I Wolf You!: A Second Chance Romance (The Colony Book 1)

Lucien, Burning Shot Bar & Grill, Woodland Shifter Colony- 9:17 PM

The air in the bar was different tonight. Normally, it smelled like cigarettes, savory foods, liquor, and a hint of loneliness. Tonight, it was cologne, flowers, fruity cocktails, and an overwhelming scent of desperation with desire.

As if struck by lightning, it dawned on me: today was mate selection! How could I forget such a momentous occasion for young Shifters?

My inner wolf, Ronan, growled at me. "You know why."

Sighing heavily, I carried another tray of drinks to a lively group of eighteen-year-olds. For one night only, they got to sample alcohol. A treat of sorts for those who completed the ceremony without incident or rejection. As a punishment for defying fate, they shunned the others for twenty-four hours.

Damn, I remembered mine as if it were yesterday.

Stomach in knots from nerves. And my hands trembled as I presented myself to the Elders. They handed me a ceramic pot, just like everyone else, and told me to inhale. After confirming the scent, they told me to find a female that matched it. She would be my mate.

I had trouble at first, then suddenly, it overwhelmed me—the crisp, intense fragrance of lilacs and fresh linen. Only a few females turned eighteen this year, so I didn’t have to search for long. My mate, the one I was eternally bound to, was my childhood best friend and neighbor, Anna.

Her cheeks flushed when I tracked the scent to her, then a wide smile spread across her face. Clearly, she was just as pleased as I was with this arrangement. After all, we weren’t strangers. Our preexisting relationship would only strengthen the bond.

We consummated our connection in a private hut at midnight, where Elder Christopher would be outside nearby to confirm the activity. It’s weird and old, but a tradition that our kind held onto.

Lying in a fuzzy cloud of lust, drunk in the afterglow of our lovemaking, she whispered to me, “I wolf you.”

I almost died laughing until I realized what she meant.

Feeling invincible, I replied, “I wolf you too.”

After our bond was ‘forged’, we went home. Anna explained her choice of words.

“Everyone says ‘I love you’, Lucien, but we’re not everyone. We have this special relationship that most people never have. Even with their mates. So, I wanted us to have our own special words.”

“Then we’ll keep using it,” I said, embracing my mate. “For now and forever.”

Not long after this, we carved a crescent moon scar onto one another, permanently marking us.

A scar that I would bear with love and dignity.

Emotion choked me as I returned to my present state of mind. To distract myself, I cleared tables, stacked glasses, and mixed drinks. Some of these weren’t my responsibility, but if I didn’t keep busy, those memories would resurface.

Reminding me of a time when I was truly happy, when sunshine looked like providence and coffee tasted like gold.

I used to welcome them, but after a while, I grew to dislike them. Because things aren’t the same anymore. I’m not eighteen with a heart full of hope and love, only the shallow husk left behind in the aftermath.

“Hey Lucien!” a young Shifter called me over to his table.

Walking over, I sensed something’s wrong. He’s pale and shaking like a leaf. Damn, he must be terrified of his consummation later. Relatable, as I remembered being just as nervous during mine.

"Hey kid, you okay?" I questioned, eyeing him carefully. He looked ready to vomit.

He shook his head rapidly. "N-no, I-I'm scared." His voice squeaked as he pulled a chair out for me. "I n-need your advice..."

Oh boy, here we go again. Many of the younger Shifters saw me as an expert in these matters, as I went through an unprecedented event with my mate. It forced us apart, our bond forever damaged.

Evidently, it was the first time it had happened in our clan's history, according to the Elders.

That didn't make me feel better, but it made me a guru of relationships for teenagers.

Clearing my throat, I asked, "What's your name, kid?"

"Nick," he mumbled, fidgeting with his hands.

"Alright, Nick, how may I help you?" I inquired. Although I didn't mind helping someone, I had limited expertise.

“I just found my mate. Her name is Naomi, and she’s meeting me here to get to know each other before...” he muttered, cheeks flushed. “You know. How do I know if she’s really right for me? We’re strangers!”

Nodding, I forced myself not to chuckle. Many Shifter teens find themselves paired with people they barely know or acquaintances. Anna and I... were lucky.

“I haven’t done so many things, and now I’m locked into a bond that’s supposed to be permanent. What should I do?” Nick groaned, a deep frown on his face.

“First off, calm down,” I responded calmly. He took a few cleansing breaths.

“Second, the point of all this is to find someone to have a future with. A home, and eventually, puppies.” He gasped when I mentioned them.

“Learn as much as you can about her, for all you know, she might be just as nervous. Once it’s time, you two have all night, literally, to consummate. Elder Christopher may be angry, but it will help both of you relax into the act. Take your time and trust your instincts.”

Nick smiled. “I feel a little better now.” He ran his hands through his hair. “So, what if we don’t want to continue our bond? Is it really unbreakable?”

Ronan barked at me, ”Tell him the truth. He doesn’t need to consider breaking the bond."

You’re right, as always.

“You can break a mate bond... in a way.” I exhaled, choosing my words carefully. “If two agree mutually to break it, they appeal in front of the council of Elders, and they overthrow it with a spell.” Nick nodded, curiosity lacing his features.

“The process is excruciating. As if your whole body is on fire while being dragged through razor blades dipped in acid. And after all of that, it’s officially severed. However, you can’t select another.”

“What!?” Nick shouted. Everyone in the bar looks at him with suspicion. He covered his mouth. “Why?”

Ronan urged me on, ”Go on, finish it."

Swallowing harshly, I told Nick the truth. “Our hearts and souls were destined for one person. If we reject them, then we’re going against fate itself. Permanent isolation is the cost of such a decision.”

Nick nodded solemnly, seeming to be in deep thought.

At this moment, a young woman with long, soft brown hair and wide blue eyes approached the table. She smiled kindly at us and said, “Hi, Nick.”

Getting up, I leaned forward and told Nick, “Just talk to her, trust your instincts, and relax.”

Then I left the young lovers alone.

Seeing those two talking reminded me of my past with Anna. We communicated well for a very long time until it all went wrong. I wondered if I had fought back harder, would it have changed anything? Would we still be together? What if I had hunted her down when she ran away? Would we have reconciled?

There were a million questions that flew through my mind over the years, yet none of them mattered. Because they weren’t realistic anymore, sometimes people could revoke choices, reshaping entire destinies in an instant, while others festered like mold that slowly overran a surface.

One thing was for certain: life has a funny way of moving on. Whether you’re ready or not.