Chapter 20

Harper’s POV

Standing in front of me is a familiar face. Nora’s second brother, and the Gamma’s brother, Logan, stares down at me.

Logan is my mate?

How was he this close yet so far at the same time? I could’ve ended my suffering so long ago if I’d just gone with Nora to meet her family. This pain I always feel could’ve been gone.

Logan moves toward me and when he’s within arm’s reach, he wraps an arm around my shoulders. His voice is soft and low as he whispers, “I’m your mate.” I scan his face, looking for the spark of happiness in his eyes.

Had he ever tried to look for me after marking me?

I don’t speak aloud, but the question runs through my mind. A bit of disappointment filters through me, but my body responds to his touch. It calms the pain and my racing heart, and his touch doesn’t burn.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” Logan says, and I look up again. He thinks I’m afraid?

I’m just confused and feeling things I’ve never felt before. The electric current that zips through me when he brushes his fingers across my cheek makes me shiver. That sparking, tingling, electric feeling is one of the mate indications.

Everyone talks about how warm and exciting it feels. Nora had told me about it, even though she hasn’t met her own mate yet. She talked about how it would feel, and we’d even discussed how we might react.

Freezing wasn’t on that list.

My emotions mix and meld, creating a confusing feeling within me. The happiness that grows within me feels light yet stale, and the disappointment… are you supposed to feel disappointed when you meet your mate?

I didn’t think so. Everyone always describes it as a joyful, happy moment.

Looking around, I try to make sense of what’s happening when I spot Lucas and Sierra on the other side of the room. Sierra is already watching me, her eyes narrowed, but Lucas is who I find myself looking at.

The lost, empty expression on his face matches the disappointment in my gut. However, the moment Sierra leans into his arm, it disappears. Gone in a flash, leaving me as the only one with a sinking feeling.

Turning, I look at Logan again, and the happy feeling fills me again. The sweet small wafts off of him, calling me forward. His hand slides down my arm, and the tingles follow his touch all the way to my hand.

“Harper, you’re in a unique situation,” someone next to Logan says. “Can you smell Logan?”

I nod.

“Don’t be intimidated, dear. You’re young,” a woman says, patting my shoulder. “There are times when only one of you finds mate. You don't have to be together right away, but you can take your time to cultivate your relationship. You don't have to be together right away. Take your time to develop a relationship if you want to. As long as the moon god arranges it, you will fall in love sooner or later.”

Several people gather around us, smiling and congratulating us. The old woman moves on, but leaves her strange words with me.

“Well then, you’re one of the lucky ones tonight,” the older man says with a smile. I smile back, still feeling that strange pull inside. My body is still weak, and I don’t have a wolf anymore. Is that what it is?

“We offer our blessings on your mating. May it be a long and prosperous mating with much happiness,” another woman says, and I smile again as more people offer blessings on our mating.

“Thank you.”

Logan leans in, smiling widely as he says, “Yes. Thank you all. I’m glad to have found my mate tonight.”

“Me too,” I say, mirroring his smile. That woman was right. As long as I’m open to the relationship, the Goddess will bless it, and we will fall in love. I just hope he can love me even though I don’t have a wolf.

Soon, everyone moves to another couple and leaves me and Logan to ourselves. He gently squeezes my hand and offers a comforting smile.

“I’m having a bit of a hard time accepting our bond,” I admit. “I’ve always thought I would never have a mate.”

For eighteen years, I wondered if a half-wolf could have a mate, and for one of those years, I was convinced I wouldn’t be able to identify a mate because I no longer have a wolf. So, having one show up so suddenly is… odd.

It’s not bad, but it’s a lot to deal with.

Logan reaches up and cups my cheeks. His thumbs slowly brush over my cheekbones while his eyes gaze softly down at me. The warmth that spreads from his touch is soothing, and I lean into it, allowing it to smooth out the rough edges of my worry.

“Mating is fast, but like Elder Mona said, we can take things slow if you need to.”

“Thank you, Logan. I think I would like that,” I admit, letting the confusion and doubt fall away. His touch and being near him quiets the aggravating pain I’ve been feeling for a year. If that doesn’t prove he’s my mate, I don’t know what will.

His sweet scent surrounds me, making me a bit dizzy. I lean more into Logan’s side, and when he notices my struggle, he wraps an arm around my waist.

“Sorry, I’ve had a rough day, and adding fated mates on top of the day I’ve had is making me feel a bit woozy,” I tell him, rubbing at my temples.

A headache blooms. The tension spreads across my forehead like a headband that’s been tightened too much, and I groan softly. The more I focus on healing the headache, the more I realize the pain from the mark is clashing with this new mate bond.

They’re not from the same person.

I was wrong. My fated mate didn’t mark me a year ago, which would explain the pain.

“I know you’ve probably heard I was marked by a stranger…”

Logan nods, “Have you found them?”

“No, and I want to find them to break the bond before we move forward with our relationship,” I tell him honestly as he helps me sit down.

“Of course. Maybe you can find him tonight.”

“That was my plan,” I tell him, leaning into his touch when he nudges my hand aside to rub my temples. The headache fades again, and I sigh.

“At midnight, everyone will shift and run in wolf form. The entire pack will join in, so maybe you could determine who made the mark then, since the bond will be stronger when he’s in wolf form,” Logan suggests. That is a good idea. Since I don’t have a wolf, I don’t normally think about pack runs. It would be pointless because I can’t join in.

“Thanks for the support, Logan,” I say, looking up at him. “It means a lot that you didn’t reject me immediately or get angry that I’m your mate.”

Logan only grins and crouches in front of me. He’s so tall that even with me sitting and him crouching, he’s nearly eye level with me.

“Does that mean I can kiss you?”