The Alpha King's Mate novel Chapter 16

"Where do you live?" He asks.

I don't know if I should answer or not.

"Where am I?" I instead ask.

"Near Thornwell," he says, smiling.

"Thornwell. I've never heard of it before," I say.

"You'll love Thornwell. It's a beautiful village. Everyone will be so excited to meet you," he says, grinning.

"It would be nice to meet your friends, but I need to go home."

I stand and look around, trying to figure out the way home to the cave, and decide if I follow the river in the opposite direction, it washed me in, I should find my way home.

"Thank you for helping me. It was a pleasure meeting you. We might cross paths again," I say. Damon takes my hand, igniting fuzzy warm sparks throughout my whole body when his skin touches mine.

"Maia, your home is with me now," he says. "We'll visit your old home soon," he adds sincerely. I step backward, taken aback by his words.

"I can't live with you. I don't even know you," I say, taking more steps backward, away from him. He quickly and gently takes my hand and puts it on his chest.

"You feel it too," he says, and I feel his heart beating under my hand. Warm, crackling electricity consumes me, and I wonder if he refers to his heart or the bursts of tingles and sparks.

"Your heart?" I wonder.

"No, this," he says, cupping my cheek with his hand. I instantly swoon and feel lightheaded. What is this feeling

"The Moon Goddess has chosen you as my mate," he says assuredly. I freeze. Mate? Only werewolves have mates.

My heart racing, I ponder this could not be true, that Damon could not be a... werewolf!

Alpha King Damon

Maia wilts like flower petals under my touch when I put my hand on her face but stiffens when I mention the word mate.

"My kingdom has been waiting a very long time for their Luna and their Queen," I say. Her breathing is heavy, and she is starting to panic.

She is my mate. She should be just as excited as I am. I'm struggling to restrain my wolf, and here she is, reacting unexpectedly to our connection.

I tilt her head up with my hand under her chin, forcing her to look at me. Her mesmerising violet eyes stare into my wolf eyes, and I register her fear. She screams, then runs. Forest detritus, dirt, leaves, and twigs swirl around her as she runs, and I'm knocked backward by a strong gust of wind.

I am in disbelief and awe, wondering how she could do that with the wind.