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A dozen ridiculously hot, jacked guys kidnapped me. The reason? I'm the "fated mate" of their Alpha. When I woke up, a da*mn wolf was licking my legs. Was it a dream? This is actually a pack of werewolves! Yeah, screw fate. I refused to be anyone's possession. Accept the mark willingly? Hell no. Start a pack riot and escape? Easy. Three days later, Alpha found me. He wears a collar. With a leash attached. Next to him was a note from his beta: "1: He'll go to class with you now. 2: Don't bring other guys home. 3: He doesn't bite." How ironic. Turns out the kidnapper caught Stockholm Syndrome. He was supposed to mark me. Now he just wants belly rubs. "Welcome to Fresh Slice! What can I get you tonight?" I looked up, my smile freezing instantly. Oh my God. A dozen abnormally tall, muscular men squeezed through the door, each one looking like they'd stepped off a fitness magazine cover. Was this the entire Greenwood University football team? "We're paying together," someone shouted from the middle of the group. Great. I rolled my eyes internally. Ten minutes until closing, and even a crowd of hot guys couldn't change the fact I'd be working unpaid overtime. I mechanically started assembling sandwiches—double cheese, triple meat, add jalapeños. Nearly everyone ordered the same thing. As closing time passed, I reached for another slice of our thickest, cheesiest bread when the last guy spoke up: "Veggie sandwich on flatbread." I glanced up, surprised. The other guys hooted and cackled, tossing jokes. "Just kidding." Veggie Guy wore a big grin. He was yet another tall muscle-head—no doubt these gym rats had trained their brains straight into their biceps. I'd never been into that type. Give me a nerdy sweetheart any day. I shot him a look. His grin froze instantly, and even weirder—his eyes shifted from deep green to gold. I dropped the cheesy bread, scrambling backward. The laughter cut off. His lips parted slightly, a low growl rumbling from his throat—a sound no human could possibly make. "Sh!t," another guy muttered. BANG! Veggie Guy's hand slammed onto the glass counter. I stumbled back in horror. He came around the counter, advancing on me. When dozens of eyes behind him locked onto me too, I didn't have time to think. I bolted for the back door. Faster, faster. I didn't have a car—so I just ran like he11 toward campus. I didn't make it far before a hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back. I crashed into Veggie Guy's che//st, his eyes still glowing gold. The rest of the guys caught up almost as fast. Without the glass between them and me, they looked even bigger. "Let go of me or I'm calling the cops," I threatened, trying to look larger than I was. Gold-eyed Veggie Guy growled, low and deep. Like an animal. It sounded like he was trying to say date. Wait, no. He was trying to say mate. Mate? What the he11? Suddenly, he released my arm, yanking backward and bending in half with a sharp snapping sound and a pained yell-howl. I tried to jump away from him, but my back slammed into the ch//est of another man. "Grab Theodore and the girl. We need to move," the guy now holding onto me barked. My shocked brain processed too slowly. The next second, he threw me over his shoulder and rushed back to the parking lot in a few strides—where a standard kidnapper-van white cargo van sat alone. "HELP—" I shouted for help as I fought to get free, but it was eleven at night and no one except the not-football-team was around. My scream was cut off as I was tossed into the van. The seatbelt clicked, and I frantically unbuckled it, lunging for the door. The guy caught me around the waist and dragged me back, buckling the belt again and holding it in place. "You don't want to run right now," he warned, like he was on my side. "Like he11 I don't!" I ripped against the seatbelt, but he wasn't fazed and it didn't budge. Animalistic groans, growls, and whines came from the back seat. I shuddered at the sound of cracking bones. My entire focus was on escaping—I didn't dare look back, didn't want to look back. "Drive," another guy commanded. Someone hit the gas, and when the van made a sharp turn, I slammed against the seatbelt—and honestly, I was grateful for it right then. Vicious snarls hit my ears again, and I finally stopped struggling, whipping around— And what I saw made me want to vomit. Veggie Guy—Mate Guy—was half human, half...animal? Gray fur sprouted from his oddly-shaped limbs, those freaky gold eyes locked on me as his body bent and contorted with another painful-sounding snap. My voice shook as I asked, "What are you things?" The guy holding the seatbelt answered with a grimace, "Werewolves." "WEREWOLVES?!" "What the he11?" "WHY DID YOU TAKE ME?" My heart pounded as I kept laser focus on the guy in the back as his body continued to change. The van was still flying down the road, but a crash wasn't my biggest worry anymore—my brain had gone completely blank. Unbelievable? I'd been kidnapped by werewolves? I'd have loved to deny it, but I heard the animal-growl in Veggie Guy's voice when he grabbed me. And now I was watching him slowly, painfully shift from beast back to human. I gasped. The guy next to me followed my gaze to the wolf. "Because...you're his mate." "WHAT?" "When a wolf finds his mate, he goes wolf and hunts until she's his," Seatbelt Guy explained quickly. "Staying with him will buy you more time." I fought the urge to roll my eyes. That last part was definitely kidnapper bullsh!t. "Why would staying with a 'hunting' werewolf ever buy me more time?" "Because he'll stay trapped in wolf form until he claims you—whether that's killing you or marking you. You're his fated mate, and he won't stop until you're his. He'll try to get you to accept the bond willingly first. But no one knows how long his patience will last. Once it runs out? He'll bite you." He paused, his gaze sweeping over me before leaning in to sniff. "Though... your scent is off." He frowned. "Maybe you've got dormant wolf blood—even if it's been diluted over generations, the genes are still there. An Alpha's fated mate is rarely fully human." He straightened, his tone turning serious: "If you're just a regular human, the mark has two outcomes—either your body is strong enough to handle the mate bond, or... you die. But if you've got wolf blood, even faint traces, an Alpha's mark will awaken it. You'll get your wolf and become one of us." I almost laughed. Wow, what an exciting lottery. Only one clear thought ran through my head—I was dead. I stared down at my arms—could lift a coffee cup and a sandwich, did that count as strong? My last workout had been months ago. Wait, no. It had been an entire year. The last gym visit was the day before freshman year started. I was now weeks into sophomore year. "So staying with him delays the biting?" I confirmed, already planning my escape. "Yes. It will make him feel like he's winning," Seatbelt Guy confirmed. "BANG!" Another sharp turn. My head slammed hard against the window. A savage snarl broke out from Veggie Guy, who now looked almost entirely like Veggie Wolf. "Sh!t! Sorry." Seatbelt Guy raised his hands toward the wolf in the back. "Trying to keep her safe and get her away from the humans isn't easy, Theodore." Theodore. So that was his name. Veggie Wolf twisted his already-freaky face and made a menacing sound. "We'll be back soon," another guy in the back with Theodore snapped at him. Good news—"back soon" meant they lived close to my place. Which meant I still had a slim chance to escape. The van whipped around another turn, the seatbelt digging painfully into my ch//est. The sudden pain made me scream. My honey-colored ponytail smacked me and Seatbelt Guy in the face as the van's tires squealed, and the floor started to sort of vibrate beneath us. Dirt road. Damn it. My escape chances just tanked. Dirt roads and I were not well acquainted. "Faster!" someone behind me yelled. Faster? Were they completely out of their minds? "She's got to stop screaming or he's going to kill one of us," another one snarled. I deliberately screamed again—maybe they actually would kill each other, giving me a chance to run. "Brakes, now!" The driver slammed on the brakes, no question asked. The van squealed and swerved as it skidded to a stop. Besides the wolf guy, there were five others in the van—so half the group must've stayed at the sandwich shop. The second the van stopped, the five non-furries bailed instantly, leaving just me and the wolf in the back trapped together. I seized the chance, frantically yanking at the seatbelt—push, pull, tug— thing was jammed. A hairy monster launched itself over the seat, landing on the bench beside me. I opened my mouth to scream— Before the sound escaped, the creature—fine, the wolf—shoved his massive head toward mine and climbed straight onto my lap. "You're not a dog," I yelled at it. It licked my face. "Not a dog," I repeated, my voice faltering a little. It barked. "Not a... What am I doing? I'm losing my mind. Get off me!" I shoved his furry body. I'd expected a werewolf to be gigantic, but he wasn't. He was only a little bigger than my mom's German Shepherd, Gallifrey. I struggled with the seatbelt while the wolf just watched me. Finally, I gave up and slumped back. The wolf tilted his head at me, as if asking, "Are you done?" I pointed at the seatbelt, equal parts terrified and furious. "Don't just stare at me. Help me!" The wolf slashed his claws at the seatbelt. They sliced right through, and the seatbelt flew up toward the spinning mechanism. My eyes went wide. The claw-slash reminded me what the guy had said about the wolf. He was hunting me, and wouldn't stop until he'd bitten me. "Stay back," I warned, scooting out of the seat and toward the door. The wolf actually stayed put. I slowly reached behind me for the door handle. When he made no move to attack, I pulled. The door clicked as it opened, and my body tensed, waiting for him to make a move. He didn't. The wolf just sat there, watching. "I don't get this at all," I muttered. When he still didn't attack, I eased the door wider. "No sudden movements," I whispered to myself—and maybe to the wolf, because it seemed like he was listening to me. If he was, I would definitely take advantage of it. I extended one foot out the door, feeling around until I touched dirt. The wolf stayed where he was, watching me silently. I slowly straightened, carefully placing my second foot down. "What's she doing?" someone whispered. One of the non-furry guys from the van, I assumed. "I think she's trying to escape," another said, with some amusement. "He hasn't tried to stop her yet," a third pointed out. "He probably doesn't want to spook her," the fourth answered. These football-player-sized werewolves were going to be the death of me. I took a step backward, then paused. The wolf didn't budge. Another step. Pause. No movement from Veggie Wolf. I continued to move away from the van step-by-step, never taking my eyes off him. We hadn't driven far on the dirt road. If I followed it back, I could reach the main road, get to town. Get home. My cramped dorm room sounded like paradise right now. Right when I started to think the wolf was actually going to let me go, he jumped out of the van in one smooth, powerful movement. Another scream welled in my throat. Instead of letting it free, I sprinted down the dirt road. THE WOLF CAUGHT me in less than three seconds, but he didn't tackle me or anything. He simply ran beside me. It was dark, so I could barely see a thing. I could only hug the raised edges of the dirt road, using them as a guide. I didn't stop. My lungs felt like they were on fire, sweat pouring down my face. The wolf still ran silently at my side. Even when my jog deteriorated into a stumbling walk, he maintained the same pace. When I couldn't go any further, I plopped my hands onto my knees and bent over, su//cking in deep lungfuls of air. My sandwich shop T-shirt and Converse weren't exactly running gear. "Damn...you...wolf..." I wheezed. He licked the back of my knee. I screamed and kicked at him. He easily dodged my pathetic attempt. "Don't lick me if you want to survive." I gulped air. When I could breathe, I added, "I am not one of those people who touches every dog they see. Your germs are not welcome on this body." I gestured to all of me. He gave a pathetic whine. "I don't care what you think I am to you, werewolf. I know you were Veggie Guy, and I am not amused by any of this. I'm going home." I wildly flipped him off. "So sit there while I catch my breath, or go back to wherever you came from." The wolf snorted, but he sat. I steadied my breathing and started down the dirt road again, and though it felt like I'd been running forever, I would've walked for an entire week if it meant getting away from the werewolves and back to my dorm. The paved road couldn't be far now. "Alright, Isabella. You've got this. Just a little further." The second I finished my pep talk, the wolf made a weird sound, and I glared at it. "What are you laughing at?" He didn't answer, obviously. Because he was a wolf. Though talking animals wouldn't be that crazy compared to werewolves. "You are infuriating," I said, shaking my head as I kept moving. "I'm not going to be what you want—your mate or whatever. I have dreams, goals, plans. I'm not some housewife popping out babies every year. I have school and things to accomplish. So just walk away!" My voice raised as my rant continued. The wolf ignored my lecture, his gaze on the forest in front of me. I huffed and kept running. It wasn't like I had another option. The kidnappers were far behind now, probably still heading down that dirt road to wherever they'd planned to take me. I was going the opposite direction—back to my college town. But the fact that they hadn't come after me was suspicious. Were they just going to leave me with the wolf? According to them, he was hunting me. And that was terrifying. But shouldn't hunting be more violent than just...running beside me? No one could answer my questions now. Glancing at the wolf, it occurred to me that he hadn't had anything to do with the abduction. I mean, he'd been there, but he wasn't one of the guys who grabbed me. Theodore had started going wolf after meeting me, and the other guys grabbed us both. Though he was clearly with them. Not innocent. Not to be trusted. Especially while he was furry. A furry werewolf. Dammit, that was a lot to wrap my head around. I wheezed at him as we jogged, "You should definitely choose someone else to be your mate. You and your kidnapper buddies aren't my type. I'm far from the easy, party-loving sorority girl guys like you usually go for." The wolf ignored me again. Tired of being ignored, I shut up and kept running. Slowly, but moving. After what felt like forever, the sound of a car engine came from behind me. Cursing, I practically threw myself into a bush off to the side of the dirt road. Branches cut me and scratched me, but if it was Theodore's friends, I couldn't afford to get caught. Theodore—or the wolf that had once been Theodore—crouched beside me, his body hidden by the bush even though he wasn't inside the thing like I was. Sure enough, the kidnapper van passed us. They didn't even slow down. When they were gone, the forest seemed even darker than it had before. "I'm going to die out here," I muttered, crawling out of the bush. The wolf started licking my wounds. "Stop it, dammit. I don't know you." I shoved at his face. He growled. "Go find your wolfy friends and leave me to escape on my own." I tried to shoo him away. He barely budged. "Damn you." I sighed. I don't know how much longer I walked, but when the sun rose, I spotted flickering lights ahead. I cheered and picked up my pace. Bravo! Finally about to make my escape! Until I reached the edge of the small town and my smile froze. I'd celebrated too soon. The buildings were a completely different style than the new, modern builds of the college town I lived in. Where had I ended up? I froze beside a wind chime—at least fifty she11s and sea glass fragments dangling from fishing line. The fact that we were surrounded by mountains and forests, miles from any beach, made this super weird. My gaze dropped to the wolf beside me. "You already knew I wasn't walking toward school," I said flatly. He batted his eyes at me. I think he was trying to look innocent, but he was a wolf. He could definitely see better in the dark than I could. Which meant that he'd played me. The wolf had played me. Successfully escaped? In my dreams. I stared at the door, calculating. I could knock, pray there was some sympathetic human inside who'd give me water and food, maybe even a ride back to school. Or... maybe the wolf would kill them. Yeah, not worth risking innocent lives. I decided to keep going, find a police station. Or animal control. One or another of those places would have a way to get rid of my wolfy stalker. And hopefully, a ride home. My shoes were soaked on the inside, and I hoped they'd been soaked by pus from broken blisters, or maybe sweat. The alternative was blood, and that idea made me want to puke. The shoes were at least six years old, but the worn-down soles and holes in them hadn't done a thing to help prevent blisters while I was walking. It was already light out, but I had no idea what time it was. My phone was still in my locker at Fresh Slice. This little town was surprisingly lively. My college town was nothing like this. Students there didn't wake up until noon, early classes or not. The further I walked into the city, the more I found it strange that no one commented on the wolf following me. Seriously, who wouldn't be afraid of a wolf walking freely around town? I guessed maybe he could pass for a dog, but he wasn't on a leash or anything. At a gas station, I approached a woman pumping gas—selected for looking least likely to murder me or call the cops on sight. I forced a smile. "Hi, do you have a second?" "Of course." She smiled back, glancing at Theodore. Like the others we'd passed, she didn't look alarmed to see him. "Do you know where the police station is?" "Oh, you mean the main alpha's house? Sure, if you keep going down this street, you'll run into a logged mansion. The main alpha lives there, along with his pack." Main alpha? What the he11? "Are you a werewolf?" I asked bluntly. It seemed like the only logical answer, given her weird acceptance of the wolf beside me and her strange answers to my questions. She laughed. "Of course. Everyone in this town is a werewolf. Welcome to Silverpine Town, honey." Her smile widened. I stepped back—straight into Theodore, who licked my calf again. "I've lost my freaking mind," I mumbled, hurrying back down the road the way I'd come. The woman called after me, but my brain had officially short-circuited. It had taken me all night to walk to the werewolf town, but maybe I could make it back to school before sunset. If I just kept walking, ignored my dry mouth and aching feet, I could make it. What was the alternative—getting bitten by the werewolf, or dying? The wolf sensed my intention and blocked my path. He growled low. Threatening. "Get out of my way," I threatened back. A wave of dizziness hit me. I flung my arms out for balance, barely staying upright. Taking a step to the side, I tried to pass the wolf. He just jumped in my way again. "Dammit, wolf, move!" I yelled. Laughter erupted behind me. I spun around, flailing for a fighting stance. Fists up? Close to my ch//est? I had no idea. They were right there. The not-football-team. The source of that laughter. That was just my freakin' luck. In daylight, they were easier to tell apart: five guys, different builds, skin tones, haircuts. Separate in every way except one: They were all werewolves. "I wish I could order my wolf around like that," Seatbelt Guy grinned. Tall, dark skin, slim locs falling over his forehead. "We all do," another guy agreed. He was about an inch taller than the others, with fluffy dark brown hair and a charming smile. But they were all built like those football players I'd first mistaken them for. He strode toward me, offering a hand. I ignored his outstretched hand. "Listen—" I glared at the lot of them. "You assholes kidnap me, leave me with a monster, and expect me to shake hands? Take. Me. Home." "Sorry, we can't do that." Smiley Guy pulled his hand away and gestured to the wolf behind me. "You've got a better chance surviving the mating bite if you spend the next few weeks with Theodore. We'll keep you fed and safe, but alive beats home." I laughed—slightly unhinged. I needed sleep, and painkillers, and freedom. "Bullsh!t. All of this is bullsh!t." Theodore stepped beside me and snarled at the guys. Their smiles faltered. Then he lowered his nose to my shoe. "Is your foot injured?" one of the guys asked. I was pretty sure he had been the getaway driver, but it didn't matter. I didn't want to know any of their names. "No," I lied, not wanting them to have an excuse to grab me again. Theodore growled again, and it sounded like he was disagreeing with me. Damn wolf. "Grab her," Smiley Guy instructed. "Get her to Theodore's so she can rest." "No, don't—" Seatbelt Guy tossed me over his shoulder once again. I kicked. Screamed. They chatted amongst themselves like I wasn't a prisoner, Theodore trotting behind like this was a casual stroll. My throat was bone-dry, and my body too exhausted to keep kicking. I hung limply over his shoulder, wondering what karmic offense earned me werewolf kidnappers. No one in town paid any attention to my cries for help. Apparently, werewolf towns were full of sick freaks who were cool with kidnapping—maybe murder, too. They stopped at a row of townhouses—gray, white, green siding, all matching but different. If I weren't being dragged here by werewolf kidnappers, I might've found them kind of cute. They headed for the end unit. Of course it was the biggest—corner lot, extra windows, a balcony. Mostly gray, white trim, green accents. I refused to admit I liked the colors best on that one. One of the guys typed the code into the garage door's keypad. They filed inside. I eyed Theodore the wolf, who had started wagging his tail as we approached his space. Wagging his freaking tail, after abducting me. That wolf dude needed serious help. Seatbelt Guy dumped me onto a dark blue loveseat. "Welcome home, Isabella." I shot up, glaring. "This is not my home. And I don't remember telling you monsters my name." "It was on your shirt." Smiley Guy tapped his collarbone. "Your name tag fell off on the way to the van." "You mean when you were dragging me to the van." "Carrying you, actually," another of the guys corrected. Like that made a difference? I looked around— Werewolf, werewolf, and more werewolves. Perfect. I was absolutely losing my mind. "Well, if it bothers you—I'm Atlas." Smiley Guy offered his hand. "I'm Jax," Seatbelt Guy added. The others told me their names too, but I didn't remember a single one. My brain had officially clocked out. The next second, Theodore jumped onto the couch, resting his furry head directly on my lap. I immediately scooted sideways. He scooted too. I scooted again. This continued until my side hit the armrest—trapped with a werewolf head on my bare thigh. ...I should not have worn shorts today. "We're heading out. Dinner's at Jax's place tonight, it's the one next door." Atlas gestured off to the side. "You should shower and rest. You—" He sniffed. "Really stink." I watched them leave with laser focus. The door closed. I stared at it, smirking coldly. If they thought I'd stay put like a good little prisoner, they were dreaming. I jumped off the couch and bolted for the door. I spotted the keys hanging by the entrance—Bingo. I sprinted back to the garage door I'd just been carried inside through. Just as I was about to reach it, the wolf leaped gracefully over the couch and blocked me. "What the he11?" I screeched. "Move!" The wolf growled. Somehow, I could tell it wasn't a threatening growl... more like a calm refusal: "No." I spun around and charged for the front door. But he was faster. "Damn you." My fists clenched around the keys. I shoved them in my pocket and headed for the stairs. Fine. I'd shower, then escape while he napped. Wolves slept as much as dogs, right? The wolf jumped up a couple steps, then walked up the stairs with me at my pace. Every step was agony—but I pushed through. Upstairs: two bedrooms, one bathroom. I rushed into the first bedroom—clearly Theodore's. His closet was walk-in, bigger than my entire dorm room at school, but half the hangers were empty. Like they were waiting for someone else to move in and fill them. I grabbed one of his T-shirts and sweatpants, plus a few pairs of socks. Not for any sweet reason—my feet were probably a nightmare to look at. I didn't care about keeping my kidnapper's house clean, but if I couldn't escape, I wasn't about to track my own dried foot pus everywhere. The second I stepped into the bathroom, the wolf followed. "Out." I commanded, pointing to the door. He plopped down on the bath mat. The shower curtain was dark blue, barely see-through—but I still didn't want to shower with a wolf watching. And he wasn't just a wolf—he was a man too! I scanned the room and only found a can of air freshener. Alright, that was my weapon. I grabbed the air freshener, aiming it at the werewolf. "Get out," I warned coldly. "I'm exhausted and in pain, and you really don't want to mess with me right now." The wolf sat up straight at that, and gave a soft growl. "Don't growl at me for threatening you. You're the asshole who kidnapped me and trapped me here, wolf." He leaned his nose toward my foot, sniffing. Then growled louder. What was that supposed to mean? The next second, he lowered his head and gently caught my shoelace in his teeth, tugging. "You want me to take my shoes off?" I asked, incredulous. The wolf nodded. As it turned out, that was a mistake. The moment my socks came off, I nearly burst into tears. Blood, blisters, oozing fluid—a total disaster. Theodore whined, trying to stick his nose near the injury. "Back off." I pushed him away. Intense pain. Massive blisters on my heels, toes, and the backs of my ankles. "Happy now?" I grumbled at the wolf, who was still whining. "I'm tired." Theodore poked my leg with his nose, then poked the cupboard under the sink. With a dramatic sigh, I leaned over and pulled it open for him. He dug around, dragging out a small red fabric bag with a white cross. "A first-aid kit? That's actually helpful, thanks." I took it. What followed was straight-up medieval t0rture. While scrubbing my feet, I unleashed curses that would've made pirates feel inadequate—but I made it through. Where's my Purple Heart? When I finally collapsed onto the toilet seat, I'd never been so grateful for a toilet. This thing was basically a throne. Right then, the wolf crawled under my legs, using his back to support my calves. Warm, soft. ...Dammit, it was kind of comfortable. With the weight off my feet, the pain eased a little. While they air-dried, I awkwardly leaned my head back against the toilet tank, my eyes drifting shut. I must have dozed off, because the next thing I felt was my makeshift leg rest rumbling beneath me with a low growl. Yawning, I sat up. My body hurt. The wolf slowly crawled out from under me and used his nose to point at the ointment and bandages in the first-aid kit. "I know how to use this," I told him. After bandaging, I barely managed to get the socks on. "Dammit." The wolf tilted his head. Kind of adorable. Not that I'd admit it. "Now, out." I pointed to the door. He gave me puppy-dog eyes. I raised the air freshener again. "I will use this." The wolf sighed heavily, slowly shuffling to the door and plopping down right in the doorway, blocking the exit completely. Great. I propped my feet on the edge of the tub and slowly enjoyed my time in the bath. Mostly because I wanted some distance from the wolf. Er, Theodore. He was starting to seem way too human—almost considerate, even. I wasn't going to forget that he and his buddies had kidnapped me and trapped me here. I wasn't going to fall victim to Stockholm Syndrome. Absolutely not!