*Duet Narration*

I had no family, no friends. I was utterly alone and always had been. And once I aged out of the system that raised me, I decided to find out exactly who I was.

Where did I come from? Who were my parents? What made me...me?

It became the fire in my veins.

My journey led me to Scotland, the Highlands, and for the first time in my life, I had this feeling of...belonging.

What should have been a simple hike through the Scottish countryside led me to things far more mysterious than trying to find out who I was.

There were other things—creatures—lurking in this world, ones who were stronger, fiercer. Ones who were not human.

Everything I'd ever known seemed like a fable now. And what was once a fable was now true.

It was one of those otherworldly creatures who stalked me—chased me. I knew I couldn't outrun him. I couldn't escape.

He was bigger than any man I'd ever seen, stronger than anyone should be. His growls were feral, his fangs animalistic, and when he watched me, it was with glowing eyes.

I found myself at his mercy, chained to a bed and alone with this man who wasn't really a man at all. I asked him why I was there, why he took me, held me against my will.

And all he said was...I was his mate.