Falling for My Shifter Enemy (Wild & Forbidden Mates #4)

Chapter 1

Chloé

“We need to find a way out of here,” Zoe mutters, more to herself than to me. Her determination is palpable, but I can’t stop the tremor in my voice when I ask, “Do you really think we can?”

The cold dampness of the basement clings to my skin, setting my nerves on edge. I try to steady my breathing, but every time I inhale, the reality of our situation presses down harder. Zoe paces, her movements sharp and purposeful, as if she can will us out of here by sheer force. I admire her for that, but I’m not sure I have enough hope left to share.

We must escape. My wolf’s voice rises softly in my mind, a gentle whisper of encouragement. Run, find safety. Her yearning is like a pulse within me, urging me to move, to do something. But I can’t. Not yet. Not when I feel this helpless.

For a moment, Zoe meets my gaze, her dark eyes filled with the kind of fierce resolve I’ve only read about in books. “We have to try,” she says, and I want to believe in her words. Maybe Zoe can get us out of this. Maybe we can survive.

As the minutes crawl by, we tear the room apart in our search for something—anything—that can help us escape. I check the chairs, running my fingers along the edges, hoping to find something sharp or loose. Zoe is on her hands and knees, inspecting the legs of the table. But everything is too solid, too secure. It feels like the room itself is mocking us.

With each failed attempt, a heavier weight settles on my chest. I glance over at Zoe, who has slumped against the wall, her eyes closed as if she’s trying to escape this place in her mind. I want to say something comforting, but the words die in my throat. What could I offer, really? I’m the pack’s weak link—the wolf who can’t even shift. How am I supposed to help us get out of this?

We are not weak. My wolf’s voice is firmer now, a rare moment of defiance. We are more than they see. Her quiet confidence surprises me, and for a second, I wonder if I’ve been underestimating her all along. Maybe I’ve been underestimating myself too. But what good is a wolf that can’t shift? The doubt lingers, heavy.

Zoe’s eyes flicker open, and I see something in her expression—a fleeting vulnerability I hadn’t expected. She looks… haunted. “Are you okay?” I ask gently, my voice thick with concern. I don’t know how to comfort someone like Zoe, someone so strong, but I have to try.

She gives me a weak smile. “Just… thinking about someone.”

The way her voice softens makes my chest tighten. “Marcus?” I guess, though I already know the answer. She’s been preoccupied with him for weeks, even if she hasn’t said it outright.

Zoe nods, and for a second, something wistful flickers across her face. “Yeah. I can’t stop thinking about him.”

I sit down beside her, careful not to sit too close in case she needs space. But I want her to know I’m here, that she’s not alone in this horrible place. “Want to talk about it?” I offer quietly. “Might help take our minds off… this.” I gesture vaguely at the room, but my heart isn’t really in it. How can anyone forget the suffocating sense of doom hanging over us?

Zoe hesitates, but there’s something raw in her expression, something that tells me she needs to talk. “It’s just… so complicated,” she says, her voice low. “With Liam and the pack dynamics and everything.”

I nod, giving her the space to share without pushing. I’ve always been a good listener, even if I never have much to say myself. It’s easier that way—staying quiet, staying small. Maybe that’s why I’ve been single for so long. In our world, mates are everything, but no one has ever looked my way. Not really. I’m the girl who’s always on the sidelines. Most days, I convince myself that I’m fine with it, that I prefer the solitude. But sometimes, late at night, I wonder what it would be like to have someone. To be seen. To be chosen.

“But you care about him,” I say softly, sensing the depth of her feelings.

A small smile tugs at her lips. “Yeah, I do. He’s been so protective lately, with all the threats against single women in the pack.”

I can’t help the warmth that spreads through me at the thought of Marcus being there for her. Zoe deserves someone who’d go to the ends of the earth for her. “And you’ve fallen for him,” I whisper, more a statement than a question.

Zoe blushes, the faintest pink coloring her cheeks. “I… I don’t know. Maybe.”

Without thinking, I reach out and squeeze her hand, trying to offer what little comfort I can. “The heart wants what it wants,” I say, giving her a small smile. “Even when it’s inconvenient.”

Her eyes flicker with emotion, and she nods, her voice barely above a whisper when she speaks again. “I just… I keep thinking about him, wishing he was here to help us. But then I feel guilty for not being strong enough to get us out of this myself.”

Something in her words strikes a chord deep inside me. I know too well the feeling of not being strong enough. “Hey,” I say firmly, turning toward her, “wanting help doesn’t make you weak. We’re pack, even if I’m… well, even if I’m not exactly a normal pack member.”

Zoe’s brow furrows. “What do you mean?” she asks, genuine curiosity in her voice.

My heart pounds in my chest, the familiar shame creeping in. I haven’t told many people about my inability to shift. It’s a secret I carry like a scar, something that marks me as different, as less. Not enough , my wolf whispers, a quiet, forlorn murmur in the back of my mind. I swallow hard, feeling its instinctual longing rise, like a deep ache. My wolf wants to be free, to run, to belong —but it’s trapped, forever silent.

But here, trapped in this basement with Zoe, I feel like I have nothing left to lose. “I… I can’t shift,” I admit, my voice barely audible. “I was born a wolf-shifter, but I’ve never been able to actually shift. It’s… it’s not something I talk about much.”

There. I’ve said it. My wolf stirs restlessly, nudging me with a soft, yearning whine. Tell her. They need to understand. I brace myself for the judgment, the pity, the awkward silence that usually follows that confession.

But instead, Zoe’s hand tightens around mine, offering warmth where I expected coldness. “That must be really hard,” she says softly, her voice filled with empathy and understanding.

I nod, blinking back the sudden sting of tears. “It is. But… it’s who I am. I’ve learned to live with it, even if some pack members look at me differently.”

Zoe’s expression softens, and her next words catch me off guard. “You’re amazing, you know that?” she says, her voice full of admiration. “And we’re going to get out of here together, I promise.”

I swallow hard, her words wrapping around me like a warm blanket. “Thanks, Zoe,” I whisper. “I’m glad I’m not alone in this.”

The silence stretches between us, and I can feel the weight of the room pressing down once more. Zoe suddenly stands, her movements decisive. “We need to try again,” she says, determination flooding her voice. “There has to be a way out of here.”

I’m not sure how she maintains her strength, but I find myself standing too, drawn to her resolve. “Okay,” I say, trying to muster up some of my own. “What’s the plan?”

Zoe’s eyes scan the room with laser-like focus. “The door. We haven’t really examined the hinges or the lock mechanism. Maybe there’s something we missed.”

She’s right. I haven’t been thorough enough before. Together, we move to the door, our hands tracing every inch of the metal. It feels solid, unyielding, but Zoe’s sharp intake of breath catches my attention.

“Chloé,” she whispers, excitement lacing her voice. “I think the screws holding the lock in place might be loose. If we had something to use as a screwdriver…”

My heart leaps with hope. I scan the room quickly, my eyes landing on the table. “The table!” I hiss, trying to keep my voice low. “The screws on the legs—maybe we can get one out and use it?”

Zoe nods, and we hurry over to the table, our fingers working furiously to loosen the screws. The metal digs into my fingertips, and I can feel the skin tearing, but I don’t care. We’re so close. Hope rekindles, burning bright enough to push aside my fear.

And then we hear it—the sound of heavy footsteps descending from above. My blood runs cold. Mark.

“We’re out of time,” Zoe whispers, her voice tight with fear.

Panic grips me as the footsteps grow louder. My hands shake, my whole body trembling as the door swings open and Mark appears, his face twisted in a cruel smile. His presence sucks all the air from the room, leaving me light-headed with terror.

“Well, well, well,” Mark drawls, his voice dripping with malice. “Looks like we’re all settled in for a nice little chat.”

I flinch at the sound of his voice, my mind racing. I want to disappear, to be anywhere but here. Zoe, on the other hand, squares her shoulders and steps forward, fists clenched at her sides. Her bravery in the face of this monster fills me with both awe and shame. I’m not like her. I’m not strong.

“What do you want from us?” Zoe demands, her voice steady and strong, despite the fear I know she’s feeling.

Mark’s smile widens, revealing too-sharp teeth. “Oh, it’s not about what I want from you, sweetheart. It’s about what I’m going to take from them.”

His words send a chill down my spine. “Them?” I whisper, barely able to get the word out.

Mark’s face contorts with rage. “The Whispering Pines pack,” he spits, pacing like a caged animal. “Those self-righteous bastards who think they’re better than everyone else. Who think they can just take whatever they want.”

His voice drops to a low growl. “I’m going to take away every unmated female in that pack, one by one. They’ll learn what it feels like to lose everything they care about.”

I think of all the women in the pack, the ones who have no idea they’re in danger. We have to warn them. We have to get out of here.

“You’re insane,” Zoe spits, her anger breaking through her fear. “You can’t possibly think you’ll get away with this.”

Mark whirls on her, his eyes flashing with dangerous intent. I feel the tension in the room spike, my heart hammering in my chest. This is it. He’s going to snap.

But before anything can happen, a loud crash from upstairs makes Mark freeze, his head snapping toward the ceiling.

“What the hell?” he snarls.

A second crash follows, louder this time, and I feel a surge of hope. Is it a rescue? Could someone have found us?

Mark’s face contorts with fury. “No! Not yet! It’s too soon!”

He turns back to us, his eyes wild. “This isn’t over,” he hisses, his voice venomous. “You hear me? This isn’t over!”

He rushes toward the stairs, his footsteps heavy and angry. My heart pounds in my ears, and I turn to Zoe, my voice barely a whisper. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know,” she replies, her voice filled with the same mixture of hope and fear that I feel.

Before we can say anything more, a deafening roar echoes through the house, shaking the very foundations beneath us. It’s a sound I’ve never heard before—primal, raw, and terrifying. My breath catches in my throat as the door explodes inward, sending wood and splinters flying across the room.

And then I see him.

Theo.

My wolf stirs, sitting up inside me, alert and focused.

He stands in the doorway, his presence commanding the space like a force of nature. His clothes are torn, and his eyes gleam with barely contained rage. A shiver runs down my spine, but it isn’t from fear. It’s something deeper, something I can’t quite explain.

Theo doesn’t spare me a glance. His focus is entirely on Mark, who has recovered from his shock and is now sneering at the sight of the Howling Pines Alpha.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the big bad alpha of Howling Pines,” Mark taunts, his voice dripping with mockery. “Come to play hero, Theo?”

I glance at Theo, wondering how he’ll respond. For a moment, his face is unreadable, and a flicker of doubt creeps into my mind. What if he isn’t here to save us? What if—

Theo’s voice, low and deadly, cuts through my thoughts like a blade. “You know what I despise even more? Cowards who abuse women, regardless of their species. You disgust me, Mark.”

His words send a shiver through me, the tension in the room rising to a fever pitch. Theo’s gaze sweeps over me and Zoe, and in that brief moment, our eyes meet. Something unspoken passes between us, something I can’t quite put into words.

But then Mark lunges, grabbing me with a speed that takes my breath away. His arm clamps around my throat, and I feel the cold, sharp press of a knife against my skin. I freeze, my heart pounding so loudly I think it might burst from my chest.

Everything happens so fast after that. One moment, Theo stands there, his body coiled like a spring. The next, he shifts, his body exploding into the form of a massive wolf. His fur is a deep, rich brown, streaked with gold, and the sheer size of him takes my breath away.

Mark is forced to release me as Theo lunges, his jaws snapping with deadly precision. I stumble away, my legs shaking as Zoe pulls me back toward the wall. I watch in terrified awe as the two wolves clash, their growls filling the basement like something out of a nightmare.

Mark shifts as well, his sleek black form twisting and contorting as he tries to fight Theo off. But he’s no match for Theo’s raw power. The room is a blur of fur and claws, the sound of snarls and yelps filling the air.

I don’t know how long it goes on—time blurs, my mind struggling to keep up with the chaos around me. But then, I hear a name.

“Zoe!”

I whip around to see Marcus standing in the doorway, his face pale with worry. Relief floods through me at the sight of my pack beta, and I feel my knees go weak.

Marcus is there in an instant. First he helps Zoe. Then he helps me to my feet, his touch steady and reassuring. Zoe is already free, and Marcus quickly ushers us toward the stairs. “We need to get you out of here,” he says, his voice urgent.

“But what about—”

“Theo can handle himself,” Marcus interrupts Zoe, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Our priority is getting you two to safety.”

As we make our way up the stairs, I sneak a glance back one more time. We should stay... help him. My wolf's voice is soft, almost pleading. But I know the truth. I can’t help. I can’t shift, can’t fight like the others.

The last thing I see is Theo’s massive form, his jaws closing around Mark’s throat. My wolf stirs, a ripple of longing. Power... we should have that power.

But I turn away, my chest tightening, and then there’s silence.

The silence that follows is suffocating, wrapping around me like a heavy blanket. I shudder, knowing what that silence means. Mark is gone. For good. And Theo—he’s the one who did it.

Marcus guides us up the stairs, his movements quick and purposeful. I feel Zoe’s presence beside me, her breathing ragged but steady. The cold night air hits us as we step outside, and I blink against the sudden brightness. The moon hangs low in the sky, casting an eerie light over the scene. Several cars are parked haphazardly in the driveway, and I recognize some as belonging to pack members.

Marcus glances around, his eyes scanning the perimeter. “The others are securing the area,” he says, his voice tight with focus. “We need to make sure there are no other threats.”

I nod, trying to ground myself in the present. But my mind is still reeling, still stuck in the basement, watching Theo shift, watching him fight. The image of him in wolf form—so powerful, so terrifying—keeps replaying in my mind. And the way he looked at me, before it all went to hell, like I was the only thing in the room. It shakes something loose inside me, something I don’t know how to name.

Just then, Ryan appears from around the side of the house, his face set in grim lines. Relief softens his expression when he sees us. “Thank the Moon,” he mutters, striding over. “Are you both alright?”

Before Zoe or I can answer, the sound of soft footfalls reaches us, and I turn to see Theo emerging from the house. His massive wolf form pads silently across the ground, his presence commanding even in the quiet aftermath of the fight. His fur is matted with blood—Mark’s blood, I realize—but his eyes are locked on me.

I swallow hard, my heart doing that strange, erratic thing again. He’s close. Without thinking, I take a step forward, my hand instinctively reaching out. Touch him. We need him. My wolf’s voice, soft but insistent, urges me on. My fingers brush against his fur, and Theo leans into my touch, a low rumble vibrating through his chest. It isn’t a growl—it almost sounds like a purr.

The warmth of his body, the sheer force of his presence, settles something deep inside me. For the first time since this nightmare began, I feel safe.

"Thank you," I whisper, my voice barely audible. My fingers tangle in his fur, and for a moment, the world narrows to just the two of us. My wolf’s desire pulses through me, a primal yearning I can’t quite suppress.

Theo, the Alpha of a rival pack, the one who saved me.

Mate, my wolf breathes. Ours.

That realization hits me with all the force of a tidal wave.

Theo is our fated mate.

In a fluid motion, Theo shifts back into his human form. The transition is seamless, his gaze never wavering, the intensity still blazing in his dark eyes. He stands tall, his body radiating the raw energy of the fight, and one of the Whispering Pines pack members tosses him a pair of sweats. He catches them without breaking eye contact with me, quickly pulling them on.

“Are you hurt?” he asks, his voice gruff but laced with concern. His gaze sweeps over me, searching, as though he needs to see for himself that I’m really okay.

I shake my head, my voice coming out softer than I intend. “No, I...” My throat tightens. “I’m okay. You saved us.”

Theo’s shoulders relax, the tension in his stance easing just a fraction. “Mark won’t be a problem anymore,” he says, his voice low. The weight of his words lingers in the air between us, heavy with finality.

An uncomfortable silence follows, the gravity of what just happened settling over us all. I shiver, not from the cold, but from the fading adrenaline that still pulses through my veins.

Ryan clears his throat, breaking the silence. His expression is serious but softened by a hint of something else—respect, maybe. “Theo, we need to talk about what happened here.”

Theo straightens, his demeanor shifting back to the Alpha I’ve always known him to be. “I didn’t know someone was targeting women until your pack infiltrated us last night,” he explains matter-of-factly. “Once I heard about the threats, I had my security company look into Mark’s activities, just in case.”

Ryan’s eyebrows lift in surprise. “You’ve been investigating this?”

Theo nods, his gaze flicking briefly to me before returning to Ryan. “We found out he had rented this cabin. I came to confront him about staying in the area and to see if he was behind the threats.” His voice darkens. “When I got here, I could smell the women—Chloé and Zoe. That’s when I knew things were worse than we thought.”

Ryan’s jaw clenches, his expression unreadable. “So you didn’t know about his plans before tonight?”

“No,” Theo says firmly, leaving no room for doubt. “I may have issues with your pack, Ryan, but I’d never stand by while innocent women were targeted. As soon as I knew there was a real threat, I acted.”

Another silence falls, but this one feels different. The tension between the two Alphas is still there, but it’s softened. Ryan’s face remains stoic, but after a long moment, he extends his hand to Theo. “Thank you,” he says simply.

Theo hesitates for only a second before clasping Ryan’s hand. “Don’t mention it,” he replies gruffly, his eyes flicking back to me.

The exchange feels significant, a moment that could ripple through both packs, reshaping the bond between them. But my attention is completely on Theo, on the way the air shifts between us the moment our eyes meet again.

There’s something unspoken in his gaze, something simmering since he burst through that basement door. And I feel it too—a pull, a connection. My heart hammers in my chest, the mate bond humming between us.

Theo takes a step toward me, his expression softening in a way I’ve never seen. “Chloé...” His voice is rough, filled with something I can’t quite name.

Closer, my wolf urges, her presence pressing against my mind. She aches for him, for his touch, for the unity we can never fully know. He will protect us. He will claim us.

I swallow hard, my throat tight as my wolf’s longing thrums beneath my skin. But before Theo can say more, Ryan’s voice cuts through the moment.

“We still have work to do,” Ryan says, businesslike. “We need to secure the area and notify the rest of the pack.”

Theo’s jaw tightens, but he nods, his eyes lingering on me a moment longer before he turns back to Ryan. “Agreed. Let’s make sure everyone’s safe.”

Their conversation fades into the background as my mind spirals. Theo saved me. The alpha of our rival pack.

My fated mate.