Hunted By My Fated Mate

Ryan opened his eyes, grinning as he pressed a finger to his lips.

“Shh, we’re playing hide-and-seek. No distractions.”

The sharp edge of his claws pressed lightly against my side, a silent reminder of his unpredictability.

I called out to the warrior outside the door, forcing a laugh. “Haha, haven’t seen him. What’s going on?”

“The Blue Pack just sent an urgent message. Alpha Ryan has an allergy to wolfsbane—he accidentally ingested some earlier.

“If you see him, be careful!

“When he’s under the influence, he loses his memory and becomes uncontrollably aggressive.”

As the footsteps faded down the hall, I turned back to Ryan. His ears were flushed red, and he’d already stripped off his shirt, crawling on all fours toward the bed.

“Alpha, let’s get you back to your room, okay? This isn’t your bed.”

He frowned, his eyes and nose tinged with a faint redness. Tears suddenly welled up, spilling over like a dam had broken.

“You don’t want to sleep with me?”

I kept my voice soft, coaxing. “What do I need to do to get you back, huh? Our good boy? Hmm?”

His lips twitched into a pleased smile. “One kiss for every step.”

By the time I got him back to his room, my lips were sore from all the pecks. Ryan swayed unsteadily, glancing back at me every few steps.

“Like you. Kiss.”

As he stumbled into the room, I raised my hand, aiming to knock him out before he could cause more trouble. But Ryan caught my wrist in a flash, pinning me against the wall. His eyes darkened, his chest pressed close, and his gaze bore into me.

“What are you doing?”

He’s already awake?!

My knees buckled, and I scrambled for an excuse. But Ryan’s expression softened almost immediately. He dropped to his knees on the floor, his head resting against my stomach as he nuzzled mindlessly.

“Sorry, I got scared.

“You have to hug me before I’ll get up.”

I coaxed and prodded, finally getting him onto the bed and convincing him to lie down. As a precaution, I tied his hands with a length of rope. He stayed obedient, stretching out his arms and legs, even asking if I was tired.

I chuckled, brushing my hand over his face and letting my scent calm him into a deep sleep.