Primal (The Prey Drive, #1)

by Kayleigh King

But this? This isn’t some tragic breakup sob story. This is rot. A slow decay. This is what it feels like to be severed from someone you were created for.

I guess while I’ve been focused on other things—like scrambling for a perch that resembles a will to live—I’ve been officially diagnosed by those around me. Rejected mate syndrome.

I vow, right here and now, that one day, hearing me say her name will be the thing that heals her, not breaks her.

“Look at me,” I say, voice nothing but a broken rasp. “What do you see that makes you think there’s anything left to fix?”

“We make rash choices when our backs are against a wall. We don’t think about the long-term cost—about what it’ll destroy. That regret comes later when the dust settles and we’re left standing in the ruin of our own making.”

“The only thing that’s going to save you now, is the thing that broke you in the first place. Him. Rennick.”

There’s a kind of peace in knowing I won’t have to survive another rejection. I can just…let go. Of him. Of all of it.

I was just a passenger, unable to do anything but hold on while my wolf tore across the terrain like if he moved fast enough, he could outrun my mistakes. My crimes against her.

“That’s not true,” he chokes out. “I have hurt you.”

Sweet Noa.

“You won’t believe me yet,” he says, voice steadying even as his eyes stay raw. “And that’s okay. I’ll keep saying it until you do. I’m going to make this right. I’m going to repair the bond. The damage. All of it.”

“But even if I can’t pull that off—even if I fail there—I won’t fail at this. At us. Fixing what I broke with you is the only thing I’m certain about. You’re my priority now, Noa. Nothing comes before that. Not anymore.”

And I kiss him like he’s mine.

“Tell me what you need.” His words are a gravelly demand but not a bark. “Tell me. Whatever you need from me, it’s yours.”

“Fuck, Noa, I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”

“I haven’t touched anyone else. Didn’t want to. Never cared what their hands would feel like or how their lips might taste. Never thought about what it would be like to have someone under me.”

He looks wild, wrecked in the most beautiful way, and he’s looking at me like I’m the only thing that matters.

His breath hitches, just slightly, but I hear it. See the awe flicker across his face, softening the hunger that sharpens his features.

“My mate. My omega. My sweet Noa.”

Rennick Fallamhain, great pack Alpha, came in his pants.

“Would’ve texted to let you know we were here, but couldn’t. Since your dumb furry ass decided to run across state lines with nothing but your hopes and dreams and didn’t give us a heads-up. That was a very dramatic exit, by the way—you went through a window and everything—but next time, please drive. And bring a damn phone, will you?”

“And I get that words aren’t enough. I can say I’m sorry until it doesn’t mean anything anymore, and I will. Every day. For the rest of my life if you’ll let me. But more than that, I’m going to show you. Prove it with actions, because words will only get me so far. I failed you once by not choosing you. But I’m choosing you now, Noa. Every day, every hour, for as long as you’ll let me.”

“We were meant for each other,”

“I denied it, fought it. But it’s so fucking obvious. Fuck, baby, I’ve been dreaming about you for months. You were always there—your voice, your eyes. Telling me it was time to remember. I even dreamt of us being in this very room.”

“I need you more,” he breathes.

“You can keep running, sweet one,” he said, voice low and steady, “but I'll keep chasing. One day, you'll believe that I'm not walking away from you. Not again.”