Chapter Six
Kyle's POV
I stepped forward, and everything else seemed to fade away.
Her red hair caught the light first. It wasn't a soft shade. It was bold, untamed, almost defiant. Her emerald green eyes met mine without hesitation, without fear.
Kael stirred inside me, restless and hungry.
Mine.
"Calm down," I warned him through our private mindlink.
He didn't.
I reached for her through the pack link.
Come down.
Nothing.
The connection failed, and that was when I realized she wasn't from my pack.
A murmur spread through the crowd behind me, but I ignored it. I wasn't just any Alpha. I was King. Authority over every wolf ran through my veins.
I focused harder, pushing past territory and distance.
Come.
This time the link caught.
She moved.
Slowly at first, stepping down from the stadium seats as though pulled by something invisible. Her expression was distant, almost dazed, but her eyes never left mine.
When she stopped in front of me, close enough that I could feel her warmth, we both understood at the same time.
"Mate."
The word left us together.
Gasps rose from my warriors. I could feel their tension, their confusion.
Kael roared inside me in satisfaction.
I lifted my head and addressed the crowd before anyone could interfere.
"The elders will handle the inspection. Elder Oslo will take charge."
Silence fell immediately.
Without overthinking it, I took her hand. Her skin was warm, softer than I expected. She didn't pull away.
Her gaze was unfocused, as if instinct had taken over.
Truthfully, I wasn't entirely steady either. Kael's instincts pressed hard against my control.
I mindlinked Dave, Lyon, and Tess.
Follow me.
We moved through the parted crowd toward the vehicles. Lyon stepped forward.
"Alpha, should I ride with you?"
"No. Ride with Dave and Tess."
He nodded and stepped back.
I guided her into the SUV and sat beside her.
"Drive," I ordered.
Only when we were on the road did I look at her properly.
"What is your name?" I asked.
She blinked, as if returning from somewhere far away.
"Louise."
The name suited her.
"Louise," I repeated quietly.
There was something about her that felt stronger than her fragile posture suggested. Something hidden beneath the surface.
She gave me a small smile, and for a moment I thought she would speak again.
Instead, the color drained from her face.
Her body swayed.
I caught her before she could fall.
"Louise."
No response.
She felt too light in my arms. I brushed her hair back from her face and checked her pulse.
Weak.
"When did you last eat?" I muttered.
Kael's triumph shifted instantly into something darker. Protective. Territorial.
She relaxed against me as unconsciousness claimed her, but just before she slipped away completely, a faint smile touched her lips.
My jaw tightened.
Someone had neglected my mate.
And they would answer for it.
Louise's POV
What was happening?
My mate was the Werewolf King.
The moment our eyes locked, something inside me settled into place. It felt inevitable.
He reached for me through the mindlink.
Come.
I didn't understand how I knew what he wanted, but I did. My body moved before my mind could argue.
Larah was in control.
When we both said "Mate" at the same time, the world around us seemed distant, muffled.
He took my hand. Voices echoed, but I couldn't focus on them.
The next clear moment, I was inside a vehicle beside him.
The King.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Louise."
The way he said my name afterward made warmth spread through me.
I wanted to ask questions. To understand what this meant.
But my head started spinning.
Of course it did.
Yesterday I barely ate breakfast. I skipped lunch. I never got dinner because my father threw me out before nightfall. This morning, I had nothing.
I was starving.
Darkness crept into my vision.
Strong arms caught me before I fell.
I felt his hands steadying me, his touch surprisingly careful.
And just before everything went black, one thought stayed clear in my mind.
I found my mate.