The wolf king Fated Mate

Zara's POV.

A sharp, pounding ache creaked at the back of my head as I stirred awake. My body felt strangely heavy, my limbs tangled in soft, luxurious sheets that were far too comfortable to be mine. The scent surrounding me was intoxicating... musky, and laced with something dark and deeply masculine. It sent a shiver down my spine before my eyes even fluttered open.

As soon as they did, I froze.

The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, smooth and painted a deep shade of gray. the kind of decor that screamed wealth and power. The dim morning light streamed through thick curtains. Everything was wrong. This wasn’t my bed. This wasn’t my home.

Panic shot through my veins like lightning, my heartbeat accelerated as flashes of last night slammed into me all at once. The bar. The alcohol. The strong arms catching me before I fell. The molten gold eyes that had burned through me, igniting something I had never felt before.

And then...

My heart dropped to my stomach.

I turned my head slowly, dreading what I would see.

there laid his muscular body, still deep asleep.

A scream clawed at my throat, but I swallowed it down as horror and disbelief stirred within me. My body was bare beneath the sheets, and the soreness between my thighs confirmed what my heart refused to accept.

I had slept with a stranger.

No. Not just a stranger.

My mate.

The word sent another wave of panic surging through me, making my breathing shallow. No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. I hadn’t planned for this. I hadn’t wanted this. I wasn’t supposed to find my mate.. not when I was running away, not when I had nothing to offer.

I clenched the sheets around me, squeezing my eyes shut. Think, Zara. Think.

The events of last night replayed themselves mercilessly. The moment our eyes had locked, the pull had been undeniable. Even through the haze of alcohol and heartbreak, my wolf had screamed at me... Mate!

Could he have known too?

I had felt it in the way his fingers had tightened around my wrist when I stumbled into his arms, in the way his golden eyes darkened with something deep and possessive.

I hadn’t fought it.

My body had responded before my mind could, and the moment his lips crashed against mine, I knew there was no turning back. One moment we had been in the club, the next, I had found myself pressed against soft mattress, pinned beneath his weight as his mouth claimed me.

I felt heat crawl up my neck. I couldn’t remember every detail, but I remembered enough. His hands, his lips, the way he had growled in my ears as he thrusted into me.

And now, I was waking up in his bed.

Shame burned through me like fire.

"This can’t be happening," I whispered to myself, my fingers digging into my scalp.

I couldn’t stay.

My mate.. whoever this man is. Isn't someone I could afford to be around. I didn’t know his name, didn’t know anything about him except that he was powerful. Too powerful. The way he had commanded attention... he wasn’t an ordinary wolf.

I needed to get out before he woke up.

Heart hammering, I forced myself to move, ignoring the soreness in my legs as I slipped out of bed. My dress lay discarded on the floor, wrinkled and twisted. My shoes were nearby, one lying near the foot of the bed, the other tossed halfway across the room. I cringed at the sight before gathering them quickly.

As I reached for my dress, my gaze landed on the bedside table... and on the black leather wallet sitting there.

My movements stilled, and I swallowed hard, my mind racing.

I was about to flee with nothing but the clothes on my body. No money. No food. No plan. I had only managed to escape last night with the clothes I wore. I needed something to hold onto, just in case I need a change of cloth or food, even.

A dangerous idea suddenly crept into my mind, and my pulse quickened.

It was wrong. But was it? This was survival. I was on the run, with nowhere to go. If I took just a little.. enough to get me far from here... would it really be that bad?

I hesitated for only a second before my fingers closed around the wallet. My breath hitched as I flipped it open.

Thick stacks of crisp bills greeted me. Large, significant amount.

I didn’t think twice before snatching a handful of cash, I shoved it into my dress pocket before placing the wallet back down.

Guilt clawed at my stomach, but I pushed it away. I had no choice. I would disappear after this. He would never see me again.

I tiptoed toward the door, my bare feet moving as quickly and silently as possible.

My hand was on the doorknob when a low, sleepy growl rumbled from the bed.

I froze.

My breath caught in my throat as I turned my head slightly, just enough to see him shifting in his sleep. The sheets had fallen low on his waist, revealing his sculpted torso. My heart clenched painfully.

He’s beautiful.

I sucked in a sharp breath, shaking my head. No. Don’t be weak now.

I twisted the knob and slipped out, shutting the door behind me without a sound.

The hallway was just as lavish as the bedroom, lined with expensive paintings and gleaming marble floors. I moved swiftly, searching for an exit.

A maid spotted me from the end of the corridor, her brows furrowing in confusion.

"Miss? Are you..

I bolted.

I didn’t give her a chance to finish. My feet carried me down the stairs, my heart slamming against my ribs as I burst through the front doors and into the morning light.

The cold air hit me like a slap, but I didn’t stop running.

I had no idea where I was, but one thing was certain.

I had to disappear before he found out I was gone.

And before he realized I had stolen from him.