Her Wolf Mate
HANNAH LIN
Copyright © 2022 Hannah Lin
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to
real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Cover design by: Melody Simmons
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 1
KATE
“I want all the bombs to go off at the same time.”
I watched Carter's almost black eyes bore into every
person around him. His black hair was in a severe buzz cut,
bringing out the harsh angles of his face even more. His
massive build, combined with his sharp features, gave him a
compelling presence.
I shuffled in my seat. I’d seen a lot of things in my years
as a Testean soldier, but listening to Carter, the leader of a
suicide bomber cell, speak so passionately about wanting
the deaths of hundreds to happen like a conductor planning
the final moments of a symphony, was disconcerting.
“This is the biggest job we've ever done,” Carter
continued, his eyes moving over the dozen men, and me,
the single woman in the room. “Mabos has a monarchy and
a democracy, so that's twice the number of assholes we
have to take down.”
I drew a deep breath and folded my arms, doing my best
to feign interest. I already knew about Carter's plans. I was
here to stop them long before the cell members set foot on
Mabos. But first, I needed to learn more about how the cell
operated.
A few weeks ago, intel from a very reliable source came
across the desk of Testea's General. The information had
passed down the chains, and they had selected me to go
undercover. A second dragon would back me up, but he
hadn't arrived. It didn't matter, this type of mission was my
specialty.
I enjoyed immersing myself in an organization, figuring
out information that a low-level informant could never get.
For me, it wasn't enough to take down one bad guy. Testea
needed to learn how they operated, so that we could always
be a step ahead.
Testea, as the foremost power in the universe, was hell-
bent on maintaining peace. For centuries, our neutral
approach to diplomacy had allowed bloodshed on a level
that was too painful to recall. All that bloodshed was led by
Zov, a planet that believed in the subjugation of lesser
species, placing shifters at the top of their imaginary
hierarchy.
Now, elite soldiers like me were sent out with the same
end goal: to undermine Zov and set up the perfect
conditions for their demise. I understood the game well.
While Testea had the most dragons of any planet, making us
the strongest, we had to take Zov down carefully, otherwise
another planet would rise to take their place. Finesse was
the name of the game, and I was ready to play my part.
“We will station the fifteen couriers we have at different
spots,” Carter said.
I lifted my head, my ears pricking up. This was the
information Testea needed. While we knew that Mabos, an
ally, was the target, we didn't know precisely what locations
the Zovites planned to hit.
While Carter would never get to carry out the mission, as I
understand the logic behind the locations he chose, to
better protect ourselves and our allies.
“Your job is to get your courier, or couriers, there on time,
and to make sure they go through with it. We've been
working on a new potion that will make them more
compliant, but sometimes, the adrenaline of that last
moment gets to them. Those of you who are new to us need
to remember that a good bit of brutal force and threats
always help get the couriers over that minor hurdle.”
The room filled with laughter, and I smirked, despite the
way my stomach roiled. Carter was referring to humans as
couriers. Like they were nothing more than a means to an
end. That was another thing I needed to learn. How and
where was Carter sourcing these people?
I sighed inwardly. I’d been undercover for weeks, and my
progress was slow. Carter kept a tight ship, divulging only
what the team needed to know at the last minute. I had just
gained the cell's trust, something that took longer because I
was the only woman, but I hadn’t been able to get close to
Carter's office.
I clenched my fists and sat straight up. This wasn't the
first time I’d had to play the long game. Carter could be as
secretive as he wanted to. It didn't matter. I had enough
patience and reason to wear him out.
Carter cleared his throat, and the laughter stopped.
“Alright, for now, I want you focused on sourcing the last few
couriers we need. The refugee camps on Brade are
overwhelmed with influxes every day. Those on the border
are fuller but better guarded. The opposite is true for those
further away from the border. Take your pick, but remember,
you've got to give them a good reason to go with you
willingly. So, head out in twos, and make sure they see their
loved ones’ suffering. That's the ammo you'll need should
they choose not to cooperate.”
I felt my face blanch as a sudden chill hit my core. So
that's how they were doing it. Carter was using innocent
people from the most impoverished planets, who were
fleeing civil wars that he had helped to orchestrate. I felt a
flush of adrenaline tingle through my body.
Kill this bastard, my dragon whispered.
Soon, I responded.
The people who sought refuge on other planets only
wanted a new beginning, and room to grieve. That Carter
was taking the fresh start they fought for, and stripping it
away, was beyond disgusting.
“Understood?” Carter said.
I hadn't heard his final statement, but I responded in
unison with the other cell members. “Understood.”
The sound of chairs being pushed back, and gentle
chatter breaking over the group filled the room. I remained
seated, needing a moment to process it all. I wouldn't let
this mission become about my beliefs, but Carter had just
added another reason to my list of reasons he deserved to
die.
“Simon
and Kate, approach,” Carter said.
I got up quickly, wanting to show Carter that I feared him
and that I was eager. That attitude would get me closer to
the information I needed.
“Kate, I want you to accompany Simon in picking up the
package we'd discussed earlier.”
I nodded sharply, keeping up my act. “No problem.”
“I want to make something clear to you,” Carter said,
locking eyes with me. “This is a package, not a courier. If
things get difficult, you have permission to use force, but
otherwise, I want you to be gentle.”
I looked down, as Carter stared at me, unblinking. It was
an alpha move, meant to intimidate me. I was anything but.
In my dragon form, I could take Carter down in a second. In
my human form, it would be more of a challenge, but still
doable. But right now, I was pretending to be a bear. I even
had a bottle of bear’s scent in my room to help with the
ruse. So, rather than give him what he had coming to him, I
nodded silently.
“Good,” Carter said, turning to Simon. “Be back in time to
help administer the next dose. I want those couriers primed
and ready for our move tonight. No hiccups.”
the older bear. Once we left the building that the meeting
took place in, we got into a red van and silently drove from
the barracks with Simon at the wheel.
I had a lot of questions for Simon, seeing as this was our
first time alone, but I didn't want to appear suspicious. I
hoped that our destination was far enough that I’d have
time to weave my questions into a natural conversation.
As we drove out of the base, a soldier saluted us. I
mentally shook my head. I couldn't believe that Zov had a
suicide bomber cell as an official part of its army. They kept
the truth from the public, of course, but it was sad that they
were willing to use any tactic to get what they wanted.
Zovites had no honor. Perhaps it had something to do with
the low number of dragons among them. Honor came first
for dragons. Well, most. There were a few Zovite dragons,
after all.
“Do you know why the package has to be handled with
care?” I asked. It had been a good five minutes, and I felt I
could bring the topic up without looking suspicious.
Simon laughed, a low throaty sound. “The package is
Carter's daughter. That's why we have to be careful.”
I turned sharply and let my eyes dart over Simon's face.
“You're not joking.”
“Nope,” Simon said, smiling as he kept his eyes on the
road.
The hard Simon I’d observed around the barracks was a
ruse. I didn't know why the older bear was letting his guard
down around me, but I appreciated it. It would make my
time with the cell easier and might even help me get
information faster. Simon was Carter's Third, in charge of
keeping the couriers healthy.
“Why is she being treated as a package, then?” I asked.
“It's simple. Maddie pretty much hates all of us. I don't
know why, considering we barely spend any time with her,
and I doubt she knows anything about what we do. I'm
guessing she mostly hates the way the men leer at her.
She's a beautiful young lady. It’s probably the reason Carter
brought you on. He rarely hires women. He must think you’ll
be able to keep Maddie in check by using your female
powers or something.”
“Huh.”
I folded my arms and bit the inside of my cheek. If Maddie
hated the cell, then she could become an asset. Perhaps I
could turn her by telling her the truth of what her father did
for a living. Maddie could get the information I desperately
needed. Then I could kill Carter and most of his men before
going home.
“Why is Maddie coming with us?” I asked.
Simon shrugged. “I don't know. On past missions, she's
always stayed on Zov. Something must have happened for
Carter to want to bring her along, but whatever it is, he's
not sharing, as usual. The guards at the house are pretty
quiet, so I doubt we'll ever find out why.”
I nodded, then looked out of the window. Zov looked a lot
like Testea, but they were so different. Here, a high-ranking
military man could run a suicide bomber cell and force his
daughter to accompany him on a genocidal mission. I was
definitely on another planet.
“So why did you decide to join up?” Simon asked.
“I needed a way up, and progress is almost impossible for
women,” I said, adding a bitter tone to my voice. My cover
story wasn't the most exciting, but it rang true for women in
all spheres of life. “I heard rumors about this unit. I did some
digging and finally got a name. After that, things moved
pretty fast.”
Simon sighed. “I hate to break it to you, but your chances
of getting promoted and leaving this unit are slim to none.
We don't exist officially, and you can never talk about it.”
“I know. But it's better than life in the regular corps,
fighting day in and day out. At least this way I get better
money and some downtime.”
“Ain't that the truth.” Simon grinned. “I knew you were
alright. A bunch of the guys thought you were a lesbian or a
spy because you rebuffed them. If you keep your head
down, and focus on money and downtime, you'll do well
here.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
I hated pretending to be someone I wasn’t, but I needed
the protection it afforded me. As a woman, they already
underestimated me. It was one reason I made a great
undercover agent. But one wrong move or turn of phrase,
and as the newest recruit and only woman, I’d be the first
one they turned on.
While I knew that I'd get out alive, it would put the lives of
all the informants and insiders who'd helped get me into my
position in jeopardy. I couldn’t let that happen.
Ten minutes later, we drove past the massive gates of an
old castle. I couldn't believe that Carter got paid enough to
afford one. Testea compensated their elite soldiers well for
risking their lives, but not this well. Then again, this was
suicide bomber money.
A figure darted out from the garden on my right and
moved onto the van's path. Simon hit the brakes sharply,
then hooted. A young woman stopped and turned to face
us. Her dark brown hair fell in waves, framing her beautiful
oval face, touching the tops of her generous chest.
I couldn't help but run my eyes over the delicious curves
that the woman’s skin-tight jeans hugged. My stomach
clenched. The men were right about me being a lesbian, and
this woman was my type.
I dragged my eyes upward and looked into the woman’s
deep brown eyes. The fire in them called to the dormant
sexual part of me.
Simon rolled the window down and stuck his head out.
“Rea
dy for us, Maddie?”
So, this beautiful creature was Carter's daughter. She
looked nothing like him, and apparently, acted nothing like
him, too. Maddie gently raised a hand and flipped the bird.
Simon burst out laughing. My dragon stirred within me.
“That's Maddie for you,” Simon said. “She doesn't hold
back.”
I didn't join in his laughter. My heart jackknifed in my
chest as I replayed my dragon's words to me.
Mate, I thought. Maddie is my mate.
CHAPTER 2
MADDIE
I walked into one of the living rooms on the ground floor
and plopped down on the couch. I sighed as I stared at the
ceiling, wondering how my life had gotten this way. How I’d
missed so many signs, then let my emotions blind me.
“Maddie,” Liana called. “Your transport's here.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. I'd already seen Simon pop his
head out of the van. Out of all my father's men, Simon was
the kindest to me, and I couldn't for the life of me
understand why he stuck by my father's side. Especially
now that I knew what they did.
“I already saw them,” I said, sitting up. “I don't think I'm
going to go.”
Liana huffed and folded her arms. “You're already on thin
ice with your father. Is this really the time to make a stand?”
“Anytime is a good time.”
“You ought to know better than that.”
I winced. Liana had never been one to mince words.
Although she'd worked for my family as head housekeeper
for as long as I could remember, she'd never been the soft
mother figure I had desperately needed. Liana was caring,
but in her own, no-nonsense way.
“So, what do you suggest?” I said. “Hmm? Am I supposed
to accompany him on this brief trip, when we both know
what's likely to happen during it?”
“You have no choice!” She scoffed. “What don't you get
about that? Your father is one of the most powerful men on
Zov, and he sent a message to the house asking me to
make sure you get in that van. Neither one of us can go
against his wishes without suffering the consequences.”
I stood and folded my arms. “You know, I'm realizing that
the only reason my father has power is because of fear. We
have to put our feet down, and maybe then things can
change.”
Liana threw her hands up in the air. “Fine. That all sounds
nice, and maybe I'll even dream about it tonight, but now is