The Alpha Takes a Mate Read Free

believe he’d mated with a human. Staring down at her pretty face the full force of what just happened hit him in the stomach.
    Elle Smith was human. She was fragile, and he was a mate who was supposed to supply an heir to take over his pack. Stepping away from her, Brandon felt defeated. She was … breakable.
    How could he have mated to a woman who could be taken away from him so easily?
    “I need to go for a run,” Brandon said. He pushed past his men and charged downstairs heading toward the door.
    “What do you want us to do when she wakes up?” Drake asked.
    He stopped as he opened the door. Staring up the stairs, he saw the concern on both of their faces.
    “Tell her she can’t leave by order of the alpha.” He didn’t turn back. Brandon headed toward the trees. He needed to run in order to clear his mind. Without removing his clothes, he turned into his wolf and headed toward the trees. He didn’t need the full moon to turn. None of his pack needed the full moon to become wolves, but they celebrated their traditions at the full moon.
    Brandon ran down to the river, and he stared at his reflection in the water. A black wolf with fierce teeth snarled back at him. During his first turning, he’d been petrified. His father had talked to him throughout it, relaxing him and showing him everything was going to be okay.
    Now, his wolf was part of him. He’d been born a wolf and learned to listen to his wolf. Several of the pack members didn’t connect with their wolf and held little control over their temper. His father taught him to accept his wolf and learn to act as one with his wolf.
    Staring at his reflection, Brandon wondered what he’d done to the fates in order to displease them. A human mate had to be retribution for something.
    ****
    Throbbing in her wrist woke Elle up. She rubbed at her eyes with the hand that didn’t hurt.
    “Be careful . Don’t move,” a male voice said.
    She started and turned to see Darcy wrapping her wrist in a plain white bandage. The man was glaring down at her hand. The sheet where her arm had been resting was stained red with her blood.
    “What happened?” she asked, rubbing her eyes. She never wore makeup and didn’t have to worry about smearing the stuff over her face.
    “Do you want the long story or the short one?” He finished wrapping her wrist before placing her hand down on the bed. She sat up bringing her knees against her chest.
    “I want the truth.”
    He let out a sigh. “The truth is simple. You’re mated to Brandon, the alpha that makes you his. The bite on your wrist is the first part of the claiming.”
    “What?” she asked, staring at him in shock.
    Had he lost his mind? Her being mated to Brandon was completely insane. She didn’t even know the man.
    You don’t even like him.
    “There has to have been some mistake,” she said.
    “No mistake. Brandon and his wolf scented you from the kitchen. The bite is uncontrollable. You’re Brandon’s mate.”
    Moving toward the edge of the bed, Elle tried to blank out his words. There was no way she was his mate. She refused to accept it.
    She stood up then made her way to the door.
    Darcy stopped her from leaving the room.
    “What are you doing?” she asked, confused by him keeping her locked in the room.
    “I can’t let you go out there.”
    “Why the hell not? I’ve got to see my father, and I need to be at the diner working,” she said.
    His arm shot out stopping her once again. “Alpha’s orders. You’re not allowed to leave.”
    Elle pushed at his arm. Darcy didn’t budge. Throwing her arms up in defeat she walked over to the bedroom window. She saw the town preparing for the feast after the pack had their run.
    Folding her arms she stared out of the window.
    “You’re not planning to jump, are you?” Darcy asked.
    Turning to him, she glared. “I’m not that fucking weak.”
    He grunted. She heard the wooden bed creak under his weight and did everything she could to ignore