His Forbidden Mate

by Matilda Janes

  “No, sir,” Adam assured him.

  It was unnerving following this stranger through the woods, but with Adam by her side she tried to tamp down her fear. As if he could sense her thoughts, Adam smiled and squeezed her hand. A large log cabin came into view up the path, and the man waved for them to enter. The wolf was nowhere in sight.

  “Come on in and meet the pack, get you a cup of coffee, and we’ll get this sorted out.”

  They followed him into the cabin, and Hannah swallowed hard when all eyes turned towards them. Several large, well-muscled men sat throughout the cabin.

  “Yeah, you kids look like you been on the road a while. Coffee?” he offered, and Adam nodded his head, while she declined.

  “Thank you, sir.” Adam accepted a mug from one of the men.

  “Whelp, let’s get to business. I’m John McClintock, and I’m the Alpha here.” John held out his hand, and Adam readily accepted it. She watched, fascinated, as Adam turned his head slightly and bared his neck to John, who nodded and smiled. “Thank you, son.”

  Hannah figured it must have been some sort of show of respect. The man did say he was the Alpha, and she gathered that meant he was in charge.

  “My name is Adam Atwood, and this is my mate, Hannah Martin.” Adam turned to look at the men in the room. “We request sanctuary with your pack.”

  John nodded and pointed out the men as he introduced them. “Meet the Deliverance pack. Kellan, Kade, and Kieran Brune are the big bastards over there. Though Kade lives on the other side of the mountain.” The men were huge.

  “John, I’ll see you in a couple months or so. Good luck, kids.” Kade reached out and shook John’s hand, while with his other he held an axe.

  Hannah stepped aside as the large man and his axe walked to the door. She tried not to stare at the scar that covered half of his face and gulped when he nodded and scowled at her.

  “He’s a little anti-social. His bear is hard pressed to like anyone, even his brothers, so don’t take it personal,” John told them after Kade had left. “Over there is Bryce Thompson, Tyler Johnson, and this is Brandon Walker. You met him outside.”

  Brandon walked down the hall pulling a shirt over his head.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Hannah felt her face flush when all eyes turned towards her, but her embarrassment lessened when they all returned her smile.

  “Doesn’t anyone else in your pack have a human mate?” John asked Adam.

  “No, sir.” Adam looked down at her and swallowed. “It’s not allowed for us to choose a human mate. My father hates humans.”

  Someone in the room snickered, and Adam’s brows furrowed in confusion.

  “Choose your mate? You think you choose?” John asked, and he truly sounded bewildered.

  “Or our wolf chooses?”

  “That’s not how it works, son, and I’m sorry, but your father is dumb as shit,” John said. “Hates humans?” He shook his head and sounded exasperated. “What in the hell does he think this is?” John gestured towards his own body. “We’re all humans. Shifters just have a little extra.” He pounded his chest. “We all came from the same place. I don’t know where your pack got this misinformation, but that’s not how matings work. We don’t pick our mates. I mean you can, and some do. Their human side tires of waiting or it’s possible to never meet them, but shifter souls split, making room for our animals. Every shifter has another half out there somewhere in the universe, and once you meet your true mate, you just know.”

  “That shit is sacred,” one of the men chimed in.

  “Do you have human mates here?” Hannah asked him. It would be nice if there was someone she could talk to. She had a hard time wrapping her mind around the fact that she and Adam shared a soul.

  “Well, no we don’t have any mates here, but it sure wouldn’t matter if they were human or not,” John said.

  “Your Alpha is about to find out the hard way.” Tyler spoke up.

  “What do you mean?” Adam asked.

  “Fate’s a real bitch when you try and interfere with what she wants.” John answered for his pack member. “If your father is so dead set against this to the point of terminating your mate, I’ll back you up, but I think you know what needs to be done if you want this to end. Is he going to just let you go?” John asked.

  “What did your Alpha say? If he’s not doing the right thing and backing you up you need to challenge him. Otherwise he’s not a worthy Alpha,” Kieran said.

  “My father is my Alpha,” Adam said.

  “Oh, shit, kid, sorry.”

  “Is he saying what I think he’s saying?” Hannah asked and turned to Adam.

  “Yeah.”

  “I can’t ask you to fight your dad, Adam. That’s—”

  “You think I give a shit about him? He doesn’t care about me. All he cares about breeding me and continuing our line. That's why he forbade me from seeing you and if he … if he really cared he wouldn’t have done the things he did.”

  Hannah startled when an alarm sounded overhead, and Adam pulled her closer when the men in the room jumped into action. Everyone’s attention turned towards a wall of monitors where one of the men sat down. Shadows moved amongst the trees, coming towards the cabin.

  “Looks like you two got here just in time. They were right on your tail. Don’t worry, this place looks rustic, but Bryce here has this place wired up with top of the line surveillance, enhanced for our special needs,” John explained.

  “I don’t understand how he found us so quickly. He couldn’t have possibly known where we were going!” Adam was pissed.

  “He probably GPS’d your truck and has been following you the entire time. That’s what I would do.” Bryce spoke up.

  “Fuck, I’m sorry, John. I didn’t mean to bring this kind of trouble. I hoped we could lay low for a while until I figured something out. Fuck!”

  “Hey, it’s okay, kid. To be honest something doesn’t smell right with your pack, and I’m a little impatient to meet your father myself,” John said.

  One of the men, Tyler, gently nudged her arm, but he took a step back with his hands up when Adam snarled at him. “Sorry, man. My bad.” His expression was genuinely contrite when he turned back to her. “Do you know how to shoot a gun?” he asked.

  “No, I’m sorry, I don’t,” she said, and he nodded and walked away only to return a moment later and hand her a baseball bat.

  “I’d like this back, yeah? And make sure you don’t swing for me.” He winked before he walked away and pulled his t-shirt off to reveal a wall of muscle.

  “Thank you.” She hugged the bat to her body. She didn’t want to hit anyone, but she was thankful she wasn’t unarmed.

  Hannah tried to avert her eyes when some of the men started to undress while others checked their weapons. She was startled when Adam pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it aside. She was entranced when his chest muscles flexed, and while she appreciated the display she raised her brows.

  “If I challenge him I’ll have to shift,” he explained.

  She tried to hide her fear, but she must have failed because he pulled her close and hugged her tight. She could feel his lips on the top of her head as he rocked her. “I love you. No matter what happens, please know how much I fucking love you,” he whispered hoarsely against her hair.

  “Adam?” Hannah didn’t like the tone of his voice, but he didn’t answer her. Instead, he looked at John.

  “If anything happens to me…”

  John didn’t let Adam finish and he held his hand up. “You’re both under my protection,” he said. “She’ll be safe with us.”

  “Thank you.” Adam leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Hannah, promise me no matter what you see outside, you’ll stay in this cabin. Promise me.”

  Hannah looked up to see yellow eyes implore her. “I promise,” she whispered. She was reluctant, but she agreed.

  Someone had opened the front door, and she watched as the men filed out and took up positions
along the porch and the ground below. Hannah’s breath caught in her throat as several men and wolves emerged from the forest.

  “Anyone comes near you, you don’t recognize,” Adam reached out and touched the baseball bat, “you follow through and don’t hold back. Ask questions later.” Adam squeezed her once more before he stepped back from her. Hannah’s chest ached as he walked out the door.

  Chapter Seven

  Adam was hesitant to leave his mate alone in that cabin. He hoped his trust in the Deliverance pack was not misplaced. Their very lives depended on this pack’s good will. Adam didn’t know these wolves, and they didn’t know him. He’d heard whispers about this pack and about how different they were. Gut instinct had driven Adam here, and he prayed he’d not made a mistake.

  “You’re trespassing on Deliverance territory,” John called out.

  The Deliverance Alpha’s presence was palpable, and several of the Hillbrooke pack cowered under the authority that wafted off of John McClintock. Adam had heard Deliverance pack had all served in the Special Forces, and the men who stood by John’s side were equally as formidable as their Alpha and yet they all followed John.

  Adam’s father stepped forward in wolf form. The air rippled and warped as he shifted into his human skin. Adam hated the man that stood before him, and his hackles rose when his father opened his mouth.

  “I mean no disrespect. I’m Bill Atwood, the Hillbrooke pack Alpha, and one of our pack members has gone missing.” His father looked pointedly at Adam. “We’ll just retrieve him and the human female and we’ll be out of your territory.”

  John contemplated Bill’s words before he turned towards Adam and raised his brows. “Do you want to return to his pack, Adam?” John asked.

  “No. Not if you aren’t going to accept Hannah as my mate,” Adam called out.

  “The human whore?” his father bit out in disgust and sniffed the air before he smiled. “It’s a good thing you haven’t fully claimed her, son. She’s poisoned you and your wolf, but I have the cure and I’m here to purge you.”

  “No!” Adam’s wolf reared up and snapped viciously in his head, and he bared his fangs at his father. His wolf clamored to get out, and he craved blood. The threat against his mate was almost too much to bear. Adam tried to rein in his wolf, but he feared the blood lust might overwhelm him. Adam was thankful when several Deliverance pack snarled and moved forward to flank him.

  “Fuck this, John. Even my wolf wants to challenge this fucker,” Tyler muttered.

  “You’re disrespecting fate, you dumb fuck,” Brandon called out.

  Out of the corner of his eye Adam watched two of Deliverance pack’s largest members discreetly move towards the cabin door, and he felt relief when Kieran and Kellan took up sentry there. Kellan must have sensed his gaze because he nodded at Adam reassuringly.

  “She doesn’t have to bear his mark to be his mate, and it sounds like you have your answer, Alpha,” John said.

  “He’s my pack member and son. He and the whore are coming with me,” Adam’s father spit out, his face and neck growing red with anger.

  Bill Atwood obviously hadn’t expected any sort of resistance from the Deliverance pack. These men had no reason to help Adam other than through their own good will, and Adam knew that concept was foreign to his father.

  “I renounce the Hillbrooke Creek pack,” Adam called out. He could hear and see the disbelief from his now former pack members. This was huge. No one left their pack of their own volition, and for the Alpha’s son to renounce his own father’s pack could only be seen as failure.

  “You—”

  John cut Bill off. “You heard him, Bill. Adam and his mate Hannah are under my protection. Now get the fuck out of Deliverance territory.”

  If looks could kill, Adam would be dead. “Don’t bother coming back for your shit, boy, because it won’t be there. You’re dead to me,” Bill Atwood called out.

  Adam glared at him before his father shifted back into his wolf and disappeared into the woods. Adam’s former pack members quickly followed, but neither Adam nor his wolf relaxed until he could no longer scent his former pack. When he turned around, Adam could see Hannah’s pale face as she peeked out through the window. One of the men opened the door, and she disappeared before she rushed out and jumped into his arms. He lifted her up and hugged her tight, bathing in her scent. John stepped up and held out his hand for Adam to shake.

  “Welcome to the pack.” John smiled warmly.

  “Really? John, I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you. All of you,” Adam said. John and the Deliverance pack had just saved their lives.

  “All I ask is that you are loyal to this pack and are a productive member.” John embraced them both.

  “I don’t make anything fancy, but I can cook.” Hannah spoke up.

  “Hallelujah!” One of the men called out.

  Another set of arms wrapped around them. “Welcome,” Kellan told them before he leaned down and sniffed Hannah. Adam couldn’t contain his wolf’s growl and had to resist the urge to pull Hannah away from them all.

  “You smell special,” he told Hannah.

  “Kieran, get over here.” Kellan called out, and his brother stepped up. “You smell that?” Kellan asked him.

  Kieran also sniffed Hannah and nodded his head. “You smell like family.,” Kieran tilted his head in confusion and furrowed his brows.

  “Oh! Thank you.” Hannah yelped and then giggled when another set of arms embraced them and then another until the entire Deliverance pack encircled them in their arms, mixing their scents and welcoming them to the pack.

  “We should probably move this inside and check their location. I don’t know your father, but that seemed way too easy,” John said, and the group broke up and milled inside. They immediately moved to check the monitors that lined one of the living room walls.

  “It was too easy. He’s not one to back down like that, especially not after I just embarrassed him in front of everyone. At the very least he’s going to want to teach me a lesson,” Adam said.

  “Well, they haven’t left our territory.” Bryce pointed to a red blot on one of the screens. “They’re here, about three miles to the east.”

  “They think they’re so slick.”

  “I don’t want anyone here to get hurt,” Adam said. These men had already done so much for them, but John shook his head.

  “Your father thinks he has an advantage because he outnumbers us.” John snorted. “But there is no way the wolves I just saw can outfight my pack. No offense to your former pack.” John cleared his throat.

  “How do you want to play this, John?” one of the pack members asked.

  “I say we go over there and just kick their asses,” another said.

  John studied Hannah and Adam thoughtfully. “Why don’t we get our newly mated couple set up in the east cabin so they can have their privacy? It’s wired just as secure as the main cabin. What do you think, Adam?”

  “Thank you, sounds good, John.” Adam understood exactly what John left unsaid.

  Chapter Eight

  Hannah opened the fridge and found bottled water and a lonely five pack of beer. She was relieved to find the freezer stocked full of TV dinners. She pulled one out and checked the expiration. Seeing it was still good, she pulled out another and prepared them for the microwave. If this was all those men were eating no wonder they were excited about real food. Hannah found a box of plastic silverware, set their food on the counter, and waited for Adam to come back inside their little cabin.

  Hannah’s mind wandered. What had Mr. Atwood had meant when he said Adam hadn’t claimed her yet? Did Adam change his mind and not want her after all? Hannah tried to push her doubts aside when Adam walked in. He smiled, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  “That smells really good actually. I’m starving.”

  “Me too. I think we have enough Salisbury steak meals to last us until the apocalypse.” She handed him a fork as he sat down next
to her.

  “Thanks, Hon,” he said before he dug into his tray and wolfed down his food.

  Hannah’s stomach flip-flopped, which just confused her even more.

  “What did your dad mean when he said you haven’t claimed me yet?”

  “You heard that?” He sighed, and Hannah’s stomach dropped.

  “You don’t want me anymore.”

  “What are you—” He caught her gaze, and she watched as his flashed yellow. “How can you still think that?”

  “What’s a claiming mark?” she countered and watched his eyes widen before he pushed the trays aside and he grabbed her arms and pulled her against him.

  He growled before his lips crashed into hers. She didn’t resist him when he lifted her up, and she was forced to wrap her legs around his waist.

  “I love you so fucking much. Don’t ever doubt that,” he implored as he lowered her onto the bed that was only steps away. “I want what we had. I want what we have now. I want all of you. I’m yours.” He pulled her dress over her head. She helped him pull off her bra and lifted her hips so he could pull off her panties. “You’re mine.” Hannah tingled all over when his heated gaze devoured her naked body. “I need to be inside of you. I won’t have you doubting me,” he declared before he pulled his t-shirt over his head with one hand and quickly unbuttoned his jeans.

  She needed that connection again, too, and she grew wet when she remembered him inside of her. Hannah’s lids drooped as he rubbed the head of his cock up and down her slick slit until he was covered with her cream. He easily slid through her folds and entered her in one measured thrust. Hannah couldn’t help but cry out at the invasion, her muscles flexing and spasming uncontrollably at the fullness. He held her still.

  “Are you okay?” His fangs hung over his bottom lip, and need coursed through her. She wanted him to bite her. His eyes flashed yellow to blue as he fought for control, which made her burn even hotter. She wanted him to lose it. She wanted all of him.

  “Yes.” She arched her back and flexed her hips. They both groaned when she moved on his cock, and he gripped her hip, holding her steady as he leaned down to suck her nipple. Pleasure built as he slowly pulled his hips away only to pound himself deep inside of her, again and again.