Redeeming the Lost (A Comforter's Tale)

Chapter 23

The packhouse came into view, although I really wanted to call the grey brick structure a small castle. The only thing it was missing was the moat – it even had a ramp disguised as a drawbridge instead of stairs!

Michael's eyes kept moving as he scanned the trees and the faces of everyone he saw. His mind swirled with excitement and tension, glowing brightly in my senses as the dormant matebond started to stir with the scent of his mate. It was influencing him much more than my aura was.

"I did let the available women know that a visiting rogue thought his mate was here."

"Thanks," Michael said appreciatively, relaxing fractionally at the same time.

It was a wise precaution on the Alpha's part since not all women might want a potentially rough-around-the-collar rogue as a mate, although if their mate was a rogue, it almost certainly meant that he would likely stay with her pack, so she wouldn't have to leave her family and friends. If he could adapt to pack life.

What no one would say aloud right now, was that if rejection was on someone's mind, they would keep out of sight. That was a good thing in my mind; if she rejected him, I would have a hard time keeping him from going feral again when he was still recovering from past events.

Branches crashing in the trees to the side made us look over as a russet colored wolf burst out of the foliage and charged right at Michael. The flare of a forming matebond hit my senses and temporarily blinded my ability to detect emotions. Michael simply stared at her like a blind man seeing for the first time, not even raising his arms defensively as she leapt through the air at him.

Josh quickly grabbed Amber's arm and pulled her farther away from Michael as the wolf's front paws slammed into his chest, knocking him off his feet. Michael hit the ground with a thud that made me wince, although his momentum sent him skidding across the ground on his back, still staring up at the wolf above him who began showering him with kisses as her tail wagged a million miles an hour.

The impact would have cracked ribs on the average fighter, but it didn't even wipe the joyful smile off his face. He ruffled up the fur on the side of her neck, possibly marveling at how soft and exquisite the matebond was telling him it was.

"I somehow don't think we need to worry about her rejecting him," Vera murmured in amusement.

"Really? What gave you that idea?" Josh replied sarcastically, although his expression was one of relief and happiness for his friend.

"I actually bit a stranger's arm at a party when he gave me a big bear hug from behind. Turns out he was my mate. The wind just happened to be blowing the wrong way for me to pick up his scent."

Josh paused for a long second. "The first thought to cross your mind was to bite a stranger who might have mistaken you for a friend?"

Vera tilted her head thoughtfully. "I was a bit on the feisty side when I was younger."

I figured there were more than a few stories behind that statement, although Josh just smirked and didn't reply. A few others listening to their quiet conversation looked like they were having a hard time keeping their comments to themselves.

"Katie," the Alpha kindly admonished the wolf, "is tackling your mate really the best way to introduce yourself? He's lucky he's wearing a leather jacket after sliding on the gravel like that. I still can't figure out how he's breathing with you standing on his chest."

I could actually see the words sink into the wolf's mind. She suddenly sat back on her haunches and shifted, kneeling beside him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, frantically patting down his arms and chest as she checked for injuries. "I didn't mean to hurt you like that! I wasn't thinking – I was too excited to finally find my mate. Are you okay?"