The Kings Mate (Werewolf King Series Book 1) Read online

  Prologue:

  Rain smashes down against the dark bricks, that I can barley make out the colour to as I force my feet to move faster as they slam down with more impact than I would have guessed that I had. Dirty water splashes up, soaking into the worn and torn denim of my jeans as my aching bare feet come down in puddle after puddle. The tiny sliver of light proved by the quarter moon rising high up in the sky and antique gas lights provides next to no light in the darkened alley way that I had made my home for the night until heavy and numerous footsteps followed by deep growls move closer to my curled shivering body.

  Long thick ropes of tangled light brown hair fall into my eyes as my head whips around at the crashing sound behind me. Small white puffs of warm air appear in front of me as my chest rises and falls rapidly, my lungs protesting as they try to capture a suitable amount of oxygen as I push my body to run faster still.

  It is not the first time that I have had to push my body to escape whatever was impending behind me. Only once was I caught, but only long enough for the putrid male to cause a large hand shaped bruise to spread across my ribs in a sickly yellow colour that took more than a week and limited movements to heal.

  My heart wasn’t pounding as hard in my chest then as it is now. Then, I could feel it as it speed up, a tight sensation spreading underneath my ribs as I could feel his laboured and grunted breathing just over my shoulder as he followed close behind me down the abounded street. Now, however, it is beating so hard I feel as if it is about to break out its way past my weakened skin, as the noise revibrates up and behind my ears.

  Heat surges through my body the energy I’m using dwindling down to a miniscule fragment. I haven’t eaten a proper meal in years and it is finally catching up to me. My starved body is begging to slow down and the sounds trailing swiftly behind me as I attempt to make it a round the corner onto the main street.

  Carllet home for girls in London was a place I could only just call home till I was fifteen. It wasn’t a place I could call home though. The girls weren’t the sweetest of girls and I doubt they neither noticed nor cared that the tiny bed that took up a majority of the white walled room was empty after I carefully crawled through the broken second story window that freezing night.

  All that was slung over my back in the small dark canvas bag with the faded brown faux leather straps was three sets of clothing and two worn pairs of sneakers with holes already in the fabric. The only things I have left of it is a grey t-shirt, holes riddling the fabric just like the jeans that used to hug my legs tightly but now hang off my skin like a deflated airbag, they no longer sit at the bottom of the bag as a last resort, they are the only things left to cover my body. The only thing that doesn’t have holes in it is the slightly oversized black hoodie that I woke up with one morning draped over my sleeping body.

  The sounds of those following behind me grow and I can hear as feet coming down in the puddles that have housed my own my feet despite the heavy rain that hammers down around me.

  My foot catches in a wooden crate causing me to slide to the ground bracing my hands out in front of me to stop the hard impact. My hands scrape along the rough ground as I stop the fall. I let out a small scream of pain as I feel the skin of my palms rip open and my ankle, still caught in the crate twist in an unnatural way.

  Deeper and louder growls grow closer to me and despite the shooting in my leg sending massive amounts of pain up and through my body as I put weight down onto the injured ligament. Blood trickles over my bony fingers that are covered by a delicate layer skin from the open cuts of my palm.

  Pain continues to travel through my body at an alarming rate and I know that I won’t be able to carry my petite body weight for much longer. My feet are carrying me slower now as I finally get my body around the corner and onto the main street out of the darkened area of the alley I have to use the wall to steady myself.

  Two sets of eyes, the only two on the long regularly crowed street, look my body up and down. The couple are walking close together. The males arm is locked tightly around the women’s waist, holding her to his side as her feet attempt to carry her across the road towards me.

  The cement footpath feels as if it is beginning to give way underneath and my legs give way beneath me. The grip I had on the wall slips and I fall towards the pavement, my legs curling underneath my body as I shake lightly.

  I’m going to die.

  The growls enter the street now and I can hear a feminine voice screaming from across the street. Something hard connects to my stomach and I am pushed back hard into the wall the jagged brick digging into my skin and pushing against my bones.

  Screaming as something grabs a hold of my sore ankle dragging me across the foot path and down onto the road. My head smashes against the gutter as I’m pulled down onto the dark and soaked asphalt. Groaning the impact from my head begins to turn the edges of my sight a darker colour.

  The growls of whatever has me aren’t human. They sound more animalistic as if I am being attacked by a pack of some dogs in the middle of the street. One growl stands out from all the rest though and despite how deep it is, it sounds more human than the rest.

  Flinching as warm hands come down onto my waist, I start to think that someone has come to save me. The voice close to me is deep and evens my breathing out slightly relaxing me, moments later I hear the voice yelling and I know that it isn’t directed to me but to the growl that are now begging to retreat.

  The warm hands slide up my shirt and hoodie resting it just below the bottom of my bra. The calloused but strong fingers pepper lightly over my ribs and I let out a small cry, trying to get the pressure to stop. A hand grabs my wrist lightly holding it away as the hand continues to press lightly over the injured area.

  The two people whisper back and forth together and I can hardly make out what they are saying. The pain of my ribs is bearable as warm sparks of what must be electricity shot through my body around the area.

  “Stop.” My voice comes out cracked, “It hurts.”

  I hear a sigh before both palms are laid down flat over my ribs rubbing light circles. More of the pleasant electric shocks are shot through me and I am relaxed long enough to handle the pain in the most pleasurable way as my sight goes black and I fall unconscious with a peaceful sigh.

  Chapter 1:

  Groaning I grip the thick, warm cover of the bed pulling it up under my neck. Letting out a sigh, I drop my head deeper into the soft pillow trying to get some well needed sleep. The sheets of the bed tickle against my skin as I twist beneath them, getting wrapped up further in the heavenly warmth.

  Small sounds of pain and complainant leave my body as I abruptly sit up in the vast bed that isn’t even mine. I carefully twist my neck, avoiding the tight pinch as I look around the large luxurious room. It’s dark and the only light comes from the small gaps from the double doors on the right of the bed. Memories from last night hit me and I’m not sure of how I ended up in here. I move now to push all the heaviness off the top of me.

  Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I push my body up off the bed despite the screaming pain that I feel in my torso, ankle and the palms of my hands. Holding back cries of pain as I hobble about the large room, I take another look around the room not absorbing any of the furnishings other than another set of double doors hidden in the corner on the left side of the bed. All I want is to get out of here and far away from wherever I have landed myself.

  Making my way to the pristine white doors that is more than half way down the wall. I slip out through the small gap that I have made, taking a quick glance to my left. I look out the windows that stretch the length of the walls on both sides of me. My eyes move down the five levels of the immaculate bricked building down to the perfectly manicured gardens below as I watch ten black clothed males despite the still pounding rain exiting from the dark thundering clouds, walk the perimeter, their heads turning slowly taking in all their surroundings.

  How am I going to get past all of them?

  The room that I am in now is bigger than the last and despite the dark sky not letting a sliver of light through the room is lit by a warm fire that runs along the wall on my right. It is open, the u shaped lounge positioned in front of the fire and large television, takes attention in the big room, shunning the dark desk in the opposite corner of the room to me and the eight seater table in front of me.

  Noticing another set of double doors on the opposite wall, I hobble my way over to it. Once I get out of the room, causing pain to my torso as I open the heavy door, I find myself in a wide hall way, turning into a medium sized landing two rooms down further. I continue towards the wide staircase that curls around to the next level down, not worrying about getting caught by anyone who might be walking past.

  Peeking a look down the stairs and not seeing anyone I grip desperately at the railing as I hop down the steps, small grunts of pain and light thumps echoing throughout both of the upper levels, the only sound that hints to a human presence as I try to escape form where I’ve been imprisoned.

  As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I’m on a wider and more circular landing which leads to the large curved staircase that leads lower again, but on the other side of me is a massive living room with two deep hallways leading off on either side off the room.

  There is no exit that I can see. I can’t even map out possible floor plans.

  I feel my breathing grow harder as I see two large mal
es stand halfway down the stairs. Large muscles strain against the material of the black cotton short, sleeve button up shirts as they lock their hands behind their backs, their necks turn ever so slightly to watch thin and lean women walk past every now and then, dressed in black dresses and white aprons over the fronts, hair tied tightly in a bun on top of their heads. Maids?

  A maid with dark black hair smiles at the guard to the left of the stairs before she drops her head back down with a small laugh as she carries her bouncing body down the stairs to the level below. The ash blonde shaggy haired guard’s shoulders shake as he turns towards the brown short haired ponytailed guard on his right, whispering something before the two of them turn back to look back at the passing people in front of them stopping some as any of them attempt to move up to this level.

  Shaking my head knowing that I won’t find my escape that way, I take a step back away from the stairs and the guards. I don’t get far until I am bumping into something hard and warm. Gasping, the shocking tingles make their way up and down my spine spreading throughout my veins, rapidly making my knees go weak. A pair of strong muscled arms wrap around my waist to stop me from dropping to the ground.

  The tan muscled arms quickly move from my waist to lightly grip my upper arms pulling me up straight, after a cry of pain leaves my lips at the pressuring contact against my rib cage. The two guards turn at the sound, their eyes dark as they quickly look over me. A light growl coming from over my shoulder makes them move their eyes up to look to whoever it is, giving however it is a slight nod before they turn back to their post.

  Throwing an arm back I hit at the hard chest behind me. “Stop, let me go.” I scream trying to fight my way out of the strong grip.

  Strong hands turn me around to look into beautiful hazel eyes before I can continue to fight my way out of the grip. My eyes move over the handsomely structured face of the gorgeous male. He stands nearly a foot taller than me but as he looks down at me there is nothing but softness in his eyes as his dishevelled light brown hair falls down in front of them.

  “Put this on please.” His sharp jaw clenches as he pulls back after making sure that I am steady on my feet to pull the zipper down on his grey hood.

  Slipping it around my body that is only covered in a tight cropped top and shorts, his hand passes over my shoulders, sending shivers through me before they move around to my front pulling the zipper back up. The soft, thick material falls just above the bottom hem of the shorts. It’s warm and smells nice, much better than anything I have ever owned before.

  Where were my clothes and bag though. Did he have them?

  He is only wearing a pair of basketball shorts now.

  The thick muscles of his biceps flex as he carefully watches me. My eyes move over his defined abs the clear and defined lines alerting me to every single, perfectly strengthened muscle under his tanned impeccable skin.

  Fighting the urge to take a step forward and run my fingers delicately over the defined v-lines leading me beneath the low slung material of the basketball shorts. Gulping I scrunch my nose dropping my head down, I grip at the material of his hoodie that extends past my hands in length as I take a step back away from him finally looking back up to meet his eyes.

  He’s smiling. The way his eyes light up as his pink lips spread over his cheeks showing his straight white teeth beneath. Why is he smiling at me?

  He holds his finger up towards me, telling me to stay and I don’t know why but I do as I watch him carry himself down the stairs his back completely straight and poised his height towering over the shaggy haired blonde despite the fact that he is standing a step up from him.

  The guard shakes his head as the hazel eyed male whispers towards him. Moments later he is back stood in front of me, the smile still gracing his face in the most charming way that even warms up my insides.

  “Now my dear, if you could do me the favour of waiting right here. I have sent for your maid Ellie and she will make sure that you are well tended to, and Maxon and Reynolds will make sure that absolutely no harm will come to you or they will have me to deal with.” His eyes move down my body, his lips pressing together, the smile disappearing, as he takes my shaking hand, hidden beneath the material that is soaked with his scent. “A lady as beautiful as you shall not be harmed in my house. My dear, I bid you fare well, for now.” He finishes with a small bow, my hand in his as a he presses a kiss to the back of it.

  Crossing my arms over my chest I watch the tense muscles in his back as he walks down the hallway closest to us. He shakes his head slightly, his hand running through his hair, tousling the light brown hairs more than they already were before as he slips around the corner and out of my sight.

  Standing there I am too preoccupied on where the gorgeous hazel eyed male disappeared to that I don’t even notice as the black haired maid makes her way back up the stairs both of the guards following behind her, but at a bit of a distance.

  Her blue green eyes that contain little flecks of bright gold never breaking from mine as one leg is placed behind the other and she drops down slightly in a curtsy, the two guards behind her drop their heads.

  Why are they doing that? I have no idea who they are or who the man with hazel eyes is.

  What am I even doing here, with him?

  “Good afternoon, miss.” Her voice is soft and quiet.

  “Afternoon?” I question taking a step back away from the group my eyes moving to the ground, not trying to make eye contact with any of them as I pull the dark material of the jumper around me tighter.

  “Yes miss. After you were bought back here late last night, your injuries were more major than what we first thought and our doctors put you under some anaesthetic to brace your broken ribs and you have been asleep since then.” The girl whispers back unsure of her words. I can see her head turn to look at the blonde, who has his eyes on me.

  Lifting the warm jumper up I look down at my stomach, past all the yellow and deep purple bruises that litter my once clearly slightly tanned skin are fifteen blue stiches holding the skin together over the left side of my rib cage. I drop my hand down onto the swollen skin, taking a sharp intake of breathe as I feel pain shoot through me.

  “If you come back up to the Kin- the bedroom, there’s some medication for the pain and to help it heal.” She continues her eyes locked on my hand as I quickly drop the jumper back down so it rests at the top of my thigh.

  The three people walk me back up the stairs towards the room that I woke up in. The maid Ellie walks close to my side her arm partially stretched out ready to help me or steady me if I need it, the two large male guards a step behind us.

  Suddenly I feel overwhelmed. My hands start shaking under the material of the jumper and I shove them tighter under my arms holding them crossed as tight as possible over my chest without putting too much weight on my injured ribs.

  Ellie’s outstretched hand comes down on my lower back as we enter back into the warm and open bedroom, she holds up her free hand towards the two guards and they give her a nod before the place themselves outside the first set of double doors closing them behind them

  “It’s ok sweetheart. No one here wishes you harm. Come on, relax, it’s all ok.” Her hand rubs small circles against my back.

  Her touch reminds of that something a mother would give there distressed child to soothe them. Ellie can’t be that much older than me, three years at the most. I can’t help but make small eye contact with her, nodding my head in thanks as I even my breathing trying to calm myself. Something her touch tried to do for me but just couldn’t complete. Only one will work. I don’t know how I know but, I want his touch.