Page 15 of His Wild Mate

This guy was different though. He hadn't tried to touch me, and that was confusing the hell out of me. Why didn't he want me?

“You really don't feel the trance she put the others in?” the kid asked as if he could read my mind or something. It was creepy.

“I feel it a lot stronger than those fools.”

“Because she's really your true mate? I heard you tell Thomas.”

“Yeah, kid. She is.”

“That's gotta be crazy. I mean what are the odds of finding your mate way out here.”

He chuckled and the sound warmed me from the inside.

“Not as rare as you'd think. Austin met Angel out here too.”

“But that was during Lily's conference, wasn't it?”

“True, but still. Out of all the females that were in territory that week, she stumbled right into our camp.”

“That's crazy. I haven't even gotten my wolf yet, so that's still a long way off for me.”

“I don't know, Wyatt met Kate right out of high school.”

“Gah! Don't tell me that. I am not ready for all of that. I haven't even had a serious girlfriend yet.” The boy froze and looked at my mate and then down at me. “You better not tell any of the guys that. I'll never hear the end of it. That goes for you too,” he told me.

At least that explained why the kid hadn't been attracted to me. He was still a pup without a wolf.

We'd been walking for quite some time and I was exhausted. Foraging for fruits and nuts in my skin was okay, but that kind of food was never sustainable for a wolf, and somewhere along the way, I had lost my satchel holding the one outfit I owned, the little bit of money I'd earned singing on the corner of some city a few weeks ago, my stash of matches to cook meat when I was lucky enough to trap something, and the little bit of emergency food I'd acquired. Everything was gone, and I had nothing once again.

It wasn't like it was the first time, but this time it seemed harder to swallow the idea of starting over again for some reason.

I was tired of this life. I was really just tired in general.

Coming out here, I thought just maybe I could live in peace and be free, at least for a bit. I had hoped to stay in my skin and continue to forage for my meals. But when I'd heard the horses and smelled the men nearby, I knew that dream was over.

It was just my luck that I'd stumble into a wolf shifter pack. I must have been way off my mark and too exhaustedto notice when I crossed their territory line. It was a rookie mistake, and I knew better.

“Are you hungry?” the guy said.

I nodded wholeheartedly. I didn't even care if it looked desperate. I was starving.

“I can set up some traps,” the kid offered.

“Don't bother. I'll just shift and hunt.”

“And leave me alone with her?”

“She's not going to bother you. You told me that yourself.”

“It was just a theory, boss. Please, Emmett. Don't leave me alone out here with her.”

I was sad to realize this kid had witnessed everything I'd done to those men, and he was terrified of me. I wouldn't hurt a kid unless seriously provoked. I didn't want to hurt anyone.

“Will, I need you to watch her for me. I wasn't kidding back there when I was talking to Thomas. That’s my mate. That makes her the most important and precious thing in the world to me, and I'm entrusting her safety to you. Understand?”

I didn't know how to digest the words he was saying. I'd never been important to anyone.

The kid's chest puffed up and he stood a little taller.

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