Wild

Chapter 1

Author's Note: there are no "true" mates ... only chosen mates in this story. Wolves choose mates by their smell ... If they have the "Scent" that means they are compatible and can be potential mates. The more of "the Scent" a wolf has, the more likely a mating mark will stay.

~~~

"I can't believe you're leaving. Where are you going to go? You belong here," Tara pled with me over breakfast. She had used the same argument with me everyday since I had decided to leave. "What am I going to do in this house by myself in this boring little town?"

Today I was moving out of Tara's house; it had become my temporary home in Merrick's territory the past year. I had hoped to get some sleep, but try as I might I spent all night tossing and turning, captive to my thoughts. This morning Tara was in full-on begging-mode to get me to stay. She was my oldest friend in Oregon, and one of my only friends in Merrick's pack. We met as kids when she and her family were part of my grandfather's pack. My heart ached to go back to those days.

But those days were long gone.

"You know that's not true -- I don't belong here ... At least not anymore. Besides I'm sure you'll find another she-wolf with lots of drama in her life to fill your free-time," I said, wryly. "You could befriend Alice."

Tara reared back in disgust and nearly spat out her last bite of toast. "Alice? Did I just hear you say 'Alice'?" I tried to hold back my smile as I took a sip of coffee. Tara glared at me. "You might find that funny, but I certainly don't." She stood up from her dining chair and took her empty breakfast plate over to the sink. "Are you still going to visit my grandparents before you go? Pretty sure Gramps will hunt you down and kill you if you don't swing by one last time."

I gave a light smile. "Of course. I wouldn't dream of skipping out on them."

"Great! I'll go over there with you and catch a ride home later. I'm going to spend as much time as I can with you before you leave. I didn't take the day off from the diner just to eat breakfast with you," she said pointedly.

"O.K., O.K. Relax, Tara," I laughed. Despite the past month being the worst of my life, there was never a moment when I couldn't still have a laugh with Tara. During the countless nights of heartache and tears, she was there ready to be my shoulder to cry on - and my comedic relief. "My bags are already packed and ready to go. Go get dressed and meet me in the car in ten."

The town Tara lived in was small. And I mean very small. With a population of only three hundred, everyone knew everyone. Most of the people in the town were simple, everyday people. The rest were part of Merrick's pack, though only a very small number of Merrick's pack lived in or around the town. Most pack members opted to live out in the county away from curious eyes, but Tara chose to live in town so she could be close to her job--the diner owned by one of the pack members.

The drive through town was unusually quiet between us, with only the sound of the heated air coming through the car vents and classic rock quietly playing on the radio. It's not normal for us to go so long without talking. I mulled over different things to talk about, but nothing that didn't have to do with the events of the past month came to mind, and I was simply all talked-out. I remained quiet until I saw the gas station ahead.

"I'm going to stop to get gas really quick."

"Do what you gotta do."

Once I was parked, I got out of the SUV into the chilly air. As the gas pumped, I glanced at the gas station building. There was a shadowy figure standing by the shop window; I couldn't tell who it was, but I couldn't help but feel like their eyes were on me. It was unnerving.