Saving His Feral Mate

Mate

TWO YEARS LATER

Knox

I was sitting in my office going over some paperwork when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," I announced.

The door opened, and my Beta, Jagger, walked in. We had been friends since we were little, and I trusted him with my life. He was only a month younger and mate-less like me. We had been looking for our fated mates for over five years, but neither one of us had any luck.

Our parents had been nagging us over the past two years to take chosen mates. They kept telling us how important it was for the pack that the Alpha and Beta had partners.

Mates were supposed to make us stronger individually, but for the Alpha and Beta, it also strengthens the pack.

I just wasn't ready to give up on my fated mate yet. I still believed she was out there and planned to find her. When I did, I wouldn't ever let her go. I would cherish her and treat her like a Queen. She was already so important to me, and I hadn't even met her yet.

Jag dropped himself into a seat across from my desk and let out a defeated sigh.

"What's going on, Jag? That was a bit dramatic," I asked with an eyebrow raised.

"It's my parents. I swear to the moon goddess, if they push another she-wolf on me as a potential mate, I'll snap," he said irritably.

"Who is it this time?" I asked curiously. My parents had probably already tried pushing her on me since they had been doing that a lot lately.

Our parents had been secretly contacting other packs and pushing high-ranked she-wolves our way as potential mates. It was getting ridiculous.

"Gemma," Jag said while letting out a defeated sigh.

Gemma was the beta's daughter of a neighboring pack. And sure enough, she was one of the she-wolves my parents tried to hook me up with already.

Gemma was annoying, loud, and obnoxious. I would never want someone like that as my mate, and I couldn't blame Jag for not wanting her either.

"Ouch. What did you say?"

Jag was like me. He was waiting for his fated mate and didn't want to take a chosen one.

Jag and I weren't virgins or anything, but no she-wolves had been able to attract our attention for more than a night or two. Many women threw themselves at us because of our ranks, but I found that desperate and a total turn-off. They were only interested in the Luna title, which I had no intention of handing out until I found my fated mate.

"I told them no, like every other time they've suggested someone that isn't my fate mate," he said bitterly, rubbing his hands down his face in frustration.

"I hear ya, brother. My parents have been on my back, too, so I feel your pain," I replied, shaking my head and remembering all my arguments with my parents over the topic.

"What are you working on?" Jag asked, changing the subject.

"I was going over the patrol report from last night. There were a few rogues spotted just outside the border. " I replied, glancing down at the report on my desk.

I was slightly concerned about how close the rogues were getting to our territory.

Rogues were lone wolves who usually brought along trouble with them. Most were either criminals who were banished from their packs or wolves who left their packs because they didn't like rules and structure. Some became feral after being alone for so long, losing touch with their human counterparts. Those tended to be even more dangerous since they were more animal than human.

"What are we going to do about them?" Jag asked, frowning.

"We're going to hunt them down before they become a problem," I replied firmly.

"What do you need me to do?" Jag asked.

"Get a team of five ready. We're going rogue hunting tonight," I commanded, and Jag nodded, grinning excitedly.

Hunting was part of our basic instincts. After all, we were wolves and loved a good chase.

"When do you wanna go?" Jag asked.

"Be ready to go in a half hour. I just need to drop by my father's office for a minute first."

Jag nodded before leaving my office.

I got up from my chair and put away the file folder I had been working on before leaving my office. I headed down the hall toward my father's office.

My pack was big, and we were continuously growing on the business side of things. My father helped with that since I was busy running the pack.

I got to his office but heard my mother and father talking inside in hushed voices before I knocked. Thanks to my werewolf hearing, I could make out their conversation.

"He needs to choose a mate. The pack members are starting to worry he won't produce an heir and that there won't be a Luna to take over when I retire. The elders aren't happy that he's waited this long, either. You need to talk some sense into him," my mother whispered, sounding frustrated.

"I know. He's just so damn stubborn, I've brought it up with him many times, and he always brushes me off. I'll try aga…" my father started, but I had heard enough, so I swung the door open and interrupted their conversation. Both my parents turned toward me, looking surprised to see me.

"Son, we were just talking about y…" my mother started, but I cut her off.

"Listen, I've told you before, I'm not taking a chosen mate," I said sternly, leaving no room for argument.

"Now, son, you must understand the pack needs a Luna. It's been five years, and you still haven't found your destined mate. It's time you stop thinking about yourself and start prioritizing the pack's needs. You need an heir. Hell, you should already have one," my father spat.

I was really getting sick of this topic. I saw my mother glare at my father. I knew she wasn't happy with his choice of words. She quickly spoke up before things escalated.

"We love you, honey. It's not just about the pack; we also want to see you happy. What if we bring a handful of eligible she-wolves here to stay with us for a few days? You could get to know them and see if any of them would be suitable to be your Luna," My mother offered, looking hopeful.

I sighed defeatedly before answering, "Fine, but if I don't find them suitable, I don't want to hear another word about it. Understood?"

I was sick of this conversation and had better things to do. Accepting my mother's proposal was my best option if I ever wanted to leave this office tonight.

My mother's face lit up with excitement after hearing my words. I glanced over at my father, who looked shocked. He was probably expecting me to put up more of a fight, and usually, I would have, but I had places to be tonight.

"Thank you, son. I gotta go make some phone calls," my mother chirped excitedly, standing from her chair and kissing my cheek. She then quickly left the office without another word.

"I'm glad you're finally listening, son." My father said with a satisfied smile on his face.

"Don't get too excited. I said I'd get to know them. I never said I would take one as my chosen mate." I replied pointedly.

"That's all that we ask. Be open to the possibility and give the girls a shot," My father added. I nodded and said nothing since I was done with this conversation.

"Rogues were spotted just outside our border. I'm going out with a few warriors and Jag to deal with them. They're getting too close for comfort," I told my father, changing the subject.

"Why do you need to go? You're the Alpha. Why not send the warriors? You're putting yourself in unnecessary danger." My father replied, frowning in disapproval.

"This is my pack, and I'm going to protect it, not hide in my office while the warriors fight my battles," I replied firmly.

My father rarely got his hands dirty when he was Alpha. He always had his warriors do the dirty work for him. I didn't agree with his handling of matters, so I swore that when I became Alpha, things would be different. And since I took over the role, they have been. The pack members have grown to respect me more for my hands-on approach, and I had no intention of changing that.

"What if something happens to you? You shouldn't risk your safety for a couple of rogues," my father argued.

"I'm going," I gritted out.

Before my father could continue this argument, I left his office.

I mind-linked Jag to meet me out front. It was time to go hunting. I needed to take down some rogues to get rid of the anger coursing through me after the conversation with my parents.

When I got outside, Jag was already there waiting for me with a handful of warriors. It was dark out and just past ten. The only light illuminating the forest was the moon shining above us.

We headed for the treeline.

"Let's stick together. If you encounter rogues close to the border, take them into custody so we can interrogate them. I want to know what they're up to. If they put up a fight, kill them," I announced to the group.

"Yes, Alpha," the warriors replied in unison.

We stripped out of our clothes and quickly shifted into our wolves.

My wolf, Gunner, was a large black wolf. He towered over most wolves thanks to our Alpha bloodline. He was also stronger and faster than average wolves.

Gunner seemed anxious tonight and on high alert for some reason. I wondered if he sensed something. I asked him what was up, but he didn't seem to know why he was so on edge.

I motioned with my head toward the forest and took off running. Jag and the warriors followed close behind.

We ran outside our territory border for hours without picking up any scents or tracks. I was starting to think it would be an uneventful night when I picked up a faint but intoxicating scent.

It smelt like vanilla and cherries, and my mouth was salivating.

Where was that delicious smell coming from?

Gunner was prancing around, loving the scent as much as I did. We followed it, my warriors a short distance behind me.

I came to a clearing, and that was when I spotted her. A large reddish-brown wolf stood in the middle. Her nose pointed at the ground as if she were smelling it.

She was almost as big as my wolf and a sight for sore eyes. The moonlight illuminated her fur, making it look silky and smooth.

She was absolutely stunning.

Gunner was going berserk in my head before growling the one word I had been waiting years to hear.

"MATE."

That was when it hit me. I had found my mate.

She was a rogue. I could smell it mixed in with her intoxicating scent, but I didn't even care because she was mine.

Suddenly, she sniffed the air before her eyes snapped toward me. Recognition flashed through her eyes when they met mine. Seconds later, she flashed her canines and started to growl.

What in the actual f**k was going on?

That wasn't the response I was expecting.

She lunged before I could process what was happening and knocked me to the ground. I quickly got back up as she lunged at me again, snapping her teeth in my direction. I knocked her off, causing her to snarl at me. I jumped on top of her before she could attack again and pinned her to the ground with my body. I wish I could have communicated with her to determine why she was fighting me.

I was her goddess-given mate. Her reaction made no sense, even if she was a rogue.

She continued to struggle even as I pinned her down. I had to admit, she was strong for a she-wolf.

I needed to talk to her, so I made a risky decision and shifted into my human form. She stood still for a minute, looking confused. I slowly stood up from the ground before her.

"Shift," I commanded sternly.

She didn't comply. Instead, she growled and bared her teeth, looking ready to attack.

I was shocked. Only an Alpha could defy another Alpha's command.

I was so distracted by my thoughts that I didn't notice her lung at me again. She knocked me on my back, latched her teeth around my throat, and held me down. She broke skin but didn't bite hard enough to cause severe damage—an electric current shot through my body from the contact, and I swear my c**k twitched even though I wasn't sure if she was trying to kill me or not.

What the f**k?

I heard my warriors and Jag growling as they got ready to attack her. I had completely forgotten they were with me after everything that happened.

"Back off! Don't attack her," I ordered, gasping for air. She was holding onto me tight enough to make breathing a struggle.

I saw the confusion and concern in my warrior's eyes, especially Jag's.

Hopefully, I lived long enough to explain myself to him.

"I just want to talk, little mate," I said, still gasping for air. She responded by biting down harder.

Fuck, she might actually kill me.

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, she released my neck and gazed down at me for a few seconds. I could see so many emotions swirling in her big blue eyes: fear, hatred, confusion, and longing, the one that gave me hope.

Before I could speak again, she ran like a bat out of hell, disappearing deep into the forest.

I hadn't noticed that Jag had shifted and was now standing beside me.

"Care to explain?" he asked.

I glanced over to see a curious but concerned frown on his face.

"That was my mate," I replied with a defeated huff, bringing my hands to my neck to check the damage she caused.

"s**t. She just tried to kill you," Jag pointed out, eyes wide.

I glared at him before returning my eyes to where my mate disappeared. He was pointing out the obvious, and it was bloody irritating. I already knew my mate tried to kill me since it was my neck she was squeezing. I really didn't need the play-by-play.

Asshole.

What the hell was I supposed to do now?

Something felt off about her. I could sense her fear, which didn't make sense since I was her mate. A mate would never hurt their other half. Did she maybe not recognize me as her fated?

My instincts told me to chase after her, but I was worried I might scare her even more if I did that.

I don't know why you tried to kill me, little mate. Or ran away, but I can guarantee this won't be the last time I see you. I'm coming for you, gorgeous. Mark my words.