My True Mate: Book 2

By Bella Lore

On the night of her first shift, Sarah, 18, expects everything to change—and a lifetime with the Alpha. But one thing happens that she doesn’t expect.

She fails to shift.

In an instant, Sarah loses everything: her pack, her mate, and her future. An outcast in the woods, Sarah wonders about the mysterious rogue who haunts the den’s perimeters. But she is just a human now.

Sarah attempts to navigate this new world, as tensions continue to grow.

Can she enter into a forbidden romance with a wolf?

And who, in the end, is her true mate?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Lore
• Release date: Jan 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094393506

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M Y   T R U E   M A T E

(Book 2)

B e l l a   L o r e

Bella Lore

Debut author Bella Lore is the paranormal romance author of the MY TRUE MATE series, comprising four books.

Bella loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit bellaloreauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Copyright © 2022 by Bella Lore. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright Photographee.eu, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY BELLA LORE

MY TRUE MATE

MY TRUE MATE (Book #1)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #2)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #3)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

CHAPTER FORTY

CHAPTER FORTY ONE

CHAPTER FORTY TWO

CHAPTER FORTY THREE

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

CHAPTER FORTY SIX

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

CHAPTER FORTY NINE

CHAPTER FIFTY

CHAPTER ONE

Kayla’s POV

There’s blood everywhere.

It’s on the walls, on the floor, splattered on the carefully crafted ornaments my sisters gave me yesterday for my birthday. Even my hands are sticky with it.

I wade through the carnage, cold horror moving through me.

Mom? My voice breaks as I whimper out, the silence haunting me. Mommy?

But there’s no sound.

I walk through the hallway till I reach the stairs.

My sisters bedrooms are up there.

Maybe.

Rain? Lilly?

There are is a heavy silence in the air, a kind that I’ve never heard before and it’s terrifying. I’m trying to breathe. I’m trying to draw in some air. It’s like I‘ve walked into a nightmare.

My ears are pounding as I reach Rain’s room.

I hear something inside and a flicker of hope lights up within me.

I open the door, Rai-

I freeze.

My oldest sister, my lovely, beautiful sister, has a knife in her side, as she struggles with the man in black clothes. She sees me and shock fills her eyes, followed by a desperate urgency, Run! Kayla, run away!

The man turns to face me.

His eyes.

His eyes are red.

A soft glowing red.

And for some reason, I know he’s smiling.

Run, Kayla! Rain shrieks. Now! Don’t look back!

My feet are moving before I know it.

And I’m turning around and running.

Down the steps.

The front door bursts open and I see three men walk in, wearing the same black clothes.

And I turn tail.

I run past the stairs.

Past the bodies of my parents.

Past the room which still has balloons strung up from last night’s birthday surprise, into the back yard, into the dark sky which is pouring angry tears.

I keep running through the back yard, towards the line of trees.

The forest.

There is safety in the forest.

I can hear the urgent footsteps behind me.

I don't look back.

Survival is the only thing in my head right now.

Nothing registers on me.

Not the rain beating on my face.

Not my clothes getting wet from the rain.

Not that my entire family has been been murdered.

Not that I ran away from my sister instead of helping her.

Not that I am all alone in the whole world right now.

I just have to run.

I have to keep running till they can’t find me.

My feet hurt but I don’t stop.

I keep looking ahead, my eyes dry and hurting, my brain numb.

Maybe that’s why I don’t see the stone in front of me.

I find myself slipping and tumbling into the gushing river.

I get sucked under and the last thing I see is a man standing on the river bank, watching me get carried away by the water.

***

When I wake up, I’m stuck between two branches of a fallen tree.

I’m alive.

The rain has stopped but the clouds are still dark and threatening.

I am completely drenched and shivering by the time I manage to make it to the shore.

My limbs are stiff with the cold and I trudge through the wet mud, staggering.

I don’t know how long I walk for till I see a small opening in a tree.

I crawl inside, curling up into a ball, trying to warm myself.

My entire body is hurting.

I hear the crack of thunder and I let out a small whimper, scared of the terrifying sound.

And then it begins to rain.

I hear a small pained yip from nearby but I cover my ears.

The sound comes again. And then again.

Is it a dog?

I peer outside but aside from the rain, I see nothing.

I hear the yip again, the desperate cry for help, a lonely sound. It resonates with me and I crawl out.

It’s a wolf puppy, not far from where I was hiding.

It’s very small, stuck under a log.

It’s difficult to walk in the slippery wet mud but I mange to push the log off him to some extent, heaving, my breathing heavy.

The puppy’s leg is released and panting. I pick it up in my arms, scrambling back to the tree. I crawl in the space again, both of us wet and shivering and I curl around the small life in my arms.

And we lay there, together, both of us alone in the world.

However, we are not alone for long.

There s thudding sound and a soft splashing and a moment later, I recognise them as footsteps.

She must be here, Comes a sharp voice and my breath catches in my throat.

She couldn’t have gotten far! Search everywhere! We need the girl alive!

My hands shake and I curl up tighter.

In the darkness, I see the wolf puppy’s eyes glint and I put my finger on my lips, shaking my head, hoping it understands.

It’s wet and tired and it just snuggles up to me, and we both wait with bated breath.

Sir, we can’t find her!

What do you mean you can’t find her?! The man who had been speaking before, roars.

But another voice speaks now, his voice quiet and amused, She won’t get far. Keep looking. Put someone on the house. When you find her, break her legs, so she doesn’t run away.

I freeze.

It feels like hours have passed when the men finally leave.

As the sound of the rain and the thunder continues, the wolf puppy wriggles in my arms, licking my face. I stare outside, absentmindedly, stroking his fur, adjusting to this new fear.

And it hits me.

It’s like a punch in my gut, a cold realisation.

My family is dead.

My sisters are probably dead.

I can’t go home.

And somebody wants to capture me.

None of this makes any sense.

But I feel the tears pouring own my cheek, hot and heavy, the grief spilling out of me.

The wolf puppy whines and licks my tears away.

But I can’t stop them from coming out and I cry silently, my only companion in the world, a little wolf puppy.

CHAPTER TWO

I watch the wolves dancing around the bonfire, celebrating the mating ceremony of the young couple.

The smell of the barbecue wafts over and my mouth waters at the scent of the cooking meat.

Before I know it, a plate is held before me and Lucas, my mate of one year, steps in front of me, smirking, Hungry?

No, I stretch out the word, guiltily. I just ahead two slices of cake.

Lucas’s smile is warm now as his eyes lower towards my stomach, Well, considering you’re carrying our baby inside that bottomless pit of a stomach of yours, you deserve freshly grilled lamb skewers.

I take the plate from, narrowing my eyes at him, Why do I feel like that was an insult?

He just grins, pressing a kiss on top of my head, Eat as much as you want. You need it.

He leans against a tree watching the festivities and I settle in the circle of his arms, chewing on the seasoned meat, Things have gotten better, haven’t they?

With you as an Alpha, how can they not? Lucas murmurs. The pack is happier than ever. You have done a good job.

His hand comes to settle on my stomach, When do you want to tell them?

I’m quiet, Not yet. I want this to be our secret for now. You know how the maternal females are. They won’t let me be. I won’t even be able to breathe without them monitoring it.

Lucas makes a sound of agreement, Jack and Linda are happy.

I look in the direction of the married couple who is dancing. Linda is being passed around and every one is trying to steal a kiss from her.

It’s all in good fun, though.

She ducks and avoids the mouths of her laughing pack mates before winding up in her father, Ben’s, arms who spins her around.

I know that the festivities will go on well into the night.

I plan to retire early and I glance towards the wolves laying on the forest ground, watching the shifters, almost lazily. They prefer to be near me but I can see that some of then are snoozing while a few are blinking in sleepy succession.

I watch a couple of teenagers sneak into the woods and my lips twitch, Laura!

One of the girls freezes, giving me a guilty look.

Not too far, I warn her.

Why do they always go into the woods to neck? Lucas grumbles. They’re like horny -

Look who’s talking, I scoff. You drag me out into the forest any chance you get.

Lucas bites my ear, We’re mated. It’s different. I can’t help wanting you all the time.

I struggle in his hold and the plate slips from my hand, falling onto the ground.

Lucas! I complain. See what you made me do!

It’s as I’m crouching down to pick up the plate that I feel something whizz past my face.

I freeze as a few things happen at the same time.

My wolves are on their feet, snarling in the direction of the forest.

There are high pitched screams from the forest.

And I hear a grief stricken cry, Dad!

It’s like time has slowed down around me as I raise my head and see Linda sobbing over her father’s body. A dark arrow is protruding from his chest.

There are panicked shouts from the ceremony grounds and I meet Lucas’s gaze, horror filling me, The kids!

I’ll go! Lucas is already shifting.

I move towards the pack as Lucas disappears into the forest.

Move everybody inside! I shout.

The den is still at a distance and I see the dominants and soldiers ushering the women and children back in its direction. As I whip my head in the direction of the forest, I see a line of dark clothed figures emerging, holding bows in their hands.

They’re shooting the arrows in quick succession, not losing momentum, not breaking their formation.

They’re shooting indiscriminately at man, woman, and child.

I see an arrow flying towards one of the younger children and I intercept it, grabbing it. The burn I feel in my hand makes me drop the arrow almost instantly.

I hiss in pain, Go! Someone take him!

Ted, one of the lieutenants, grabs the boy, and runs towards where the weaker members of the pack are retreating to.

We have no shields, I realize in dismay. Nothing to protect us from this shower of arrows. The soldiers will all be massacred at this rate if we charge them or if we charge them.

Take cover everyone! I roar, transforming in a shimmer of light.

I can move faster than my pack. It’s time to take full advantage of that.

I charge towards the shooters, dodging arrows. My wolves are right behind me.

I hear whimpers and sounds of arrows piercing flesh.

It’s difficult to not look back, to order them to leave, but I know they won’t.

I harden my heart, focusing on the task ahead.

My teeth sink into one of the shooter’s neck, killing him instantly.

I toss his body at his companions, darting out of the way as more arrows are aimed in my direction.

I hear howls behind me as large wolves follow my lead, including Jack, who’s a sentinel in training.

‘Confuse them!’ I order. ‘And don’t let yourself be hit. There’s something off about those arrows’

I hear the grim affirmation and then the venue which had been filled with laughter and music is now a bloodbath, filled with snarls and screams.

I move through bodies, killing as many as I can. My silver fur is stained red with blood as we press against our attackers.

However, they don’t stop shooting, their movements almost mechanical.

I howl in anger as one of the younger soldiers next to me is hit. I retaliate by ripping the head off the shooter and spitting it out.

Their numbers are beginning to dwindle and I see them begin to move back, back into the woods.

Just then, I feel a piercing pain in my chest.

I’ve not been hit.

Lucas.

Lucas has been hit.

A desperate howl leaves my mouth.

CHAPTER THREE

‘Sarah!’

There is panic in the voices filling my head and I have to force myself to remain calm.

My eyes drift towards the forest but I have to protect my people.

‘Force them back!’ I snarl. ‘Don’t kill all of them! We need some alive!’

Our attackers seem to have figured out our intentions and they’re retreating.

The arrows flying towards us have decreased in number which is a relief. I see Ted knock out two of the men.

Jack is to my right, fighting when an arrow comes whizzing past me. I slap it out of the way, ignoring the way my paw burns.

But where there is one, there are more.

Reviews for My True Mate

[Ashley Johnson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The storyline is good. Interesting plot. But these books need serious re-editing. The misspellings, and other issues make it annoying, not enoughnot to read, but enoughto sometimesinterruptthe flow. Even if they use arcs and beta readers to help if they don't have the money for a actual editor.

[Shreya Suresh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nicely extended storyline from the first part, Can't wait to read the next part.