The Unexpected Mate

TAMSIN'S POV

I drift upward through endless layers of heavy unconsciousness, leaving the muffled sounds of the truck engine behind. A bizarre sensation pulls me toward the waking world. I feel real warmth. Steady, strong arms cradle my battered body. I am pressed flush against a broad, solid chest. With every step the man takes, I expect him to drop me onto the hard ground, but his secure grip remains unbroken. An intoxicating scent of rich dark chocolate and fresh summer rain envelops my senses, pushing away the metallic tang of my own dried blood. It washes over me in thick, comforting waves, stealing the breath from my lungs. Gentle, electric sparks dance across my bruised skin every single time the stranger shifts his hold.

These strange, unfamiliar shocks work a miracle. They numb the terror I have carried in my bones for years. Instead of feeling the agonizing sting of my freshly healed ribs, the tingles sink deep into my aching muscles and bring a bizarre sense of peace. Instinctively seeking that soothing heat, I snuggle deeper into the massive chest holding me. The fabric of his dark shirt is soft against my scarred cheek. I let out a long sigh, breathing in the scent of rain, and surrender once more to the dark. Let whatever happens next just happen.

When my eyes finally snap open again, bright midday sunlight blinds me. I blink rapidly, trying to clear away the lingering fog of sleep. I gasp. I attempt to push myself into a sitting position, but my limbs feel tangled. I find myself wrapped in silky, high-thread-count sheets. I lie in the very center of an enormous, unfamiliar bed inside a massive bedroom. The soft mattress is nothing like the cold basement floors I am used to sleeping on. The heavy blankets feel foreign against my skin. The sheer luxury of the room makes my stomach twist in knots.

A low, amused chuckle echoes from the open doorway.

My head whips around. I stare at the towering, muscled frame of the man standing there. His broad shoulders span the entire width of the doorframe. The crushing, suffocating aura radiating from his relaxed posture hits me like a physical wave. The heavy pressure settles right over my chest, squeezing my lungs. He is a dominant Alpha.

Paralyzing panic seizes my muscles. My heart hammers a frantic rhythm against my tender ribs. I kick my legs, scrambling out of the massive bed. The heavy sheets tangle around my ankles. I fight them off in sheer terror, kicking the blankets aside. My bare feet hit the polished wood floor. I backpedal until my spine hits the solid plaster wall. I press myself flat against the cold surface. I drop my gaze submissively to the floorboards, hunching my shoulders forward to make myself as small as possible.

"Sorry Sir! It won't happen again." I whisper the apology in a trembling rush, crossing my arms over my head and bracing for a harsh strike.

*MATE! MATE!* Nyla screams inside my head with wild joy. She paces frantically in my mind, overgrown with happiness at the scent filling the room.

I desperately shut my inner wolf down. I force her presence back into the darkest corner of my mind. There is no way an Alpha could be my fated mate. Nothing good ever happens to me, especially since the day my mother died. My father has finally followed through on his endless strings of threats. He sold me to a foreign pack to clear a debt. This remains the only logical explanation for waking up inside a strange Alpha's bed. The punishment for oversleeping and invading a superior's personal space will be severe. I squeeze my eyes shut. I wait for the agonizing slap across my face.

But the expected blow never lands. Instead, the man steps into the room. The heavy thud of his boots stops right in front of me. The rich scent of dark chocolate and summer rain grows stronger, demanding my attention. Warm, calloused fingers slide beneath my chin. He lifts my face toward the bright sunlight. Electric sparks crackle fiercely along my jawline, sending a shiver down my spine. His deep sapphire eyes brim with genuine warmth. He gives me a soft, easy smile.

"You never have to hide your face or anything from me, sweetheart. I would and will never hurt you. Now would you like some lunch?" He asks the question with incredible gentleness, dropping his hand from my face.

I remain bewildered. I stand frozen against the wall, staring into his striking blue eyes. He turns on his heel and walks out the open door. I realize he expects me to follow him without further instruction. I push off the wall. I trail silently behind him, terrified of making a single sound. We walk down an expansive, winding staircase made of dark glossed wood. We step into a sprawling, modern kitchen equipped with shining stainless steel appliances and massive marble countertops.

Draven stops near the huge center island. He turns and introduces me to his Beta without an ounce of hesitation.

"Ryker, this is Tamsin, my mate." Draven announces the claim to the other man.

I climb timidly onto a tall leather barstool. I pull my knees together, resting my shaking hands tightly in my lap. I stare down at the marble counter, listening to the lighthearted banter passing between the two men. Ryker jokes about his sandwich-making skills while assembling lunch plates. Draven leans against the counter, smiling at his friend. The relaxed atmosphere slowly chips away at the invisible walls I put up. I allow my rigid shoulders to drop an inch. I even let a small giggle escape my lips when Ryker fumbles a piece of bread.

But the fragile sense of security shatters in a heartbeat. The heavy back door swings open with a loud thud. A towering male fills the entryway. He smells intense. The distinct aroma of crisp peppermint and wild sage floods the kitchen space, easily overpowering the smell of the lunch meat.

*MATE!* Nyla barks again. Her voice turns frantic, warning me that our destiny is far more complicated than a single mate.

The newcomer freezes in his tracks. His dark eyes lock onto mine with predator-like focus. He closes the distance in two ground-eating strides. He steps right up behind my stool. His massive arms wrap firmly around my waist. He lifts me off the stool in one fluid motion. He buries his face deep in the crook of my neck. He inhales my scent, letting out a rough, animalistic sound.

My breath hitches in pure agony. His tight embrace crushes my fractured ribs. The bones grind dangerously together beneath my scarred skin. The blinding pain races through my chest. I cannot draw a breath. I tense my entire body, waiting to be snapped in half by the stranger's powerful grip.

"Gideon? What are you doing with your arms around my mate?" Draven’s voice drops into a terrifying, thunderous growl. The playful demeanor disappears, replaced by deadly Alpha aggression.

"She is my MATE!" Gideon snarls right back into the open room. He tightens his heavy grip defensively around my torso in sheer defiance.

Terror floods my system. The ferocious Alpha growls reverberate through the large kitchen. The loud sound physical vibrates against my battered chest, shaking me down to my bones. I am trapped securely between their posturing bodies. The raw dominance thick in the room makes the air heavy and stale. I squirm frantically against Gideon’s rock-hard chest. I try to pull his crushing arms away from my sensitive ribs, desperate for oxygen.

"Please, don't hurt me... Please, let me go..." I whimper brokenly. Hot tears sting my eyes and spill over my pale cheeks.

"GIDEON! DRAVEN! ENOUGH!" Ryker’s voice booms over their snarls. The Beta shatters the deadly standoff with the commanding shout. "Look at her, you guys are scaring the shit out of her."

Gideon blinks down at me. His pitch-black eyes widen in sudden remorse. He immediately releases his crushing hold around my waist, taking a step backward. I drop back onto the barstool, gasping desperately for air and wrapping my own arms around my aching ribs.

Moving carefully, both Alphas take seats on the tall stools on either side of me. Slowly, deliberately, each man reaches out and takes one of my trembling hands. They lace their long, warm fingers gently with mine. Sparks shoot up both of my arms, trailing over my elbows and meeting perfectly at my heart. The strange mix of peppermint and chocolate clouds my thoughts.

"Tamsin, this is my younger brother, Gideon Thorne." Draven speaks softly, formally introducing the towering male sitting beside me.

*Thorne.*

The surname detonates in my mind like a heavy artillery shell. All the blood drains right out of my face. My skin turns icy cold, goosebumps erupting on my arms. Old pack lessons aggressively resurface in my chaotic thoughts. The Thorne brothers are the most ruthless, feared Alphas in the entire country. Every single pup learns their terrifying names in school. They are notorious across every pack border for their merciless brutality on the battlefield. Everyone knows they rule the Sovereign Blood Moon Pack with an iron fist, slaughtering anyone who crosses their territory line without permission. Worse, the terrifying rumors clearly state they take whatever female catches their eye. They claim females and use them, treating them like disposable property.

I sit paralyzed between two Thorne Alphas. I am at the mercy of the monsters from the stories.

I tremble. I rip my hands out of their gentle grasps. I bolt up from the wooden stool. I sprint out of the sprawling kitchen, refusing to look back. I know they can run me down. A Thorne Alpha can catch a fleeing wolf in a matter of seconds. But sheer panic commands my weak legs. I sprint up the winding staircase, skipping steps in my frantic haste. I reach the second floor and throw open the first door I see. I stumble into a dark, unoccupied bedroom. I push the wooden door shut and twist the metal lock until it clicks loudly.

I scramble backward into the darkness. I collapse into the furthest corner of the room. I draw my knees tight to my heaving chest. I weep bitterly, burying my face in my arms. The empty room offers no real protection from them. I brace my battered body for the brutal punishment sure to follow my defiance. Running from a dominant Alpha guarantees a severe beating. Running from a Thorne Alpha guarantees death. My tears soak into the fabric of my old pants.

Minutes drag by in torturous silence. I hold my breath, waiting for the heavy door to splinter inward under massive fists. I wait for the roaring anger and the heavy blows. Then, the brass lock clicks open. The door swings wide, casting a long shadow over my huddled form.

I hold my breath and squeeze my eyes shut. I curl into a tighter ball on the floorboards, trying to shield my head and neck. But nobody strikes me. No booming voice screams at me for my disobedience. It is Draven who crouches down in the dark. He reaches out and gently lifts my shaking form from the floorboards.

"I'm sorry Alpha! I won't run again!! Please don't hurt me!" I whisper the desperate plea in panic, squeezing my eyes shut to block out his face.

A low, distressed rumble vibrates deep within Draven's chest. He does not yell. He merely adjusts his protective hold around my body, his hands avoiding my bruised ribs. He carries me back out into the bright hallway. He walks straight to his master suite. He sets me down on the large mattress and tucks me tenderly beneath the plush blankets, pulling the thick sheets up to my chin.

"It is okay, Tamsin. Relax. You have been through a lot, just rest and we can work it out later!" He murmurs the soft words into the quiet room.

I stiffen under the heavy covers. I am convinced my punishment is merely postponed for a later hour. He expects me to let my guard down first. He expects me to feel safe before he unleashes his legendary brutality upon my ruined body, proving just how much of a fool I am to trust him. He steps closer to the top of the bed. He leans down and presses a soft, featherlight kiss to my forehead. The gentle gesture is identical to my mother's touch right before her death, unlocking a box of buried grief. My heart aches in my chest. Draven straightens up, gives me one final look, and steps out of the room. He shuts the door quietly. Exhaustion pulls me into dark slumber, though fear constantly whispers that this temporary safety is just a fragile illusion.