CHAPTER 2
Finn
“This place isn’t the same since Snow left,” Forest says, and I see the sadness in his eyes.
We love our sister, and although we’re happy that she finally found her mate in Koda, we miss her being here with us. Flint isn’t saying much about how he feels, but he usually keeps quiet when he’s upset. The three of us were litter mates, so it’s not as if someone can feel something without us noticing.
Forest is usually the one who’s a guaranteed good time; he’s the laughter of our home. Flint is quiet and sometimes shy, but when he’s angry, everyone in a ten-mile radius knows. I’m definitely the more laid-back, but I’ve always been the leader. I thought that maybe as we got older and found our mates that things between us would change, but it hasn’t happened yet, and I’m beginning to worry.
We’ve been in Gray Ridge for a while now, and though we met most of the female shifters, none of us have found our mate. I think Flint and Forest thought I would go first since I’m the leader of our trio, but that’s not always the way it goes. There was a larger pack of seven of us when we first came here, but one by one they all paired off. Including Snow.
“You mean you don’t like my chicken and dumplings?” Flint says, and I see Forest smile.
“I guess if you consider burnt balls of lava ‘dumplings,’ then sure, they’re great.”
I’m happy when they’re happy, and I’m discontented when they’re sad. I feel the need to make sure that they’re okay, and the responsibility is heavy on my shoulders.
“Hopefully you’ll find a mate that can cook, because otherwise your young might starve,” I say, and the mood turns from happy to sad again. “Sorry, I just meant—”
“We know what you meant,” Flint says, cutting me off. “Let’s not pretend we aren’t the reject wolves in this town. No female’s gotten our attention, and we need to face those facts.”
He goes over to the kitchen sink and throws his bowl into it.
“It’s not up to the female to decide,” Forest says, telling us what we already know. “Maybe we should move on. We might have a better chance in another town. And now that Snow is provided for, it’s not as if we need to worry about her so much.”
“We agreed not to move again,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “When we came to Gray Ridge, we said we would give this a chance. Just because none of us have mated yet doesn’t mean we have to give up and move.”
“What if your mate is here and we move away?” Flint says, looking to Forest. “Would you have us all leave and never find your true half?”
“If it meant you would both find yours, then I would be willing to make that sacrifice.” Forest stands up from the table and for a moment I think he’s going to storm out, but instead he gets an even sadder look on his face. “I would give up my own happiness to see you two raise your young. It would be enough for me.”
I go to open my mouth, but he holds up his hand to stop me.
“Forest…” Flint tries, but Forest just shakes his head.
“I’m going for a run. I’d like to be alone.”
Flint and I nod, knowing that right now he needs his space.
“Don’t be gone too long,” I say, and Forest agrees.
I watch our tender-hearted wolf go out the back door and strip down. It’s only a half second later before he shifts and disappears into the surrounding woods.
