Their Mate (Alphas of Ireland #2)

Prologue

London, England

Logan Yorke

“Help!”

The scream shattered the silence of the woods like a gunshot.

One second, I’d been stalking quietly through the woods hunting rabbits, lost in the rhythm of my own breathing and the soft crunch of damp leaves beneath my boots.

Now, I stood frozen, my grip tightening on the bow in my hand as I listened for the scream to come again.

It did.

Another cry, this time higher and more desperate, rang out from deeper in the trees.

“Help! Please!”

I broke into a dead run, plunging headlong through dense underbrush, heedless of the branches clawing at my face and arms. Each ragged breath matched the pounding rhythm of my feet, my pulse a frantic drumbeat in my ears.

I burst into a clearing, and the sight before my eyes nearly made me falter. Pressed against the thick trunk of an ancient oak stood a girl, no older than eight or nine, terror etched vividly across her tear-streaked face.

Right in front of her was a wolf.

Not just a regular run of the mill wolf, not that those even existed in England. No. This was a different creature altogether. It was much bigger. Far stronger. More powerful.

This was a wolf shifter.

“Hey!” I shouted, stepping boldly into the open space, aiming my bow to distract the monster. Its yellow eyes snapped toward me, wild and ravenous. “Eyes on me, ugly. Leave the kid out of this.”

The wolf crouched, muscles rippling beneath mangled fur, and lunged without hesitation.

I released the arrow. It sliced through the air, but the beast twisted out of range, impossibly quick.

The projectile grazed its shoulder instead of lodging deep.

A roar of fury erupted from the creature as it closed the gap between us, its massive paws hitting me square in the chest. The impact was like being hit by a truck, driving the air from my lungs as we crashed to the ground.

Rolling, clawing, fighting, I struggled under the beast’s immense weight, its rancid breath hot on my face, jaws snapping inches from my throat. My fingers scrambled for the knife at my belt. Ripping it free, I plunged it deep into the creature’s side, feeling flesh tear and hot blood spray.

“Run!” I barked at the girl. “Get out of here! Now!”

I shoved the creature away, staggering to my feet even as pain lanced through my ribs, but it was already turning back toward me, snarling with renewed fury.

I hadn’t really hurt it, not even in the slightest.

I’d just made it angry.

I braced myself, knife held tight, eyes locked with the monster’s gleaming yellow gaze as it charged again.

“You want a fight?” I growled, fingers tightening on the handle of my knife. “Come pick on someone your own size, asshole.”

The beast lunged.

Time slowed. My heart thudded in my ears as my body moved on pure instinct. I dove sideways, feeling the hot whisper of the beast’s jaws snapping inches from my throat. I landed hard, rolling to my feet in one smooth motion and pivoting to face the creature as it spun to charge again.

I didn’t have time to think. The beast launched itself at me, a blur of fangs and muscle.

I ducked low, driving the knife upward with all my strength.

My blade scraped its ribs, biting deep into muscle and sinew.

The shifter howled, a sound that shook the trees, yet the pain seemed only to enrage it further.

Before I could recover, a massive paw slammed into my side, knocking the air from my lungs and sending me sprawling into the dirt.

My body hit the earth hard, agonizing pain jolting through me as my ribs protested sharply.

I rolled onto my side, gasping as I scrambled to push myself up.

Blood streaked my hands, slicking the grip on my knife as the creature circled me, its glowing yellow eyes locked on mine.

“Come on then!” I shouted, fighting through the burning in my chest. “Is that all you’ve got?”

The beast snarled in response, lips curling back to reveal teeth long enough to rip a man’s throat clean out. For a heartbeat, we stared each other down, predator and prey. Then it sprang at me again, a force of pure fury.

I dodged, barely, feeling the wind as its massive body whipped past me. Whirling, I lashed out with the knife again, slashing deep into its shoulder. Hot blood gushed wet across my face, dripping into my eyes, but still the creature showed no signs of slowing down.

It spun quicker than should have been possible, claws raking across my chest, slicing open my shirt and tearing deep grooves in my skin. Pain exploded through my nerves, so vivid it stole my breath away, but there was no time to feel it. At least not now, not with death circling mere inches away.

The wolf lunged, its teeth bared, aiming straight for my throat.

I moved on pure adrenaline, grabbing its thick fur in my fist and using its own momentum against it to drive the blade deep into the side of its neck. It roared, thrashing violently, but I held on, blade buried to the hilt, blood spurting over my hand, dark and slick.

The creature twisted one last time, jaws wide, and sank its teeth deep into my shoulder.

A hoarse shriek ripped from me. My vision blurred, and my body screamed, every inch aflame with pain.

For a moment, we remained locked in a violent, bloody embrace—hunter and prey, both unwilling to yield, until the wolf shuddered one last time and slumped heavily to the ground.

The clearing fell silent, save for the pounding of my heart and my own ragged breaths.

I lay sprawled next to the beast, blood mingling in a shared crimson pool beneath us.

My shoulder burned where its fangs had pierced my skin, the sensation radiating through my chest and down my arm like liquid fire.

Somewhere nearby, a soft whimper broke the silence.

With the last strength I had, I pushed myself upright, dragging my battered body toward the little girl. She stared at me wide-eyed, terrified but unharmed, clutching the oak tree behind her for support.

“Are you hurt?” I managed, my voice hoarse.

She shook her head quickly, her eyes darting to the fallen beast behind me. “Is—is it dead?”

I nodded, pain radiating from my shoulder and ribs as I forced a weak smile. “It won’t hurt you. I promise.”

I glanced quickly down at my shoulder, the blood oozing from the deep punctures left by the beast’s fangs. Panic surged through me, and I clenched my jaw tight against the sudden flood of dread.

The bite.

I knew what it meant, but right now, I couldn’t afford to let the little girl see. With a grimace, I yanked up the shredded remains of my shirt, pulling it tight around my wounded shoulder and ignoring the deep, throbbing pain that pulsed beneath the makeshift bandage.

“You’re alright now,” I told her gently, forcing a steadiness into my voice I didn’t feel. “What’s your name?”

She kept staring and trembling, still clutching the oak tree as if she feared to let go.

“C-Claire,” she whispered. “My name is Claire.”

“Okay, Claire,” I said softly, crouching down so I was at eye level with her. I forced a reassuring smile, even though the effort made my ribs ache. “I’m Logan. I’m gonna get you back home. But I need you to be brave and do exactly what I say. Can you do that for me?”

She hesitated for just a heartbeat before nodding, her little face solemn. “I-I’ll try.”

“That’s all I need.” I offered her my good hand, and after another moment’s hesitation, she slipped her tiny, trembling fingers into mine.

The walk back to London was slow and agonizing, every step sending fresh waves of torment through my battered body. I couldn’t stop though. I wouldn’t. Not until she was safe.

By the time the walls of London loomed into view, my body felt like it had been torn apart and put back together again. Sweat soaked my skin, mingling with dirt and blood, but I clenched my jaw and kept moving, focusing on the gates and on getting Claire safely home.

When we finally reached the gates, a handful of guards rushed forward, their faces etched with surprise and concern.

“What happened here?” one demanded, taking in my torn clothing and bloodied body, his eyes lingering on the improvised bandage on my shoulder.

“Wolf attack,” I said simply, my voice tight. “Claire was in the woods. She’s unharmed, but she needs to get back inside.”

The guard nodded, reaching down to help Claire, guiding her gently toward the gates. She hesitated, glancing back at me over her shoulder.

“What about you?” she asked softly, her voice wavering.

I forced another reassuring smile. “I’ve got some hunting left to do,” I lied smoothly, even as I felt my pulse quicken. “I’ll be back soon enough.”

Claire’s eyes widened, uncertainty flickering there, but she nodded and allowed herself to be led back into the city.

I stood there, rooted in place as the gates slowly swung shut.

Only then did I let the facade crumble. Pain and exhaustion swept through me, mixing with the dread that coiled deep in my gut.

I slowly turned away from the city gates and began walking back toward the woods, each step an impossible effort.

I glanced down at the bite, now searing with a strange heat I knew wasn’t natural. A chill ran down my spine, and I swallowed hard, trying to fight down the sickening certainty building within me.

Soon, I’d become one of them.

I’d become a wolf.