Chapter 2

“Ugh, I’m out already?” I complain, pouring out the last of the milk into my mug. Just enough for my tea, luckily. Going back to my book, I drink my tea comfortably until I eventually bite the bullet and decide to go out for milk. I’ll want more tea later, so I’ll need that milk sooner rather than later. Tucking my hair behind my ears, I scoop it back and use an elastic band to hold it in a little pony tail at the base of my neck. Grabbing my coat and house keys, I make sure I have my wallet before heading to the small convenience store a few minutes walk from my home. Perusing the shelves for the milk I normally get, I finally find what I’m looking for, as well as a few chocolate milkshakes. A comfort drink of mine, and I feel like I could use a treat right about now. It’s my 28th birthday next week, and Atti has been busy recently so I haven’t seen him in a few weeks. And he and Blake are sort of…still my only friends. I’m slowly learning to trust people- men, again, but Atti and Blake are the only people I’m really comfortable around. 

Taking my bags of milk, I start the trudge back home, staring at the ground as I walk along. A piece of paper whooshes past me, caught on the wind, but my reactions are far too slow to try and grab it, so I don’t even try. And then a man rushes past me, his hand outstretched and reaching towards the slip of paper. But he stops completely still the moment his shoulder brushes mine. I automatically flinch backwards, but the tiny amount of contact was enough to tell me something massive.

This man is my mate. 

He stares at me, the piece of paper safely back in his hand, and a massive grin on his lips.

“You are so beautiful,” he breathes out, a dusting of pink spread across his cheeks. My face instantly heats up and I take a step back, still just staring at the man. He’s handsome, I’ll give him that. Handsome and cute in that kind of cuddly teddy-bear way. He absentmindedly raises a hand to his mouth, and the wind steals the paper from his fingertips once again.

“Oh shit!” He exclaims, diving after the paper once again. But he severely misjudges his weight distribution and tips forwards, about to smash his face into the concrete. He’d be fine, I’m sure. He’s a werewolf - it’s not like a broken nose would kill him. But it’d still hurt, right?

So I act fast, and for once - my reactions are fast enough. I reach out a hand, grabbing onto the back of the man’s shirt and pulling him upwards. Or at least, I try to pull him upwards, but he’s too heavy for me to actually be of any use, and instead he ends up falling over, with me falling on top of him. Quickly standing up, my face practically on fire and my heart leaping around wildly in my chest, I feel tears spring into my eyes when I catch sight of my chocolate milk leaking onto the pavement. 

“Are you fucking kidding me right now,” I sob, covering my face with my hands. All I wanted was some milk, so how come I ended up with a no milk and just a mate instead? A mate who looks extremely confused as I cry my eyes out over some chocolate milk. He hovers around me, reaching out like he’s going to pat my shoulder or something, before I give him a death glare, causing him to back off. Instead, he just walks away, leaving me to keep crying over my milk.

“Come on Caro, stop being a massive crybaby,” I wail, embarrassed and sad and awkward and just wanting to go home. Realising that the man is well and truly gone, I decide to make a hasty exit - he may be my mate but I’ve made a bloody fool of myself and right now I don’t care if we’re soulmates or not.

“Hey! Wait!” Just as I turn around to leave, someone calls out to me. Glancing over my shoulder, I stare at the man. He’s back again, and this time - he has chocolate milk in hand.

“I um. I got you some more?”

I feel like such a fucking idiot.

Hurriedly wiping my eyes, I stare at the man who is my mate. “What’s your name?” I ask, taking a cautious step towards him. The man awkwardly rubs the back of his neck, giving me a sheepish smile.

“It’s Myles. Can I ask you your name?”

It’s like he somehow knows that I’m a little uncomfortable around him. Am I that obvious? Probably. I mean I just sobbed over some fucking milk so it’s obvious that I’m- just- a bit of a mess.

“Um. It’s- it’s Caro. And you’re…my mate?” I whisper the last word, grasping my fingers together and chewing on my lips out of anxiety. Myles smiles warmly at me, taking a slow step towards me. 

“It’s so nice to meet you, Caro. And I would love to be your mate, if you would let me,” he says a little shyly. Suddenly panicking, I shake my head adamantly. 

“Nope. No way. I don’t even know why I’m talking to you- I never go near male wolves I don’t know, and I definitely don’t know you. Who even are you?” I garble out, watching as Myles' expression turns into one that strongly resembles a kicked puppy, before shifting again into faint amusement.

“I’m um. I’m Myles? I just introduced myself- I’m not from the local pack though- I’m guessing you are? I’m actually supposed to meet the alpha, but I haven’t been here before, so I don’t really know where I’m going. I don’t suppose you know where this address is?” He asks, taking another slow step towards me and handing over that damn piece of paper that made us run into each other in the first place. Squinting at the address messily scribbled down, I snort slightly. 

“No wonder you couldn’t find it - you’re on totally the wrong side of town. The pack has their own special area; there aren’t many wolves living in town. And no, I’m not part of that pack. I’m one of the wolves who just happens to live in town,” I explain, beginning to calm down a little.
“Ohh,” Myles breathes out, looking like he just reached some sort of enlightenment. “I see. So, are you a rogue then?”

I physically jerk backwards, shaking my head adamantly. “No way in hell am I one of them,” I bite out, feeling a little sick in my throat. Myles seems stunned by my reaction, and he slowly backs away from me, looking apologetic.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he says gently, his expression softening slightly. “So um. I don’t suppose you could point me in the correct direction of this pack, Caro?”

“No,” I answer automatically. I never spend more time than necessary with any wolf I don’t know, especially a male wolf. Even if he is my mate.

“Oh. That’s ok…thanks for your help anyway,” he says softly, causing me to blink in surprise. I expected him to pressure me in some way, even ask me again, but…Myles just takes a step back from me, waving goodbye.

“Well, maybe I’ll see you around sometime. Sorry about your milk…I’ll just leave this one here,” he says gently, bending down to place the bottle to the side, where I can either decide to take it or leave it.

And then, Myles walks away.

No. Caro- no.

“Wait!” I don’t even know why I called out to him. But all I know is that my wolf - who has been virtually silent for the past five years - finally said something.

I can’t just let Myles go, when I might never see him again.