The Alpha King's Mate novel Chapter 20

"No. I don't," I say with blushing cheeks.

She smiles.

Vivian fills a large basket with two dresses, a shawl, a wool blanket, and a pillow stuffed with straw and hands the basket to me before I leave. I thank her and say goodbye.

Returning to the cave with the basket, I empty it. I put the straw-filled pillow and the wool blanket on my makeshift bed. The dresses and shawl are placed on a tree stump stool.

I go for a walk to think about Damon and everything Vivian said. I spot a fairy ring of tiny mushrooms, plant

my hands into the soil on either side of the fairy ring, and focus. They instantly grow to their full size.

"Yay!" I yell excitedly. I pluck them out of the soil and put

them in the wicker basket Vivian gave to me and decide

to pick some fruit, if any has grown.

Coming across a plum tree, I place my hands on the tree trunk and stare up into the branches. Plums sprout and grow to their full size. I swipe the air, making the plums fall to the ground. I fill the basket with fallen plums and return to the cave and Ember. I tell Ember about my latest abilities.

I leave the fruit basket on the tree stump table, go back outside, sit on a rock, and daydream.

Suddenly I'm yanked back by grimy, rough hands that pull me onto the ground. The man they belong to hovers over me. It's the soldier from last time who touched me in a way I didn't like.

This man is suddenly knocked off me by a werewolf, who bites into the man's throat and kills him instantly—blood splatters over me, the rock beside me, the grass, and forest detritus.

The wolf shifts. It's Damon, who covers his anatomy with two hands, not being dressed.

Alpha King Damon

Following Maia's scent, I come across a beautiful plum tree with many fresh, ripe plums on the ground deep in the forest.

I pick one up and bite into it. Its wine-coloured juice runs down my chin messily. I suddenly hear a scream and know it's Maia. I quickly undress, shift into my wolf, and run towards Maia, which leads me to a spot with a cave. A soldier I do not know hovers over my mate. I pierce the flesh of his neck with my fangs and rip a large chunk out, killing him instantly.

Maia sits up and looks at me in fear. I shift back into human form and cover myself with my hands. I slowly approach her. "Your safe now." I say gently. "I won't hurt you." I assure her. Her shaking subsides. I gently pick her up sparks form from where our skin touches. I walk over to the waterfall and step in until I am chest-deep in the water.

She stares at my chest, and my body hardens. Thank goodness she can't see her effect on me under the water. The water washes away the blood while I caress her face and stroke her hair.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" I ask her, concerned.

"No," she whimpers, washing the remainder of the blood off her face. "Have I missed any?" She asks, asking me to inspect her.