Gabriella's vision spun as she heard those words. "That can't be true. You are lying, trying to trick me into staying with you!"
"I only speak the truth, little mate," Rocco said in a firm tone. "You are my mate, now tied to me by magic. If anything happens to me, you will die, and vice versa. So, if your plan is to hone your magic and break this bond… think again. The only way the spell breaks is if the caster dies."
Gabriella stared at him, her thoughts racing. This all seemed so unreal. "So, you are saying I am trapped here forever?" Her tone carried hints of disbelief.
Rocco's eyes softened. "I know this is not what you expected when you stepped into the woods tonight and, I apologize. But, until we can find a way around this, you have to stay by my side."
"This is insane!" Gabriella exclaimed, standing from the edge of the bed. "I refuse this bond nonsense. I don't even know you! How do you expect me to stay here for the rest of my life? This isn't the nineteenth century, mister wolf."
"I have a name. It's Rocco. Use it." Rocco replied, his voice deeper than intended. "In case you forgot, I am in the same boat as you. I never wanted a mate; at least, I planned to reject mine if I ever got one. Now here you are, a witch who my wolf wants to protect, who has tethered me to her like a fucking dog! I have enough on my plate without having to cater to your worries, so use that anger to figure out how we break this bond without you dying and stop fighting me."
"For a monster who dragged me here like a sack of potatoes, you are kind of rude. Why are you even concerned if I die? Won't it be better for you if I just slit my throat now and break this bond?"
In an instant, he strode across the room, his eyes turning the golden shade she glimpsed in the woods. Instinctively, Gabriella stepped back, her back hit the wall, holding her in place for the monster that towered above. Rocco's hands rested on either side of her, his face inches away from hers, hot breath wafting against her skin.
"I may not want a mate, but I do not want to go feral as well. You are my mate, a gift from the gods. My wolf will do anything to protect you, even if it means from yourself. So, if I catch you trying to take your life to get out of this, then mark my words, I will cut off your fingers to protect you. Do I make myself clear, little mate?"
Gabriella stared back at him, her breath racing frantically. "You are a monster."
Rocco laughed, the sound cold and mirthless. "Maybe I am. But, for better or worse, you are the mate of a monster now. Here," He handed her the clothes in his hands, eyes glued to hers as she wrapped the red jumpsuit.
"What is this for?"
"Take a shower and change into dry clothes. It gets cold here at night. You will want to cover up."
"Thank you." She whispered softly.
Rocco took a step back, his jaw clenched as he struggled to control his wolf. The beast wanted to hold his mate and reassure her everything would be fine. Maybe in another life, he would have held her closer, but he could feel the other side of his beast clawing to the surface; he had to go before the curse he carried forced him to make a mistake.
His hand froze over the doorknob as he turned to look at her, the pale moonlight made her look more beautiful than he imagined. "I am not your enemy, little mate. Remember that."
The door slammed shut, leaving Gabriella with her thoughts and emotions. Holding the jumpsuit closer to her face, she took a sniff of the fabric that smelled like the man who held her captive.
She must be going insane because she wanted nothing more than to roll around in the cedar-scented jumpsuit all day. Maybe she was the one who had lost her mind.
************************************
She should have stayed inside the room.
That was the first thought in her head as Gabriella stepped into the large living room she had walked past earlier. After what felt like twenty minutes of sleep, the sound of people coming from outside forced her out of the room. Rocco did say she wasn't a prisoner here and she still had to check if her phone was somewhere around the house.
She wasn't expecting to run into so many people.
Men and women gathered in small groups in what she now realized was a communal living room, their whispered conversations and suspicious glances told her these were the members of the pack Rocco kept talking about, and they must know now that she was a witch.
Ignoring them, she kept an eye out for the pouch that held her iPhone 16, when someone muttered. "Can't believe a witch is now our queen."
She froze, her fingers instinctively reaching for the locket. She needed some sort of protection, and the wolves decided to jump her.
"Oh, hello Luna. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
The shrill voice belonged to a leggy blonde perched next to the fireplace, her golden hair fell over her exposed shoulder in a manner that was supposed to be seductive.
Gabriella's hands tightened into fists, her nails piercing her skin. She didn't know this woman, but her gut said she was nothing but trouble.
"My name is Gabriella. Please call me that instead."
"Oh, forgive me. I should have introduced myself. My name is Valentina." The woman said calmly, her fake smile spreading even wider. "This is the first time we have a witch for a Luna, so I did not know the right way to address you."
Gabriella took a step back. This woman was expecting a reaction from her but she won't get it. "I am not a witch. I apologize if my presence makes you all uneasy but I can assure you that I mean no harm."
"But, we heard what you did to our warriors in the woods. How do you expect us to believe that you mean no harm? You might be here to wipe us out before we blink." She spat out, her voice low and cutting.
Gabriella clenched her jaw, looking around the tense room, angry eyes looking up at her as though waiting for a reason to strike. Screw this; Rocco could send her phone down when he found it; she was going back home, selling the house, and leaving this town with its wolves and magic. She had a life before coming here, she didn't have to listen to scathing remarks about powers she didn't even have or believe in.
Pushing Valentina aside, she dashed out of the room, the slowly receding moon guiding her back into the woods.
She moved quickly, her feet tracing back the path Rocco took. The day had finally caught up to her, the fact that werewolves exist, finding out she was linked to some ancient healer, the broody alpha male that she both wanted to kiss and punch at the same time. It was too much. She needed to think, far away from all this.
She looked back to see the estate almost disappear in the distance when the locket glowed, and a sudden, intense pain pierced through her chest, causing her to stop in agony.
Doubling over, Gabriella held her ribs in agony as a burning pain seared up her spine like wildfire, pushing her to her knees as she felt a tug on her soul pulling her back in the direction she came.
This must be the bond Dominic talked about. Her body was calling for Rocco.
With a pain-filled gasp, she whispered. "Save me."
Then the world went dark.
Rocco felt the tug before the pain; the sharp wave of anguish felt like a kick in his gut, making him stumble and grip his desk as his wolf roared to life, claws breaking through the skin. The need to save his mate pushes him to his feet.
"Gabriella." He snarled, voice a mixture of irritation and worry.
Dashing out of the room, he followed the pull of the bond to the woods, tracing his mate's honey scent. The ache in his chest lessened as he drew closer to her form lying sprawled on the damp ground. Her dark locks were tangled, and her face appeared ghostly in the moonlight.
"Gabriella!" He screamed, sinking to his knees by her side. Wrapping her in his coat, he feverishly checked her for a sign of life.
Her eyes flickered open at the sound of his voice, the mesmerizing orbs casting a puzzled gaze his way.
"Took you long enough."
Clenching his jaw, Rocco scooped his tiny mate up, holding her firm to his chest. "I thought I asked you to stay inside. Are you really trying to die, little mate?"
"I wasn't thinking," She whispered, her voice quivering. "Your pack kept saying stuff and I… I.. just wanted to think and drink coffee. I just want my phone."
Rocco let out a sigh, starting up the stone path to the estate. "I will talk to them, and your phone is with me. You will get it first thing tomorrow."
As the cedar scent of the warm house wrapped around her, Gabriella turned into his chest and whispered in a barely audible voice. "What have you done to me, Wolfman?"
Rocco's face revealed nothing as he gazed down at her. "I didn't cause this, Gabriella. But for your sake and my sanity, I will find a way to break this bond."
The door closed behind them and Gabriella couldn't help but feel this was just the beginning of a very hard life.