Forbidden Mate by Stacey Espino Read Free Book Online Page A

that they were meant to be together. So far, all he did was scare her.
    “Do you want me to pick you up?”
    “For what?”
    “Our dinner date,” he reminded. They all learned
about human culture in school when they were pups. Apparently their mating
rituals were long and drawn out, like some carefully choreographed dance. He
didn’t want to fail.
    “About that…”
    He was losing the mating game before playing. What
was he doing wrong? Did she think he was a beta male? He needed to prove
himself before he lost his chance.
    “I hope you’re not changing your mind, Helen. I’ve
been waiting a long time for you.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    Targus forced her to walk backwards, hoping a
dominant display would earn him her respect. She was small and soft with big
brown eyes. He tilted her chin up so she’d stop looking to the ground when he
spoke. “I guess you’d call it fate. Do you believe in fate?”
    “That’s the stuff in fairy tales, right? I think I
stopped believing in those when I was a girl.”
    “Why? You should never stop believing. You’d be
surprised how much remains hidden if you keep your eyes closed.”
    He snapped the end of a small branch off near her head.
She gasped, and he swore he could hear the blood rushing through her veins.
    “What do you see?”
    Her brow furrowed. “A stick?”
    “For some it could signify a weapon or shelter.
There’s more to everything. You just have to look with an open mind.”
      “Now, tell me
what you see when you look at me?”
    “A stranger.”
    He cringed, knowing it would be a challenge to court
her.   “Go on…”
    “Muscles?”
    He couldn’t help but chuckle. “I was thinking more
on the lines of protector or provider. I assure you I’m capable of both.”
    “I still think stranger’s more appropriate.”
    “That’s because we haven’t had dinner together yet.
After that, I’m sure you’ll have a change of heart.” He winked, trying to put
her nerves at ease.
    Helen looked conflicted, continually looking past
him toward the forest path one minute and outlining his body with her eyes the
next. Despite her fear and uncertainty, the faint scent of her desire wasn’t
overlooked by him. His inner wolf howled in satisfaction knowing his mate wanted
him in return. Now he just had to convince a human that life with a wolf was
better than any she could have with a weak human male. Considering he’d focused
his entire adult life on the wolven princesses, he had a lot of work on his
hands.
    A bus horn broke the quiet hush of the forest, the
irritating sound blaring on and on in the distance.
    “Oh my god, I have to go. I was supposed to be back
on board in an hour.”   She pushed past
him, fears forgotten, and began running through the woods.
    “Be back here by eight, little human,” he called
out. Targus didn’t expect her to return in the pitch black of night when even
the sunlight terrified her. He’d have to think of another strategy to get on
her good side. For the first time, he wanted a woman for love.
    ****
    Wesley and Cade followed the scent of the wolf
through the forest once the sun went down. If Marco had such ill feelings for
the queen, he’d be capable of anything. What better way to get revenge for his
mate’s death? He had to have something to do with the plot to infiltrate the palace.
It only made sense that outcast shifters living on the fringe of society would
have something to do with the threats to the palace.
    They reached the freshwater lake. He remembered
swimming in it when he was a carefree, young boy. Before he
gave up his life for the monarchy. That was a long time ago.
    “ He has to be
in there ,” said Cade. They both stood on the bank looking over the darkened
lake. The light coming from the cottage’s windows was warm and inviting,
lighting up strips across the water’s still surface.
    “ I guess so.”
    “ From how you
described him, I expected he’d be living in an abandoned bear