Her True Mate

I always knew I was different. No one ever made me feel that way but in my heart there was always something tugging at me.Something saying, “ No, Stella there is more you are meant for.” Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and friends. The pack has always been good to me. The Bloodmoon pack has an amazing community. There are so many packs in southern Italy. Those ghost towns you hear about, aren’t really ghost towns. Each pack is different in their own way but yet similar in some many others. But my pack had one major difference, no true mates. There hasn’t been a set of true mates in my pack in over 100 years. No one really knows why. Some say it's a curse. My grandmother used to tell me a story of the fae who blessed the first wolves with the ability shift. She granted us with many gifts but we could only keep the gifts if we stayed worthy. My grandmother, along with many of the elders, believed that someone insulted the gift of finding our true mates and in turn the fae took it away. Honestly, I just think it's a bunch of crap. Fated love? Seriously? I think someone read one to many Shakespheare love stories. Our pack just got the short end of the full moon stick.    So, now my pack does things the human way. We have chosen mates. The bond is strong and it seems to work. Anyone who has reached their 25th birthday by the last full moon of the year may look for a chosen mate. Some find theirs on their first full moon year and some take some extra time. Most are mated by their 27th year. Well, then there's me. This will be my 29th moon year and yes I am the oldest virgin in the back. Hooray for me. Honestly, I don’t mind it much. I am well respected as one of the best warriors in my pack and I am destined to be the next Alpha.     Yep, you heard me Alpha. I have no brothers and only a younger sister so I am next in line. If I were to mate my mate would not take over as alpha. We are a bit more progressive that way. We believe the moon goddess has a plan for us and it is not our place to question or ask. I also love how progressive we are, for the most part at least. As I prepare for my 29th moon year celebration I know that I will have to leave for a little bit to go to another pack. Everyone who went into my first moon year has already mated and so we have to turn to the old ways. The Sapphire Moon pack has an unmated Beta that is a year older then I am. He is an excellent warrior and seems kind enough, so I will mate and marry him. I have 2 days left here with my pack before I have to go meet my mate. I am going to make the best of it because who knows what tomorrow will bring.  I wake up early and throw my hair up into a messy bun. I have long dark brown curly hair that sometimes has a mind of its own but it accents my blue eyes in a way I love. My skin is a tan olive color, which is common for the area of Italy we are in. I  have a few tattoos that were rather painful to get because we heal quickly but they are well worth it in the end. I grab a pair of leggings and a clean tank top which shows off my curves just enough. I am quite curvy especially for 5’0 tall. We aren’t these giant gods that many books make us out to be. Be can pass rather well among other humans. However, when we take on our wolf form it's a completely different story. We are large and furiously strong. I can honestly say I love the way I look in both human and wolf form. I run down the stairs as fast as I can, but catch the faint smell of gardenias in the air and run full speed into my Beta and best friend Victoria. Victoria is absolutely georgous. She is 5’7 and lean. But she has ample curves with deep brown eyes. She really hit the genetic lotto.    We go crashing down the rest of the stairs together. We kind of looked at that giant ball in the Indiana Jones movie. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph Stella! Where is your head!” Victoria yells as we land at the base of the stairs with a giant thud. “It’s too early for this kind of thing. I haven’t even had my coffee yet.” “Vic, I am so sorry.” being werewolves we are completely fine so I can’t help but snicker at the situation. I jumped up to help her up,”I can’t believe I did that, again. I could smell the gardenias in the air and I…” “Gardenias,” she scoffs at me. “It's the middle of December. You’re losing it. You might want to keep the crazy hidden for a bit longer. Well, at least until you are mated up. Must be all that s****l tension boiling up inside.” She always has a very colorful way of putting things. “Is that all you think about?”I scoff,”Poor Joey must have his hands full with you!” Joey is her mate. He is a bit more simple looking than her. Still handsome with lovely green eyes and jet black hair. His smile could light up a room and it really does when he looks at her. They met the day after their first full year and have been together ever since.  “ Oh, you have no idea.” She smirks out in the dirtiest way she can. “Ugh,I left the door wide open with that one,” I rebuttal back, she goes to open her mouth to say what I know is another dirty joke but I cut her off,” we are going to have to skip coffee if we keep this up.” As soon as the words leave my mouth she off like a rocket. If only she moved that fast in training.  I take off after her, I run quickly through the great hall. There are rows of tables filled with pack members having breakfast. Our pack house is an old castle that we converted. Many of the pack members with their families live here. Although, there are some that live in the surrounding houses. Most are either older and retired from battle or those who have smaller children who are not old enough to train. No one is forced to live in the pack house or shamed if they don’t. Pack house life just works easier for those who are training or part of the guard.    We continue to run into the kitchen where I see my father waiting with coffee in his hands. I pump my brakes before I have another crash. “Good morning, father…” I say with a certain amount of pluck.“Running late, again.” he says in a mostly light way but I can tell he is slightly annoyed. “Well, I was early but then Victoria came out of nowhere…” “Seriously, Stella, it's my fault this time. Wanna rewind that story.” Victoria say’s as she peeks out from around my father. My father stands at about 6 foot, I didn’t get the gene that's for sure and he has dark Olive skin with salt and pepper hair. I get my eyes from him.I squeak out a half smile, “Sorry, gotta go. Love you,” as I grab my coffee and run.  I honestly don’t understand what the fuss is about. I made it to the training field with plenty of time. It’s a chilly December morning but we tend to run very hot so everyone looks springtime ready. Training is broken up into groups: New Moon, Crescent Moon, Half Moon and Full Moon. The most well trained are in the Full Moon group, which is my group and it breaks down accordingly from there. We begin morning stretches and break up into sparing pairs. Our sessions don’t last as long as the others because we also have patrol duties. Only, the most experienced patrol our borders. After an hour of getting tossed around by Victoria we make our way to the borders. Victoria generally can’t beat me in a fight but I keep getting the slight scent of my favorite flower in my nose. Maybe she is right, maybe I am losing it. It's probably just stress because things are going to seriously change in 2 day.     Victoria and I have the eastern border; generally nothing ever happens there. We usually just get to enjoy the view from the cliffs. There is an amazing view of the ocean. As we continue to walk my imagination runs wild with what will happen in a few days.” Victoria...how did you know Joey was the one? Like how did you really know?” She pauses and tilts her head to the side. Victoria knows me better than I know myself sometimes and she knows what I am really asking. ” I don’t think you ever really know if they are the one true mate as far as wolves go.” She can see me grimas at that statement. “ But that’s almost better because we are given the choice and it’s not made for us. I’d like to think that even though we don’t have the ability to find our true mates the way other packs can, that fate and moon goddess have found another way to bring us together. Joey is like the air I breathe. I honestly can say I couldn’t not live without him. He is my other half. When I first saw him that day in training I thought he was one of the beautiful men I have seen and then he smiled at me. He was everything I could ask for. And even though it was love at first sight, you know we waited to make it official. I made him work for all this.” she strikes the sexiest yet most awkward pose ever. “ We were dating for a year. I made him court me, yes sir. And then on our one year anniversary I fully committed to him body and soul. And I wouldn’t change it for anything. When we mated I could  feel all his love for me and vice versa. I know there are certain things that we can’t do like solo mind link each other or heal each other like true mates but love really is enough,” she is almost glowing when she is done describing her love for Joey. I know that real love can exist without the bond and I begin to feel at ease for a moment. “ I mean it helps that he is dynamite in bed, like an amount of orgas…” “I knew you couldn’t help yourself.” I say hysterically. Just then I see an old woman struggling a few miles down. She has a small cart with her that has decided to break. We tend not to intervene with humans unless it is dire. But something in my soul is telling me to help her. Victoria see’s me eyeing the woman in need. “Stella, are you thinking what I think you are thinking?” I give her a light nod. “This is the 4th human this year. Your father hates when you leave your post for this s**t. She can call AAA or something.” “AAA? For a cart? On a mountain in Italy? Are you for real right now? It will only take me a few minutes.” Before she can continue her lecture I am gone. I run as hard as I can, being sure to slow down before she can see me.  “Scusa, are you okay?” She is a tiny old woman, maybe around 80. She looks almost defeated as she looks up at me. “Would you like some help?” The woman gives me a slight nod and I walk over and help her. There are food items everywhere that I quickly gather up. Then I notice that the wheel has come off and the pin is missing. I try to think fast and try to think of a way to tie it in place. Then I remember the leather wrap bracelet I have on. I’ve had it since my first day of training. It’s a silly little thing my grandmother gave me for luck. It holds no monetary value, just memories. The woman notices I am staring at it a hair too long, “Is it valuable,dear.” “Not more valuable than your safe return home.” I remove it and tie the wheel on. “Thank you so much. You’re too kind. Please, take this…” she hands me her wrap. “You must be freezing.” I forgot how I was dressed. I scramble for words for a moment. “Oh, um. It’s okay. I am out for a run. I left my jacket a little ways back and I’ll just grab it on my way back. But thank you.” The woman smiled,” Well in that case I hope that you have many blessings in your life.” Her words echo in my head. This isn’t the first time this has been said to me from a human I’ve helped. It must be something common from their town. I smile at her and we part ways. Once I am out of sight I sprint back up the mountain to Victoria. Who just smirks and puts her arm around me as we make our way back to the pack house. “ You really are crazy, you know that.” “Yes, but would you have me any other way Vic.” My day on the mountain put a lot of things in perspective. I know how lucky I am to have such an amazing Beta by my side. I know that she will be there for me no matter what. I am going to miss her while I am gone but I know she is only a mind link away. Too bad everyone else will be able to hear. I think I will just stick to the phone.  Once at the pack house it's like we go into autopilot. Shower, dinner, and usually a hang out in one of the sitting rooms. But I feel a bit restless with my thoughts and head up to bed. Tomorrow night is the full moon and then I am off. I think it’s best I just head off to bed. As I climb into my bed this feeling that everything is going to be okay comes over me. Vic is right. Fate will lead me in the right direction. My eyes grow heavy and fall deep asleep. I can see myself walking in a forest. There is snow covering every inch of the ground. I am bare foot and snow crunches like sand under a human's feet at the beach. I see a warm light glowing, and it moves toward me. The rational side of me says to run but instinct tells me to stay. The warm light envelopes me and I feel completely safe. I wake up shortly after and I feel completely relaxed. That was a wild dream.