Chapter 2

Rhett's POV

It's her. The one I keep seeing in my dreams. The same woman that the prophets called my one true mate and the only woman that might be the answer to my lack of an heir. 

Right now, my wolf, Zane is alert. He recognises the girl standing in front of us as the one who torments our days and nights, our dreams and our every thought.

The only thing that I can't understand is why I'm not feeling a spark or some sort of connection towards her. If she were really my fated mate, shouldn't I be engulfed with her scent, shouldn't I be delirious and getting slammed with a wave of emotions? 

"Who are you?" She repeats, pulling my focus away from my thoughts and back onto her. 

Then her question registers in my head. How doesn't she know who I am? 

Not to brag but I'm the fucking Alpha King and everyone alive knows who I am. Also, I just saved her pack by offering a helping hand so how hasn't she clued in on who I am? 

She seems to be staggering on her feet and a whiff of alcohol from her assaults my nose. Could she be too drunk to recognise who's standing in front of her? 

"What's your name?" I ask instead of answering her questions. 

Her face scrunches in a way that I annoyingly observe as adorable. She tilts her head to the side and taps her chin like she's trying to remember what her name is. She's definitely drunk as fuck if she can't even remember what her name is. 

"Danielle," she finally slurs out.

Danielle.

I repeat the name a few times in my head for an unknown reason. 

"What are you doing out here in the woods?" I ask, stepping closer to her almost subconsciously. I'm drawn to her and something beckons me towards her. 

Danielle pouts, sadness slipping into her face. "I was tired of watching my husband flirt with his mistress."

Something sharp hits me right in the middle of my chest, and I whine, clutching my chest as I try to identify what that was. 

Danielle must have noticed that I'm in some form of pain because she draws closer to me, worry etched on her face. 

"Are you ok?" She asks, placing her hand on my shoulder, touching me without my permission. I jerk in surprise but her hand stays firm on my shoulder as she keeps looking at me with worry and keeps fucking touching me. Many have been punished for doing less than what she's currently doing. 

That spark and connection that I kept wondering why I wasn't feeling? It's here now. It slams into me as soon as I feel her flesh on mine through the thin shirt I have on. 

I freeze, stunned by a wave of emotions that I've never felt or experienced. I look at her face. Really look at it. That's when I notice that Danielle has an appealing face. Ok, I'm just trying to tone it down. Actually she's fucking beautiful. Breathtaking even. 

Under the moonlight, she looks ethereal and unreal- her skin glows and her ember eyes shimmer under the faint light and are framed by long, curly lashes. My gaze moves down to her lips and I suck in a harsh breath, taking in the curve of her pink lips. The upper lip has a slight arch and the bottom lip is fuller and more lush, inviting me closer. 

I feel myself moving forward before I even register what I'm about to do. A breath that I didn't even realise I was holding rushes out of me as soon as my lips press against hers. 

Danielle gasps into my mouth and jerks away from me, shock written all over her face as she stares dazedly at me. Her trembling fingers reach for her lips and she presses her fingertip to them. "Why did you do that?" She breathes out softly. 

I close my eyes and groan. "I'm sorry." I shouldn't have done that. She might be my fated mate but it doesn't mean I have to lose all sense of reasoning. Besides she-

Everything quiets.

Danielle's arms are thrown over my neck, her front pressed against mine, and her lips moving over mine. She's kissing me. Passionately, I might add. She's mewling against my lips and her fingers keep toying with the hair at my nape. 

Suddenly, she pulls away from me, and I almost drag her back into my arms when she whispers feverishly, "Please, kiss me."

That's all it takes for me to press her back into the nearest wall and sink my fingers into her silky tresses. 

My teeth sink into her lush bottom lip. She gasps and I use that opportunity to slide my tongue into her mouth, getting my first taste of her. Her moan coincides with my groan and I grip her thighs and wrap them around my waist, putting her in the perfect position for my lips to assault hers.

It's by sheer force of will that I'm able to force myself to pull away from Danielle. Her chasing after my lips as I attempt to put an end to this madness doesn't help my case. After a few more seconds of indulging in her sweet taste, I break away and let her slide down my body to the ground. 

She's breathing harshly as she presses her back to the tree. "What was that?" She whispers, probably referring to the insane passion that we both just experienced. I'm also having a hard time making sense of it. 

I clear my throat. "You should go back to the pack," I suggest, wanting to create some space between us so that I can think. 

She looks at me, her pupils blown out with her lips swollen and I have to physically fight against the urge to pull her back into my arms. 

"Go," I order, enforcing my Alpha tone into the one word order. 

She bolts.