Forbidden Love

The Stranger

Lyla

Lyla was with other members of her pack hunting for deer. She was separated from her hunting party when the head of the party told everyone to spread out. As she continued on, she caught a scent of a deer. She continued to follow it until she was quite far from the group. Suddenly, she heard a man holler out in great pain. She followed the sound. As she approached closer, she caught a scent. Mate. This man was her Mate. What was odd is that he did not smell like another a werewolf. He didn't even smell like a human. What was he? She continued toward the sound with more urgency. At last, she saw a man propped up against a tree with a gunshot wound through the shoulder. He was wickedly gorgeous with deep, brown eyes. When he looked up at her and caught her eye, she felt utterly mesmerized. His eyes, they just took her in and searched her soul. His hair was brown, somewhat short, and wavy. He was extremely muscular and looked so intensely hot, sultry, captivating. She was lost in his eyes. Drawn to him. She went to him and the way he looked at her took her breath away. "You need help," she said as she ripped a piece of her shirt off and tied it around his shoulder to control the bleeding. "We have a hospital nearby, I'm going to take you there."

"No, I can't go there," he objected. She had no idea why, but she was taking him there anyway. He was her Mate, and she wasn't about to let him bleed out with a bullet wound in the middle of the woods. Just then she heard gunshots nearby. Her team were hunting with arrows, so she knew it wasn't one of her own.

"I'll be right back," she told him. "Don't go anywhere." She then proceeded to follow where the sound came from.

She heard a man say, "He can't be far. I shot him, so he couldn't possibly get too much distance between him and us." She followed where the voice came from. She saw four men, so she hid behind a tree. She drew her bow and shot one right through the face and he collapsed to the ground. She then scurried up the tree silently. The men came running and separated, looking for the shooter. One came within range. She fired. The arrow went right through his chest. He dropped to the ground moaning. One of the other men who was closer to him ran over to him. She shot him through his heart. He too collapsed. She then dropped from the tree, searching for the other man. He saw her and raised his gun. But, she saw him, too and already had her arrow targeted for his face. They both shot. He missed. She shot him right through the eye as he dropped to the ground with a thud. She then returned to the other two to make sure they were dead. The one she shot through the chest was moaning and bleeding out. She shot him in the head to put him out of his misery. She then ran to her Mate to take him to the hospital in their pack. When she got there, her breath hitched as she saw he was gone. She searched the area, but could not find him. She searched for hours. He was gone.

Filled with despair, she returned to her pack. She found her Mate and she lost him. She was so overwhelmed with agony over losing her Mate. God, he smelled intoxicating, whatever he was. She couldn't forget that scent. He was so stunning. And, now he was gone. Gone. She went to her house, plopped down on her bed and sobbed. Now she will never see him again. She had no idea where he came from. She didn't even get his name. Now she would be alone for the rest of her life. Her only other option was to take a Chosen Mate, but she didn't want to choose anyone else. She wanted him. Her Fated Mate.

There was a knock at her door. She sat up and said, "Come in." It was her best friend, Wren.

"I didn't see you leave the hunting party. I assume you didn't get anything. Me either," Wren said with a tone of dismay.

"No, I didn't get anything. I caught the scent of a deer and found its trail, but lost it." She lied. She really was pulled away by the most incredible man in the world who needed help.

"Don't worry, Trey got one so we will have fresh deer tonight and...Hey, is something bothering you. You look really depressed?" asked Wren.

"It's nothing," Lyla answered.

"It is definitely something. C'mon, we area best friends, tell me," she insisted.

"Okay. I found my Mate. He was wounded in the woods. I went to take out his attackers, but when I returned he was gone. I literally searched for hours but his scent was gone."

"Wow, a wolf from another pack. I can't believe you actually found your Mate. If you find him again, have him move here. I can't stand the thought of you leaving," replied Wren.

"It doesn't matter. I lost him. I'll never find him again," said Lyla, concealing the fact that he was not even a wolf.

"So, you are just giving up. Let's sneak out and go to the Moon Wind Pack. They are the closest. He has to be one of them," Wren said as she perked up with hope for her friend.

"No, it is okay. If I am meant to be with him, we will find each other. If not, then I will be alone for the rest of my life," Lyla said, feeling certain in her mind that her life was that to be one of solitude.