Mated to the Wizard

1 - Little Mate

I'm standing in one of those busses. The ones you get in airports, that only have three seats, several metal poles you're not allowed to hold onto and a bunch of those handle things on the handle bar too high up for me to actually reach. They put then there to give you something to hold onto, but it's not working out for me. I accidentally keep tripping into the French lady next to me and apologising, while she does the same in her language, every time the bus comes to a stop.

It feels like years until it finally stops for good, and the French lady nods at me with a strained smile before dashing into the crowd of people leaping off the bus. I take a deep breath to brace myself before following her through.

People with kids and families and boyfriends push past me, with the same intention; to get into the airport. It makes my heart clench. I should've found him by now.

After a couple of minutes, I see the light and run into the airport with my backpack. I'm pretty sure I stink of the sweaty man who was sitting next to me on the flight and my hair's a mess, but I couldn't care less.

I went on a trip to New York to stay with my uncle Jake. He's not actually my uncle, but my dad's friend. My parents sent me there in hopes of me finding my mate, but it didn't work. I'm still mate less. And grouchy too. I'm not good in airports.

As soon as I have my bags and I've been through customs, I half sprint half run outside to call a taxi. The driver looks kind enough; fifty-ish, tan skin, greying hair and chocolate brown eyes. He probably sees people like me everyday. I give him my address and he starts in the direction of home. I feel lucky that he doesn't want to a have a conversation. It means I have time to think of a good way to address my mum when I get back. 'Hey, so you know that trip to New York you sent me on? The one that you paid money for the flights and food? It was pointless. Sorry!' yeah, no.

Sighing, I watch through the window as the trees whizz by, deciding that I'll go on a run as soon as the greetings are over. My wolf needs to get out. Three hours on a plane with next to no leg room and hard seats does that to Werewolves.

"Just take a left." I instruct the driver. He does so and I tell him to drop me off outside the house before handing him the money and retrieving my bag from the boot.

"Avery!" she yells, running up to me. Mum. She wraps me up in her arms and I smell her expensive perfume as it invades my senses. "Still no mate?" she adds, looking around hopefully as if my mate will just magically pop out of the bushes.

"I literally called you before I got on the plane to tell you no. I still have no mate." I sigh. She sighs.

"Well, all in good time, eh?" mum nudges my shoulder and grabs the case as we begin walking inside, but I can see the underlying sadness in her tone. "How was the flight?"

"I was sitting next to an old sexist dude with no personal space." I shake my head, remembering his stubborn mule face. "He had a porn magazine and was muttering very... offensive... words about some of the women in it. I tell you, I wanted to rip his mouth off and stick it-"

"Okay, Ave, that's enough of that." Mum tuts, opening the front door and lugging the case into the hallway.

"But he was such a bastard." I mutter, throwing my bag on the floor and wandering into the kitchen. There are freshly made cupcakes on the counter so I pick one up and start munching on it, getting the frosting all over my fingers.

"Language, Avery."

"You would've had his head, mum. He had a freaking notebook and he was taking actual notes from a porn mag."