Chapter 0298

The Moon Goddess must be laughing at me right now.

A year ago, I kidnapped a Guardian, trying to force her into being my mate. Turned out she was underage—my mark didn’t take.

I’ve since realized how wrong that was.

Yet here I stand, staring into the eyes of my new mate.

Another Guardian.

She approaches cautiously, sizing me up. "What can I get you?"

"Water," I say. "And your name. And what time your shift ends. We need to talk."

She doesn’t flinch. "Water. Coming right up."

I catch her wrist before she can leave. "Your name."

Behind me, a chair scrapes. She glances past my shoulder. "It's fine, Reginald."

Then those sharp eyes lock onto mine. "Isolde. And no, we don’t have anything to discuss. You ordering food, or should I bother bringing that water?"

Damn. That attitude? Hot.

Not that I’d admit it, but everything about her turns me on. Strong. Sassy. Exactly my type—not that I’ve had much experience. Spent years running, then six months in a cell getting my ass kicked daily.

"I’m not leaving, Isolde."

She nods and walks off.

Reginald steps up behind me. "Boy, unless you want trouble, walk away from that girl."

I turn. He’s tall—but not as tall as me. Lean where I’m built like a brick wall. And human.

"Sir," I say, keeping my tone respectful, "I won’t hurt her. But we are talking."

To his credit, he doesn’t back down.

Before things escalate, Isolde’s back, sliding between us. "Reginald, sit." Then she jabs a finger at my chest. "You. Sit. Now."

And oh—she’s an Alpha.

Her power rolls off her in waves, whether she realizes it or not. I drop into the booth, half against my will.

She leans in, cherry blossoms and defiance flooding my senses. "Thirty minutes. Then we talk. If you behave. Want food?"

I smirk. She’s affected too—her scent gives her away. Pissed? Maybe. But her body knows I’m hers.

"Whatever you like best."

Her smirk matches mine. Mistake.

She returns with a banana split.

Not dinner. But I’ll play along.

I eat slowly, watching her work. Taking orders. Cleaning tables. Talking to everyone but me.

Questions burn in my skull.

Where are her parents? Why’s an Alpha working a diner in some human town? Does she even know she’s a Guardian?

Because if she does, she should know how dangerous that is.

The second word gets out that a Guardian’s died, every Alpha in the country will hunt her.

And the mate bond? Most wolves don’t react like she did—like I’m some inconvenience.

Rejection isn’t an option.

I need to contact Adrian Grey. Find out which Guardian died—probably in the vampire battle.

Blackthorn and Nightshade Packs will be grieving. They need to know their Guardian’s been reborn.

Why Isolde’s here, alone, I don’t know. But if she won’t let me mark her yet, she needs protection.

The safest place for her?

With me. And the other Guardians.

Whether she likes it or not.