Chapter 3 FINDING A MATE.

Chapter 3

FINDING A MATE

Megan had longed for a mate for as long as the time that it is usual for young werewolves to find their mates. Her pack mates and family who were not already mated were finding theirs by the day. “Take your mind off it and you will find your mate”, her cousin Sandra had told her when the topic had come up between them during Sandra’s visit last fall, and Megan had expressed her concern on the matter. “I promise you will know when it happens. It’s like magic” Sandra had said basking in the reverie of when she had found her own Jack. And like magic, it was, the day Megan found her mate. Megan had thrown herself into trying to improve her abilities and skills; her training and hunting. Even then she always felt like something was missing; a sense of connection; a bond that would make her feel like she belonged. It was during one of her trainings one evening that Megan experienced something that would change her life and her perspective on things forever. She had been trying to catch up with the rest of the pack and felt pretty low at not being able to keep up, her mind a jumbled mess of longing and frustration when she sensed something, unlike anything she had ever sensed before. She disregarded it as her imagination playing tricks on her, but it lingered, and she stopped to try to focus harder, it was then she realized there was a scent in the air, one unlike anything she had ever encountered before; something primal and musky with an underlying hint that made her heart pound in her ears. It couldn’t be, could it? She argued with herself as she transformed which wasn’t quite successful, and followed the scent deep into the woods. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but she dared not turn back and risk losing that scent. The scent got stronger and she stopped, searching for whatever it was. She was about to give up hope when she saw him. He was a wolf like her, but different in every way; for one his fur was a sleek shimmering silver, and he had piercing slate-grey eyes that seemed to glow like pennies in the moonlight. He was larger and stronger than any wolf she had ever seen, with an air of power and confidence that was impossible to overlook. Megan felt a surge of excitement and fear wash over her as she realized she was looking at her mate! The one she had been searching for all her life. She had never seen him before, let alone spoken to him. Where had he come from? “Hi,” she said almost inaudibly, not trusting herself to say more. Then he did something totally unexpected; he turned and walked away. Megan was not sure how to react and she just stood there for a minute, before hurrying off after him, more out of curiosity than anything else. She busted out through a clearing, a small group of wolves was there including her mate, and it was clear his position in the pack. She stood at a distance waiting for an invitation of sorts, but before she could make her move, another female, more elegant and eloquent than she was stepped into the scene and moved to his side. Megan watched in horror as she surrendered her neck and her mate bent his head and sank his teeth in while the other wolves howled in support. To say that she was devastated was an understatement. Jake was everything Megan had ever dreamed of in a mate; he was handsome, charismatic, and powerful; his mere presence commanded respect. He wasn’t just an Alpha, he was ‘the’ Alpha. But fate can be cruel. His rejection in the presence of the entire pack was excruciating; unlike any hurt she had ever felt before. She felt like her heart had been ripped out of her chest. Her wolf howled in agony, echoing through the night. Elvira had looked in her direction as if to say “I am his now”. Megan had slunk away into the night running endlessly and tirelessly until she didn’t know where she was any longer. She remembered the way Jake had wrapped his arm protectively around Elvira when they were in school, and how the pain had intensified. Megan had felt like a fool for ever thinking that she could ever be with a wolf like Jake as a mate. “Awww, I know it hurts sweetie but you just hang in there. There’s always someone out there for every one of us”, Sandra was always supportive and always saw the positive angle to problems. Megan had refused to come out of her room for days. She wept heavily into her pillow, her heart was heavy with so much sorrow. She couldn’t bear to face the other pack members, not after what had transpired between her and Jake. Her wolf was silent and refused to come out for a long while. Megan had given up on finding a mate.

Days turned into weeks and Megan had a difficult time moving on. She tried to avoid Jake and Elvira as it hurt more to see them together. If nothing good came out of this, that she became stronger was something that wasn’t bad, as she threw herself into training, pushing her body further hoping that the physical pain would dull the hurt she felt. She had felt like she was living in a nightmare, and unable to wake up. She hoped Sandra was right and that she would one day find her true mate, one who would never hurt her. Megan tossed and turned in her bed, trying to wake up from the horrible dream. Her phone ringing did the work and she sat up with a start, her heart pounding. She was having that nightmare again. The pain of course was a lot less now. That had happened a while ago. She still felt left out, though she was stronger now, and transforming was much easier even though she only did when she was going to hunt. Megan sat up in bed, thankful that it was a dream and nothing more. Her phone rang off, and she thought about last night; the fight, her walk, her thoughts, and the dream. As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, the doorbell rang. Megan sighed, not in the mood to deal with anyone at that moment. She threw her legs over the edge of her bed, walked barefoot to the door and opened it.