Hunted By My Fated Mate

To save Rocky, I ventured into the Poisoned Forest, searching for rare herbs. My knowledge of healing was limited, so I relied on the old method—tasting the plants to identify their properties. The first leaf I chewed sent a searing heat through my abdomen. Damn it, it was the mate-bond enhancing plant!

The lore said the antidote would be within three steps. I scanned the area and spotted a man lying unconscious in the undergrowth. His sharp features were striking, his black jacket contrasting against his pale skin. My instincts took over as I approached him, my body trembling with need.

But I had to be respectful. Before acting, I leaned down and asked, "Sir, can you help me neutralize this?" He didn’t respond, his eyes closed, but his silence felt like consent. I reached for the hem of his jacket, my hands trembling.

Midway, his eyes fluttered open. They were piercing, like sunlight breaking through a storm. Embarrassed, I quickly covered his eyes with a strip of fabric torn from my sleeve. "Stop," he rasped, his voice strained, his grip tightening around my waist. I whimpered, pleading, "Aren’t you supposed to help me? Isn’t this enough?"

Afterward, I barely remember how I left. My legs wobbled, and I clutched my side as I stumbled back to the packhouse with the antidote. When I gave it to Rocky, his sharp eyes immediately caught the marks on my neck. His face paled, and he turned away. "Lennox," he said, his tone sharp, "what the hell just happened?"

I stammered, "I just went to the forest to get the antidote. Got bitten by something, that’s all. Didn’t see anyone else." He glared at me, a mix of anger and embarrassment coloring his cheeks, and snapped, "Get out of here."

---

Later, I realized I was pregnant. It was from that day. When Rocky saw me wincing in discomfort, he raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong? Did you actually get hurt getting the antidote for me?"

That day, Rocky had been severely injured during a border patrol, and I’d risked everything to find the rare herbs in the Poisoned Forest. My lack of training left me with no choice but to test the plants myself. The first leaf I tasted sent a fire through my body. Damn it, it was the mate-bond enhancing plant! The old texts said the antidote would be within three steps.

I looked around and spotted a man lying in the brush. His features were striking, his black jacket stark against his pale skin. My instincts took over as I approached him, my body trembling with need. But I had to be respectful. Before acting, I leaned down and asked, "Sir, can you help me neutralize this?" He didn’t respond, his eyes closed, but his silence felt like consent. I reached for the hem of his jacket, my hands trembling.

Midway, his eyes fluttered open. They were piercing, like sunlight breaking through a storm. Embarrassed, I quickly covered his eyes with a strip of fabric torn from my sleeve. "Stop," he rasped, his voice strained, his grip tightening around my waist. I whimpered, pleading, "Aren’t you supposed to help me? Isn’t this enough?"

Afterward, I barely remember how I left. My legs wobbled, and I clutched my side as I stumbled back to the packhouse with the antidote. When I gave it to Rocky, his sharp eyes immediately caught the marks on my neck. His face paled, and he turned away. "Lennox," he said, his tone sharp, "what the hell just happened?"

I stammered, "I just went to the forest to get the antidote. Got bitten by something, that’s all. Didn’t see anyone else." He glared at me, a mix of anger and embarrassment coloring his cheeks, and snapped, "Get out of here."

---

I sat in my room later, my hands trembling as I realized the truth. The heat in my abdomen hadn’t just been from the plant—it was a life growing inside me. My wolf stirred uneasily, a low whine echoing in my mind. What have I done?

Rocky’s words from earlier echoed in my head. "Whoever dared touch the Alpha King is as good as dead. If I find out who it was, they’re finished." He’d turned to me, his sharp eyes narrowing. "It’s not you, right? Someone like you wouldn’t even cross his path." I’d forced a smile, my heart pounding. "Of course not. I wouldn’t dare."

No clues, but I had a secret now—one that could destroy everything.