A Lone Wolf

a fading hope

Delphine; it had been eight years since I learned her name from the hunter and I hadn't caught a whiff of her since. What if she'd moved away? What if she'd decided to stay where she studied?

My mate was a bright girl, I thought proudly, she would have a degree, educated and beautiful.

I wondered what she looked like.

The hunter had said her wolf's fur was golden but that doesn't mean her hair is; would she be blond or brunette? Blue eyes or dark? I hoped for big, dark eyes; dark eyed women did it for me.

I knew she wouldn't be a virgin, I couldn't expect that, much to Asa's disgruntlement but would she be wild or chaste?

When I met the hunter, my views had been archaic; grandfather had very specific ideas of what a mate should be but the conversation with the hunter had forced me to accept that times changed.

I thought of my Scottish grandmother with a frown; she had been firey but completely subservient to grandfather, his word was law. Had she been like that to start with or had she been forced? I remembered hearing them argue over his cheating through the walls. I never thought about the fact that grandmother would feel it every time he was with another woman. How did she not break?

When I was younger, I didn't care about the mate bond; I just wanted to live up to his legacy, always had a girl on my arm; I'd been a s**t, standing girls up, letting them down. Perhaps the long wait for my mate was karma.

Now, I was waiting for my life to begin. I had Nancy, born eight months after I saw the hunter, and she brought me joy but I didn't feel complete, there was always something missing. I was becoming impatient.

The Hunter's appearance had made me more cautious about where I hunted and how much, he seemed alright but I knew there were others who would shoot me on sight.

I sat on my bed, sniffing the pillowcase that he left; the scent was fading but I still thought I could smell honey and roses from time to time.

Nancy waltzed into the room without knocking and I frowned, I really would have to start reigning her in a bit; she'd become very demanding of late and it was beginning to become tiring. She was wearing a too small unicorn t shirt that showed off her tubby belly and leggings; I should get her some things but she grew so quickly.

"Daddy?" She began; here it comes, she wants something else.

"Yes pumpkin," I smiled in spite of myself.

"I want a rabbit; Trudy has a rabbit, I want a rabbit."

I frowned again; when had asking become a demand?

"I'll think about it," I said reluctantly, I didn't need more to do in my day.

"Thanks daddy," she grinned and skipped out; that's it, it was a done deal and she knew it.

I knew I spoiled her, I would always feel awful that her mother was so crap but she was my little girl and always would be so I had to make up for it.

Asa growled at me; "she's spoilt," he glowered," if mate is strong, she won't put up with it, then what?"

I sighed. I knew he was right but it irked me to have it pointed out.

I tucked away the pillowcase; Nancy had a habit of going through drawers and had found it once and took it; I don't think she'd ever seen me so angry and I immediately regretted it but she still turned on the tears because she wanted it but no, that was mine, the only thing I have of my mate.

I stood up and tucked my shirt in, checking that I looked pressed and presentable for work before heading downstairs to take Nancy to her mother.

She was sullen and argumentative, she didn't like being with her mum but I had no choice, there was nobody else, my own mother was a nightmare.

When I met my mate, it would be easier, I'd have someone to help.

"So mate will want to be babysitting your pup whilst she waits for you to come home?" Asa snorted with contempt, "mate is bright, mate will have her own job, mate won't want to sit with that disrespectful pup" he glowered.

I had to admit that he had a point; if my mate had her own career, she wouldn't want to play housewife and Nancy had been difficult of late.

We drove to her mother's with her whining about not wanting to go, I eventually snapped at her, smartly marching her to the door and handing her over. Nancy didn't greet her mother, just pushed past moodily. Still, it was Sharon's fault for not being there. It was clear that Sharon found her tiresome and was always eager to hand her back early.

Sharon's boyfriend greeted Nancy, she ignored him.

I sped off to work, knowing I'd get ragged all day by the other lads; most of them were wolves, you often found that in sales, particularly cars; groups of male wolves looking for a new way to go for the kill and be part of a pack. Lately, it had gotten worse; I was the oldest there without a mate and they'd pushed me into this new internet dating site for wolves called 'the bond." It was part of a new social media site called "the packhouse" where, after a few joining questions to ensure it was wolves only, you could meet and chat to other wolves all over the world. It was meant to pull the lupine community together after the packs had become disbanded; almost like a virtual online pack. It was useful; I could advertise my own businesses on there.

I'd had a few dates with she wolves who sounded promising but in my heart of hearts, I wanted my mate still.

The worst part of work was the predatory nature of it; whenever a good looking she wolf or human came in, it would be a stampede to try and get to them first; I didn't go in for that nonsense.

I checked my bond messages; I had two new matches; one dark haired beauty by the name of ' lupine Tinkerbell' and another from a buxom blonde called "sexy mama"

I immediately dismissed the blonde, not my type, but the brunette piqued my interest. I clicked on the profile to see a woman perhaps a decade younger than myself; I liked the sound of that! She billed herself as timid but fun, she was a mother, a divorcee, a professional lady with her own car; she sounded pretty much perfect for me so I sent a message.

I slid my phone away as the boss walked by and concentrated on my contact lead list.

There had been a few walk ins, I'd managed to sell two cars which would be a welcome boost to my wages.

By the time six o clock rolled round, I was gagging for a glass of wine and dinner.

I locked up the office and sped off to pick up Nancy.

When I got to her mother's, I had to listen to the usual complaints; the girls had argued, Nancy had been difficult, yada yada.

I placated Sharon and left quickly.

Nancy changed her sullen demeanor the moment she got in the car, suddenly becoming little miss sunshine. I sighed heavily as we pulled into the supermarket carpark, explaining yet again that I needed her to be good for her mother because I had to work. I added that We only had to get a few things for dinner so I wouldn't be getting extras.

Halfway round, Nancy asked for sweets; not just one packet but several. I said no and she proceeded to throw a fit in the middle of the shop. I was so embarrassed, I just grabbed the sweets with Asa growling at me the whole time.

I picked up two bottles of wine on the way and cat food for Prince.

By the time we got home, Nancy was all sweetness and light again and I was nursing a headache.

I knew I had to get her out of that habit but I just didn't have the energy. She immediately flopped down in front of the Xbox to play Roblox, her pudgy hands grabbing into the sweets straight away.

I sighed heavily; I'd have to tackle her weight at some point too.

I went to make dinner and poured myself a glass of wine just as my lodger came through the door.

She asked if I could pour her a glass, which I did even though I was pretty sure she'd been stealing my food when she had the munchies but I just didn't want the hassles of saying no; she was generally good as gold, having Nancy sometimes when I paid her. She did treat it a bit like a hotel and seldom contributed to household chores but as a rule she was ok. My wolf didn't like having another female in the house though.

She prattled on, pouring herself another glass whilst I cooked and left once the bottle was empty.

Nancy ate a small amount of her dinner then said she was full before going back to her game. I shouldn't have let her have the sweets but I just didn't have the energy to argue.

I seemed to be just a free ride these days. Still, I felt better since I followed Asa's advice and tidied myself up.

I slipped my phone out of my pocket and checked my messages. My heart lurched to see that Tinkerbell had answered; I smiled to myself and dove in; as she had said, she was very cautious and timid but also extremely sweet. I liked her immediately and moved the conversation to another messaging app.

I didn't stop chatting with her until 2am when I rolled over with a smile and went to sleep.

Nancy was grouchy with me the following day, I hadn't allowed her to sleep in my bed and she'd been told no more sweets. She spent the day quite sullen and argumentative, which meant that I got very little done; Asa approved of this tougher approach and, if her attitude was anything to go by, she needed to be reined in; I'd let her behave like a princess a little too much lately and it showed. Still, Even that couldn't sour my mood, Tinkerbell had text me good morning and that made me buzz.

We'd also arranged for a date in a couple of weeks time; now I just needed a babysitter.

The guys at work noticed that I was bouncing, the more I talked to her, the more I was flying; I sold more, talked more and smiled more. They gave me a ribbing about meeting an online girl but it was all well meant; they'd started to think that I hated women after I'd told them about Sharon and everything she'd put us through; I'm just a very open guy and people need to understand what I'm dealing with.

Asa didn't like me to discuss Sharon, he thought we should just drop it but I couldn't; thinking about her made me angry and who could blame me; she'd be so jealous when I shared pictures of this dark Princess on my arm, Tink was in a different league from Sharon, Tink was a lady. Sharon would be spitting nails.

That day, I decided to upgrade the company car to a better model so that I had a decent car to impress my lady with; I already knew she could wrap me around her little finger and I wanted her to; I'd Waited long enough. Maybe I could take a chosen mate. I just wanted something normal. Was that so wrong?