‘Cole, where the hell are you?’ My beta, Oliver Jackson, snapped.

‘Patrolling,’ I reluctantly answered.

‘How convenient,’ He sent a scoff through the mindlink. ‘You must look for your mate today! We have three new packs’ high-ranking officials here and you decide to go on a patrol! Someone here could be your-’

‘They’re purposely avoiding me, or...’ My wolf howled and my heart clenched. I can’t say that word right now, so I need to come up with another word. ‘Expired?’

‘You realize I don’t want them anymore, our bond is practically non existent. It’s been too long,’ When a mate bond is first formed it’s extremely strong, making you lose all interest in everyone except your mate. This bond pulls you towards your mate, to help you find them. But, if you aren’t near your mate over a long time span, it fades and disappears. Our bond disappeared four years ago on my twentieth birthday, when I no longer felt the pull. I wasn’t disappointed, as most would be, instead it was more of a wave of relief. I don’t have to tie myself down with a stupid mate.

‘Our mate isn’t stupid, unlike someone I know,’ My wolf, Axel, growled. I ignored him and blocked him out of my mind, turning my attention back to my beta.

‘What if I look outside of the territory? I think I feel something pulling me that way?’ I lied. I wouldn’t be able to find my mate if she was laying in my bed.

‘If you find your mate out there, I’ll do your laundry and paperwork for a month. If not, you’ll do my laundry and paperwork for a week,’ Oliver suggested.

‘Fine, you’re on,’ If washing his dirty boxers is what it took to get some time to myself then so be it. I wandered out of the territory and immediately caught a delicious scent of Dianthuses. I don’t remember having meadows with flowers nearby… Maybe it’s new?

‘Follow the scent,’ Axel hummed. I’m surprised, normally he is grumpy and rude towards me.

‘Why?’ I asked.

‘Because I said so,’ He snarled. ‘The scent is fading, follow now!’

I followed the scent, weaving through trees, and jumping over a couple of shrubs. I couldn’t pay any attention to time, sending me into a dazed state. A disgusting, metallic smell intertwined with the Dianthuses, forcing me back into full consciousness. A mixture of worry, panic, and emergency filled me. Without realizing it, I began sprinting. After what felt like years, but was probably minutes, I stood near a small clearing with a wolf inside of it.

‘Mate,’ Axel purred like one of those freaking demonic beasts I won’t dare to say the name of.

Never have I understood why newly mated couples mate on the first day until I saw her. The most adorable wolf ever. 

A pair of big, brown eyes swiftly turned to meet mine. I wagged my tail, with a wolfish grin plastered onto my face. When I stepped into the light, she surprised me by unleashing a growl, while narrowing her eyes at me. She’s clearly trying to look intimidating, however, her fluffy, powder pink coat completely ruined that effect. Honestly, she looked as menacing as a piece of cotton candy.

‘Since we got someone worth cuddling. If you don’t want to cuddle mate, then I happily will,’ I wanted to growl at the last part, but held myself back to not scare my mate.

‘Shift,’ I mindlinked her.

‘Go fuck yourself!’ To my shock, she snarled at me - her mate.

‘What did you just say?’ My voice turned lethally low and commanding. She shouldn’t talk to me like I’m a wayward pup, instead she should talk to me like I’m her equal.

‘Go. Fuck. Yourself.’ She repeated slower. Does she think I’m stupid?

‘Shift back, now!’ I used my alpha tone, forcing her to shift into her human form. I went behind a tree to shift, putting on my boxers and pants I brought with me. I also had a shirt, but I wanted to give it to her. I galloped back to my mate and slipped my shirt over her, while she just growled at me.

“So you’re my mate?” I stated, cupping her cheeks to make her look at me. She began studying my facial features, so I took that as an invitation to inspect her as well. Long, ginger curls fell down to her waist, fair skin that was slightly dirty with a few freckles scattered across her face, sparkling, dark green eyes, and red lips. The moose blood all around her mouth is probably what makes them such a dark, rich red color.

“You’re adorable,” Her face immediately twisted into a scowl.

“I’m not a mate!” This piqued my curiosity.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m. Not. A. Mate. You need to pay better attention, because I’m not fucking repeating this again!”

“Alright, I’ll overlook the tone this time. Let’s go home,” I started leading her home when I felt her elbow dig into my stomach, which hurt like hell. “What was that for?!”

“Abduction?” She said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“I’m not abducting you, I’m just taking you home with me,” I attempted to grab her arm, but she bit me. “Stop biting me!”

“I’m not biting you, I’m just poking your skin with my teeth,” She hastily kicked me in a place where the sun doesn’t shine.

“Dammit, woman!”

“Dammit boy!” I heard bones snapping, and the moment I looked back at her she was just about to shift completely into her wolf form. I used the few seconds of vulnerability I had to pin her down.

“Why are you attacking me?! I’m your mate!” I growled. I could see her panic and I was about to apologize for yelling when she threw me off her. Her canines sunk into my stomach and I felt my flesh tear.

‘Oliver,’ I weakly tried to communicate with him.

‘Cole?! What’s wrong!?!’

‘You’re doing my laundry and paperwork for the next month. You’re also going to save my ass before my mate kills me,’ 

‘WHAT?!’ I didn’t reply, instead I stared at her, waiting for the finishing blow. She stared back at me, looking slightly worried before grabbing her carcass and retreating.