The soulmate hunt

Potential soulmate

"This so called girl everyone seems to talk about... is apparently me, though I'm still trying to figure out who I am. All I'm focusing on is surviving this soulmate hunt and getting to know myself without any help. I left a lot behind to embark on this quest and find out who my true love is and who my parents were. So, even though you've been looking for this so-called girl, "I'm sorry for wasting your time," I said dejectedly as I turned away from Tyson.

"Mate!" His voice boomed, sounding more like a howl than an actual word. Confused as to why he'd said it, I spun around without any conscious thought - my body seemed to move of its own accord. I was utterly perplexed, yet somehow captivated by his powerful words. What did he mean when he yelled "mate"? This couldn't be possible, not after just one transformation. How could you even know if you had found your soulmate? I was clueless as to how one would recognise such a thing. It all seemed so unreal, yet here I was, feeling something new and inexplicable stirring inside me. Could it really be true?

I never understood the emphasis placed on soulmates. Everywhere I looked in my formative years - from the books I read to the shows I watched - discouraged the notion of predetermined destined partners. They accepted that we, as individuals had complete freedom to choose our companion and that soulmates were nothing but a figment of our imaginations. It always seemed so fantastical, almost too good to be true; like something taken from a Disney film for example. I was hesitant to fully commit to this decision, unsure if he was attracted only to the beast within me and not the human. To put my entire self out there and risk being hurt in the end weighed heavily on my mind. I had to be sure that his feelings for me went beyond just physical attraction.

I quickly snapped back to reality as I heard a strong and unmistakable howl pierce the air. It was eerily familiar, but my mind couldn't place where it had originated from. When I was still living at home, I couldn't join in on the hunts like the rest of my family due to not being able to transform. But instead of feeling left out, my mum and I found a way to spend time together in our own special way - having fun whipping up delicious meals.

I glanced to the left, where the howls had come from, and menacing golden eyes peered out of the bush. "Hudson, is that you?" I asked, desperately hoping he'd snap out of whatever had taken hold. I wanted to ask him what was going on, but before I could say another word he lunged at Tyson. Before I could do anything else he was already on him. I'm at a loss as to how to fix this problem, and who is Hudson? So many questions are tumbling through my mind, but I need to focus and find a way out. Two options present themselves: I could try to shift on my own and get a handle of my wolf side or just howl as if my life depended on it. But both are incredibly risky.

I had to think fast. Tyson was already on the floor and Hudson was ready to bite into his left side like it was a life or death situation. I knew what I had to do; Hudson couldn't live with himself if he killed this man and I could never forgive myself knowing that I could have done something. Without hesitation, I howled like my own life depended on it as my body took control, every bone in me crackling as the transformation began. This time the transformation wasn't as painful, but it still hurt just as much. I shifted, and suddenly I was a beautiful white wolf. I ran over to Tyson and Hudson and leaped onto Hudson's back. Howling into his ear, I called out his name, but he still wouldn't get off Tyson. So the next best thing I could think of was to bite his left leg until it bled.

"What the hell, Harper!" Hudson shouted. I didn't feel like shifting back into human form just yet; I was rather content in my wolf form. I wanted to have some control over what had happened and a bit of time on my own away from the boys wouldn't hurt. On top of that, I'd managed to rip my clothes again when changing. This is something I really needed to learn how not to do - a feat that Hudson seemed to find quite easy with no apparent difficulty.