CHAPTER SIX

I run into the night, into the woods, trying to get the mocking laughter out of my head.

Trying to get Troy out of my head.

Trying to get my rage at Heather out of my head.

It was the most humiliating night of my life.

I don’t know how I can ever face any of them anymore.

I don’t know how I can live anymore.

What should I do now? Where should I go?

I run and run, branches scratching me, as I try to think.

My breathing is heavy. My chest is pounding. My heart is racing.

I don’t know what to do.

I don’t want to go home.

I don’t want to go back to school.

I don’t want to talk to anyone.

I’m so angry.

I’m so hurt.

I’m so sad.

I’m so confused.

I collapse in a pile of leaves, alone in the woods, crying.

I wonder about Troy.

Will he hate me now? Will he love Heather?

Will he be angry at her for what she did to me?

Or will he fall for her again?

I hate Heather so much for this. I’m never going to have him and I can’t stand it.

I throw up again. I’m so sick and weak, and I’m not sure if it’s because of whatever Heather put in my drink, or because the humiliation has taken everything from me.

I have no strength. I have no more tears. I have no more screams.

Will Troy ever talk to me again?

I just want to hide so I don’t have to think about anything.

I don't know much time passes between when I fall and when I hear a noise.

A branch snapping.

I turn and look.

I am shocked to see the most gorgeous man I've ever seen watching me like he’s curious about me.

It’s embarrassing, falling apart in front of him.

He looks kind rough and dangerous, with a long scar down his cheek and gorgeous, shining blue eyes that reflect the starlight. His hair is dark and long. It makes for an intense combination as he stares at me like he knows me.

He is looking at me like I'm someone he’s been waiting for.

He sees me like no one else does.

He walks toward me.

I can't move.

I don't know what to think. I don't know what to say.

But then I do.

"Who are you?" I ask him, filled with the sudden urge to want to know everything about him.

He smiles the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. "My name is Kole," he says. “Who are you?”

“Kierra,” I reply, as he holds out his hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

He helps me up. “The pleasure is all mine, I assure you,” he says.

I’m not sure how to respond as I’m still a little dazed.

I don’t know what to think. I don’t know how to process this because though we just met, this feeling is unlike any other I’ve ever felt for anyone else before.

I take his hand, and I feel an electric jolt throughout my entire body.

I don’t let it go. I never will.

"I think I'm someone you've been waiting for," he says.

"I don't know who you are," I say. “I mean, I know your name is Kole. But you know what I mean.”

He looks at me, right into my soul.

"You do though," he says. "And I know you."

"I don’t know anything,” I say. “All I know is I’m lost.”

He laughs. A big, strong, confident laugh.

"No, you're not lost. You're exactly where you're supposed to be."

I look at him.

"I'm the one you've been looking for," he says.

His voice, his words, his face, I feel like it all recognizes me.

He reaches down and pulls me to him.

And I let him.

He's warm, strong, and he smells like the woods.

But I’m still dazed and confused as I look at him, trying to understand what he means.

"What do you think I've been looking for?" I ask. “How do you know you’re it?”

"You've been looking for me," he smiles. “I know because I’ve been looking for you too. Can’t you feel it? Don’t you realize you’re my mate?”

I feel a rush of electricity shoot through my body.

“I just met you,” I say.

“This connection is stronger than that though, isn’t it?” he asks.

I take a step back to get some perspective and really take him. That’s when I realize I don’t recognize him from the pack. He doesn’t look like someone from the pack.

He’s a rouge.

A violent, dangerous rogue. Like the men who killed my pack.

He’s an outcast, and yet I’m drawn to him. He can’t be like those who killed my family, can he? It doesn’t feel like that’s possible. None of this feels right.

I don’t know what to think.

I don’t know what to say.

I just know that I have to have him.

"Come with me," he says, holding out his hand.

"Where?" I ask.

"Anywhere," he says.

And then I hear it in the distance. An idling.

“I have my motorcycle with me,” he says. “I can take us wherever you want to go.”

I want to go. I want to ride away with him. I want to be close to him, wrapping my arms around him.

I must have him.

"Come with me," he repeats.

"I don't know if I can," I say, glancing back to where my pack awaits.

Not my pack though, not really. My pack is dead.

He laughs.

"You can," he says.

I look at him.

I know I can.

I want to.

"I can," I say.

"You can," he says again.

And without a doubt, I know that he's my mate.

I feel it in every inch of my body but I'm scared to go.

I don't know what will happen.

I don’t know if this is real.

I don’t know how to process this.

I don’t know what to do.

But I do.

I take his hand and I don't let it go.

"I don't know who you are," I say.

He looks at me, right into my soul.

"You do," he says. "And I know you."

I let him take me away.

And I know my life will change forever.