The Lone Wolf's Reluctant Mate

DANIELLE

The fourteen-hour drive to Linton is long, but I don’t mind. It gives me a chance to reconnect with Rory.

He fills me in on his past year, a nomadic existence of traveling and odd jobs. He seems content.

I share my excitement about school and my impending move to Linton.

Rory’s been there before, and his tales about the city captivate me.

“You’re going to like Linton. It’s safe. Ryan hasn’t dared to attack there yet. They’re also pretty welcoming toward loners,” he says.

“But don’t get me wrong, you will face prejudice. The university is full of pack wolves, and they despise us. They won’t care that you were once part of a pack. All they’ll see is a lone wolf, the lowest of the low. You’ll need to tread carefully around them, but Jason will help with that.”

“Jason? Is he the friend you mentioned? The one who will help me settle in?”

“Yes. I met him when I was in Linton last winter. I trust him. He does a lot for lone wolves.”

***

As we pull into Linton, dusk is setting in, but there’s enough light for me to appreciate the city’s beauty.

The sheer size of the place is overwhelming after the serenity of the mountains.

The streets are lined with towering buildings, packed tightly together. Crowds of people hustle and bustle, and I wonder how I’ll adjust to living here, with limited access to open green spaces.

I breathe a sigh of relief when we leave the city center and head toward the suburbs.

Rory parks the car outside a small house at the end of a side street. It’s a bit run-down, with an overgrown garden and a front door in desperate need of a paint job. But it backs onto a forest, perfect for running in my wolf form.

I can see its potential. With a bit of work, it could be a real home.

“What do you think?” Rory asks.

“It looks good.”

“Let’s unload your bags. Jason said he’d meet us inside.”

Rory grabs my luggage and heads toward the front door. I trail behind, eager to see my new home.

Rory knocks on the door, and a male wolf with light-brown hair and average height opens it. He invites us in.

“Hey, Rory, good to see you again. You made good time. I wasn’t expecting you for another hour. This must be Danielle,” he says, turning to smile at me. “Welcome to Linton.”

“Thanks, it’s great to finally be here.”

“Come in, and I’ll show you around. Toby and Adam haven’t arrived yet. They have a bit further to come, but they won’t be long.”

We step inside to an entrance hall with a staircase leading to the first floor.

Jason opens a door on the left, revealing the kitchen. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a good size and has all the main appliances—fridge, oven, and washing machine.”

It’s a bit worn, but it’s a perfectly functional kitchen.

Before I can explore further, Jason moves on. He leads us into a large room with high ceilings and an open fireplace. The carpet is threadbare, and the only furniture is a sagging old sofa and a chair with worn-out upholstery.

“It’s not the newest, I’m afraid,” he says apologetically.

“It’s fine. At least it’s clean, and I’m sure we can spruce it up with some new furniture.”

“The last room downstairs is the dining room. It’s empty, but I’m sure you’ll find a use for it.”

“Definitely.” I’m already brainstorming how we can redecorate. With the help of my new housemates, we can turn this into the perfect home.

There must be secondhand furniture shops in Linton, or people looking to get rid of old furniture. A fresh coat of paint on the walls and doors will do wonders.

Jason takes us upstairs, where there are four bedrooms and a large shared bathroom. The bedrooms are spacious but, like the rooms downstairs, sparsely furnished with just a bed and a wardrobe in each.

Since I’m the first to arrive, I get to choose my room.

I pick a large room with a view of the forest. I know I’ll adjust to city living, but I don’t think I’ll ever lose my love for nature.

By the time Rory finishes helping me unpack, I hear voices downstairs. My new housemates have arrived.

I rush downstairs and into the kitchen, where Jason is sitting with two wolves.

“Hey, Danielle, come meet Toby and Adam.”

I turn to face my new housemates.

“I’m Toby,” says a tall wolf with a muscular build and dark-brown hair.

“And I’m Adam,” a smaller wolf with bright red hair and striking green eyes says, shaking my hand.

“All right, guys, while you get acquainted, I’ll make dinner. Then we can discuss the rules,” Jason says.

“The rules?” I ask.

“Linton is a great place for a lone wolf to live, but that doesn’t mean we’re free from threats from pack wolves. The Red Moon Pack tolerates us, but you still need to be careful.”

With that, he turns back to the stove and starts preparing dinner. Adam, Toby, Rory, and I sit at the kitchen table, chatting and getting to know each other for the next twenty minutes.

Jason finishes making the meal. “Dinner’s ready. Grab a plate and let’s eat.”

I pick up one of the plates Jason has filled with sausages and mashed potatoes and follow him into the living room.

“The first thing I’ll do is introduce you to the Red Moon Pack alpha. He insists on meeting and vetting all the loners who come here,” Jason tells us.

“That sounds ominous.”

“It’s not. He’s a great guy. He just likes to meet all the new wolves. The real issue is the pack wolves at the university.

There are certain places you should avoid. The Wolf Coffee Shop on campus is off limits to us, as is the Howling Bar on Madison Street in the city center.

“You’ll be in the same classes as pack wolves. They won’t directly challenge you or do anything that will alert the humans to their hatred for you, but…well, don’t expect them to be polite or friendly.”

“Okay.” That doesn’t sound too hard.

I’m intrigued, though. Four years ago, I was a pack wolf. If my pack hadn’t been destroyed, I would’ve come here as one of them.

I know Jason has been a lone wolf longer than me and is used to the prejudice of pack wolves, but would they really treat me the way he describes if they knew why I became a lone wolf? I’m not a rogue or a criminal.

Rory seems to sense my thoughts. “Listen to Jason, Dani. Don’t expect them to be like our old pack. They’re not. They won’t see past the fact that you’re a lone wolf.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from traveling the country this past year, it’s that if you try to reason with pack wolves, they won’t listen. They’ll just attack you. Stick to loners like yourself.”

“Enough of this serious talk. Let’s enjoy our evening and forget about pack wolves,” Jason says.

We spend the rest of the evening chatting. I realize that my new housemates are great guys who are just as nervous as I am about starting college. It feels like a promising start.

Rory leans in and whispers, “I can tell you’re going to be happy here. Adam and Toby are going to be great housemates, and I trust Jason to look after you.”

“That means you’re leaving, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. You know you can always count on me. I’ll come if you ever need me, but I have places to go, a new job waiting for me.”

“I know you need to live your life, just like I’m starting to live mine. I want you to be happy, but this time, try to keep in touch. Don’t wait another year before contacting me. You’re my family. The only person I have left. I don’t want a time when you’re not in my life.”

“And there won’t be. I know I haven’t been great at keeping in touch this past year. I needed to sort myself out, but you’re my little sister, and you matter to me. I promise to check in regularly and even start writing letters.”

I giggle. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep!”

“I won’t break my promise. That includes spending Christmas at the lodge.”

“That’s good to hear. You won’t be the only one happy about it. Charlie’s been missing you, and the younger wolves really look up to you.”

He gives a nod of understanding. “Just one more thing—don’t let anyone know about your old pack. We can’t risk the Savage Wolves finding out you’re here. Ryan would see you as a loose end that needs to be tied up.”

“I won’t, I swear.”

“That’s good. It shouldn’t be too difficult. There are plenty of loners who don’t like talking about their past packs. I have to leave now,” he says, standing up. “Take care, Dani. If you run into any problems, let me know. I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

“Thanks, bro.” I feel a sense of relief wash over me. No matter what happens in Linton, I know Rory’s got my back.