interested in the floor.

"Timothy."

Silence.

"Timothy."

The tips of his ears turned red.

Actually red.

The sight was so unexpected that she almost burst out laughing.

"You put me in your room?"

The Alpha wolf who terrified enemies and commanded hundreds of wolves looked embarrassed.

Completely embarrassed.

And somehow that made him far less intimidating.

The realization made her smile.

A real smile.

The first genuine smile she had managed all day.

Timothy froze.

The moment he saw it, something changed in his expression.

Something soft.

Something vulnerable.

The bond pulsed strongly between them.

For one brief moment, neither looked away.

Then a knock shattered the silence.

Both turned.

Lyra stood in the doorway.

Her blue eyes immediately landed on Tiana.

Then the room.

Then Timothy.

Understanding flashed across her face.

Followed immediately by jealousy.

Raw.

Painful.

Dangerous jealousy.

And suddenly Tiana knew one thing for certain.

Life inside the pack house was about to become very complicated.