Page 3 of Aching for His Mate (The Wolves of Luven #5)

Iota woke up, made his bed, and took a shower. There was a ritual in an hour and for the first time, he wasn’t meeting anyone beforehand. Sure, he knew some of the other single wolves, but he wasn’t friends with them. There was no one to sit beside and hold back, or anyone to hold him back anymore. Epsilon had Tella, Rho had Phaebe, Sigma had Millonia, and Lambda had Vallie. Iota had no one. Not even a solitary good friend without a mate.

He padded down to the kitchen to grab some breakfast before leaving. He’d never been so depressed in his life. Hell, Rho had a mate! Baby Rho! It was insane. He knew the Moon Goddess didn’t operate on “fairness” but hell. It definitely felt unfair. He was nearly twenty-eight, mateless, and lonely. His last half-hearted relationship with another wolf had been seven years ago and ended abruptly when her mate came to Luven.

He washed and dried his dishes, took some chops out of the freezer to thaw for dinner tonight. Maybe he’d see if…Chi wanted to hang out. He kept to himself, but he was nice enough. And he might bring something delicious from the bakery.

Yeah. Iota would invite Chi to dinner tonight. He could entice that lone wolf into some company. Well, he could try.

*

The streets were bustling this summer morning. Wolves going to work, families going to the lake, everyone had somewhere to be. Iota caught a glimpse of Beta hurrying into the auditorium. He’d be in the audience with the rest of the unmated wolves.

Iota suppressed a shudder. Since Beta turned twenty, he’d had to watch his father initiate every human woman in Balaur. Iota imagined that Beta didn’t pray to the Moon Goddess for any mate. He needed a wolf mate. Otherwise…he couldn’t imagine the hell that would follow.

“Good morning.”

Iota turned and found Chi walking a few paces behind him. “Oh, hey Chi!” he replied a little too cheerfully. “How are you?”

“Fine.” Chi exhaled. “We could sit beside each other. Help out if it’s one of our mates.”

“That would be great, thank you.”

“Promise you will not react like Epsilon? Or Sigma?” Chi continued. “I do not want a separated shoulder. Midsummer feasts will be here soon and I’ll be swamped at work.”

Iota smiled. “I’ll do my best. You the same?”

“Of course. I cannot imagine what they felt, but I also have no interest in murdering anyone. Least of all, wolves I know and live beside.”

Iota nodded. But the truth was, neither of them knew. Once his mate walked into his life, Iota had no idea how he would act. He might burn down all of Luven to get her away from Alpha.

He hoped he wouldn’t do that. Especially since his parents and all his friends lived there.

*

Contrary to the bright summer morning, the auditorium was darkened. There were no windows, only low lights on the floor where Alpha, Hadie, and whoever walked in would be. Iota and Chi found seats with the ever-lessening group of unmated wolves. There were a few new faces—often younger wolves came to Luven looking for work or a mate or simply a home they did not need to defend on a daily basis.

“How many more women are waiting to be released?” Chi asked.

“I think three after this one.” Iota kept his voice low.

“Hm. It has been an odd year.” Chi crossed his arms across his chest and settled into his seat.

Iota blew out a breath and looked at the dwindling group. Maybe Luven wasn’t where he was supposed to find his mate. Maybe the Moon Goddess had created a path for him to Muchan. His mate could be living in the southern city, or along the road there. Iota liked living in Luven, but there wasn’t much of a point in staying there if he was to remain mateless and unhappy here. No luxuries were worth living a lifetime alone.

He resolved to go to Muchan for the winter with his family. He’d figure out work somehow. It didn’t mean he had to live there forever, but giving himself a chance to find a mate was better than sitting around and waiting for one to come to him. He was the wolf, the man. He was a hunter. He should have been spending his days off searching for her—running to Juniper Knoll and the other settlements, meeting Rho’s sisters and the wolves who lived in small communities. Yet, he’d spent years hoping his mate would fall into his lap in Luven. He shook his head. He’d been such a fool—

Mine!

She was here. Her scent wafted through the room like a merciful cool breeze at midsummer. She smelled like starry nights and rushing water. She was already deep in his soul, knitting herself through every fiber of his being. His girl. His love. His forever.

“Welcome, Domitia.”

Domitia. Iota had never heard such a beautiful name in his entire life. He would whisper that word over and over for the rest of his days.

He slowly got to his feet so he could see her face. Chi eyed him, but didn’t move to tackle him to the ground.

Her hair was a beautiful mess of curls, and a million colors—amber, hickory wood, the sweet shine of maple syrup—it would take him years to pick out all the colors catching the low light. Domitia. She turned to the side and he saw her face for the first time. Round cheeks and chin, a small smirk on pillowy lips.

By the Moon Goddess she was lovely.

He wanted to run down, profess his protection, his love, his undying adoration. He wanted to fall to his knees and swear his entire soul to her.

Instead, Alpha reached out his hand and Domitia took it.

Iota took a deep breath and sat back beside Chi, who clapped his shoulder.

“Won’t be long,” he muttered. “She’ll be yours before you know it.”

Iota nodded. He was determined not to make a scene, not to give the other wolves a reason to take him to the ground. He didn’t want to scare her or make Domitia feel any more anxious than she did.

So, he sat and wrapped his hands together, and waited for her scent to change. For it to interlace with fear or regret or pain. He needed to know how this made her feel, how she would react. It would paint the picture of how he would move forward with her. If she would need space. If she would need reassurance that Luven was a good place to live. If she would need a man to step up and promise that nothing would ever hurt her again—

Domitia smelled bored.

Alpha grunted quietly behind Iota’s mate, and she smelled bored. Not hurt, not uncomfortable, just bored. Like nothing about what was happening was even slightly interesting.

A smile broke over his face.

Fuck yes, his mate was bored with another wolf. She was made for him.

He’d make sure she was never bored. He’d give her everything she wanted. Hell, she’d never be less than melting with excitement when he was behind her.

Or below her. On top of her, beside her…His imagination ran wild.

Iota left the ritual with a smile on his face. He sauntered to Alpha and Beta and told them he’d be there to pick up Domitia in a few days. He floated home with nothing but her beautiful face in his mind.

Once home, he looked on it with a new light. He was bringing his mate home. This would finally be a home.

Domitia, the love of his fucking life, was here.