by Karen Lynch
“I think you should talk to Grandma before you see Emma again. If anyone would know about werewolves mating with humans, it’d be her. Or you could talk to Dad. As Alpha, he might know something.”
I grimaced. The last person I wanted to talk to about this was Maxwell.
“Grandma, it is.”
* * *
As the mother of the Alpha, Grandma was staying in Maxwell’s house during her visit, but she spent half her time at our place. She was there, baking with Mom, when I got home late that afternoon.
“Just in time, my boy,” Grandma called when I entered the house. “I made your favorite.”
I walked into the kitchen and gave her a hug. She made me sit and set a huge slice of apple pie in front of me. Mom poured me a tall glass of milk and smiled when I told her I wasn’t five years old anymore.
“What are you baking for this time?” I looked around the kitchen at the pies and fresh bread on every available surface.
“The cookout at Brendan’s tonight,” Grandma said.
“Another party?”
My mother gave me a stern look. “I told you about it yesterday morning.”
“Sorry, Mom, but I can’t keep up with it all.” Not to mention the life-changing event I’d had since then. It was a wonder I could remember what day it was.
Grandma looked up from the crust she was rolling out. “Why aren’t you eating? Are you sick?”
“No.” I met her eyes. “I need to talk to you about something. Both of you.”
My mother wiped her hands on her apron. “What is it?”
I swallowed. “Did you two mean it when you said my wolf knows my heart and he’ll choose someone I’m meant to be with?”
“Are you still worried about that? Oh, honey.” My mother came over and hugged me. “Yes, of course we meant it. Your wolf won’t –” She pulled back and placed a hand over her heart. “You smell… You’ve imprinted.”
“Yes.”
She sank down on the chair next to mine. “Who? When?”
Grandma abandoned her pie and joined us at the table. Her wrinkled hand covered mine. “Don’t look so glum, my boy. It’s not the end of the world.”
“I know.” I wasn’t upset by my wolf’s choice. I cared about Emma, and last night, she’d set my blood on fire with one kiss. I was worried about what happened when a wolf imprinted on a human, and I was afraid of her rejecting me because of what I was.
Grandma scowled. “Then why do you look like it is?”
“Do you not like her?” Mom asked. “Who is she?”
I exhaled slowly. “Before I get to that, I need to tell you that I’ve been spending time with a human girl, and I have feelings for her.”
“Oh, Roland.” Mom covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m sorry, honey. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrugged. “I haven’t known her that long, and we’re just friends. I wasn’t expecting to care about her like this.”
“Is she someone you went to school with?”
“It’s Emma.”
She gave me an incredulous look. “Sara’s cousin?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes misted. “I see why you’re upset. But you know it could never have gone anywhere between you. It’s better this happened now before the two of you got involved and both of you ended up hurt.”
“How do you know it couldn’t have gone anywhere?” I asked her. “You said my wolf knows my heart. What if I wanted Emma for a mate? Could he choose a human?”
“Your wolf has imprinted,” Grandma said. “Wondering about what could have been won’t change that.”
“Humor me. Can a werewolf have a human mate?”
Grandma clasped her hands together. “It’s rare, but it can happen.”
My pulse leaped. “How?”
“Well, the male would have to want the human, but that’s not enough. His wolf also has to care for her enough to want her for his mate. For that to happen, he’d have to spend time with her in wolf form.” She pursed her lips. “The problem there is that most humans don’t know about us, and we are bound by law not to reveal ourselves to them. So very few males would ever be in the situation to imprint on a human.”
“Have you ever known someone it happened to?”
She nodded. “When I was a girl, I knew a male named Andy who had a human mate. The pack wouldn’t accept the girl, so Andy took her and moved away.”
My stomach dropped. “They wouldn’t accept her?”
“You have to understand that things were a lot different back then. Our people feared humans and being hunted if anyone found out about us. It wasn’t until Maxwell became Alpha that we started living and working with the humans and we got past those old fears. If a wolf imprinted on a human now, she’d be considered one of the pack. There’ll always be a few wolves who won’t accept a human, but by law, she’d be pack and have all the rights and protections as one of us.”
Relief filled me. Even if Emma didn’t want me, she’d be protected by the pack. At least one weight was lifted from me.
“Does that answer all your questions?” she asked.
“I think so.”
Mom laid her hand on my arm. “Now, are you going to tell us who you imprinted on? I didn’t know you had spent enough time with any of the females for your wolf to choose one.”
The knots in my stomach loosened, now that I knew it hadn’t been wishful thinking or desperation that made me believe I’d imprinted on Emma.
“I didn’t. It’s Emma. She’s the one.”
Mom inhaled sharply. “Emma? Are you sure?”
“More than I’ve ever been sure of anything.” I told them about last night, glossing over some details. “I didn’t believe it, at first. But as soon as I touched her, I knew she was my mate.”
She looked at Grandma then back to me. “I won’t say I’m not shocked. A lot of people will be.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”
“That’s my boy,” Grandma said with an approving nod.
“The main thing is that you’re happy,” my mother said. “Are you? You don’t seem as upset as I’d expected after all your talk about not wanting a mate.”
“I admit I didn’t want one yet, but I didn’t think I’d feel this way about someone either.”
Their faces softened, and my mother looked like she was going to tear up. “Do you love her?” she asked.
I sighed. “I think it’s too soon to call it love. I care a lot about her and I feel protective of her, but it’s more than that. There’s something about her that feels different than any of the girls I’ve dated. I like just being with her.”
“Sounds like love to me,” Grandma quipped. “I can’t wait to meet this young lady.”
“You don’t mind that she’s human?”
My mother frowned. “Why on earth would we mind? I thought Sara was human, and she’s like a daughter to me. I’m getting another daughter, and I’ll love her, too.”
“And I’ll like any female who makes my grandson happy,” Grandma added. “Do you plan to live in the Knolls or in town after you mate?”
“I…don’t know,” I said slowly, heat radiating through my chest at the thought of Emma and I mating. If only it was that simple.
“I’m not sure Emma will want me as a mate. I haven’t told her about the imprint yet.”
“Why wouldn’t she want you?” Grandma demanded.
“I think before she moved here she had a bad experience with a werewolf. I don’t know what happened, but it made her afraid of us. It took her weeks to warm up to me.” I rubbed my jaw. “And without a wolf, I’m not sure she can even feel the imprint.”
Grandma nodded. “It is different for humans. They don’t feel the pull like a female wolf does, not until they’re mated.”
“So, she could decide not to have me,” I said dejectedly. I tried not to think of how wretched it would be to live my life, wanting someone who didn’t want me
.
She smacked my arm. “Enough of that. I know how eager imprinted males are to get on with the mating, but you’re going to have to be patient. If you care for this girl and want her as your mate, you’ll need to show her you’re worthy of her trust and affection.”
I leaned forward. “How do I do that?”
She made a tsk sound. “Be yourself, you silly pup. She saw something in you that made her like you even though she’s afraid of our kind. You keep that up, and she’ll be head over heels for you in no time.”
I felt the tension leave my body. “I hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right.” She shoved my plate of pie toward me. “Now finish your pie like a good boy.”
I grinned at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
Emma
“Emma, over here!”
I looked around the coffee shop until I spotted April and Shannon waving at me from a corner. I smiled and lifted a hand to let them know I saw them, and then I went up to the counter to order a drink.
I still couldn’t believe I was having coffee with two werewolves. Shannon and April seemed nice, but I never would have imagined me doing this a month ago. I’d come a long way.
A very long way, if Saturday night was any indication. My stomach fluttered wildly when I remembered kissing Roland. Every detail of that moment was etched in my brain, and I’d replayed it over and over since then. The reckless part of me that didn’t care about consequences wondered what would have happened if I hadn’t left. My cautious side said I’d done the right thing no matter how much I’d wanted to stay.
I got my latte and joined the girls in the cozy little nook that was just big enough for three leather chairs and a small round table.
“So glad you could make it,” Shannon said as I dropped my bag on the floor and sat.
I immediately noticed something different about her. She looked the same, but there was a glow about her like she was bursting with happiness.
“I’m glad, too.” I took a sip of my latte and smiled. “This stuff is amazing.”
Shannon beamed. “Told you. I might move here just for the coffee.”
“Move here?” April asked slyly. “And I don’t suppose a certain handsome redhead has anything to do with it.”
Shannon grinned behind her cup. “If I don’t tell you soon, I’m going to explode. It happened.”
April squealed, and the two of them jumped up, hugging and laughing. I didn’t know what it was, but it had to be big if they were this excited.
They sat again, and Shannon smiled at me. “Your expression tells me you have no idea what we’re going on about.”
“Not a clue.”
She leaned toward me and lowered her voice. “Peter told me about you and your cousin and that you know about us.”
I bit my lip and nodded.
“How much do you know about werewolves?” she whispered.
“Not a whole lot. Why?” I took a sip from my cup.
“I’m trying to think of the best way to explain this. I’ve never talked to a human about us before.” She laughed shakily. “Sorry, I’m a little nervous.”
My eyes widened. “Why would you be nervous around me?”
“I don’t want to say anything that makes you think we’re strange and scares you off.”
A laugh bubbled from me. “You change into a wolf. I doubt anything you tell me will be stranger than that.”
April snorted, and Shannon motioned for us to move closer. April and I shifted our chairs until we were as close as we could get to her.
“Okay,” she began. “If you don’t know much about us, you probably don’t know how we mate.”
“TMI,” April teased.
Shannon blushed. “I don’t mean the physical part. I mean how we find our mate. When a male’s wolf is attracted to an unmated female, he will imprint on her and claim her so all other males know she’s his.”
I looked between them. “Claim?” It sounded like ownership, and the thought of being owned by anyone made me want to shudder.
“He puts his bonding scent on her,” April explained. “If they’re in wolf form, he rubs against her. Scents are unique, so other males will know he’s imprinted on her.”
“Oh.” That wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. “What happens if he imprints on someone who already has a mate?”
“Males can only imprint on a female who hasn’t been imprinted or mated,” Shannon said.
“Can a female imprint on a male?” I asked, fascinated. Before I met Roland and Peter, I’d only seen werewolves as killers, and I’d never given much thought to their personal lives.
April made a face. “Only males can imprint.”
“What if you don’t like him?”
“We don’t have to accept him as a mate, but that never happens,” Shannon said. “There’s usually some interest between the couple first. And the imprint creates a bond that’s kind of hard to resist.” She cleared her throat. “The male and female are drawn to each other…physically.”
April chimed in. “Think of imprinting as an engagement. Unlike you humans, our pheromones go into overdrive, making us need to mate.” She grinned and nudged Shannon with her shoulder. “It’s a very short engagement.”
Shannon’s cheeks grew pink again. “Yes.”
Her excitement made sense now. “So, Peter imprinted on you? Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” She put a hand to her chest. “I’m so lucky. I was worried about what his father would say, but he was really nice.”
“Why would they object to you?” It sounded like there wasn’t much anyone could do once a male made up his mind.
“Peter’s father is the Alpha,” Shannon said. “That means Peter could be in line to be Alpha someday. I was afraid Maxwell would think I wasn’t good enough for his son.”
I smiled at her. “I’m sure the Alpha was very happy with Peter’s choice for a mate.”
She looked like she was trying to form her next words. “The male doesn’t choose. His wolf does.”
“His wolf?” My brows drew together. “But he is the wolf.”
“This is harder to explain than I thought.” She pressed her lips together for a moment. “I’m in my human form now and my wolf is inside me. Not physically, of course, but her essence is there. When I shift, I take on her form, but I’m still the dominant side. She’s an animal and she has the instincts of a wolf.” She gave me a wry smile. “Have I lost you yet?”
“No, I think I see.” This had to be one of the strangest conversations I’d ever had. “You’re human and a wolf sharing a body. Do you share a soul, too?”
“Yes.” She looked pleased that I understood her explanation. “Because our wolves’ instincts are much stronger than ours, it’s the wolf that imprints, not the male.”
I gawked at her. “But what if the guy doesn’t like who his wolf picks? Or does it only happen when you’re together, like you and Peter?”
“The male has to spend time with the female in order for his wolf to form an attachment. My mother says a wolf won’t imprint on a female the male doesn’t like.”
I sat back to process what she’d said, and it made me think about Roland and Lex. She’d acted like his girlfriend and told me to stay away from him because he was hers. But Roland didn’t seem to like her much, and if Shannon was right, his wolf wouldn’t choose someone he disliked. Lex was not a nice person, and it made me feel a little better knowing he wouldn’t end up with her.
On another note, Shannon’s story only reinforced what I already knew. Even if I thought Roland could get past my history, we never would have been able to be together. Someday, his wolf would choose a werewolf mate, and where would that leave me? Brokenhearted and alone again. It was good I’d ended it before it went any further.
“Are you going to move here?” April asked Shannon.
“Yes. His father is giving us one of the new houses, so I’m going to try commuting to school. Peter’s hoping to get accepted for classe
s in January so we can drive together. If it gets too hard in the winter, we might get an apartment there.”
“I’m so jealous of you right now.” April sighed. “I hope someone imprints on me this year.”
“Can males only imprint once a year?” I asked, earning smiles from them.
“It can happen anytime, but we don’t have many unmated males at home,” April said. “Most of the unmated wolves come to the annual gathering, so if I’m going to find a mate, it’s here.”
“I’m sure you will,” I told her sincerely.
April reached over to squeeze my hand. “I’m so glad we met. I have to tell you, though, that I’m dying of curiosity. You’re human and your cousin is Mohiri? Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.” She tugged on my sleeve. “Have you met any of them besides her? We heard stories about them being here last fall. It’s hard to know what’s true.”
I hesitated before saying, “I’ve met some of them.”
April gave me a knowing look. “You’re not supposed to talk about them.”
“Not really. Sorry.”
“Hey, I get it. We’re not allowed to tell humans about us either.” She smiled. “You’re an exception because you already knew about us.”
Shannon shook her empty cup. “Who’s up for another one?”
“Me,” April and I said at the same time.
We stayed there for another hour, and by the time we left, we’d already agreed to get together again that weekend. I waved goodbye to them and walked to the Vespa, feeling lighthearted.
I was putting on my helmet when I got the feeling I was being watched. I scanned the small parking lot, but Shannon and April had already left and there was no one else nearby.
Movement drew my eyes to a man walking away up the street. I could only see his profile, but his build and bald head were eerily similar to those of the man I’d seen in Portland on Saturday. My mouth went dry as a bolt of fear shot through me. What were the odds of seeing the same man twice in three days and in two different towns?
My fingers shook when I inserted the key into the ignition. I had to make myself drive at the speed limit and not race home, and I kept checking my mirrors to make sure I wasn’t being followed.