Page 234 of His Hungry Wolf

“There’s more to being with someone than how you look together. But, what’s a fated mate?”

“You gotta know what a fated mate is,” Nero said dismissively.

“Nero, just tell me what it is,” I said feeling my wolf growl.

“It’s the person a wolf shifter is meant to be with. It’s a magic thing. There’s one person for all of us. When you’re with them, it sometimes feel like you can’t breathe. When you’re apart, it could feel like hell.

“I was sure that Quin was yours. Was I wrong? Is he not your fated mate?”

“I…” I said caught off guard.

Yeah. From the first moment I met him, I had the sense that there was something powerful pulling us together. I needed him. Nero was right. It sometimes felt like I couldn’t breathe. And now that we had broken up, it took everything in me to stand upright every day.

This time with my family should have been the greatest time of my life. But, I constantly fought the feeling that I was being torn to shreds. I needed Quin like I needed air. I was slowly going insane without him.

“You don’t understand. Quin didn’t want this life. What he cared about most was curing himself of his wolf. I could never be with him because he didn’t want to be with someone like me.”

“You said he grew up thinking he was the only wolf shifter and that I was the first one he had ever met.”

“Yeah.”

“Cage, I grew up my entire life knowing that one day I was gonna shift. Yet, even though I had a pack around me, when it happened, I still felt a certain way about it. He had none of that.”

“You had a hard time accepting you’re a shifter?”

“Most people do.”

“But, it felt so natural for me.”

“And, I don’t understand it. How is it that it comes so easy for you? That first fight we had, there was no way you should have been able to get the upper hand on me like that. No one should be able to. I’ve fought a lot of wolves. No one can.”

“Yet, I did?”

“You did. You’re special somehow, Cage. And if someone takes a little longer to get to where you are, you gotta give them the time.”

“But he chose getting rid of his wolf over being with me.”

“Then you convince him. You fight for him. That’s what I would want someone to do for me… especially my fated mate. And you can’t use your pack as an excuse to ruin your life.”

My mind spun thinking about everything Nero had told me. It was too much. I needed the spinning to stop.

“I thought I was supposed to be the wiser, older brother,” I said hoping being light-hearted would relieve some of Nero’s pressure.

“Then act like it, bro. Fight for Quin. Go after the man you love!”

I couldn’t deny it. Everything he said was right. There was something I couldn’t control drawing me to Quin. And, I shouldn’t have given up on him. What was I thinking giving up on Quin without a fight?

“What have I done? What do I do?”

“Go after him!” Nero insisted jolting me into action.

I knew Nero was right. Without a word, I shifted into my wolf and sprinted back to the trailer. As I did, my thoughts swirled. I didn’t have his phone number. I had deleted it. I needed to find someone who had it. I needed to get to my truck.

Feeling like I was back on the football field, my strides were long and strong. Jumping over streams and across ravines, I arrived back in a fraction of the time it had taken to get out there.

Shifting back and getting dressed, I raced inside in search of my keys.

“Why are you in such a rush?” my mother asked drawing my attention.