Chapter 1

NADIA.

I reveled in the feeling of the fresh air on my skin and the wind blowing through my hair as I sped up
the motorcycle that I was riding through the forest line.

A few more hours and I would be a free woman.

My name is Nadia Morrison. I am a shifter. At least that I know.

All the other things about me or my real family, I had no idea.

I’ve heard things about my father, but I didn’t bother to find out more. It was enough to know that he
didn’t want me and had abandoned my mother while she was pregnant. And the man who took care of
me when my mother died after giving birth left me in the hands of the couple who were known to me as
my uncle and aunt.

My aunt said she’s my mother’s sister. But it didn’t feel like that.

I was five years old when they took me in. And from then on, they groomed me so that one day, they
could make money out of me. But I would never allow them to do that.

I jumped off the motorcycle as soon as I stopped the engine and parked it nicely, hidden behind the
high bushes.

This was the place I told Tyson, one of my friends, to pick up the bike tomorrow so he could return it to
Katarina, our Alpha’s sister and one of my best friends.

From here, I needed to walk for approximately five hours within the neutral forest before I reached a
road where I could hitch with someone who could take me to the city.



And from there, I would take the train and leave this place to start a new life within the human territory.

I’ve been planning this since I turned eighteen, but I never had the courage to do so. But with my
impending marriage to a man thirty years my senior by the next full moon, I couldn’t delay this any
longer.

I needed to get away from here.

I let out a deep sigh and slung my backpack over my shoulders before I began my journey, threading
the ground not usually used for walking. I did my own research for months and found this way that I
could use where I would be most unlikely to be seen.

I have to go unnoticed. And if I make it out of the neutral city, it would be easier to transfer from city to
city and find a place I would like.

I knew I didn’t have so much money with me, just enough for me to survive for a month or two, but I
knew how to work. And Katarina helped me with my fake credentials so I could apply for work under a
different name.

My wolf, Arrow, wasn’t happy with my decision to live with humans, but she didn’t stop me. Being with
humans was way better than being married to an old man who smelled of strong tobacco and alcohol.

He had been eyeing me since I was seventeen, and after four years of negotiating for the right amount
to buy me, my greedy uncle decided I was only worth $50,000 and sold me to him.

But I knew my worth. I am worth more than $50,000. And besides, I didn’t want my life wasted being
used for pleasure by some old, dirty pervert.

I had to get away from here.



The full moon was already at its peak, and with my aunt going in heat, she and my uncle would be busy
fucking each other, and they would never even realize I was still out. And hopefully, by the time they
noticed I wasn’t home, I would be long gone from here.

I stopped and leaned my back on the big tree. I knew there was a small cave somewhere, and I could
take a rest there for a few minutes before I continued. I didn’t want to summon Arrow yet. I would let
her out when my feet could no longer carry me, so I just let her rest in the back of my mind, not letting
her share her energy with me.

I was ready to start walking again when I heard twigs snapping and dry leaves rustling as big paws
padded the earth. The sound was getting nearer as my heart pounded in my chest.

Did somebody find out I was away and was looking for me? Or did a rogue smell me?

I got up on my feet and started running, not looking back. I prepared Arrow to shift as soon as I gave
her full control, but for now, I kept running, trying to focus on where I should be heading.

My heart constricted as the sound of paws thudding on the ground became louder. I could feel the color
draining out of my face. Whoever was behind me was certainly running after me.

Please, please don’t be a rogue.

I sprang faster, my hands coiling into tight fists as I tried to sniff the air, looking for a hint of the wolf
running after me. I knew it was impossible to catch a smell since I was ahead of him and the wind was
blowing in the opposite direction.

But then the smell hit me.

Instead of the rotten, disgusting smell that I was expecting, my nose was hit by the most delicious scent
I had ever scented.



A musky forest scent mixed with mint and coffee. Intoxicating. Mouthwatering. Exhilarating.

I came to a complete halt from running. My lashes fluttered before my eyes closed as I reveled in the
scent swirling around me, putting me in a complete daze, only to be jolted back into reality when a loud
growl ripped through the thin air.

My eyes snapped open as I slowly turned around, ready to meet the owner of the intoxicating scent,
only to be met by the deep dark black eyes of a big wolf glaring down at me.

Definitely not a rogue.

He was too beautiful, and his aura was strong. Too strong.

My eyes softened as I looked at him, and I could feel my core starting to throb.

But then the wolf snarled, baring its fangs at me.

My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped open as fear coursed through my whole body at the way he
was staring at me.

Was he mad at me? What did I do wrong?

I inched backward, only for my foot to be caught in a protruding root, making me fall on my ass.

The wolf lowered his head, his eyes still glowing and glaring, his fangs still out for me to see.

I didn’t have time to think. I scrambled on my ass and launched onto my feet before I started running
away.

I knew I would never be able to get away from him, but I didn’t want to stay there either.



So I ran, and I was not even a meter away when I felt pain rush from my hipbone before I felt his fangs
digging deeper into my skin.

“Aaahhhhh!” A piercing scream escaped my throat as I tumbled and fell face flat on the ground. The big
black wolf was still behind me, his fangs piercing through my skin.

“Please, stop…” I begged, my eyes closing, trying to control the excruciating pain coursing through my
body.

Why was he doing this? He was supposed to take care of me and not kill me?

I didn’t want to die yet.

Tears started to stream down my face as soft sobs escaped my throat. The pain was too much to bear,
it was paralyzing all my senses.

“Fuck!” A loud, deep voice came from behind me, and for a moment I forgot the pain I was feeling.

Curiosity got the best of me as I tried to tilt my head to see him, but he was on the other side. And I
couldn’t move.

Was he the wolf? Did he shift to his human?

Goddess, his voice was so sexy! Or was I dying and hallucinating?

“Don’t move. I need to heal you.”

I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but his voice was so deep and sexy that despite the pain in
my back, I felt tingles spreading in between my thighs, and my desire to have at least a glance at him
was growing.



And before I realized what was happening, sparks ran through my whole body as something wet came
into contact with my hip bone.

“What… are you… doing?” I gasped for air before a wanton moan escaped my lips, and I felt a gush of
wetness sipping through my underwear.

“Goddess!” I cried in pleasure as his tongue continued to lap and suck my hipbone. Was he licking the
area where his wolf bit me?

My senses were starting to cloud as I let myself get lost in the ecstasy of what he was doing. Pleasure
and sparks were everywhere.

And then I felt my body being hoisted up and flipped over gently, and by the time I opened my eyes, I
was already seated on someone’s lap, straddling him.

My hands flew to his naked chest as my eyes caught sight of a hard dick pointing upward in my
direction. Shit!

I closed my eyes and tried to control myself, but my stupid heart and my throbbing core were making it
hard.

I slowly opened my eyes and tilted my head up to meet the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen.

And everything happened at once. I felt a mate bond snap into place and everything else around us
vanished.

It was just me and him. And as crazy as it sounds, for the first time, I felt complete.

“Mate…” His deep baritone voice was so calming. And too sexy.

I could tell that he was trying to read me. And I wish he would smile.



But his face was showing no emotions, although his hands on my back, under my shirt, were saying
otherwise as he gently ran his hard, callous palms down my skin.

A slow smile crept into my lips, my head tilting backward as I reveled in the sensual way he was
caressing my back.

“Mate…” I whimpered back, closing my eyes as the pleasure of sparks ran everywhere in my body,
centering in my core.


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