Forbidden Hope: A Werewolf Wars Prequel Novella Read Online Free Page A

not.”
    “So do you want that glass of milk?”
    She should say no. “Sure.”
    ***
    M arcus poured the steaming milk into a mug and handed it to Emily. “It should put you right to sleep.”
    “Thanks.” She blew on the cup before placing it to her lips and taking a sip. “Tastes good.”
    “It was my mom’s recipe. The nutmeg helps calm you.”
    “You didn’t mention your parents before,” Emily commented.
    Marcus licked his lips and sighed. “They died when I was about twelve.” After his parents deaths, he and his brothers had been inseparable. Now, they were gone too. A tick formed in his jaw and he swallowed hard, not wanting to appear weak in front of Emily. He drew in a quiet breath and composed himself.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered, glancing down into her mug.
    “It was hard. My mom was sick for a while. She kept getting worse and worse, but our pack doctor couldn’t figure out what the problem was. After a few months, she died. My dad didn’t last long after that. Losing them both so close together was difficult, but, at the same time, knowing that they loved each other so much...” he trailed off.
    “A true love match. My mom told me about them once. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an actual one. It all sounds so romantic. To live and die for each other. To have a physical and mental connection with each other.”
    Marcus stared at her. She looked away, her emerald eyes darting anywhere but him. Everything seemed to click all at once for him. She was his true mate. It was the only possible explanation for the way he felt. The desire to claim her was as powerful as the yearning to spend time with her. Her lilac scent intrigued him, drew him in right from the start.
    He looked up and saw the slight part of her lips. Her breathing quickened and red crept over her face as if she were having a similar revelation.
    “Thanks for the milk,” Emily stammered, setting the empty mug in the sink. She played with the purple sash on her robe for a moment. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    “Emily?” his hand shot out and grasped her wrist. “I...”
    She swallowed as she moved closer to him, her eyes blinking rapidly as her breath puffed against his face.
    His hand reached up to graze across her soft cheek before threading in her hair. Her tongue darted out to wet her pink, plump lips and he tilted his head to the side, entranced. Their lips grazed against each other, lightly touching at first before Emily deepened the kiss. He nibbled her bottom lip, pulling her flush against him. She melted into him for a few precious seconds, before she froze.
    Emily’s hands pushed on his chest and she turned away from him. “We can’t do this,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
    “Why? I know you feel it too.”
    “You know how our world works, Marcus. I’m to be mated to another alpha to ensure the peace amongst our neighboring packs. If we go down this road, it will only end in heartbreak. I can’t do that,” she said hoarsely.
    “So don’t think about the future. It’s not set in stone. Things can change. I can prove myself to your father. Just give me the chance. I can’t ignore whatever this is and I want to— need to see it through,” Marcus encouraged. He would show the alpha he was worthy.
    Emily shook her head. Tears shone in her beautiful emerald eyes, and her bottom lip trembled as she suppressed a sob. “You don’t know my father.” She gave him one last fleeting look before bolting out of the kitchen.
    ***
    M arcus’ fingers flew across his keyboard, pulling up the stocks for the day. He might not be as aggressive as the other wolves here, but he’d impressed Emmett McKinley with his knowledge. The alpha had given him three months to dazzle him, and he wanted to do just that.
    Maybe if he were in the alpha’s good graces, it would help his chances of potentially pursuing a relationship with Emily. The feelings weren’t one-sided. He had smelled her arousal