Chapter 3

Ava's POV

"What?" I asked, coming out of my daze as his words registered in my brain.

"I am not yours. Get the hell off me, you perv" I said trying to shove him off me.

This seemed to anger him, because before I knew it he pinned my hands above my head. He gave me a murderous glare and spoke again.

"You are MINE! Whether you like it or not... Mate" he gritted out in annoyance.

I froze when he said the word 'mate'. He was my mate? I was his mate? Now it was starting to make sense.

I knew that there was something familiar about him, and also the fact that I felt safe and warm in his arms. His smell was intoxicating and addicting. He smelt like the woods, with a bit of vanilla.

If his smell and comfort wasn't enough, then the sparks that shot up my arms, where he was holding me should be enough proof. I felt a warm tingly sensation in the pit of my stomach as a shiver went up my spine. There was a voice inside my head chanting the word 'mate'. It was faint, but it was still there which means that my wolf was slowly coming out of its hiding place.

The mate bond was pulling me towards him, sucking me in as I got lost in his eyes once more. But there was something about him that sent chills up my spine. He seemed cold and distant, and screamed danger. 

He was still very naked on top of me. Mate or not, I felt a bit uncomfortable. I've never seen a naked man before and I wasn't planning on making today that day.

"Umm..." I said shifting uncomfortably under him.

I think he got the message, because he immediately got off me and threw on shorts. I averted my eyes as he got dressed, but I was able to catch a glimpse of his ass before I turned my face away. 

He had a nice ass. 

I blush a little as I think about the unholy thoughts running through my mind. I've never had this sort of reaction to anyone, but right now I was thinking of all the sinful things I wanted him to do as I watched his back muscles flex.

"Let's go" he said, walking away from me.

I was still on the ground that he pushed me on. He didn't even have the decency to help me up as he took long strides ahead. I sat on the ground dumbfounded with my mouth slightly ajar as I watched his retreating figure.

"I am not going anywhere with you" I called out, refusing to follow behind him. He was a complete stranger to me, mate or not.

"Don't make me have to repeat myself" he gritted out, obviously trying to hold back his anger.

"I said I'm not going anywhere with you" I stood my ground narrowing my eyes at him defiantly.

There was also another man with him. They stood a few feet away from me and exchanged a few words, before he turned his attention back to me. His eyes were switching from blue to gold, indicating that he was having a mental battle with his wolf.

After a few seconds, his eyes switched back to blue and he marched over to me. I began scrambling away from him as he wore a pissed off expression directed at me. He got to me in no time and took me up off the ground effortlessly and threw me over his shoulder.

"What are you doing? Put me down now you-you-you-" I said, pounding my hands on his perfectly sculpted back. To be honest this was hurting me more than it was hurting him. I stopped pounding on his back and massaged my hands.

"Cat got your tongue, sweetheart," he teased.

"Don't call me that! I am not your sweetheart" I snapped.

"I'm sorry but I don't take orders from rogues" he said with venom lacing his voice. 

"I am not a rogue, I'm just lost" 

"Lost?" 

"Yeah you know when someone is unable to find their way or-" I started explaining.

"I know what the word means," he snapped, annoyed.

"Can you put me down? I can walk you know" 

"No" was his simple answer. 

Asshole.

"Okay, where are you taking me?" I drawled.

"Back to the pack house" as soon as he said that my body stiffened and I began struggling against his hold.

"Please don't take me back there. I'm begging you" I said, trying to wiggle free.

"Relax. I'm taking you back to the North pack" 

I relaxed a bit when I realized that he wasn't taking me back to my pack. But then the realization sank in.

The North pack.

It was the most powerful pack in the entire world. The alpha of the pack was said to be ruthless and cold-hearted. People who trespassed on his land were executed immediately. I've heard all the stories of how many people he's killed and I wasn't ready to be his next victim. 

People outside of his pack don't know how he looked. He liked to keep his appearance a secret whenever he left his pack at least that was what I was told. 

"Please just let me go. I'm not looking for trouble or anything, I just accidentally trespassed. Please don't take me to your alpha. I don't want to die" I wailed. He stiffened for a moment at the mention of the word 'alpha', but immediately relaxed shortly after. 

"Please. I'm not ready to die" 

"Be quiet!" he ordered.

"Please-"

"I said to fucking be quiet" he growled, tightening his hold around me. I immediately shut up, not wanting him to finish me off before the alpha got the chance. But at the same time, he was my mate and if what I have heard was anything to go by then he wouldn't let anything happen to me.

I was confused. I thought that meeting your mate for the first time would have been more special, magical even. It should have been love at first sight, not this. Not him carrying me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes to my death.

"What's going to happen to me?" I asked with a shudder. I was scared shitless. No scratch that, I was terrified. 

No answer.

"You can't let him kill me. You're my mate" I tried to reason with him.

No answer.

"Answer me, dammit!" I shouted.

No answer.

I pouted as he continued his walk silently, with the other man walking alongside him. We were now out of the woods and walking up some steps.

Next thing I know, I was inside. I saw a few people staring at me as the jerk carrying me walked by. I was getting dizzy and if he didn't let me down soon I was going to be sick. He walked up the stairs and walked inside a room. 

He put me down on my feet and I stood straight holding my head to stop it from spinning. After my eyes were focused, I looked at the asshole standing in front of me.

"Why did you take me here?" I asked confused. I thought I was going to get my death sentence from the alpha.

"You're my mate and this is where you'll stay from now on" was his simple answer.

"I can't stay here, I need to leave" I said walking around him.

Just as I opened the door to walk out a hand came from behind me and slammed it shut. I was pushed up against the door as he pressed himself up on me. He brought his face to my neck and inhaled. I have never been this close to anyone before.

"The sooner you accept this, the better it will be for you" he whispered, biting my earlobe. His body was sending electric waves through my body with him this close. Everywhere he touched left sparks behind, igniting something inside that I have never felt before.

"You can't keep me here"

"I can and I will," he said, stepping away from me.

He moved me out of the doorway and slipped out, closing the door with the lock from outside. I began turning the doorknob, but it wouldn't turn. 

"Hey! Let me out!" I banged my fists against the door.

"You can't keep me here!" I shouted.

I slid down the door and held my head in my hands. I was locked in a room by my mate. Not only that, but I was at the North pack and if the alpha ever knew, then I'd be dead.

Why did he take me here?

If he was really my mate, then shouldn't he have been more gentle, kind and loving towards me. I thought that finding my mate would have been the most romantic moment of my life, but I guess the universe was still punishing me. 

I had honestly thought that after he had stated that I was his mate, that he would have showered me with his love and warmth. I thought that he would have asked me to go back to his pack with him. I thought that everything would be as magical as other mates in my pack have described their first encounter with their mate.

But no, he had to just have his way not caring about what I thought or wanted. He had to just take me back to his pack and locked me in a room without my consent.

He did claim me as his mate, so that had to count for something. 

Right?

Right...