Twelve

His eyes searched mine for a long moment. Then slowly—so slowly I almost missed it—something like respect flickered across his face.

That lazy smile returned, but this time it reached his eyes.

He looked really dangerous. Intrigued and particularly interested in me.

I had a feeling it was a bad thing more than a good thing

"Feisty, aren't we?"

One of the men stepped forward, breaking the strange bubble of tension between us.

"Alpha, she looks like one of them. She might be a spy. We should just end her. It's not worth the risk."

My heart started racing. End her. End me. Like I was nothing.

Like I was already dead.

I stared at Aiden, trying to read his expression. Would he agree? Was this where it ended—not torn apart by my father's guards, but executed in a rival Alpha's territory?

My heart raced as I kept my gaze trained on the Alpha who still crouched in front of me, his hazel eyes unreadable.

"Alpha Aiden," the other man added, his voice more insistent. "Matthew is right. We can't trust her. She could be a spy for one of our enemies."

Aiden.

So that was his name. I remember

Alpha Aiden Stormrider.

The rogue and disgraced werewolf my father had made the pack enemy.

The man who currently held my life in his hands.

"No," he said flatly, not even turning to look at them.

"But Alpha—"

"I said no!"

His voice was sharp and fierce, cutting through their protests like a blade. The command in it was absolute, brooking no argument.

Both men fell silent immediately, looking away with bowed heads.

They submitted to his words without any more say.

Aiden stood slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. The loss of his proximity should have felt like relief, but instead I felt strangely... bereft.

"April, is it?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice. Swallowed hard against the dryness in my throat.

His calm demeanor was more unsettling than anger would have been. The fact that he somehow believed I wasn't a spy—or at least wasn't rejecting the possibility outright—even when his own pack members were trying to convince him otherwise...

Maybe he could smell the lie about my last name. Maybe he was just curious.

Or maybe he was playing a longer game I couldn't see yet.

"You're running from something," he said quietly. Not a question. A statement. "I can see it in your eyes. In the way you hold yourself. In every scar on your body."

He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was a puzzle he intended to solve.

"And wolves who run from betrayal..." He paused, that dangerous smile returning. "They turn out to be good allies."

"I'm not your ally," I said before I could stop myself.

The words tumbled out, defiant and stupid and probably suicidal.

But I couldn't help it.

I was so tired of being used. Of being a pawn in other people's games.

His smirk deepened. For the first time, his smile reached his eyes—genuinely amused now.

He looked really dangerous, intrigued and interested in me.

"Not yet," he said softly.

Then he did something that made my breath catch in my throat.

He moved closer again—impossibly close—until there was barely any space between us.

His hand lifted, and I tensed, expecting... I don't know what.

But he was gentle. His fingers brushed against my cheek, tilting my face up so I had no choice but to look directly into those hazel eyes.

The touch sent electricity through my skin. My heart hammered so loud I was sure he could hear it.

"Interesting," he murmured, his thumb tracing along my jawline. "Very much interesting."

His touch was warm. Too warm. It made my skin tingle in a way that had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with something I definitely shouldn't be feeling for my father's enemy.

Then he smiled—a real smile this time, not the lazy, dangerous one from before.

This one was almost... possessive.

He leaned in even closer, and I could feel his breath against my ear as he whispered:

"You're running from the wrong wolves, little April."

I opened my mouth to respond, to tell him to back off, to do something—

But then I heard it. A voice just like Aiden's own, sounded in my head in a low voice.

Those three words were clear as day. It sounded deep and commanding that it was absolutely certain and confident.

"You are mine."

My eyes widened in shock.

What the—

How—

That wasn't possible.

That only happened when—

Oh God. Please tell me I have a wolf, please tell me that was the wolf bond I felt, please tell me that was my mates wolf voice.

Excitement was beginning to form in my facial expression as my stomach was acting like it was filled with butterflies.

My heart was beating fast and loud in my ears.

I couldn't believe it.