Harlie Williams

Excerpt 2

“How was your day?” she asked, wiping her hands on her apron as she turned around. Then she frowned. “Hey, what’s wrong?” She could always read him. His dad and uncle said he needed to get better at hiding his feelings, but he suspected that no matter how good he got, his mother would always be able to tell. She pulled out the chair next to his and sat down. “Something’s changed.”

“I know.”

“I mean, you smell different, like….”

“I can feel my wolf, Mom. Just like that, he was there, and… I don’t understand.” His heart rate had returned to normal and the tingling had subsided, but the intense thoughts of Carter remained. He could almost still smell him.

“You’re young to discover your wolf, but it happens. You need to tell your father so he can help you through your first shift. You’ll be ready soon.” She smiled proudly.

“Mom,” Falco asked as a wave of uncertainty he rarely experienced washed over him. “Can I ask you… what does it feel like to find your mate?”

She chuckled, stood, and went to the stove. “Well, it’s like the world stops for a few seconds and there is nothing but her, or in my case, your father.” Her eyes turned wistful as she leaned against the counter. “Your mate will have the best scent, perfect for you—one you can never get enough of for the rest of your life. Everything will click, and you know there will be no one else for you as long as you live. That will be it. Your wolf will want no one else.” She sighed and turned back to the stove. “You have plenty of time for that later.”

Falco nodded, but he knew he’d already found him. A guy—his mate was another boy. He wasn’t sure how the pack would feel about that. Not that it mattered; he was only thirteen, and no one was going to believe him anyway. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Sure, sweetie. Go finish your homework so you can talk to your dad later.” She continued her work, humming softly to herself, and Falco went to his room. He meant to do his homework, but his thoughts wandered to Carter and refused to let go. He’d found his mate, at least he thought so, and now all he had to do was make sure.

Over the next week, Falco managed to run into Carter at school on a regular basis, and each time his wolf grew stronger and more insistent, not to mention the way his body reacted when he got near. God, it was like he was on fire. The more he was around Carter, the more he was convinced Carter was his mate.

It took almost two weeks for Falco to become sure that, at thirteen, he’d found his mate, something some wolves never do their entire lives. He was thrilled and vowed to spend more time with Carter, become his friend, and really get to know him better.

The following Monday, Carter wasn’t in school. Falco figured he was sick and looked for him each morning, but Carter never showed up in school again.

Two weeks. He’d met his mate, and two weeks later, he was gone.