He was tall, muscular, and radiated authority. His scentâearthy pine and something dark, something dangerousâwrapped around me, pulling me in.
And from the way his stormy blue eyes widened, he felt it too.
For a second, the world narrowed to just the two of us. My wolf surged forward, pushing against my control.
Mate.
His jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring as he took a step toward me. "Who are you?" His voice was deep, commanding, the voice of someone who was used to being obeyed.
I tilted my head slightly, schooling my features into careful indifference. "Rae. Just moved here."
His gaze darkened, scanning me like he was trying to figure me out. "You're a wolf."
I smirked. "Good observation."
Before he could say anything else, a sickly sweet voice cut through the air.
"Damon!"
I turned just in time to see a tall, blonde girl strut up to us. Her heels clicked against the tile, her designer outfit screaming money and entitlement. She looped her arm through Damon's possessively, shooting me a saccharine smile.
"I see you've met our new girl." She eyed me up and down like I was gum stuck to the bottom of her shoe. "I'm Vanessa. Damon's girlfriend."
Lies.
I could see it instantlyâthe flicker of irritation in Damon's eyes, the way he tensed slightly at her touch. But he didn't correct her.
Interesting.
I gave her a slow, amused smile. "Huh. That's funny."
She blinked. "What's funny?"
I shrugged. "You said you're his girlfriend. But I don't recall mates working that way."
Vanessa's face twisted, her grip on Damon tightening. "Excuse me?"
Damon exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple like he was already tired of this conversation. "Vanessaâ"
But she wasn't listening. Her gaze sharpened on me, realization dawning in her eyes. "Wait. You're his mate?" She let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Oh, this is rich."
I arched a brow. "What's so funny?"
She smirked, flipping her hair. "I mean, look at you. You really think you can handle being Luna of the Silver Ridge Pack?"
I leaned in slightly, dropping my voice to a whisper only she and Damon could hear. "Oh, sweetheart. I could do more than handle it."
Damon stiffened beside me, his wolf barely contained beneath his skin. Vanessa faltered for a split second, but then she scoffed, masking it with another sneer.
"This isn't over," she hissed before flipping her hair and storming off.
Damon exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Well, that was... something."
I chuckled. "She seems fun."
He looked at me, his gaze unreadable. "You're my mate."
I met his stare head-on. "Seems that way."
For a moment, silence stretched between us, thick with tension. His wolf was fighting himâfighting the pull toward me, the unknown. But I knew what I was. Stronger. Faster. Deadlier. He might be an alpha, but I was something more.
And he had no idea.
Not yet.