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After graduation I’ve spent every waking second I can on my craft. Bea hired me to take some professional photos of her baked goods for her new website. Marlowe had me create some beautiful backdrops for her stands inside the store. As well as a few others around town hiring me for odds and ends projects that will only expand my portfolio. It’s been a busy, rewarding, and exhausting month so far, but today, today is hopefully going to only add to it!

Throwing on my black leggings and favorite band tee, I slip out the door to grab a juice before heading to my secret valley. Well, it’s not much of a secret anymore, Mom and Dad definitely interrogated me after graduation about everything. Thankfully, they waited until the next day, but that was as long as Mom was willing to wait.

After telling them all about the mystery wolf, I confessed to sneaking off the pack lands into the valley and I even told them about Shadow. Now though, I can go without having to go at the crack of dawn. So, at least there's that. Although, it took a great deal to calm Mom down about the secret gifts and all the hidden meanings. For whatever reason, Dad has been rather chill about it. Claiming that it will all make sense soon, he’s sure of it. I’m glad he’s confident about that, because even I’m not sure about that.

The sun is already high in the sky when I walk out the front door, the warm breeze blowing through the trees, welcoming me outside. I can’t help but check Caelon’s cabin, it’s almost a habit now. Ever since I saw him standing along the fence atgraduation, I’ve watched his house. Not in a stalker kind of way, but in a hope I see you kind of way. Yet, no matter what time I look, what time I sit on the porch, or what time I come home, he’s never there. Not that I can see anyway.

Just like every morning before, his cabin stands dark as if nobody even lives there. Looking exactly like it did yesterday, and every day before it. My phone buzzes in my bag. Pulling out the device, I see a text from my mom.

Mom: Happy Birthday Moondrop! May your dream of being a Nat Geo Photographer come true! Be sure to wish extra hard today!

Rolling my eyes, I text her back.

Me: Mom, you know that’s not how it works! I’m not 5 anymore! lol. Thank you for the bday wishes though.

Mom: It is too how it works! Have you sent in any of your photographs? Surely once someone sees them they would want you.

Me: Again, not how it works. You can submit it but it’s not an instant thing. But no I haven’t

Mom: You should do that! Anyways, I won’t bother you much longer! Dad and I will see you tonight for your big party! Love you!

Me: Love you too.

I slide my cell phone back into my bag. I’ve got one thing, or one place I should say, on my mind and it’s not the dinner later tonight. I can’t wait to tell Shadow it’s my birthday.

Taking the path beside the Pack House, the butterflies erupt in my stomach. Today’s different. I can feel it.

The closer I walk towards the valley, the more I can feel the anticipation building. Almost like I’m being tugged in that direction. Is this the mate pull they talk about?

I pick up the pace, almost jogging in the direction I’m being pulled. My heart feels like it might actually burst from my chest.The butterflies feel like they are competing to win the race. My feet pound against the ground as I run towards the valley. He’s there. I can feel it.

Breaking through the tree line my feet skid to a stop when I find Shadow sitting by the water. As if he has been waiting for me to get here. Looking around the valley, trying to find what drew me here, I don’t see anyone else but us.

My face scrunches in confusion, my heart beating against my ribcage as I stare at him. It’s got to be him. What else would explain it?

When I look back towards the tree line, it feels like the air is colder, as if fate is guiding me back to the wolf still calmly sitting in front of me.

My breath is heaving out of me as I slowly walk towards him.

“Sh…Shadow?”

Right before my eyes, the wolf transforms into none other than Caelon. A very naked Caelon standing before me. He blinks open his eyes as his body vibrates. Our eyes lock and everything clicks into place. The bond humming between us as we both suck in a breath. All this time he’s been right here, my quiet neighbor. I never would have put this together, never did up to this point. I can’t believe it. All the things I’ve told him, confessed to him, all while believing he was just a wolf from our pack. Instead, he was my mate. Did he know? Has he always known? Is that why he’s been around so much?

Does that mean that he’s also the man that’s been haunting my dreams? As if in answer his eyes flash that crystalline blue.

“It’s you.”

Chapter 16

Caelon

Thursday, July 17th – Our Mate

Ican feel her coming…at least I hope it’s her. It has to be. She’s our mate and there’s no one else for us. Rushing through the woods earlier, I couldn’t outrun the elation that today is finally the day. I barely slept, tossing and turning all night long.

Now sitting here by our creek, eagerly awaiting her arrival, I can’t help the nagging thought that she will be disappointed when she sees who it is. I was never enough for my parents, never perfect enough, strong enough, or even “normal” enough. Maybe Selene will see me and wish I was my brother instead. She’s never been around him enough, but with his popularity, football status, and then being the only wolf to be signed to aprofessional football team, every single girl swoons over him. Never once seeing me beside him, even going so far as to push me out of the way to get closer to him.

Out of fear of her rejection, I quickly shift into my wolf form. At least I know she loves this version of me, even if she doesn’t know it’s me.