His unclaimed mate

hif

brows to find Darlene, the shift manager of the small family-owned diner, staring at me expectantly with a tr

ed its way up my fac

aid, do you mind covering the end of my shift for me? My babysi

g anyway, other than obsessively checking the mail. There were only two weeks left

all sigh. "Thanks, S

ke care of Graham while Troy is away. I'm happy to help lighten the load." Her husban

turned away with the tray of dishes.

y agreed to cover you. You don't ne

e kitchen door. I slowly turned back around with a sigh. This was going

ffling his dark hair which was starting to look shaggy around the edges. This boy would look like a mountain man if it weren't for my constant influence in his life. H

e front pocket of my stained apr

ard me. "I think a cup of coffee w

shift," I commented with an apologetic smile. Wyatt had promised to pick

eeting tonight. Guess it's going to be extra long for both of us, sweetheart," he replied wit

arm. "You know the coffee here is shit, Wyatt. I don't know why you

d his hands to the counter, breathing in deeply. His nose scrunched up a bit, and he looked over at me. "You smell.

very close relationship, considering that my parents had taken him in after his father ran off and his mother got s

es of her jacket, pulling up the collar. "Even if a woman does stink,

had received. I could see Winston, our cook, slaving away over the grill through the small hole, singing along to some garbage being gurgled out of the o

aybe it's because he had a knack for putting his foot in his mouth... or maybe because t

Scarlett. Thanks

Tell Graham I said hello and hope he feels better," I called

k at him, shifting my hands to my hips. "Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?" I reached

that no one else could hear. Hell, if it wasn't for my extra

e you feeling okay, Wyatt?" I reached out and placed my hand on his forehead

you don't feel even the slightest bit different?" he asked a little louder in an exasperated tone, wav

into the pocket of my apron. "I don't know why you think I should feel different, but I feel the same as I always do. Unless you want to c

k, shaking his head. "

stioned with

r sc

cutting off his th

wing tired of the conversation he was having with me. If I wanted to be insulted, I'm sure I could easily find one of my peers

nt has changed, Scarlett. Your wolf ha

ing? I searched my mind for a sign of my wolf's presence. I had been waiting for this moment since I h

human and wolf was fully formed. It wasn't until this happens that we were allowed to attend actual pack events. Most of my friends had already matured. I had been left in the group o

my feet, concentrating hard.

mug away from himself, peering down into the cup with a small look

stioned with

s during the meeting tonight. You're a true wolf now," he teased as he gave me a wolfish

fore. I found myself getting anxious as I followed Wyatt down the dirt driveway and around the

. My palms felt sweaty in the pockets of my sweatshirt as my nerves got the

ers overwhelmed me for a moment. My eyes scanned the crowd warily, looking for familiar faces. I fou

e first tim

I had no idea who he was, but I knew he was perfect. His dark hair was shaved close to his head as if it had been shaved bare at some point and was finally

ged me to move forward. I had to force my feet to move from where I had been anchored. My whole wor

t male specimen was our mate, the one that the Goddess had ordained for us at birth. But what if he hated me

he floor. "I can't do

go through this, Scarlett. Consider it your official initiation into the pack." I

I remembered them from the times they had visited my home when I was much younger, way back when my mother was still alive and my father hel

feet, wishing that I hadn't accepted Wyatt's offer to join him. I was still in my work uniform, smelling like greas

that had been offered to him with a fi

ng his eyes toward the female beside the

a kind smil

questioned, lifting a brow as he examined me further. My cheeks rushed with heat, and I felt the sudden u

in protectively to his side, and that only made me

she leaned into her mate's side. "Sweethea

she looked at me with a playful eye roll at his expense. Alpha Aaron crossed his arms over his wide chest

"If I recall correctly, your mother was a late bloomer as

turning toward my mate with a s

y interested in meeting you." I felt my nerves spike as he turned in our direction, and I realized

aid to look up from the ground. What would I see staring back at me? I

att elbowed me in the side. "Scarlett..." he hissed under his breath in

verything everyone had tried to explain to me about having a wolf. Her emotions and thoughts surged through me as

in the room for us at that moment. This is what it felt like to have a ma

David. My shift went into overtime. I had to help Doctor McCarthy deliver the Johnson's twins. Those p

quickly as my brows furrowed in confusion as I glanced between the two of them. He looked r

seen you before." She til

ia commented toward her, both of them sharing a look of un

hat had happened between me and the male she was holding onto as if he were hers. My wolf was growli

ntroduced me. "Conrad's daughter," she sup

ithout anyone to catch me. My stomach was in my throat, but I forced myself to

lifted his hand slightly like he wanted to reach out to me, but he though

Your father was a great man. The pack lost a great warrior when he passed away. I lost a dear friend," he added, trying to keep t

ething more to me, his lips parted slightly. Alpha Aaron stepped forward, his dark eyes calculating

arm around his mate and pulled her into his side. "It's

ery sensation moved through me like an exploding bomb. I let him lead me away to some empty seats, but my mind was adrift as I looked

ody, which was mostly knees and elbows. She seemed kind, and she didn't waver under the gaze of all the people in the room. She lo

n's voice as he spoke to the group, but none of the w

aron said with pride in his voice, clapping David on the back as he stood next to a smiling Eva, hand in hand. My h

in confusion as I rose up out of my chair and hurried toward the exit. I didn't look back, but I felt David's eyes on me, my body heating up everywhere

overcome the ache in my chest. No one h