The Alpha's Mate Who Cried Wolf novel Chapter 24

combine packs." Zenith sees my horrified expression. Colour drains from my face. 

He squints and studies me for a moment. 

"Vanessa, what's his mate's name?" He asks.

My stomach churns. I'm going to be sick. No one can help me. Jim's diner is up the road. I pull the handle on the car door, but it won't open because it's locked. Vanessa has told him my name. Zenith laughs at my struggles. I'm just a pawn in his game. I punch the windows, to no avail.

"Vanessa, she won't be a problem and won't be returning to Shadow Crest. I have her with me right now," he says, laughing.

"Oh, Astrid, the windows are bulletproof. Give it up already, honey," he says, placing his hand on my leg.

"Don't touch me!"I yell. 

"Vanessa, I need to go. Your brothers betrothed needs to be put in her place. Yes, that's right. Why? Because I said so! You'll find out in a few days," he says, ending the call.

Slumped in the seat, defeated, Zenith leaps forward, grabs me aggressively by the hair, and yanks me toward him. 

"You never told me Alpha Ryker was your mate! You'll let James mark you after your first shift. Vanessa is to be Alpha Ryker's mate," he shouts.

He releases me and shoves me back into the seat. Tears run down my face. The car stops outside the packhouse. Zenith gets out of the car and waits for me to get out. He even holds out his hand to me, which I do not want to take. 

"Don't make this difficult, Astrid! He yelled, "I will drag you out if I have to!"I ignore him. I kick and scream when he leans in and tries to grab me.

"Don't touch me! Get away from me!"James and John are standing behind him. 

"Dad! What is going on?" James asks. 

"This little whore of yours is being difficult." he says, successfully grabbing my leg and yanking me out of the car by my ankle.

I hit the ground with force, cried out, and rolled a few metres across the gravel. My arms and legs have scrapes, and my tights are laddered and torn. Zenith, John, and James stare at me with black eyes.

I discard my heels and run in my tights as fast as possible. 

"Get her boys!"Zenith yells. John and James shift and chase me in their wolf forms. I run through the trees and slip, rolling down a rocky hill.

"Astrid, I don't want to hurt you, but you will leave me no choice if you don't answer me," he snaps.

He removes his hand from my mouth. I look away. He holds my jaw in one hand, forcing me to look at him. 

"Answer me, Astrid. This is your last warning," he says. I look James dead in the eyes.    

"Alpha Ryker is my mate! And I'm the Luna of Shadow Crest! I suggest you take your hands off me before Ryker finds out where I am and rips you apart, limb by limb!"I threaten. James growls in anger. 

"You're my mate! Not his!"He says. "Why didn't the Moon Goddess bless me with a mate like you? Why did she bless Alpha Ryker with you?" He asks, frustrated. 

"Maybe because she doesn't like you!"I say, kneeing him in the crotch. He falls back in pain. I quickly wiggle myself from under him and start running again.

"Save the feistiness for the bedroom!"James yells while John chases me in his wolf form. My foot catches on something, and I fall face-first into the ground. I try to get up, but John presses his foot into my back, keeping me down. He sits on me and moves my hair away from my neck to inhale my scent. He emits a lustful growl. 

"Why should James have all the fun?" He says, rolling me onto my back and gazing into my eyes.