The Scarred Mate

His Hold

Ansel stepped out from behind a tree, the sunlight catching his hair and shoulders, gilding him in gold. The sight of him stole my breath, my stomach lurching with an ache I could not ignore. His eyes locked on mine, steady, certain.

Nelson bristled instantly. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Ansel’s voice was calm, confident. “I would like to speak to my mate alone.”

Nelson barked a laugh. “She is not…”

“Lupa,” Ansel interrupted, his eyes never leaving mine, ignoring Nelson as if he were air.

“Lupa, you cannot be serious,” Nelson snapped.

“Be nice,” I said quickly, trying to steady the situation. “He only wants to talk.”

Nelson’s voice sharpened, but I raised mine louder. “It is my choice!” I stood straighter, forcing the words out.

Nelson shifted, stepping in front of me as if to block Ansel.

“Careful, Nelson,” Ansel warned, his tone even but edged. “Be very careful how you proceed next.”

“f**k you!” Nelson growled.

Ansel’s gaze hardened, but his voice remained smooth. “You are still standing only because you are my mate’s friend. And I will not hurt her by hurting you.”

My wolf stirred again. “Go to him.”

This time I did not argue. I obeyed.

I stepped toward Ansel, my hand brushing his as if guided by instinct. Nelson did not move, but his growl rumbled low in his throat as his eyes bore into me. I kept walking, my chest tight, until Ansel’s steady presence was at my side.

Under Nelson’s glare, I let Ansel lead me away.

We walked along the stream, water hurrying over stones, the sound steady and small. Sun filtered through the trees and warmed the path. Ansel kept his hands in his pockets and walked close enough that I could feel the heat from his body.

“I know this is hard for you,” he said without looking at me.

“Really?” I snapped. “What gave you that idea?”

He smiled, not annoyed. “You kind of turned my world upside down. I came out to help with a pack matter and I found you. It was a surprise.” He stopped and faced me. “I know I’m a complete stranger.”

I let that sit in my head. Stranger. Sexy stranger, I thought, and then pushed the thought away. Sexy strangers were not mine to have.

“Give me a chance to get to know you,” he said. His voice was steady. “Just give me today. Let me see your land.”

I nodded when he asked if I’d give him a tour of the land. His shoulders eased as if he’d been holding his breath.

“This place is… quaint,” he said after a while of touring, eyes tracing the trees and the stream like he was memorizing them.

“Quaint?” I raised a brow. “And how is your land, then?”

He smiled. “More city-like. Bigger, louder. Structured.”

I shrugged. “We’re a little rustic here.”

“I like it,” he said. “It’s a nice change. I’d love for my mate to see my land one day.”

My stomach knotted. As much as I wanted to accept it, I couldn’t. I went stiff without meaning to, and he must have noticed because he sighed.

“Sorry,” he murmured. “It just feels natural to call you that.”

He placed his hand on my lower back, steady but gentle, guiding me around a fallen branch. The contact burned through me, but not in a way that hurt. He’s considerate. Even sensitive, I thought, fighting the warmth spreading through me.

“So,” I said quickly, needing to shift the subject. “Your wolf. What’s his name?”

“Saul,” he said. “My mother, God rest her soul, prayed earnestly for me before I was born. The name means ‘prayed for.’ So it felt right.”

I glanced at him. “So your mother has passed on?”

He dipped his head. No words came, but the silence said enough. Pain rolled off him, quiet but sharp, and I felt it in my chest.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I whispered.

“I was only one year old,” he said softly. “But thank you.”

Silence followed as we walked, the air between us alive with unspoken words. When we reached the little bridge, we saw it swallowed beneath rushing water.

“The recent rains have caused some havoc, I see,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the stream.

“A little water never hurt anyone.” I stepped forward bravely, but the current betrayed my footing. The world tilted, and in the next instant, I was swept into Ansel’s arms.

I squealed, but the sound faded when his warmth pressed against me. His scent, pine and musk, grounding and fierce, filled my lungs, sparking a wild rush through my veins. His eyes locked on mine, sharp and intent, as though nothing else existed.

“No need to get soaking wet, little dove,” he murmured, voice low and raspy. My wolf whined deep inside me, a sound of recognition and want.

My arms curled instinctively around his neck. The closeness should have startled me, but instead it felt inevitable. It felt like ome.

“You know I can walk through this, right?” I whispered.

A flicker of a smile touched his lips. “I know. But I’ve wanted to feel you in my arms since the moment we met.”

My heart stumbled. So have I. I didn’t say it aloud.

“Why resist this?” His words wrapped around me. “Mates are destined. Surely you realize that?”

My throat tightened. “I do,” I admitted softly, “and it hurts badly.”

The truth trembled on my lips, but I pushed it away. “I am only just eighteen. I have so much to see in the world first.” A lie. One I hated.

Ansel’s eyes softened, though they did not release me. “Then we will see the world together, as it should be.” His lips hovered inches from mine, the air between us thick with longing. “I long to kiss you, little dove. And someday you will allow it. Perhaps even wish for it.”

I nearly begged for it now.

When we finally reached the far bank, he did not set me down immediately. Instead, his gaze searched mine as though claiming my soul. “You’re mine.”

The words branded me.

Only when my feet touched the earth again did I stumble back, overwhelmed by the force of him.

“Please,” I managed, breathing unevenly. “I need to go. The campfire… I should get ready.”

“See you there, little dove. And thank you for the tour.”

I ran home, the memory of his scent and the weight of his arms haunting every step.

*****

At home, I sprawled across my bed, trying to force the memory of Ansel from my mind, but it clung to me stubbornly. My skin still hummed from his touch, my chest tightening every time I closed my eyes and saw the way he looked at me.

The door banged open and Clara burst inside, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Ansel is the talk of the pack! Every girl wants him.”

At her words, my wolf growled inside me, sharp and possessive. Clara’s grin widened. “Oh, look at you. Getting protective, are we?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I glanced down at the plain clothes I wore, suddenly aware of how unimpressive I looked. Clara groaned and flopped onto my bed. “Girl, that will not do. On the sexy scale, it’s a solid two.”

“A two?” I repeated, disbelieving.

“Exactly,” she said firmly. “If you want to knock Ansel right out of his boots, we need something better.”

Despite myself, my pulse jumped. I knew I should stay away from him, but the thrill of possibly seeing him again was stronger than my will. Together, Clara and I tore through my wardrobe until she held up an outfit that made my heart beat.

By the time we reached the campsite, the fire roared high, sparks floating into the night sky. Laughter and playful voices filled the air, girls crowding around Ansel as if he were the only flame worth circling. Yet the moment I stepped into view, his eyes found me. They lit as if dawn had broken across his face.

My wolf purred at the sight.

Clara leaned close, smirking knowingly. “Told you. And I’ve got a brilliant idea. Want your first kiss tonight? Spin the bottle.”

A group had already gathered in a circle, the bottle gleaming in the firelight. My heart hammered as I sank onto the ground with them, though my gaze never left Ansel.

“You’re up, Lupa!” someone shouted.

With trembling hands, I spun the bottle. I prayed it wouldn’t land on him. I also prayed it would not. The world seemed to hold its breath as the bottle slowed, then stilled. The neck pointed squarely between Nelson and Ansel.

Both of them stared at me, eyes burning with unspoken hunger.

Clara’s voice rose above the laughter, teasing and merciless. “Well, Lupa… who’s it gonna be?”