Alpha's Pregnant Mate

3 - Lock and Key

He knew that he couldn’t just take her back to the pack. Hell, she was still running from him. He needed to explain to her first. Humans didn’t feel the bond as strongly as wolves. He would have to court her before he’d show her his biggest secret. The one his kind and the council kept from humankind at any cost.

There were cases of human mates, but they were rare, and they always came with problems. Was he ready to face them? The alpha who never wanted a mate? Yet, here he was chasing her, directing her to run in the right direction so he could lead her to a place where he could find her again. Where she would be safe.

She looked exhausted. Her steps are clumsy and tired. Who knew how long she has been out in the woods? Lost and alone. Probably scared of his pack trying to direct her back to her human town.

But she was stubborn enough to stay put. Why? Why would she stay in the woods with no food, no shelter, and no appropriate clothes for the terrain? She didn’t plan this through, or she was running from something. Something worse than the dangers these woods hold?

He watched her trip over a root and fall face-first into the dirt. Scared she turned around to look for the beast chasing her, but it was nowhere to be seen. She was sure she heard it right behind her just a second ago.

There’s a low growl from somewhere to her right. The place he was hiding to stir her in the right direction. Straight to his cabin. The place he came to when he needed a break from his alpha duties or just a moment alone. Ethan wasn’t a very social creature. He loved his pack and he would do anything for them, but there were times he just needed the quiet of the woods.

His pack knew to leave him alone when he was out here. They knew better than to come here at all. And that was how he would keep her safe from them. Isolate her until he figures out how to handle the situation.

His growl turned into a soft white, at the thought of leaving her again. Not for long though. He would be back. Soon.

“Oh God, please help,” she panted, this close to passing out from exhaustion. Her body was tired of running. Tired of everything. But just as the thought had entered her mind she saw it. Right in front of her.

A little house in the middle of the woods. She didn’t care who it belonged to and that someone loving out here that isolated could only be a serial killer. She took that over being eaten by a wolf.

She ran up the two-step and grabbed the doorknob. Twisting and turning. But it wouldn’t move. The door was locked.

“Hello?” she knocked on the door, turning around, trying to spot the wolf that was chasing her. And there he was. Just standing there. Watching her. Maybe even the animals out here were afraid of what was inside this cabin, but once again, her choices were limited.

“Hello? Is someone there?” she moved over to the tiny window next to the door, knocking till it hurt her knuckles. A frightened scream escaped her lips when she saw the wolf next to her, his eyes on her.

“Please don’t eat me,” she whispered and sank to the wooden floor. There was nowhere to run and frankly, she didn’t want to run anymore. So pleading was her last option.

Ethan struggled to keep in control. The closer he got to her, the harder it became to stay away. Her scent was intoxicating. And even though he knew she was scared of him, he lowered his head and I hate deeply.

His wet snout touched her cheek, and her heart rate spiked to an unhealthy level, but the wolf didn't hurt her, he just sniffed her.

Lila opened one eye and realized the wolf's tail was wagging. Just like her neighbor's retriever whenever she passed by and offered him a little pat.

Her fear subsided and turned into curiosity. His fur looked so soft and fluffy. He even smelled good. If only that would make sense to her. Maybe it’s hormones or she lost her mind out here.

And then she carefully brushed her fingers through his fur. He never felt anything like it. It was like her hands were made out of fire and electricity. But it didn’t hurt. It felt like the only thing he ever wanted. The thing he has been looking for his entire life. As if someone had taken needle and thread and patched the missing pieces of his soul back together.

He heard them talk about it all the time. Hell, he has been lectured on the topic ever since he took over this pack. He knew how special this bond was, but knowing it with your brain and feeling it with your heart were two entirely different things. He understood that now. He understood that he would lay his life down for this woman. Human or not. It didn’t matter to him. Nothing mattered anymore. Nothing but her.

“You’re so soft,” she whispered, digging her fingers deeper into his beautiful brown fur. She knew it was stupidly dangerous to just pet the thing, but his tail was still washing happily and he didn’t seem too dangerous right now. A clear indictator that she has indeed lost her mind.

But she felt a strange pull towards the animal. She couldn’t explain it, but it was like she found a long-lost puppy after years of searching. She felt happy and content.

“I think-,” she continued with a low voice, “-I have lost my mind! I’m so tired. So damn tired.”

He knew she was, that’s why he lead her to his cabin. So she could rest. So that she would be safe. It took everything in him to move away from her. But he had to. Because he couldn’t stay with her like this and because his pack would be looking for him soon. This would be the first place to go and he didn’t want them to find her. To find out that he was cursed with a human mate.

Cursed? Because that’s how his wolves would see it. Even if he turned her, she wouldn’t have it easy. They never do.

Lila sighed when the wolf moved back. She frowned at him when he grabbed the doormat and pulled it off the porch. He shook it a few times like he would a rabbit, making her giggle softly. It was a beautiful sound. So much so, he forgot what he was doing to just stare at her.

This bond, no matter what race she belonged to, was truly a curse and he loved it. Even though it hasn’t even started yet. The things he could do to her. What was it they said? Patience was a virtue? Indeed, it was.

He huffed out a slightly frustrated noise as he nodded his head to the floor. She didn’t understand, but she would. Soon. He needed to get back to his pack, grab the truck and tell them that he would be gone for a little bit. And he would come back right here to make sure his mate would be safe and sound.

Lila felt almost sad when the wolf retreated and ran away. But he was -after all a wild animal. Of course, he would leave. She sighed heavily and run a hand through her face before she got up and peeked into the window again.

It looked like someone was living here. She saw books piled up next to a comfortable-looking couch. She even spotted a fireplace. God, what she would do to lay down in front of a warm fire right now? Maybe even fall asleep on that couch.

That’s when something sparkly catches her eye. There, right in front of the door lies a key. It must have been hidden under the doormat. “No way,” she breathed, looking for the wolf. Could he have known? No, that was just impossible. Animals didn’t know about keys and where they were hidden.

“Thank you,” she whispered into the woods, not sure if the wolf did this on purpose or if he was just interested in the doormat as a toy. But either way, he gave her the opportunity to break into this place and at least have a few moments of peace. She knew when the owner came back that she would have some explaining to do. She would also have to leave. But maybe, just maybe she was lucky enough that this person was not a serial killer and maybe kind enough to take her to the next city. Far away from Howling Creek.

The door opened with a soft, welcoming click, and a familiar, yet foreign scent hit her nose. She couldn’t quite explain it, but she immediately felt at home. It smelled of sandalwood and warmth only like a lit hearth could provide.

“I think we’re safe now,” she whispered and gently rubbed her belly. It was a miracle she ever made it this far. She was sure that Buck would have found her by now. He was many things, but he did love her. In his own, strange ways. For years she came up with excuses for his behavior now, and thinking about it still felt normal.

He loved her. Sure. But it was the wrong kind of love. It was obsessive and cruel. And that was why she knew he wouldn’t stop looking for her. She wondered if he put two and two together by now. She did leave the pregnancy test in their bathroom. She left so many things behind, but that stupid plastic stick was the only thing that mattered. It was the one thing she hoped would keep Buck from looking for her and their baby.