The Mate Returns

"Corbin, drop those right now!"

My heavy footsteps pounded against the thick, overgrown grass of our expansive backyard, my lungs burning with the effort of the sprint. I chased my five-year-old son, pushing my legs faster, but he merely giggled in response. His small legs pumped in a blur, carrying him straight toward the jagged tree line that marked the edge of the Iron Crest Pack territory. He was a ball of relentless energy, fueled by Alpha genetics that made him much faster and stronger than any normal pup his age. He clutched my stolen garden shears tightly against his chest, treating the dangerous, sharp metal like a prized toy.

"Please, baby," I breathed out, the cold wind whipping my hair across my face. "Drop the scissors. They are sharp. You will cut yourself."

"Not for long, Momma!" Corbin yelled over his shoulder, his bright laughter echoing across the lawn. He aimed his boots directly for the shadows of the woods.

Dread washed over my chest like a bucket of ice water. The forest was no longer a safe playground. Over the past few months, the borders had crawled with rogue activity. We found mutilated animal carcasses near the patrol lines, and the chilling howls kept the entire pack awake at night. The rogues had not breached the main perimeter yet, but the threat loomed over us every single second.

I tapped into my wolf's speed, letting a surge of adrenaline propel me forward. I closed the distance in a fraction of a second, stepping right in front of him before he could cross the tree line. I reached down, prying the sharp shears from his little fingers before lifting his solid weight onto my hip. I stared down into his light green eyes—the exact haunting shade that belonged to his father.

"Corbin, look at me," I said, my voice stern but trembling with genuine fear. "There are monsters in those woods. Promise me you will never go into that forest alone."

His bottom lip jolted out, trembling. Tears pooled in those striking green eyes, shining under the afternoon sun. "I promise, Momma," he sniffled, wrapping his small, chubby arms around my neck. "I won't go in there. Never ever."

He pressed a sloppy, wet kiss against my cheek. I melted instantly, returning the kiss on his forehead. "I believe you," I murmured, forcing a reassuring grin.

I turned my back to the dark trees and began the trek back to the house. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. A prickling sensation crawled down my spine, making me glance over my shoulder. The shadows between the pines seemed to stretch and shift. I held Corbin closer, my heart thumping against my ribs. Was I just paranoid? The constant threat of a rogue war kept my nerves frayed, but right now, I felt heavy eyes tracking my every move. I quickened my pace, eager to get behind locked doors.

I pushed the heavy back door open, slipping into the warm kitchen. I kicked the door shut and twisted the deadbolt until it clicked loudly into place. I set Corbin down on the tiled floor, rubbing my aching side. His dense muscles and heavy bones made carrying him a punishing task. My weak omega blood constantly warred against the potent Alpha traits he inherited.

I opened the top drawer of the cabinet to hide the shears. The loud creak of the front door hinges echoed down the hallway.

"Dada!" Corbin screamed at the top of his lungs. He spun around, his little boots slipping on the tiles as he bolted out of the kitchen.

A genuine smile broke across my face. I followed the sound of his excited shrieks into the living room. Caspian stood in the entryway, dropping a heavy canvas duffel bag onto the floor. He wore a dark, weather-beaten leather jacket, his broad shoulders filling the frame. He looked exhausted, shadows bruising the skin beneath his eyes, but his face lit up the moment Corbin crashed into his legs.

Caspian knelt, scooping the boy up and tossing him high into the air. Corbin squealed in pure delight. Caspian caught him, securing him against his chest. "I missed you, buddy," Caspian laughed, the deep, rumbling sound vibrating through the room. "Woah, big boy. What has your mummy been feeding you? You weigh a ton."

Caspian did not share a single drop of blood with Corbin. We both knew it, but from the moment Corbin learned to speak, he chose Caspian as his father. Caspian stepped into the role without a second of hesitation, providing the fierce love and protection my son needed.

Caspian’s dark eyes lifted, finding mine across the room. The weariness in his gaze softened into pure warmth.

"I missed you too, love," I said, crossing the carpet. I wrapped my arms around his neck, inhaling the familiar scent of rain and cedar clinging to his jacket. I pressed my mouth to his, delivering a slow, sensual kiss that communicated how lonely the house felt without him. "I missed you so much."

He wrapped his free arm around my waist, pulling me tight against him. "It was a long week, Gia."

He set Corbin back on his feet, patting the boy's head before urging him to go play with his blocks on the rug. I took Caspian's calloused hand, leading him toward the large suede couch. We sank into the cushions together, our thighs pressing close.

"How was your trip?" I asked, reaching up to trace the line of his jaw. His skin felt rough under my fingertips. "You need a shave."

Caspian sighed, leaning his head back against the cushion. "The trip was a nightmare. Most of the neighboring Alphas gave me the cold shoulder. They do not want to risk their own warriors in a war against these rogues. They told me the Iron Crest pack should handle its own borders."

"But you found someone," I noted, watching the muscle tick in his jaw.

"I did," he admitted, his tone dropping an octave. "I found an Alpha willing to supply his army. I was very reluctant to approach him. He is arrogant, demanding, and a bit much to deal with. But he agreed to help. We need the numbers. I need all the strength I can get to keep you and Corbin safe."

"I am sure you can manage his ego," I said, stroking his cheek. "I believe in you, Cas."

He sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I forgot to mention the worst part. The Alpha traveled back with me. He is currently waiting at the pack house. He demanded an immediate audience with our pack leadership."

I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest. "Can he just show up and demand an audience like that?"

"Technically, no. But he holds all the cards right now. I have to stay on his good side to secure this alliance. He brought a massive force with him. Without them, the rogues will tear through our defenses."

"So you have to bow down to an arrogant jerk to save us," I murmured.

"Please do not judge me, Gia. I am a desperate man doing whatever it takes to protect my pack. I need you to do me a favor. When we go to the pack house, try to be polite to him. No matter how he acts, he is doing us a massive favor."

I narrowed my eyes. He danced around the details. "What is this mystery Alpha's name?"

Caspian reached out, taking both of my hands in his. His expression turned solemn. "I cannot tell you that. I swore an oath of secrecy regarding his movements until the alliance is finalized in front of the elders. But you can meet him yourself. We have to go now."

I respected Caspian. He never hid things from me unless duty demanded it. I nodded, squeezing his fingers. I turned my head toward the hallway. "Corbin! Put your shoes on. We are going out!"

Five minutes later, Corbin stomped down the stairs, his laces tied in messy knots. We walked out the front door, the cool afternoon breeze sweeping over us. The pack house sat on a large hill in the center of the territory, a massive stone structure that housed the elders and the administrative offices.

As we walked up the paved path, my chest tightened. A strange, suffocating pressure wrapped around my lungs. My wolf, who had slept silently in the back of my mind for five long years, suddenly woke up. She began to pace frantically, scratching at the mental barriers, whining in deep, agonizing distress. A cold sweat broke out across my forehead. My stomach churned, twisting into painful knots.

Caspian stopped, stepping in front of me to block my path. He scrutinized my pale face. "Are you okay, babe?"

"I am fine," I lied quickly, forcing a tight smile.

He raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second.

I sighed, rubbing my sternum. "I do not know, Cas. My wolf is going crazy. She is clawing at my ribs. It is making me nauseous."

"Do you want to turn back?" he asked, his protective instincts flaring.

My brain screamed at me to turn around and run as fast as I could. But a heavy, magnetic pull in my chest dragged me toward the stone building. "No," I said, stepping forward to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "I will be fine. Let's just get this over with."

We reached the grand double doors of the pack house. Caspian pushed them open, holding one side for Corbin and me.

The exact second my boots crossed the threshold into the massive, marble-floored foyer, a scent slammed into my face like a physical blow.

Pinewood and sweet pineapple.

The scent was thick, intoxicating, and devastatingly familiar. It coated my tongue, burned my nostrils, and paralyzed my muscles. The world stopped spinning. The air vanished from the room. Raw terror spiked through my veins, freezing the blood in my heart.

"On second thought," I whispered, my voice shaking uncontrollably. "I think I will go home."

Caspian turned to me, confusion wrinkling his brow. He looked at my face, and whatever he saw made his eyes widen. "Is everything okay?"

I opened my mouth to speak, to beg him to let us leave, but a deafening, bone-rattling growl shook the dust from the crystal chandelier above us.

"Gia!"

The voice commanded the room, dark and lethally dangerous. I turned my head slowly, fighting through the paralysis.

Standing in the center of the foyer, flanked by massive, heavily armed warriors, was Kael Vargas. The years had hardened him. His shoulders were broader, his jaw sharper, his chest packed with thick, unyielding muscle. His piercing green eyes—the exact same shade as the little boy currently holding my hand—locked onto me with lethal intensity. He looked infinitely more handsome, a rugged, dangerous king radiating raw Alpha power.

Behind him stood Vivica, Theron, and Gideon. My old tormentors. The people who made my childhood a living nightmare.

Panic seized my throat. I stumbled backward, putting Caspian's large frame between Kael and me. I grabbed the back of Caspian's leather jacket, gripping the material so hard my knuckles turned white.

"Caspian, help," I whispered, pressing my face between his shoulder blades.

Caspian reached back, wrapping a strong hand over my trembling arms. "What is wrong, babe?" he asked, before turning his attention to the imposing man in the center of the room. "I see you have met my mate. Gia, meet Alpha Kael Vargas."

The heavy thud of Kael's boots echoed off the marble floor. He was walking toward us. The sheer pressure of his aura pushed down on my shoulders, trying to force me to my knees. I tugged on Caspian's jacket, praying the floor would crack open and swallow me.

"I believe we have already met, haven't we, Gia?" Kael asked. His voice was a poisonous blend of smooth honey and sharp steel. The sound of it sent humiliating, electric shivers down my spine. I hated the way my traitorous body reacted to him.

Caspian shifted his stance, turning his head slightly to look at me. "You two know each other?"

I kept my mouth clamped shut. Tears burned the back of my eyes. I refused to look at Caspian, terrified of the disappointment that would inevitably crash over his face when he connected the dots.

"Of course we do," Kael sneered, stopping just a few feet away. "And I do not appreciate you hoarding a pack member of mine in your territory for this long. It is in your best interest to hand my mate over to me at once."

A deadly silence fell over the foyer. Vivica let out a shocked gasp. Theron shifted uncomfortably. They had no idea. He just claimed me in front of the very people who used to beat me for being weak.

Caspian stiffened. The muscles in his back turned to granite. A low, rumbling snarl ripped from his chest, echoing through the large room.

"So you are the bastard who put her through hell," Caspian growled, his hands balling into massive fists. "No! I am never letting her go. Not like you did. I love her, and she loves me."

Kael threw his head back and laughed. It was a dark, mocking sound that grated against my eardrums. "I find it hilarious how you make yourself believe that delusion. We all know Gia would never have eyes for any male other than me."

His arrogant confidence shattered my fear, replacing it with a blinding surge of defiant rage.

"Do not believe him, Caspian," I declared, stepping out from behind his back. I marched right up to Caspian, ignoring the deadly glare burning holes into the side of my head. I grabbed Caspian by the lapels of his jacket, pulling him down to my level. "I love you. Not him."

I smashed my mouth against Caspian's lips. I pushed my fingers into his hair, angling his face, opening my mouth to deepen the kiss. Our tongues tangled together in a messy, desperate display of affection. I poured every ounce of my loyalty into that kiss, trying to prove to Caspian—and to my own conflicted, racing heart—that Kael's sudden return changed nothing.

A monstrous roar tore through the foyer, shaking the glass windows in their frames.

Before I could pull away, a massive hand clamped around my upper arm. Kael yanked me backward with terrifying force, ripping me away from Caspian.

The moment his skin touched mine, thousands of intoxicating, electric sparks exploded across my nerve endings. Fire shot up my arm, flooding my veins with a burning, addictive heat. My knees buckled under the sheer pleasure of the mate bond, my wolf howling in triumphant joy.

"Theron! Gideon! Hold Alpha Caspian back until I return," Kael barked, his voice laced with the compelling power of an Alpha command.

"Are you crazy?" Caspian roared, lunging forward, his fangs dropping over his bottom lip. "You are starting a war! Unhand my girlfriend, you fucking bastard!"

Theron and Gideon slammed into Caspian, tackling him toward the wall. Caspian fought wildly, throwing punches that cracked bone, but Kael did not stay to watch.

His grip on my arm was unyielding. He dragged me across the marble floor, his long strides forcing me to stumble just to keep up. I kicked, twisting my wrist, but his fingers felt like iron manacles. He hauled me down a short corridor, kicking open the heavy oak door of a secluded, empty lounge. He dragged me inside and shoved the door shut with a loud, final slam.

He released my arm, turning his back to me as he stalked toward the center of the room. The sudden absence of his touch left my skin freezing and craving the contact. I clenched my fists, driving my fingernails into my palms to ground myself. I vowed right then and there I would not revert to the pathetic, broken girl who begged on her knees five years ago.

I lifted my chin defiantly, staring at his broad back. "I want to go back to Caspian right now."

Kael turned around slowly. He tilted his head, a dark, dangerous smirk playing on his lips. His eyes gleamed with a predatory amusement. "Well, I am not physically holding you, Gia."

I gritted my teeth, feeling foolish for standing there instead of bolting for the door. I spun on my heel, reaching for the brass handle.

In a blur of motion, Kael crossed the room. His large hands clamped down on my hips. The smirk vanished from his face, replaced by a fierce, unyielding possessiveness that darkened his eyes to the color of a stormy forest. He yanked me backward, pulling my body flush against his front.

He was solid rock. His chest pressed against my back, his thighs caging my legs. Through the fabric of my jeans, I felt the unmistakable, rigid pressure of his heavy erection pressing hard against the curve of my ass. His body demanded mine, the biological mating instinct overriding his senses.

"You are mine!" he roared, the sound vibrating through my spine.

I twisted in his grip, snapping my head back to glare at his handsome face. "I was not yours when you rejected me that morning! You threw me away!"

My bravado crumbled the second he shifted his weight, backing me up until my shoulders hit the wall. He caged me in, planting his hands on the plaster on either side of my head. He closed the remaining gap between us, pressing his hard chest against my breasts.

"You were always mine, Gia," he murmured, his voice dropping into a raspy, seductive growl that made my thighs tremble.

He ducked his head, burying his face deep into the crook of my neck. His thick, potent scent of pinewood and pineapple overwhelmed my senses, drowning out my rational thoughts. He dragged his hot nose along my pulse point. His lips parted, leaving a trail of wet heat across my collarbone.

I gasped, my fingers curling into his shirt.

His sharp teeth grazed the tender skin of my shoulder blade. He dragged the points of his canines over the flesh, preparing to sink his teeth in and forcefully mark me. My knees went weak. The fight drained out of my muscles. Heaven help me, my body lacked the willpower to push him away. I wanted the bite.

"Mummy!"

The innocent, high-pitched voice sliced through the heavy, intoxicating tension like a silver blade.

I gasped, my eyes snapping open. The trance shattered. I shoved my hands against Kael's chest, ripping myself out of his crushing grip. I stumbled sideways, my chest heaving for air.

Corbin stood in the doorway, clutching his little blue shoes against his chest, staring at us with wide, confused eyes.

I rushed forward, scooping my boy onto my hip and holding him tightly against my chest.

Kael froze in place. He turned his head slowly, his breathing ragged. The arrogant, territorial rage drained from his face, replaced by a look of sheer, paralyzing shock. His eyes locked onto Corbin. He stared directly at the boy's face, taking in the shape of his jaw, the unruly hair, and the striking, unmistakable green eyes that perfectly mirrored his own.

Kael took a staggering step forward, his jaw falling slack. He blinked, shaking his head as if trying to wake up from a dream.

"Is that..." Kael's voice trailed off into a hoarse whisper, his gaze darting between the boy's face and mine. "Is he mine?"

I held Corbin closer, feeling the steady beat of his little heart. I stared at the man who broke my soul. A dark, vindictive part of my mind screamed at me to lie. It begged me to tell him the child belonged to Caspian, just to inflict a tiny fraction of the agonizing, suffocating pain I felt the day he callously threw me away.

I lifted my chin. "Ours? Yes."