Chapter 1
Belinda’s pov
“Bells, I know that you are excited about getting your wolf tonight, but you still have to eat something.” Dad said, chuckling a little bit.
“But Dad, what if she doesn’t like me?” I asked. I mean, yeah she is the other half of my soul, but still. Maybe there is a loophole that I don’t know about.
“Honey, I guarantee that she will be your perfect partner.” My dad’s wolf, Thornton said. “The moon goddess makes your wolf counterpart to be your other half.”
I sighed, “I know that you’re both right.”
“Of course we are.” They said together. When they are sharing the driver’s seat, so to speak, their left eye is my dad’s dark brown and the right is Thornton’s caramel chocolate.
The first time this happened, I was quite young and they made sure that I didn’t tell anyone. He said that it was a gift from the moon goddess and that nobody else should know. I don’t know what the big deal is, but it was important to him. So, I agreed not to tell anybody.
I rolled my eyes at them and then smiled. They don’t play around as often as they used to and I wanted to encourage it to continue.
Not many mates separate, but every now and then you will hear about it happening. It happened to my parents five years ago, the day that I turned thirteen. Dad and Thornton won’t talk about it and eventually I was forced to let it go without any sort of explanation. I am still curious of course, but my mom moved into another pack and never tried to have a relationship with me. How could a mother abandon her child?
I looked back at my dad, both eyes back to his warm dark brown, and I saw the depression seep back into him. I never know what to do so I get up and put my arms around him. We stand there hugging for a while and take in each other’s scents. It is calming to us and our wolves.
I gasped, “Oh my gosh! What if I find my mate tomorrow?!” I started to panic.
“It’s a good thing, Belinda. To find one’s mate, the one our souls resonate with. There is nothing so special.” He looked at me sadly.
“But daddy, what if he leaves me like…” I couldn’t finish my thought. I looked down, feeling terrible that I just brought up those memories in my father.
He puts two fingers under my chin and lifts my face so I can see him. “Let’s go to our spot by the river. It’s time that I tell you some things.” He kissed my forehead and moved back. “Go get yourself some extra clothes and I’ll pack us some snacks.”
I squinted my eyes at him a little, but then nodded. I went upstairs to do as he said, but all I can think about is what he has to say. Not to mention, why are we bringing food? We have hours before my wolf will come to me. I can’t shift into her form until then.
I quickly grabbed a bag and stuffed my undergarments and a simple T-shirt dress into it. I looked around, but couldn’t think of anything that I might need. I turned to go to the door, but something on my desk caught my eye. It was the necklace that my dad gifted me when I turned thirteen. He said it belonged to my mom, and even though she left us, I couldn’t bring myself to part with it. I felt linked to it, as odd as that sounds. I grabbed it quickly and slipped it over my head to rest on my chest.
“Bells, you coming?” Dad called up the stairs.
“Yeah, I’m coming.” I didn’t have to yell back, wolf hearing and all that.
I met him at the front door and we walked silently together. We’ve been coming here since before I can remember. It has always been just our place. The river runs through our pack lands, but to get to our spot, we hike an hour into the woods. There, in a quiet little nook, is a grassy spot perfect for lounging, talking, and fishing.
Yes, we’re werewolves and we fish. Sue us.
When we get there, we both sit down. I stay quiet, waiting for him to begin.
“I met your mother almost twenty years ago. I found her working at a clothing store in one of the human towns. I could smell her lingering scent outside and it lured me to her.” He was quiet, no doubt seeing her in his memory. “She was the most beautiful woman that I had ever met.”
“I didn’t think that mom had ever been outside this pack before,” I said, confused.
“Shh.” He said, and winked at me.