The Sigma's Reluctant Mate novel Chapter 4

I look around, confused. Panic is building in my chest. People around us are finding their mates, smiling and laughing, but something seems off. The guys close to us put their noses in the air, then look toward Liam and I. There is an odd look on everyone’s faces as they hone in on me.

“Mate,” Mark says from next to me. I turn and look at him, confused. He is looking at me with a mix of desire, anger, and confusion at his confession.

“Mark, what are you talking about, babe? You’re my mate. Not Zara’s,” Sylvie tries to get his attention off of me, but he is staring me down, making me feel very self-conscious. I try to hide myself behind Liam.

Next to Mark, several other guys look at us the same way.

“Mate,” they murmur when they see me. All of them. The meadow grows quiet except for the sound of the male werewolves calling me their mate. I look beyond Liam and see that even Alpha Williams is calling me his mate.

I shake my head, “No. What’s wrong with all of you?”

Sylvie is trying to pull Mark back to her, but he pushes her off and steps forward. She immediately looks irritated at his actions. When she realizes he is coming after me, she redirects her glare to me.

“Liam?” My breath gets heavy as the entire crowd around us turns their attention toward me. When he puts his arm around me protectively, it feels like his skin is ice. I shrink back and realize it’s not him that’s cold. I’m so hot that my skin is turning red like I have sunburn.

“Hand her over, Liam,” Mark says to his best friend with a snarl.

“Who the Hell do you think you are, Mark?” Another guy growls, shoving Mark roughly, “She’s mine. I’m going to mate with her.”

Liam seems to forget that I’m there and steps between the two, still clamping down on my hand.

Soon, all the male wolves are arguing and shoving each other. Some even have their claws and fangs extended. Alpha Williams is pushing his way through the crowd. His eyes are black, but I can see he is trying to get to me.

The noise from the crowd becomes more intense as the guys feud over who is going to mate with me. I look around frantically, trying to find someone to help me, when my arm gets yanked hard and someone drags me away from Liam.

“Zara, what the fuck did you do?” Sylvie snarls in my face. Her eyes are solid black and her claws are digging into the inside of my arm. I’ve never seen her look so irate. Especially not directed at me. “Why are you trying to take our mates away from us?”

“Sylvie, no. I- I don’t know what’s happening…” Tears are blinding my vision. “I’m not trying-”

Before I can finish, someone grabs my hair from behind and throws me to the ground. I look up and try to call for Liam, but he’s fighting his friends who all want to mate with me.

“Run, Zara. You need to run!” Lavender’s voice echoes in my mind.

“I can’t!” I cry, trying to crawl across the ground to get out from under everyone’s feet, but they are kicking and stepping on me.

Sylvie and a couple of other girls lift me up by my armpits, yelling and burying their claws into my skin. One girl punches me in the face, making the metallic taste of blood fill my mouth while the others claw at my dress, leaving deep scratches on my skin. There’s a hard yank and my new necklace falls away from my neck.

“LIAM! HELP ME!” I yell over the crowd.