Mate

Gareth's words left me speechless. How can I be Wilder's mate? I'm human. From what he said werewolves outlive humans and when a mate dies the other is left to grieve alone the rest of their lives. Wouldn't that mean I would die long before him? How could fate be cruel enough to give a long living being their one time mate in a person who will die in the blink of an eye to them?

"How could I be his mate? I'm human. There has to be a mistake!"

"No lass. There isn't a mistake. There are ways to tell who our mate is. Smell. Touch. Bond. If he is sure you are his mate then that means he has already experienced that on some level with you. He told me how you sent some of our pack members flying. It sounds like you have inherited some of your father's power. I'd guess that means you will live a longer life like your father but it also comes with many dangers."

At the mention of my father I remembered that Gareth had known him previously. Unlike with my mother, he wasn't a taboo subject with him. I could learn more about him and maybe find out why I have these powers. Why those people had come for my mother and me. Why my mother had always hidden a trap door and escape route and rather than leave with me sent me on my own into the Misty Forest. Thinking of her I started crying. Was she ok or was she gone?

"Ach lass, don't cry. If the moon goddess made you my brat's mate then she would have done so for a reason. All mate's are the other half of each other. So-

That's not why I'm crying." I interrupted him since he seemed to think I was crying at the idea of being mated to a werewolf. I'm not even going to deal with that right now. "I'm worried about my mother. I don't know what happened to her after she sent me out through the escape tunnel. I hadn't even known we had an escape tunnel. It seemed like any other day when I woke up, but when I sat down for breakfast she looked so serious and said she had to tell me something. Then there was a sound near the door. Due to my powers we don't normally get visitors but I was going to check on who could have been at the door. That's when she shoved me into the escape tunnel and told me to find the wolves in the forest. To not look back no matter what. What could have scared her so much?" I started crying again with my face in my hands. Gareth put his hand on my back in an attempt to comfort me and sat in silence with me.

When I came back to check on how Cassidy was doing I found her crying.

"What did you do to make her cry old man?!" Only one that had been with her was him. No one else could have made her cry. Seeing my mate cry broke me and I wanted to tear out the throat of whoever did it. My wolf wanted to take over and punish anyone who dared hurt her.

"Calm down brat. She is crying as she is worried for her mother. Have you had a chance to talk to her about what caused her mother to send her to look for us?"

"No, not yet. I already knew we would need to investigate things as she was alone so deep in the forest."

"The lass is overwhelmed. There is a lot she doesn't know. Especially when it comes to her father and powers. Protect your mate well brat." I nod at him to acknowledge what he says.

"Wilder is back lass so I will take my leave and let you rest. If you need anything our pack is here for you. You are safe with us so get some rest."

With that he left my house. I could feel the worry and sadness radiate off her now that I had calmed down some. I couldn't bear to see her cry. Walking over to her I quickly pick her up and carried her to the bed.