Thorne

6

Ethan paced nervously in front of Anastasia, his brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure you know who this black wolf is?" he asked, his voice laced with tension.

I shrugged, a faint sense of familiarity flitting through my mind. "I'm not sure," I replied, my voice uncertain. "He just seemed very familiar to me, like I'd seen him before."

Ethan's expression darkened. "Well, we need to find out who he is," he said firmly. "I have a feeling he's not just passing through. He could be a threat to the pack."

I nodded, a sense of unease settling in my stomach. I knew Ethan was right. We needed to find out who this black wolf was and what he wanted.

"It's so weird, I feel like I'm drawn to find him again." I explained further.

Rachel took in a deep breath. "Ethan," She almost whispered. "Do you think that could be her... mate?"

Ethan's expression darkened. "She's human, Rachel." He said, almost angrily. "Besides, why would he run away if he was her mate."

"Well, if he was, he would certainly be back." She pressed. "He probably just wasn't expecting to find her in that moment, and nearly black out drunk at that."

"It's not entirely impossible," Ethan sighed. "But we can't rule out other possibilities. Maybe she knew him from before, and that's why he ran away. Similarly, if she spotted him when he was trying not to be seen, he would run away."

"Ana, be honest, were you.. attracted to him?" Rachel said, her eyes as wide as they could stretch.

"The wolf?" I exclaimed, my mind racing. "I-I don't know, I thought it was just a wolf at the time."

Ethan looked tense, as he ended the conversation. "I'll do some digging around and see what I can find out," Ethan said, his voice resolute. "In the meantime, be careful. And if you see him again, let me know right away."

I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts of the mysterious black wolf and the nagging sense that I knew him from somewhere. I just had to figure out where.

"I had our warriors do a sweep, and it seems he is no longer in our territory. In the meantime, we have our guards working double time. I want you all to go home and get some sleep. We had a long night, and you're very drunk still, Anastasia. Rest easy knowing we will be protecting you both."

As Rachel and I left the meeting together, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over me. I kept replaying the encounter in my mind, trying to make sense of it. Suddenly, Rachel turned to me and said, " I won't be able to sleep knowing you are alone after what happened with the wolf."

"I'll be fine, Rachel," I reassured her, though I couldn't shake the feeling of fear that had taken hold of me. "But, I won't protest if you want to stay over."

"I'm not taking any chances," Rachel insisted, linking her arm through mine as we walked back to my house. "We can make it fun and have a sleepover. Just in case."

I nodded, and gave her a smile, grateful for her presence as we made our way home.

As we walked past the store, Rachel insisted on stopping to pick up some snacks and a movie for our sleepover. I couldn't deny that the idea of having a movie night with my friend was a welcome distraction from the events of the day.

We browsed the aisles, filling our basket with popcorn, candy, and soda before finally settling on a romantic comedy to watch. Rachel also convinced me to buy matching silk pajamas, which I had to admit were pretty cute. As we checked out, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Rachel's presence and her willingness to stay with me.

When we arrived at my house, we settled in on the couch with our snacks and hit play on the movie. I was grateful for the distraction, and soon found myself laughing along with Rachel at the antics on the screen.

But even as we watched the movie, my mind kept drifting back to the black wolf I had seen earlier. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was somehow connected to me, and the way Rachel had mentioned the possibility of him being my mate only added to my confusion.

I sat on the couch next to Rachel, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Rachel, can I ask you something?" I said, turning to her.

Rachel looked up from the movie, a curious expression on her face. "Sure, what's up?"

"Well, I heard everyone talking about the black wolf possibly being my mate," I said, my voice hesitant. "What does that mean, exactly?"

Rachel's face softened, a wistful look appearing in her eyes. "A mate is someone you're destined to be with," she explained. "It's that one person who just gets you, and you get them. They're your other half, your perfect match."

My brow furrowed, a sense of confusion settling in. "But how do they know it's my mate?" I asked, my voice laced with doubt. "I barely even remember my own name, let alone someone I'm supposed to be with for the rest of my life."

Rachel shrugged, a sympathetic look on her face. "I don't know, Ana," she said softly. "But sometimes, these things just happen. And if the black wolf really is your soulmate, you'll find a way to get to him. Trust me."

I sighed, a sense of uncertainty settling in my chest. I knew Rachel was right, but the thought of falling in love with someone I didn't even know was overwhelming. But deep down, a small spark of hope flickered within me. Maybe, just maybe, the black wolf really was my soulmate.

As we finished the movie, Rachel and I headed to my bedroom to get ready for bed. We both slipped into our matching silk pajamas, and I couldn't help but feel a little silly in mine. They were a bright shade of pink with cartoon cats all over them, but Rachel had insisted they were cute.

As we settled into bed, Rachel pulled out a brush and some hair ties. "Do you want me to braid your hair for you?" she asked.

I nodded eagerly. "Yes, please! I always struggle with braids."

Rachel chuckled and began dividing my hair into sections. "Double Dutch braids?" she asked.

"Sure," I replied, settling back onto the pillows as Rachel expertly braided my hair. It felt nice to have someone take care of me, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for Rachel's presence.

As we settled into bed, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I felt much more relaxed with Rachel sleeping next to me.

...

I was lost in the woods, my head spinning and my memories a blur. I had no idea how I had gotten there or where I was going. Just as I was starting to panic, I heard a rustling in the bushes behind me. My heart racing, I turned to face whatever was coming towards me, but to my surprise, it was a beautiful black wolf.

He stood tall and proud, his piercing blue eyes seeming to look right through me. I was terrified, but there was also something about him that felt familiar. He didn't seem to be a threat, but rather a guide.

I reached out tentatively, wondering if he would let me touch him. To my surprise, he nuzzled his nose against my hand, and I felt a surge of warmth and love wash over me. I knew in that moment that this wolf was more than just a creature of the forest. He was my mate.

...

As I groggily opened my eyes, the first thing that came into focus was the bright sunlight streaming through my bedroom window. I sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and trying to shake off the remnants of the strange dream I had been having.

I glanced over at the empty spot on the bed next to me and saw a note written in Rachel's neat handwriting. "Had to head out early for a meeting with the boys. Hope you're not too hungover today! -Rachel :)"

I smiled at myself and made my way to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I sighed and brushed through my tangled hair, already feeling the weight of the day ahead. It was hard enough to get up early on a regular day, but having to do it after a restless night made it feel even harder.

I padded over to my closet and pulled out my work clothes for the day, a simple black dress with a cardigan sweater. After a quick shower and getting dressed, I headed out the door, already feeling the rush of caffeine and a breakfast bagel calling my name.

I walked into the cozy coffee shop, my eyes scanning the menu board hung above the counter. I had heard so much about this place and had been wanting to try it out for a while now. I finally decided on a latte and a bagel, hoping the combination would help cure my hangover. I stepped up to the counter to place my order.

"Hi, I'll have a large latte and a plain bagel with cream cheese, please," I said to the barista, a friendly looking young man with a nose ring and a tattoo peeking out from under his sleeve.

He nodded and began preparing my drink and bagel, chatting with me about the weather and asking how my day was going. I told him I was on my way to work at the library and he smiled, saying he used to work at one too.

"What was your name?" I asked him, sure that I would make this a regular spot before work.

"Liam, Liam Zabinski." He said, flashing me a charming smile.

"Zabinski, like Marcus Zabinski's brother?" I said, surprised.

"You got it right!" he said and handed me my drink and bagel. He asked if I wanted anything else. I shook my head and thanked him, taking a sip of the warm, creamy latte and biting into the soft, chewy bagel. It was exactly what I needed.

I paid for my order and waved goodbye to Liam, promising myself to come back and try one of their pastries next time. As I walked out of the coffee shop, I felt a little pep in my step, thanks to the caffeine and the nice interaction I'd had with him. The bagel had also helped settle my stomach and I was starting to feel more like myself.

I continued on my way to work, feeling grateful for the small pleasures in life, like a good cup of coffee and a delicious bagel.

As I arrived at the library, I was relieved to see that I was only a few minutes late. I made my way through the stacks, greeting my coworkers and checking my schedule for the day.

As I headed towards the reference desk, I saw my boss, Genevieve, walking towards me.

"Good morning, Anastasia," she said, glancing at her watch. "You're just in time. How was your morning?"

I hesitated for a moment, not sure if I should admit my hangover. But then I decided to be honest. "It was a bit rough," I admitted. "I had a little too much to drink last night and woke up feeling a bit worse for wear. But I stopped at that new coffee shop on the way here and it really helped perk me up."

Genevieve chuckled and patted my arm. "We've all been there, trust me. I'm just glad you made it in. And, that is one of my favorite spots around town, you'll have to grab me a coffee next time." she winked.

I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her, grateful for her understanding and kind words. As we walked together towards the reference desk, I made a mental note to be more mindful of my drinking in the future. She then explained that I would be working at the customer service desk today, and as long as I greeted every customer and made sure no one needed help, I would have plenty of time to catch up on my reading. I nodded, grateful for the opportunity to catch up on my reading while still being productive at work.

As I worked at the customer service desk, I couldn't help but think about the black wolf I had seen the other night. I was curious about the concept of mates, so I decided to do some research during my shift. I browsed through the shelves and eventually found a book that seemed promising. It was titled "The Bond of Mates."

I sat down at my desk and began to read. The book describes the intense connection that mates feel towards each other, as if they are two halves of the same whole. It talked about the sense of familiarity and recognition that mates feel when they first meet, and the intense bond that develops between them.

As I read, I couldn't help but wonder if the black wolf could be my mate. I had felt an instant familiarity with him, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something special between us. It also mentioned that mates often dream of each other when they are far apart, and that they have an almost psychic connection to each other.

"Anastasia?" I heard a curious voice interrupt my reading, "Reading on the clock, I see?"

I looked up to see that Ms. Knox, Ethan's mother, was standing there in front of the service desk.

I smiled sheepishly, "Oh, hello Ms. Knox. Yes, I am reading, but Genevieve had said it was alright once I finished all my work."

She smiled and tilted her head to look at my book, "The Bond of Mates?" she questioned, "I'm surprised a human would be so interested in that book."

"Is it really so uncommon for a human to have a mate?" I said, genuinely unsure.

She nodded her head, "Well, not completely, but usually it is a human female that mates with an Alpha. They make good pairs as Alphas usually prefer much more obedient women."

I furrowed my brow. "Hmm."

"Do you believe you have found a mate?"

I shook my head, not wanting to open up to her about my situation, "I'm just curious to learn about wolves. This is all new to me."

She nodded approvingly, "Well, I think that is a very nice idea, taking your education into your own hands. Good for you, Anastasia."

I smiled at her, "Thank you, was there anything I could help you with?"

"Oh, no, that's quite alright. I'm just stopping by to check in on Genevieve. I'll leave you to it dear." She patted my shoulder, and left to go look around.

I shook her off and continued reading my book. I couldn't deny that I felt exactly as the book described, but as I kept reading, I saw that the book explained that mates will lock eyes when they first meet and it will feel almost as if you were struck by lightning. I didn't experience that when I looked in the Wolfes' eyes, but I remember feeling that way when I had first seen someone else... the frozen man.

I let out a loud gasp as I finally put it all together. Those blue eyes, the dreams, werewolves...