Unwanted Mate

  Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2022 Sam Crescent

  ISBN: 978-0-3695-0589-7

  Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

  Editor: Audrey Bobak

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  UNWANTED MATE

  The Alpha Shifter Collection, 15

  Sam Crescent

  Copyright © 2022

  Prologue

  Sofia Foster tried to shield her entire body from the blows being rained down on her by her pack. The pain was excruciating, and nothing she did stopped them in their need to cause her harm. Each one took great pleasure in harming her. The sounds of her screams, along with their laughter, were all that could be heard.

  It was freezing cold tonight, and it didn’t matter how hard she tried to run or how far she tried to get, if they wanted to find her, they would.

  “Fucking bitch.”

  “Slut.”

  “Fat cow.”

  “Ugly whore.”

  The words kept on coming, and she had no choice but to wait until their bloodthirst slowly left them.

  Time ticked by. This had to be close to thirty minutes now before the final person spat at her, and they walked away.

  She curled up in a tight ball, shivering as her body took the time to heal.

  Squeezing her eyes closed, she tried to think of happy thoughts, but nothing would come to mind. Ever since her parents had abandoned her at the pack, there had been no kindness for her.

  She was considered a burden. Unwanted. No matter how many times she tried to leave, her alpha wouldn’t let her. She was nothing more than the pack’s punching bag.

  Sofia rolled onto her back, staring up at the sky. There was no moon tonight, but she felt her body slowly starting to mend.

  No matter how many times they tried to break her, her body had a mind of its own. Within a matter of hours, she’d show only mottled bruises as if she’d been beaten weeks ago, and not hours.

  As a wolf, her ability to heal was natural, but … and this was the biggest but, she shouldn’t heal quite as fast as she did. She imagined that was why people were so pissed within the pack. Even the alpha couldn’t heal this fast.

  As she lay, waiting for her body to finally heal itself, she wondered if there would ever come a point when she was free. Where nothing and no one scared her. She closed her eyes and imagined a life filled with happiness and laughter. One day, she wouldn’t be afraid to go to sleep at night for fear of what would happen. There would be a time when she’d be part of a pack who had each other’s backs rather than try to harm those that were different.

  She took a deep breath, feeling the heat swirling in her gut.

  Her body jerked and she whimpered. One day soon, her life within the pack would come to an end. Either that or she’d find the strength to cross the pack line and finally leave. She hated that she stood at that pack line and never crossed over it. Always poised, but the alpha had given his instruction and there was no chance of her leaving.

  She had to believe in a better future. Praying for an end of all of this, to find a life she deserved rather than being a constantly unwanted female. She’d done nothing wrong. Never harmed anyone, and yet, this was what happened to her.

  There would be an end soon.

  She’d cross that line.

  She would find peace.

  Until then, she had no choice but to stick with the abuse and hope for a miracle to one day come upon her.

  Chapter One

  Two months later

  Sofia sat with her hands tied in front of her as the sounds of crying filled the air. This wasn’t a miracle.

  She didn’t even know what had happened. One moment the alpha had been hitting her for spilling coffee on his pristine shoes that were some kind of designer brand, then they were running. The entire pack had tried to save themselves as they were attacked.

  Seated in the center of the town, Sofia tried not to look, but she had no choice as the lead man who attacked stood in the center, right near the torn-down statue of their alpha. Their present alpha whimpered on the ground like a coward.

  She didn’t care what happened to her alpha. He was poison, pure evil. The man who had his foot on the alpha’s chest, he captured her attention, and she wasn’t sure why.

  Her mouth went dry as she glanced from the top of his head, all the way down his body. He only wore a pair of pants and boots. His chest and arms were all bare, showing the sight of his muscular chest. There was no ink on his body, but a lot of scars. Several of them she recognized as wolf marks.

  The scent coming from him told her he was wolf.

  If he was one of their kind, why did he attack their pack? Not that it was a problem for her. She was used to running, but it was rather strange being surrounded by those who often mocked her during the times she tried to save herself.

  “You,” the new man said, pointing off at the group of men.

  Sofia glanced to where he pointed and saw Bill, one of her many tormentors, was picked up and dragged to the center where their attacker waited.

  They had all tried to run, but they hadn’t gotten far before they were captured. The man in the center hadn’t been alone.

  Men of equal size surrounded him. They were present now, smiling at them. The women and men had been separated. The men chained up, the women bound with rope.

  The feel of it against her flesh was uncomfortable. She hated being tied up.

  Slow, deep breaths helped, but she gasped as the man, who she now assumed was the alpha, drew a knife, plunged it in Bill’s stomach, and thrust it up to his heart.

  The sight of blood made her feel sick, and she had no choice but to look away.

  “You all think your alpha is going to save you? He is weak. He is nothing. Simpering on the floor like a damn coward,” he said.

  Sofia raised her gaze in time to see him slam his hand against his chest.

  “The name’s Caspian, and each of you, you’re going to pay.” His gaze ran over the crowd, and when it landed on her, he nodded for one of his men to grab her.

  She didn’t fight. There was no point.

  Her pack wouldn’t save her. There would be no victory here.

  She was surprised as his men lifted her up, not brutally, but with care.

  Why weren’t they being rough? Why weren’t they forcing her to the floor like an animal?

  One of the men put a hand at her back and helped her move closer to … Caspian.

  It was a strange name. Not one she’d heard before.

  Her heart raced as she was less than a foot in front of him. His men let her go, and she faced him, waiting for whatever decision he’d decided to make.

  Sinking her teeth into her lip, she tried not to beg for mercy, or to ask for anything. Instead, she remained perfectly still, waiting for whatever verdict he intended to give.

  She hoped for a quick death. One that didn’t hurt her. She was so tired of pain.

  Her hands were jerked in front of her, and then the rope was removed from her wrists. Sofia looked at Caspian, trying to see any sign of what he’d do. Any clue.

  Nothing.

  The man wasn’t an open book.

  The sharp gaze of his eyes, they were almost black, with hints of brown. Was the man mad? Had his wolf ta
ken over?

  His hair was shoulder-length, long and brown. To many women, he’d be considered handsome, even she found him … attractive. This was unusual for her, seeing as most of the men in her pack had forced her to hate them right from the start.

  He flicked the blade so that he held the tip in his fingers and presented the handle to her. “Finish him off,” he said. His voice was deep, commanding.

  She felt the alpha within his wolf.

  Her own wolf was scared stiff, but she wasn’t sure if that was her or not.

  “What?”

  “You heard me.” He kicked at the alpha, who lay curled up in a ball, groaning.

  The beating she’d witnessed the alpha receive was bad, but she couldn’t help but feel he was a coward, considering the number of times he’d ordered her own beating, and she’d had no choice but to take it.

  In comparison, he truly didn’t have what it took to lead.

  Sofia shook her head, clasping her hands together. “No.” She couldn’t do it.

  Caspian burst out laughing. “Well, well, well, I am surprised.” He took a step toward her, and she couldn’t help but tense up. “Do you think I don’t know what this man is capable of?” He inhaled deep, and Sofia couldn’t look away as his nose trailed from her cheek, up to her ear.

  Her body came alive, and she hated herself.

  At a time like this, why did she suddenly start acting like a wolf in heat?

  Letting go of her hands, she clenched them into fists, hoping so damn much that her body would get control of itself. The thought of being aroused right now didn’t bode well with her.

  Caspian inhaled. “I can smell you. It’s okay, little one. I am used to women being affected by me. You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last.”

  “I’m not going to kill him,” she said.

  “Why not? He means nothing to you. This man has done nothing but hurt and torture you for years. Has he broken your spirit that much you won’t even think of taking revenge?” he asked.

  “How do you know that?”

  The whole pack would be able to hear their conversation. The thing about wolves was they had great hearing skills.

  “Why do you think I came here, Sofia?” he asked. “I saw everything, and all of these creatures stood by, did nothing, or helped in your pain and misery. It is time for you to take your revenge and to kill all of those who harmed you.”

  ****

  Caspian had never sorted out a pack in his life.

  Raised in the foster care system of normal humans, he’d known at a young age that he was different. He had these keen senses none of the other kids had. They didn’t hear conversations feet away, especially those of whispers. None of them heard the rats or roaches in the homes.

  None of them were ready for an attack, but he always was.

  At the ripe age of sixteen, he found out exactly what he was. A wolf. Born to hunt, to lead.

  In the last twenty-nine years, he’d learned to adapt, to hunt, to survive. During those years, he’d found out exactly what happened to him, and the men and women with him now were like him, in a way. None of them were leaders. They had been looking for an alpha, and as much as he hated it, Caspian didn’t have a choice.

  Rogue wolves were … dangerous. He’d learned much during his time.

  Just like he’d studied this woman in front of him.

  Two months ago, he’d picked up a scent his wolf just couldn’t deny. He’d tried to control himself, but the need to find that scent, to make her his, was overwhelming. He was aware of mates, the strength and bond a female could bring, but he hadn’t wanted one himself.

  He’d fucked his fair share of willing human and wolf females, but never had a woman made him feel this way.

  Sofia Foster, a beautiful little wolf in a broken pack. He stared at her now, with the mark on her neck that must have been branded into her flesh before her first transition. He recognized the mark well. Every single member of his pack had it. The mark of the unwanted. The symbol that would stop all other packs from wanting her if the alpha decided to banish her from his pack.

  Seeing the mark made him angry.

  They had used this woman as their own personal punching bag. He’d watched them all beat her, curious as to what this female had done to earn such reactions.

  Two months it had taken for him to realize she had done nothing but exist. They were afraid of her.

  Caspian had never seen a wolf heal so fast in his life. He’d watched her as what would normally take a few days for wolves, she healed within hours. The damage had been so extensive that some weaker wolves would have even needed the help of the full moon and their wolf to heal from.

  He couldn’t believe it.

  Staring at her now, he was struck once again by her beauty. Her long, black hair with streaks of gold fell down her back. There were leaves and some dirt within the strands from the hunt. He adored her brown eyes that also had flashes of amber, showcasing her wolf.

  This woman was strong.

  He especially loved seeing her full body. The dress she wore didn’t do it justice, but he’d been watching her for two months now, and knew she hid nice, large tits, full hips, juicy, thick thighs, and a curvy butt beneath the horrid garment.

  His cock started to thicken at just watching her.

  “No,” Sofia said, recoiling from the blade.

  Caspian raised his brow. “No?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not going to do it.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “You’re not going to kill those responsible for making your life miserable?”

  “No.” She frowned. “How do you—?”

  “Know that these … animals hurt you?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “I’ve been watching you all. I’m the one who has seen what you all do to this woman, for fun.” He drew his foot back and kicked the alpha. This man was the biggest monster. He laughed and allowed it to happen, and took pride in doing it himself.

  Revulsion filled Caspian. It was rare for his hatred to know such passions. He often ignored packs, especially the invites he received.

  He was a rare wolf. Able to live among the humans, completely undetected.

  “Stop,” Sofia said.

  Caspian closed the distance between them, grabbing the back of her neck and pressing her up against him.

  For the last two months, he’d been imagining what it would feel like to have this woman’s body pressed against his. He liked the feel of her, and he didn’t want it to stop.

  His wolf wanted to claim her. To bend her over the nearest object and to claim her. She was … beautiful, intoxicating, and his need to bury himself deep inside her cunt was so strong.

  This need had never been so … difficult to control.

  Pressing his face against her neck, he breathed in her scent, trying to stop his need from overflowing, but it was impossible to do so.

  All the people within this pack needed to be punished.

  “I had to watch them all hurt you,” he said. “You never fought back, and I thought you were a coward. Then I realized why you never stopped them. You were not allowed, were you? The alpha stopped you. He told you to never stop anyone from hitting you. To keep your hands by your sides like a good little bitch, and to take the beating.”

  He saw the tears fill her eyes, and he wanted to hurt this man again. “He will not live for what he did to you.”

  “I don’t want his death on my conscience.”

  Caspian looked at her, a little … taken aback.

  He expected more thirst for blood. The men in his world all wanted the same thing, revenge and the desire to hurt. All that had happened to them was banishment and branding.

  Sofia stood before him, branded and still with mottled bruises from another beating she had sustained.

  Her body already healing, even before his gaze. It was miraculous.

  “Please, I … I don’t want anything to happen to the pack, I jus
t want to leave,” Sofia said.

  “Leave?”

  “Yes, I have begged and pleaded with him to let me leave, but I fear if I kill him, I will be forced to remain here forever.”

  Caspian watched her, seeing the desperation. He didn’t know how long she’d gone through this kind of treatment, but her needs were clear. She was more interested in getting away.

  Caspian grabbed the alpha and lifted him up. He’d already broken both of the bastard’s legs, so keeping him still wasn’t a challenge.

  “Tell the nice lady what she wants to hear,” Caspian said.

  When the alpha made no sound, he grabbed the guy’s dick, knowing he’d be able to tear it right off him with a good firm tug.

  The screams coming from him filled the air, and Sofia flinched, but he heard it.

  “You can leave, Sofia Foster, and never come back.”

  Caspian dropped the alpha to the floor and saw the first smile on the woman’s face. She looked … mesmerizing. “I can leave,” she said, covering her mouth and smiling.

  “Yes,” he said. “Go.”

  “You’re going to let me leave?”

  He smiled. “Consider me your guardian angel in this situation. Go and don’t come back. Run.”

  She spun on her heel, and he nodded to his two men at the back of the pack, who immediately started to follow her.

  Sofia would be able to leave the pack, but she wouldn’t go too far. She was his mate, and he was going to make sure she never wanted for anything.

  Staring at the pack, he smiled.

  Sofia got to leave, she got her wish, and now, it was up to him to deal with the pack for harming his woman.

  “Where’s your branding iron?” Caspian asked.

  The crowd gasped.

  It was a great insult, just as he knew it was, but he didn’t give a shit.

  A few men tried to escape, but none of them succeeded. It took less than ten minutes to find the branding tools at the alpha’s residence. The large iron lay in the fire, and Caspian used the glove, extracting it and pressing the flames into the bastard’s cheek.