Aria's POV
A branch whipped across my face so hard that I stumbled and almost fell.
"Ow!" I whispered, touching my face where the branch had cut me. Blood came away on my fingers.
But I couldn't stop running. The unseen rope in my chest was pulling me forward like a magnet. My mate was somewhere ahead, and every step I took made the warm feeling stronger.
The forest was dark and scary. Strange sounds came from the shadows - owls hooting, leaves moving, twigs snapping under my feet. I had never been this deep in the woods before. Sarah never let me leave the cabin area.
What if I got lost? What if wild animals found me? What if my mate didn't want me?
Stop it, I told myself. Don't think about that now.
I pushed through a thick bunch of bushes and kept going. The pulling feeling was so strong now that I could barely think about anything else. It was like my heart was connected to a string, and someone was gently tugging me forward.
My feet hurt from walking on rocks and thorns. My clothes were torn from catching on trees. But I didn't care. For the first time in ten years, I had hope.
Maybe, just maybe, someone would finally want me.
The trees started getting thinner, and I could see light ahead. I walked faster, excitement growing in my chest. The warm feeling was practically buzzing now, like energy under my skin.
I reached the edge of the forest and stopped dead.
In front of me was the biggest, most beautiful place I had ever seen. Rolling green hills stretched out like a carpet. Strong houses sat in perfect rows. And everywhere I looked, there were people.
But not just any people. These were werewolves, and they were amazing.
Men with huge muscles were pulling weights that looked heavier than cars. Women were running so fast they were almost flying. Everyone looked healthy and strong and confident.
I had found a pack area. A really powerful one.
The pulling in my chest got so strong that I gasped out loud. My mate was here. Somewhere in this beautiful place was the person meant for me.
But I couldn't just walk in there. Look at me - I was dirty, torn up, and probably smelled like the cleaning products Sarah made me use. These people would take one look at me and laugh.
I crept closer, hidden behind the last row of trees. I needed to see more. I needed to find my mate.
The pack members were training in a big open area. They moved like dancers, every action smooth and powerful. I had never seen werewolves this strong before. Even the smallest ones looked like they could break me in half.
My heart sank. How could someone like me fit with people like this?
Then I saw him.
He was standing in the middle of the exercise area, and every single person was watching him. He was tall and broad, with dark hair that caught the sunshine. Even from far away, I could see the power rolling off him like waves.
An Alpha. He had to be the Alpha.
The warm feeling in my chest suddenly burst like fireworks.
MATE. MATE. MATE.
My wolf started roaring inside my head. Every cell in my body screamed that this man - this powerful, perfect man - was mine.
But how could that be possible?
I pressed my hand to my mouth to stop myself from making noise. This had to be a mistake. Alphas didn't get matched with broken rogues like me. Alphas got beautiful, strong women who could lead packs and have perfect kids.
I was nobody. I was a killer who didn't deserve anything good.
But the mate bond didn't care what I deserved. It pulsed between us like a live thing, connecting my heart to his even though he didn't know I existed.
I watched him move, and my breath caught in my throat. He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. Strong jaw, broad shoulders, and when he turned his head, I glimpsed the most amazing green eyes.
He was talking to another man, but I couldn't hear what they were saying. All I could do was look at him like a crazy person.
This was my mate. My other half. The person who was supposed to love me no matter what.
But would he? When he found out what I had done to Maya, would he still want me?
I was so busy looking at him that I didn't notice the stick under my foot until it was too late.
CRACK!
The sound echoed through the trees like a gunshot. Every single person in the training area froze and looked toward the trees.
Toward me.
My heart stopped beating. I dropped down behind a thick tree trunk and held my breath. Had they seen me? Could they smell me?
Please, please, please don't let them find me, I prayed quietly.
I heard footsteps coming toward the trees. Heavy, confident footsteps that made my mate bond go crazy.
He was coming. My mate was walking straight toward my hidden spot.
I peeked around the tree and saw him at the edge of the training area, his head tilted like he was listening. His green eyes were scanning the trees, looking for whatever had made the noise.
Looking for me.
The mate bond was going crazy now, pulling me toward him so hard that I actually had to grab the tree to keep from running out of the woods. Every instinct I had was screaming at me to go to him, to show myself, to claim what was mine.
But I was too scared.
What if he refused me? What if he took one look at me and decided I wasn't good enough? What if he found out about Maya and decided I was a monster?
The footsteps got closer. He was maybe twenty feet away now, and I could hear him breathing. My mate bond was so strong that I felt dizzy.
I had to make a choice. Stay hidden and safe, or step out and face my fate.
My hands were shaking as I started to stand up.
That's when I heard him speak for the first time.
"I know you're there," he said, his voice deep and powerful. "Come out. Now."
He had found me.