Page 10 of Half Wolf Mate

“I swear, I just might strangle you. A girl? Is this another of your attempts to match-make? For the last time, I don’t want a mate, and even if I did, I wouldn’t need your help to find her,” I growled.

Violet thought she was Cupid. She’d been on an unsanctioned mission to help me find my mate, and I’d had enough of her meddling in my love life—or lack thereof. I was only twenty-seven, but I’d taken my mind off finding a mate. If I hadn’t found my true mate among my pack or other ally packs, then I wouldn’t likely ever find her.

Violet had a theory that maybe my true mate wasn’t a werewolf but a human. I balked at the idea. The last thing I wanted was a human mate. I had enough on my plate being responsible for an entire pack. I didn’t need to be attached to a human whom I’d have to babysit and spoon-feed information about shifter life. Besides, most of the pack wouldn’t take too kindly to having a human Luna. That was a disaster waiting to happen.

“I’m not trying to match-make.”

“Liar.”

She huffed. “Okay, so when she walked in, I got that Cupid tingle.”

I snorted.

“But then I got a whiff of her.”

Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I sighed heavily. “I told you, no sniffing potential clients.” This operation was set up as a front for us to appear human.

She pursed her lips guiltily. “Sorry, but I don’t think she suspected anything. What I smelled is what piqued my interest, and I thought it was best to call you rather than Justin.” She leaned closer. “Cole, she smelled like a wolf, butnotlike one.”

I stared at her. “What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know…my wolf sensed she was like us, but the scent of her animal was so faint. I was confused. She was barely recognizable as a wolf, but I know she’s one of us.”

As I gaped at Violet, understanding dawned.Shit. Could she have sensed a half-shifter? She’s never met one. Hell, neither have I. And half-breeds were frowned upon by the elders of most packs, ours included.

I rubbed my jaw, some of my irritation seeping away. Maybe it was best I dealt with this potential client rather than my assistant. “Where is she now?”

“Bathroom. She was referred to you by Macy.”

I grunted. “So, most likely, she won’t be a paying client.”

Violet shrugged.

Macy Dupart wasn’t well-liked by shifters. Witches never were. However, I had no problem with her. She was a smart-mouthed, stubborn woman and a pain in my ass, but she had a good heart. While she also detested our kind, we’d developed a somewhat symbiotic relationship. Sometimes she helped me out, and in return, I helped some folks she sent my way free of charge. The half-witch had a Mother Teresa complex, and I didn’t see that as a bad thing. My business was successful enough to take on a few pro bono cases.

“Her name is Sydney, and she’s pretty,” Violet smirked, and I rolled my eyes.

She’d never quit until I was mated and had two point five cubs. The weird thing was the mention of the stranger’s name caused a slight prick in my chest. Frowning, I gazed at the empty passageway leading to the restroom.

“Uh huh. Well, she’d better hurry up and get out here. I don’t have all day.” I drummed out a rapid rhythm on the counter, thinking about the ton of paperwork I had to do. Then I had to go to the pack’s compound and meet with the elders to lobby for a change in the whole mated-females-should-stay-home-and-just-have-babies thing. The females have been begging me to get that rule changed. I wasn’t like the older wolves. While I believed our women should be protected, I also thought they should be treated equally and with more respect than pretty much being labeled brood mares.

My mind was miles away until a smell wafted toward me. It was feminine, heady. Delicious. My wolf lifted its head with interest, and its heart picked up speed. It undulated, wanting to burst free. To get to her? I wasn’t sure what was happening until a tiny woman—maybe five feet three or four inches tall came around the corner. Her chestnut brown hair fell in a messy curtain around her shoulders. From here, I saw that her almond-shaped eyes were green, and her lips were full, forming a natural pout. She wore a baggy sweater, which I thought was strange, considering it was about seventy degrees outside.

My gaze dipped, taking in the flare of her hips in tight jeans, then went back to her face. She was too pale and had dark circles under her eyes, but she was beautiful and…mine. My wolf wanted to emerge and howl its pleasure. A potent sensation of possessiveness kicked me in the chest. My jaw nearly brushed the carpet.Jesus Christ.It was her—my fated mate, right here in my office. I was shocked into a stupor because I never thought I’d find her…or she found me, I should say. As if under compulsion, my feet moved, and I stepped toward her.

The girl stood frozen, her wide eyes on my face. Her lips were parted, and her chest rose and fell rapidly. “Mate,” I growled—that was my wolf making itself known. I shoved him back and told him to pipe down.

A small gasp echoed, and from my periphery, I saw Violet grinning ear to ear.“Yes!”She hissed.

I shot her a quick, irritated glance. The girl, Sydney, Violet said her name was, just stared at me, her eyebrows puckering. I inhaled her scent, confirming she was indeed more human than wolf. Her animal scent was almost non-existent. From the confusion clouding her delicate features, I gathered she had no idea what she was. That meant she didn’t know what the hell was happening between us. Why she felt the sudden connection to me I knew she was experiencing.

This was exactly what I didn’t want—a clueless, human—half-human—mate. Yet, I wanted to reach out and pull her into my arms because her lost, weary air brought out my instinct to protect what’s mine.

Chapter 7 Sydney

Over the pounding of my heart, I swore I heard the wordshe’s yoursechoing in my mind. Since I ‘d established that I was losing my mind earlier, I ignored the faint voice. However, I couldn’t disregard the raw magnetism I felt toward the strange man staring at me.

The hairs on my arms stood on end, but it wasn’t from the sensation of being afraid. It was from the sheer attraction. It wasn’t just because he was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen. Seriously. He was tall with a commanding presence and had almost perfectly chiseled facial features. His blue eyes were made more intense by his penetrating stare. His lips formed a stern line, and I could tell he didn’t smile much. That made me sad for some reason. I’d never been more embarrassed by my tousled appearance than I was now. I looked like something out of a horror movie, and I wanted to disappear from existence or from under the hot stranger’s heated gaze.