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    My Mate
    My Mate
    My Mate
    Ebook142 pages1 hour

    My Mate

    By Sam Crescent

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    About this ebook

    Dex Arlington is the Alpha’s son, and he will not allow anyone to hurt his mate. When he finds out she's been beaten up by one of the pack wolves, he goes to settle the score. He doesn’t care that Casey hasn’t been able to change into a wolf. She belongs to him, and no one will hurt her, and anyone who tries will pay the price.

    Casey Scott isn't happy. Ever since she knew she was a wolf, all she has ever wanted was to transition. She wants to run out in the wild, beneath the full moon. Only, it never happens. Her wolf is not coming.

    She doesn’t know how Dex can want her. Yet, nothing sends him away. He refuses to leave her alone. From the moment they first met as children, he said he knew they were meant to be mates.

    But someone has a secret. They are closing in. Who would dare try to kill the Alpha’s son?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherEvernight
    Release dateJan 21, 2025
    ISBN9780369511119
    My Mate

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      Book preview

      My Mate - Sam Crescent

      Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

      www.evernightpublishing.com

      Copyright© 2025 Sam Crescent

      ISBN: 978-0-3695-1111-9

      Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

      Editor: Lisa Petrocelli

      ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

      WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

      This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

      MY MATE

      The Alpha Shifter Collection, 23

      Sam Crescent

      Copyright © 2025

      Chapter One

      Dex Arlington knew his father would be very proud of him at this moment. He stood in the men’s shower at the swimming pool complex, and he hadn’t torn Buddy Anderson’s throat out. This was a good thing, or at least it was according to his father.

      A torn throat would cause a great deal of issues within the pack, and Dex didn’t like dealing with them at the best of times. Even his own father, Klaus, sometimes hated having to be Alpha. One day, Dex would have to take over and the whole Arlington Pack would belong to him. Everyone would turn to him for guidance and all that shit, but he had a way to go before that happened. He was an Alpha in training. Not that he felt like he needed any training.

      No, that wasn’t true. He just liked to piss his dad off from time to time by pretending he knew it all. It was fun to irritate his father. At the moment, he already annoyed his dad by having a very bad reputation, especially among his peers.

      It wasn’t his fault that everyone else was an asshole, or more specifically, it wasn’t his fault that Buddy Anderson rounded up a group of his buddies to beat the crap out of a girl. One specific girl, Casey Scott. There was no way he was going to allow anything to happen to Casey. She was the person he was going to protect above all.

      Five months ago, she turned eighteen and like the rest of the pack, she was expected to change into her wolf. The only problem was that, even now, she was the only pack member in history that had not changed into wolf form. Unfortunately, it made her a target, and Dex could not allow that.

      Staring at Buddy, wearing his swimming boxers and even whistling while not giving a shit, pissed him off. He leaned against the lockers, staring at the guy he wanted to kill. Dex cleared his throat and as he did, Buddy let out a shout and spun around.

      Holy fuck, you scared the crap out of me, Buddy said. I nearly shit myself.

      He didn’t laugh and the smile soon fell from Buddy’s face.

      Uh, what’s the problem?

      Dex stared at him for several seconds, but he didn’t say a word, just waited.

      Buddy was a weakling and a coward. Always had been and always would be. He couldn’t stand him. The guy had gone after a female, and he looked at him, feeling the revulsion once again.

      He could see Buddy tense up.

      You’re my problem, Bud, Dex said. You think it’s okay to attack females?

      Buddy scoffed. Come on, man. You’re seriously not mad about Casey? That can’t be possible. We’re just trying to do the pack a favor.

      A favor?

      No one wants that weakling.

      Dex took a step, then another step. And you’re the Alpha who gets to decide that?

      Another weak chuckle. I’m on your side and the Arlington Pack is strong, and she cannot turn into a wolf.

      My father has no problem with Casey. She is pack. Her place is here with all of us. Do you remember what happened to David? Dex asked.

      Buddy’s eyes went wide, and he started to shake his head.

      Last year, David Delagair decided he was going to scare the crap out of Casey, and it ended with her getting a black eye. Dex made sure David had two bruised eyes, a broken arm, and he forced him to apologize to Casey. Anyone who hurt Casey, directly or indirectly, suffered.

      Since the moment they were kids, she had been a target for bullies, but Dex had taken care of it. The bullying had soon stopped, until it was only a few fleeting events, which he dealt with. No one messed with his Casey.

      He didn’t give a shit that she hadn’t changed, and he didn’t care if she never did. Casey was one of the nicest, sweetest people in the pack. Nothing was ever too big or too small. She gave, and people were quite willing to take from her.

      Dex would make sure no one abused her kindness. She would be protected.

      The black eye he saw, along with the split lip, were highly unacceptable. In fact, all he saw as he looked at Buddy was the new bruising on her face, and it pissed him off. The first punch was not that hard, but the second and third were. Buddy tried to hit back at him, but he was no match for Dex. He was a training Alpha. He’d been born bigger, stronger, and faster. No one could compete with him, and that was exactly what his father had taught him.

      The pack needed to respect him. If anyone had any inkling of weakness it would throw the pack into chaos. Dex would not allow that to happen.

      Buddy landed in a heap on the floor and began to sob and beg. Wrapping his fingers around the man’s neck, he didn’t squeeze, although he was tempted to.

      You’re going to go to Casey, and you’re going to look her in the eye and you’re going to apologize to her. Do you understand me? Dex asked. If you don’t do this, then I will fucking kill you. I’ll annihilate your whole family, and I don’t care about the repercussions, got it?

      Yes, yes, I got it. I’m sorry, Dex. I’m so sorry.

      Dex let him go, and then took one last look before he left the changing room, then made his way out of the building. He should have known his father would be there, waiting with the car. Dex had walked in the hope of burning off some of his anger, but it hadn’t worked. He was just as angry now as he was before.

      Dad, he said.

      Son.

      He’s still alive.

      Good.

      But there is blood, Dex said.

      I already called the family, and they have apologized.

      Dex nodded.

      Son, do you want to explain this to me?

      He shrugged. The bastard beat the shit out of Casey. She can’t stand up for herself, or won’t, I don’t know, and I can’t allow her to get hurt. What could I do?

      I’m not talking about this situation. You actually made it easier for Buddy and his family. I don’t take kindly to bullies, and I believe I heard correctly that he was attempting to force Casey out of the pack. That is not going to happen.

      Dex looked toward his father. You don’t think her not being a wolf is a problem?

      Her not transitioning is not unheard of.

      Seriously? It’s never occurred in the pack, Dex said.

      Doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened before, Klaus said. I’m interested in whether you’re aware of why you’re fighting this?

      Dad, stop—

      No, you need to understand that you’re acting like a mate. You’re acting like her protector and behaving exactly as I’ve seen all other mates react. When are you going to face the reality that Casey might not be your mate?

      Dex looked toward his father. He had never been honest with him. From the moment he first saw Casey Scott across the town square, nearly fifteen years ago, he remembered feeling this pull. They had been three years old at the time, but he knew what he felt. It had been powerful and strong.

      That feeling hadn’t faded. Not as they entered kindergarten, or high school. He’d felt this pull to be with her. Every time she entered the room, he didn’t even need to look around to know it was her. She was like a magnet to him.

      Casey made him feel, she made him want to be a better guy, although he did everything he could to be hated, especially by his peers. He didn’t flirt with the girls, hook up, or do any of that shit. The only person he wanted was Casey.

      He also couldn’t stand when other males tried to fight for her affection. That had the ability to piss him the fuck off. Casey belonged to him.

      Again, he’d never said anything. His father was convinced he and Casey were not mates, but Dex knew differently. He also knew something was blocking Casey’s ability to turn into a wolf, and he’d figure it out. Until then, no one was going to hurt her.

      Dad, she’s a friend, and she needs someone to watch her back.

      ****

      Casey slid her hand up and down, holding onto the paintbrush as she worked on the fence. Her dad was convinced she was too stressed. Turning eighteen and being the only one in her eighteenth year not to turn sucked, big time.

      She had never been a popular kid at school, but when news had gotten

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