Adrian's POV
I shook my head, pushing the questions aside. Right now, I had more pressing concerns.
I looked down at her injured leg and cursed again. The bear trap had done serious damage, and she was still losing blood. If I didn't do something fast, she could bleed to death.
Working quickly, I pried the metal teeth apart and carefully pulled her leg out from the trap. She whimpered in her unconscious state, and the sound made something twist uncomfortably in my chest.
Blake stirred restlessly, wanting to comfort her, but I kept him firmly suppressed. I tore a strip of fabric from her dress—trying not to notice how the action revealed even more of her pale skin—and wrapped it tightly around her wound.
It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do until I could get her proper medical attention. Then I slipped my arms beneath her and lifted her against my chest.
She weighed nothing. Literally nothing.
Were women usually this delicate? This fragile? I found myself holding her more carefully than I would have held priceless crystal, afraid that if I gripped too tightly, she might break.
Her scent hit me with full force as I adjusted her in my arms. I had to resist the urge to bury my face in her hair. She smelled so good—like cherries and vanilla and something that was purely feminine.
It was intoxicating, addictive, and it made Blake pace restlessly in my mind.
Home, Blake urged. Take mate home. Keep her safe.
For once, I agreed with him.
I began the journey back to the pack house, moving carefully through the forest to avoid jostling her injured leg. She remained unconscious throughout the trek, her head resting against my shoulder, her warm breath tickling my bare chest.
With each step, more questions plagued my mind. Who was she? Why was her dress torn? Why had she run from me? And most importantly, what was I going to do with her now?
The logical part of my brain—the part that had kept me alive and in power for years—told me to be careful. Because I wasn't someone who deserved to have a mate.
But Blake didn't give a damn about logic or caution. All he cared about was the woman in my arms, the mate the Moon Goddess had finally given us after years of guilt and loneliness.
Mine, he whispered again, and this time, I didn't have the strength to argue.
Because looking down at her peaceful face, feeling her soft body pressed against mine, breathing in her addictive scent—I was starting to think he might be right.
She was mine. The question was: what the hell was I going to do about it?
The sounds of the gala drifted through the night air as I approached the Moonveil Pack territory. The annual celebration was still in full swing, completely oblivious to the chaos that had just unfolded in the forest.
I sneered as I walked through the same hidden path she'd used to escape. Not a single guard in sight. How the hell had Alpha Daniel let his pack's security get this sloppy?
Any rogue could waltz right through here, and apparently, any stupid woman could use it as an escape route, too. The woman in my arms stirred slightly, and I looked down at her unconscious face.
So reckless....
She'd nearly gotten herself killed because she was too panicked to think straight. If I hadn't followed her scent... I shook my head. I would definitely be having words with Alpha Daniel about tightening up his borders.
As I was making my way toward the Alpha's house, suddenly I heard rapid footsteps approaching. I recognized the scent immediately—Sebastian, my younger brother and the current Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack.
"Big brother, where were you? I've been looking for you all around—wait..." Sebastian paused abruptly, his eyes widening as he took in the scene. "What's that? A woman?"
I kept walking, not bothering to respond.
Sebastian jogged to catch up. He glanced at the woman in my arms, and a shit-eating grin spread across his face. "Woo-hoo! My brother's finally holding a woman? And here I thought you'd taken a vow of celibacy. Did you finally decide to stop being a monk and grab yourself a party favor?"
I shot him a death glare.
Sebastian's grin faltered slightly, but then he gave me a look. "Come on, big brother. You can't blame me for being shocked. You haven't so much as looked at a woman since—"
"Finish that sentence and I'll rip your throat out," I warned coldly.
Sebastian wisely shut his mouth, guilt flashing through his eyes. Before he could apologize, I cut him off. "It's fine." He nodded slowly and shifted his gaze back to the woman in my arms, studying her more carefully.
Suddenly, his nose twitched, and his eyes widened in horror when he noticed the blood on her leg. "What happened?" he asked, his voice turning serious.
"Rogue attack," I replied curtly, not slowing my pace toward the house.
"Oh shit! A rogue got into the gala?"
"No, she ran away after seeing me," I said, pushing through the pack house doors.
Sebastian paused for a moment before bursting out laughing behind me. "So, let me get this straight—she saw you and thought, 'Nah, I'll rather take my chances with rabid animals'? Your charm is really something else, big brother."
I kicked open the first door I came to while ignoring his commentary. The room was decent enough, with a large bed and clean sheets. I laid her down carefully, making sure not to jostle her injured leg.
"What are you staring at me for, stupid?" I grumbled at Sebastian, who was hovering in the doorway like an idiot. "Go get Alpha Daniel and the pack doctor. Now."
Sebastian nodded and took off. I turned back to the woman on the bed, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. Her skin was soft and warm beneath my fingertips, and I found myself caressing her cheek without thinking.
MATE HER. MARK HER. DO IT NOW.
Blake's voice exploded in my head like a cannon, and I pulled my hand back.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," I muttered. "Would you give it a rest? She's half-dead, and you want romance? I may be a bastard, but I'm not a complete psychopath. Even creeps have more class than you."
Blake whined, but thankfully shut up.
I looked down at the girl, my eyes falling on her torn dress that was barely clinging to her body. The fabric was shredded in multiple places, leaving far too much skin exposed.
The thought of other men seeing her like this made something dark and possessive rise in my chest.
Before I could think too hard, my body moved on its own. I quickly checked her over for other injuries. Thankfully, aside from the head wound and her leg, she seemed to be okay. No broken bones, no other cuts or bruises that I could see.
I pulled the blanket up to her chin, making sure she was completely covered. The last thing I needed was a bunch of horny wolves getting an eyeful of my...
My what? My mate? The woman who had run from me like I was the devil himself?