　　"Mated?To me?"She knew her mouth was hanging open in shock.Darting a glance across the room,she saw Kane staring at her blandly,his hands behind his back.If her expression offended him,he didn't show it.She looked at her father,blinking to hold back the tears that threatened to fall."But...What about Bryan?"
　　"I'm aware you've had your eye on him,but this is for the good of the pack.We need strong alliances so that we can guard against the human threat.And,allied packs allow access between territories and increase the area in which we have to roam."He stopped speaking and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder."I know this is a surprise,but don't worry.Kane is a good man.He'll make you a fine mate."
　　Elise had no idea when she came home that day that she'd end up mated to a complete stranger.A new Alpha and the need for an alliance between packs have made her a pawn Excerpt:She lay beside him,staring blankly at the ceiling.The deed was done.They were mated.It didn't matter that she had no love for him nor he for her.Political alliances were more important than feelings...

Mated To The Lycan King

　　With his greater strength and speed,Kane finally began to out-distance her,drawing farther and farther ahead.He rounded a bend in the path,temporarily disappearing from sight.She raced around the corner,and then skidded to an abrupt halt.The path stretched out straight in front of her,but Kane was nowhere in sight.She stood frozen,her eyes narrowed,searching the woods on either side while her ears strained for the sound of his running paws.Where had he gone?He couldn't have disappeared that quickly.Her heart pounded as she envisioned all sorts of calamities befalling him.Had he stepped off the path and into a trap?The patrols had cleared the area,but possibly they'd missed something.


　　A twig snapped behind her and she whirled around,only to be knocked to the ground by a large,black mass of fur and muscle.Her breath whooshed from her lungs and she struggled to inhale while her brain tried to process what had happened.


CHAPTER 36