NO WAY OUT

Henry

There was absolutely no way she was my mate.

I was her enemy, her rival, the man she hated the most.

Most of the gasps weren’t from people who didn’t know us, they were from her pack.

“Nonsense! The oracles are wrong!”

“Good gods, man! The devil and the angel don’t mate!”

“Who’s running this show?”

I was amused and aggravated at their anger and frustration.

Molly didn’t look at all upset, but that’s what scared the hell out of me.

She could easily turn this around on me... Bear my children and have them turn against me.

She could reject me.

Molly

Now that my heart was pounding violently in my chest, I knew I was still very much alive and this was very real.

How could this happen?!

I glared at Henry who’s face showed little emotion.

Did he have something to do with this?!

No, he couldn’t do anything about this .. even with who he was.

“Oh this is .. this is bad..” I heard someone in my pack whisper.

I began to sweat, my stomach was in knots.

Henry smiled at me, a very weak smile that told me his bravado was gone..

For the moment.

It would come back, though.

I knew that well now and there was no way out of my fate.

Henry

She left the building in a heartbeat.

I could see her moving through the crowd as if no one could touch her or sense her loss.

She was headed for the woods, I knew that much.

The thought dawned on me that she was making a run for it.

My mate dared to run from me?

Oh, I didn’t think so.

I chased after her with all of my will.

Determined to find her, I shifted into my black wolf form and headed into the abyss of the forest.

I was quick to catch her scent.

My gods what a glorious smell.

“Come out, little flower...” I chuckled to myself, “Or you’ll be sorry.”

Molly

I was already sorry, but there was really no way for me to get too far.

As much as I didn’t want to believe it, we were mates.

The cruel reality was setting in far earlier than I’d expected.

I didn’t hide.. I let him find me.

His eyes pierced mine with a knowing glare and then he stepped forward, lifting me from the ground and cradling me to his chest.

I fought back, but Henry shook his head.

“Hurting you is the last thing I ever want to do.”

Why was he lying?

What would become of me now?

“You know how this works, Molly. We get married.”

I could feel her anger towards me growing, but I also knew my pack was tight and right behind me.

“Henry.. I could never..”

Henry

“You’ve no choice,” a voice came from behind us.

We both turned to see the pack priest, Zachariah, coming towards us.

His long blue robes were pristine and he was glowering at me, not quite understanding how I could have been paired with her..

“She’s nothing..”

Someone whispered, but I knew she wasn’t nothing.

She was my everything now whether we liked it or not.

Molly sighed, her defeat was felt in my soul.

“Come..let us prepare for the ceremony.”

Of course my pack wasn’t interested in this mess.

They were also questioning the oracles, the leaders--everyone.

How could this person be my mate?

She not only hated me, but she was of a lower standing.

“You look well, my son,” my father, Troy, said, approaching me to fix my tie, “I’m sure she’ll produce many heirs.”

Heirs...

My mother, Francine, seemed quite overjoyed that she'd finally have grandpups.

I’d have to sleep with her and I’m sure Molly knew that.

In our world, we consummated the marriage on the wedding night.

I was certain neither one of us was going to have much fun.

In honesty, I didn’t want to force her into this, but we were mates...

Our lives were now forever changed.