Finding Love

Soulmate

"And this is Cer short for Ceren with a C. He's on the growly side but don't let that bother you; he's just a grumpy old wolf," I hear through the pounding in my ears.

My mate. My honest to goodness soulmate. I would have thought it a myth if I hadn't seen my parents together when I was small. But they made sure to tell me their story, and I had seen how much they loved each other. Then with everything else I've heard over the past year about soulmates, I'm in shock that I have one, let alone this one.

I smile tentatively at him and his black eyes, not wanting to be rude but not knowing how to handle this.

His body almost takes an involuntary step towards me but he halts himself. I don't move. My mind is empty. I have the urge to run into his arms but also to run away from him, so instead of doing either I stand stock still, waiting to see what he'll do.

His eyes are still black.

The Alpha King is speaking to Naizie, talking about his plans to reinforce certain laws. I hear him but my focus is elsewhere - namely my mate.

They should put a warning label on this town. Come for the family drama, stay with a royal mate.

I overhear from the Alpha King: "...Once the plans are complete we will begin construction. The grounds are being built up to give families or lone wolves a safe place to go when they lose their packs rather than having to go it alone."

Huh. That makes a pang go through my heart. Might've been nice to have a place to go when my parents and most of my pack were wiped out when I was little. As it was, we - the survivors - ended up pooling our resources, hunkering down, hoping no one would attack. Not a great plan, but we hadn't had anywhere to go and most of us were too young to understand that it might not have been the safest plan. We survived though, and no one came back to finish the job.

We weren't sure why the attack had happened. Still aren't. One of the adults may have known but they were all dead or missing and the victors fled, torching the pack house and those nearby.

We broke into a couple safes that survived so we were able to pay for food and necessities but we only used the bare minimum since most of us couldn't go out and get a job.

The attack had happened in the middle of the night, so most of the teens who could shift had fought alongside the adults. None had survived.

This all runs through my head as I stare at the Beta.

He still hasn't said anything.

Ceren. I like his name. It fits him.