The Alpha Takes a Mate by Sam Crescent

her.
    “What’s going on?” Elle asked.
    “You screamed. You must have had a nightmare,” Brandon said.
    “I’ve never had a nightmare.” She frowned as the dream seemed to vanish from her mind as if it wasn’t there. “I can’t remember,” she said.
    His arms surrounded her. “Don’t worry about it.”
    After her parents checked to make sure she was fine, Elle moved out of Brandon’s arms. “I’m just going to the bathroom,” she said. She moved to the door then turned back to him. “How come you’re here?”
    “You’re here, Elle. I’m not leaving you.”
    “I’ve never had a man in my bed before.”
    “I know.”
    “How do you know?” she asked.
    “It’s too late tonight. Go to the bathroom. I’ll be waiting for you.”
    Nodding, she moved to the bathroom. Splashing water onto her face she stared at her reflection. What the hell was her dream about?
    Staring at her reflection she checked her neck. Two droplets of blood appeared in the mirror. Rubbing her neck, Elle looked at her fingers , but there was nothing there. Staring in the mirror she saw her neck was bare of any blood.
    “I’m losing my mind.”
    She wiped her face on the towel then made her way down to her bedroom. Brandon lay on the bed with his hands underneath his head.
    “You shouldn’t be here,” she said, throwing the covers over and climbing inside.
    “If I wasn’t here I wouldn’t be able to chase the dreams away.”
    Elle tucked the blanket under her chin.
    “I’m not going to attack you and have my wicked way with you,” Brandon said.
    “Very funny. I’ve heard about your appetites.”
    He tugged the blanket from her strong grip.
    “My appetites or that of the wolves?” he asked.
    “Does it matter which one? You’d deny either one.”
    “I like to fuck, Elle. I’m not a young man. I’ve had my fair share of pussy.”
    “You’re a disgusting pig,” she said, turning away from him.
    Brandon chuckled. “This is who I am, baby.”
    “Then I don’t want to get to know you.”
    He stroked her arm. She tensed, but he did it again and then again. She couldn’t give in to his touch when it ignited a fire within her. No man affected her in the way Brandon did. Closing her eyes she took several deep breaths. His hand moved around her waist. She turned on him.
    “Don’t touch me,” she said.
    “I’m not touching your tits or cunt, Elle. I’m holding you in my arms. Don’t you feel different with me close?” he asked.
    Thinking about his words , she did feel calmer. The fear brought on by her dream was no longer at the centre of her mind.
    “Admit it . You feel different.”
    “Yes, what is that?”
    “We’re mated, Elle. You’ll feel protected by me and safe. No matter how much you hate me or want to push me away, you won’t be able to.”
    Licking her lips she took the chance to glance in his eyes. “Does this work both ways?” she asked, dropping her gaze after several seconds.
    What was it about his eyes that stopped her from looking at them?
    “Yes, it works both ways.”
    She stroked the arm that rested against her stomach. Curiosity getting the better of her, she started to ask him questions.
    “When you change , what is it like?” she asked. She’d never seen a wolf transition.
    “The first change is painful. We’re born wolves , and the change is in our blood, but we’re not used to changing. Bones need to be broken and fixed back together. Our skin splits and turns to fine hairs.”
    She winced at the brutal picture he displayed. “How do you survive it? Is there blood everywhere?”
    He chuckled. “We survive it because it’s in our nature to be wolves. We’re supposed to turn. No blood is spilt, and after the first couple of changes we get used to it. My wolf is part of me. The more we accept the beast inside us, the easier the change will be.”
    “Does it hurt you?” she asked.
    “No. I accept my beast. He’s part of me, and I’d never fight the release that