Page 3 of Wolf Fated

A male wolf who never finds his mate is a feral wolf walking.

And an alpha will be more vicious than any other wolf that could turn feral.

At best, I’ll be cast out of packlands, resigned to live the rest of my life in my wolf form until I lose my humanity entirely.

As Alpha, I’ll probably need to be culled.

I don’t want to put my deputy and Beta Zane Matthews through anything like that. Culling males scars souls. I should know.

The thought of seeking a mate in the human world has crossed my mind but the chances of finding a human woman with dormant shifter blood are infinitesimally small. In millions of females across the country, there will only be hundreds with wolf shifter blood running through their veins. Heritage they will have no idea about. They will live and die in ignorance unless they come face to face with their mate.

All the while, myself and every male in my packland face the same future. It’s something that, as Alpha, I need to find the answer to. As a male, I’m desperate to understand why no mates have been found. It hasn’t always been that way and the decline has been slow but steady. Some of my pack think that Willowbrook has been cursed.

The Sally’s Diner sign casts a warm yellow glow against the dark sky. The urge for a cup of Sally’s coffee hits. Comfort. Home. Exactly what I need. I park the cruiser next to a small, dirt encrusted Honda Civic, turn the engine off and step out of the car. I haven’t seen that car before.

My wolf perks his head up, and tips his nose in the air. A scent lingers, but it’s faint. I draw in a long lungful, savoring the barely-there musky notes before they disappear altogether. Female. My cock instantly swells and my wolf lurches to his feet.

Down boy, I tell my wolf and my cock. It’s probably just my imagination brought on by that persistent longing ache.

I’m not even sure what I smelt was there and I don’t want to get both of our hopes up to have them come crashing down. It’s not the first time I’ve detected phantom scents in the air. Half the time I think it’s because I want my mate so desperately my brain makes scents up to appease me.

I take the four steps up to the front door when Zane pushes through before I can step over the threshold. I step back and nod as he emerges from the diner, trying to maintain an air of casual nonchalance despite the growing anticipation thrumming through my veins. As my deputy and Beta, he's been witness to my struggle, the constant ache of loneliness that weighs heavily on my soul.

Him and me both.

A ghost of a frown tugs at his lips as he takes in my tense posture, his brow furrowing in concern. "Everything all right, Mitch?"

Before I can respond, another waft of that intoxicating scent drifts through the diner's open door, causing my wolf to lunge. His russet fur rises along my forearms before I push him down, forcing the fur to recede.

Not my imagination.

“All good,” I manage.

"We have a newcomer in Willowbrook," he says, his tone laced with excitement. "Sally's got her inside, feeding her up like she always does. That woman would mother the entire world if she could. She treats every lost soul who wanders into town like one of her own, even lost human females."

My heart skips a beat at his words. A newcomer. Heat floods my veins as the implications sink in, and I ignore the urge to shove past Zane and barge into the diner like a man possessed.

My senses are on fire as I push the question out. “The newcomer is female?”

“The newcomer is all female.” My growl lodges in my throat at his tone. Zane stills, his eye flaring. "Do you think she might be…that the curse is..."

His gaze holds mine, the undercurrent of hope in his tone palpable. I open my mouth to tell him it depends on many things, but the words catch as another potent wave of that alluring scent washes over me. The unmistakable notes of wildflowers and warm summer rain has my wolf sitting up and taking notice.

Zane's eyes flare with excitement. Excitement and hope. "Sally's already making inquiries about where she can stay. I suggested the Wolf’s Bite."

My sister Cindy owns and runs the town’s largest hotel, Wolf’s Bite. The female will be safe there, if she decides to stay.

Or if she finds her mate.

My blood runs cold at the thought of every male wolf in my packlands brushing past her to scent her. The surge of instinctive possessiveness snaps through me so hard it almost makes me stumble. I focus back on Zane.

Before I can formulate a response, a sudden prickling sensation skitters down my spine. The fine hairs on the back of my neck rise. My wolf surges to the forefront of my consciousness, hackles raised and snarling as a wave of alpha awareness washes over me.

One of the wards surrounding our packlands has been triggered. As Alpha I’m the only wolf strong enough to withstand the constant power of the magic connected to the wards and the only wolf on my packlands to feel a breach.

In an instant, every muscle in my body coils tight, poised for action. Zane's stance mirrors mine, his expression hardening into one of grim determination as we both scan the surrounding area for any sign of danger.

“What is it?” Zane says.

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