Fine, he wanted a year, she’d give him a year. The island was a pretty big place. She didn’t have to see him for a single day.
****
Lucas groaned as he opened his eyes. Gripping the back of his neck, he felt like he’d been stabbed with something. Reaching behind him, he touched the delicate part of his neck and knew without a doubt he’d been drugged. He sat up and glanced around the room. The bags he’d been neatly packing were in the corner, and there was no other telltale sign of him being kidnapped or on the road to torture.
Swinging his feet to the floor, he turned and saw the envelope with his name scrawled across it.
He picked it up, recognizing his father’s writing instantly. After opening the envelope, he pulled out a single sheet of paper and started to read.
Son,
I hope you know what you’re doing. Requesting what you did took guts, and I’m so proud of you. This is what had to happen. No one can know where the island is. You and Mabel had to be taken. She is in another room. Good luck, and I hope you’re able to fix this damage once and for all. You’ve got one year. Make it count.
Dad
Lucas had no idea this was what had to happen. Running a hand down his face, he just knew Mabel was going to be pissed at him. Probably find it to be another reason not to stand being in his company.
When it came to his mate, he’d fucked up on every single level prior to even knowing she was his mate.
Damn it.
He’d lost count of the number of times he’d thought about his behavior in the past and been ashamed of himself.
He’d hurt his own mate. It was why he hadn’t forced her to stick around. He completely understood her need to be as far away from him as possible. Still, it fucking sucked.
Whatever happened, he had to win her. Not for any other reason than the fact he wanted to be with her.
She was his mate.
Being around her, no matter how short the time he’d experienced it, he felt whole. Whenever she left, there was always a part of him missing. The part that only Mabel claimed. He had to make it work for both of them.
Before the transition into wolf, he’d played around. There had been so many women and girls vying for his attention. Even then, he’d been big, muscular, and looked older than his eighteen years. He’d gotten the fun out of the way as he knew the moment he had his first change, he’d be devoted to learning everything he needed to do from his father.
There were only two things in life he’d been certain of: he wanted a mate and he was going to be Alpha.
Right now, he wasn’t sure of anything. If he didn’t secure his mate, how was he ever going to be able to rule the pack? They would all know of his failure to win her.
This wasn’t about his alphaship, though. No, this was just about winning her. To be able to keep her. None of his friends understood that there were days all he wanted to do was hold her. If he could just touch her, that would be enough. At least, that was what he kept on telling himself, but he had a feeling he was so wrong about it all.
He got to his feet and reached out to grip one of the four posters on each corner of the bed, feeling a wave of sickness wash over him. There was no doubt it was the drugs. They were fucking strong.
With a hand against his gut, he stepped out of his bedroom.
There were several doors in front and on either side of him. He’d heard of the island house before but had never been given the pleasure of actually seeing it. Now as he stood, looking all around him, he had to wonder why no one else knew about it.
Sure, it was used for delicate matters like this and dealing with feral wolves, but the sheer grandness wasn’t lost on him. Couples could have their honeymoon here, or just spend a couple of days if not weeks away.
Drawing his focus back to the problem at hand, he made his way past each bedroom, opening the doors to check. None of the rooms were made up, and as he came to the stairwell, one was sending him down, the other going up to another part of the house.
Hunger drew him, but more importantly, his mate did.
He had to know if she was all right.
After taking the steps up, he opened the first door and stopped.
Mabel lay on the bed.
Her cases were in the corner.
Every single part of him was screaming to leave, but he took a step over the threshold and went to look at her.