USELESS?

4

Wings. I have a birthmark of WINGS on my back, and no one ever told me. I wonder why.

Anthony leads me into the forest that surrounds the pack house, never letting go of my hand. I'm not complaining. His hand is large and warm, and sends delightful tingles up my arm. He tells me about his pack, that he is the Alpha of, and his family-his parents, Ty and Angela, and a twin sister named Tonia.

I tell him that I don't remember my parents, and Alpha never told me their names. He never told me mine, either, but I don't want to mention that just yet. I'm not ready to tell him about Dale yet, either, but I know I'll have to soon. As I think of Dale, I realize-Anthony is my mate, I'm over 18, and it's a full moon. By pack law, our mating has to happen tonight.

He's handsome, for sure, and I feel safe with him, but I don't know if I'm ready for a mating ceremony and marking just yet. I try to pull my hand from Anthony's, but he doesn't let me. I begin panicking, dropping to the ground and curling up into a ball, struggling to breathe. Anthony kneels beside me, rubbing circles on my back to calm me.

"Baby, what's wrong?" He asks me worriedly.

"I'm not ready. I'm not ready. Please don't make me." I cry, trembling

Confused, Anthony asks, "what aren't you ready for, love?"

I can't look at him when I answer, "our mating. I know I'm over 18, and it's the full moon, and it's pack law, but I'm not ready for our mating"

Anthony's eyes widen. "What pack law are you talking about? I've never heard of it."

I dutifully recite the law, as I did on my mating night with Dale, "A mated pair must complete mating no later than the first full moon after meeting, or if known to one another, the first full moon after the younger partner turns 18. Its pack law. Alpha Todd and Dale said so."

Anthony gently lifts my chin, so I'm looking him in the eye, and tells me gently, "No pack I know has ever had a law like that. That group of rogues we rescued you from was no pack, and it's leader certainly was no Alpha."

My trembling slows and I relax, staring into Anthony's eyes. I can see the truth of his words lurking in their clear depths. "We will mate when you are ready, love. I've waited my whole life for you."

"Anthony...I" I begin, "Alpha Todd and the pack said Dale..."

Puzzled, Anthony asks, "Who is this Dale?"

I cringe, and admit; "The man Alpha Todd and the pack said was my mate, and forced me to mate when I was 18."

"Where is he?" Anthony demands "I'll kill him for touching what's mine!"

"I don't really know, Anthony." I tell him, "My mating mark disappeared just after I shifted for the first time. My wolf told me that only my Goddess-given mate can mark me, so the bond to Dale disappeared when I shifted. You found me just as I was greeting my wolf."

Anthony smiles "Then what are you worried about, my love? He's gone, I'm here, and I'm never letting you go."

At this, my body relaxes, and I smile up at him. He reaches out his hand, which I take, and gently pulls me to my feet. As I stand, my foot gets caught in a tree root, and I stumble into Anthony. He catches me easily, and wraps his arms around me.

Wrapped in his arms, I feel complete. He presses a gentle kiss to my forehead, then the tip of my nose. As he pulls back, I wrap my arms around his neck, and pull his head down to mine as I tilt my chin up to meet his lips with my own. My first kiss, and it was perfect.

Anthony releases me reluctantly, keeping an arm around my waist, as we resume our trek through the trees. After about an hour, we come to a road lined with sleek, black vehicles. The warriors have already started getting in, and Anthony leads me to the first in the line, opening the back door for me. He helps me in, and I slide over to make room for him. He climbs in, and closes the door.

One by one, the vehicles' engines rumble to life, and they take me even further from my own personal hell on earth. I send up a prayer of thanks to the Goddess for sending me my wolf and my true mate. What a wonderful birthday this has been.

'Let me know when you're ready to talk, and I'll tell you who you truly are.' I hear Angel whisper into my mind as I find my head nodding, my tired body leaning against Anthony's warm, muscular one. His words startle me, and my eyes shoot open. What does he mean, who I really am?

My mind and body are too tired to hold onto this thought for long, so I rest my head on Anthony's shoulder, and let my eyes drift closed again. It's been a long, confusing day, and I'm ready for it to be over. Tomorrow is soon enough for answers.

Anthony presses another kiss to my forehead, and whispers, "Sleep, love. I'll keep you safe," and I give up the fight against sleep. The scent of oranges, ginger and cloves follows me into my dreams, surrounding me in golden clouds, my silver and black wolf joined by a larger black and gold one I instantly recognize as Anthony's.

'His name is Zeus' Angel tells me. 'Our mate. As Anthony is yours, so Zeus is mine.'