Page 23 of Sparks Flying

“A wolf and a raven,” I said again, sadly this time.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“A wolf and a raven,” I whispered.

“Bails, did you meet your true mate in Ravenden?”

“I’m barely eighteen. I shouldn’t even be here. I should be at the ARC with you.”

“Should I take this as a yes?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. My wolf says I have. But he certainly doesn’t feel it. What am I going to do, Oscar? Am I going crazy? Is this even real?”

“What do you mean, he doesn’t feel it? How can he not?”

“No idea, but I’m telling you, he doesn’t look at me like a mating male should. I just want to get out of here and forget this ever happened.”

“If he’s really your true mate, it’s not going to be that easy. You can’t just hide from this.”

“I can try,” I said stubbornly.

“You could, but it would probably only hurt you more, and then I’d have to quit school and drive to Arkansas just to kick this guy’s ass. With my luck these days, that would start some sort of inter-species war between the wolves and the ravens. Kyle might even shackle me in one of the caves and leave me there to starve or something.”

“Someone’s feeling dramatic, huh? Besides, didn’t those caves collapse?”

“I’m sure he’d dig them back out just for this occasion.”

“You’re insane.”

“But you’re smiling. I can hear it in your voice.”

“Maybe.”

“It’s going to be okay. I remember Aunt Jenna saying that the mating order for panthers and wolves is different. It freaked her and Uncle Chase out when they were feeling things more pronounced and out of order. Both their species’ mating signs compounded their bond.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I think I heard that ravens don’t form mating bonds until their birds meet. Have you met his raven yet?”

“No.”

“Then maybe he really doesn’t know who you are to him.”

“But you said Jenna and Chase felt both of their mating signs, so wouldn’t he feel mine then?”

“Maybe, but maybe that has him more freaked out than he’s letting on. Just something to consider. If this guy is truly your mate, then you need to see this through, Bails.”

“I don’t want to see this through, Oscar. He’s mean and rude. He snapped at me the first time we met for no reason at all. He scowls whenever he looks at me. And I’ve heard the rumors. He sleeps with everyone and probably has dozens of little secret raven babies around here. I’ve never even kissed a guy.”

“Hey, we kissed.”

“That was like kissing my brother or making out with a pillow. Kissing your best friend doesn’t count as a real kiss.”

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that, because ew. . .like kissing your brother? Seriously? I wasn’t that bad.”

“It was bad and you know it.”

I thought back to that awkward day. Oscar and I had been friends for years. I was there when he shifted for the first time at sixteen. He’d been terrified of anyone finding out, so I’d kept his secret and would have taken it to my grave if needed.

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