Finding Shadow BOOK ONE

Long red nails trailed down his muscular back as seventeen-year-old Mikhail Romano sat on the porch finishing his cigarette. Today was The Howling, although he wouldn't be able to participate until next year, not that there was much point in that, he thought bitterly.

The Moon Goddess must have been out of her mind pairing him with another male. He was as straight as the day is long, not an ounce of gayness in him; surely it was some cruel joke?

But deep down, Mikhail knew it wasn't; his Beta blood let him feel a mild version of the mate pull towards Ethan Fletcher, but it sure as hell wasn't sexual and only served to confuse and anger him.

"Baby?"

Colette had been his regular bed companion for the past six months; she was a beautiful curvy redhead with pale green eyes and minimal needs. At twenty-two, she was an experienced partner, and best of all, Colette never asked for more than what he was willing to give.

Mikhail swung around and grabbed his girl by the waist, enjoying the way she giggled at his roughness.

"Yeah, sweet cheeks, I'm coming back to bed. A growing wolf has his needs...race ya!"

The couple hurried inside, slamming the door, both so intent on their pleasure they didn't notice the hooded figure watching them from the tree line.

Ethan couldn't help but admire Mikhail's strong form as he took one last drag of his cigarette. Beta power oozed from his pores, demanding respect as he sat clad in a pair of low-slung jeans on his girlfriend's front porch.

Speak of the she-devil. He thought to himself as Colette opened the door, putting her hands on Mikhail's back...BITCH!

MIKHAIL IS MINE!!

But Ethan couldn't really blame Colette though, in her early twenties, she would know Mikhail wasn't her fated mate, but she'd be completely unaware that his mate was, in fact, another pack member. Besides, from what he could remember back in school, Colette was a decent girl, intelligent, kind-hearted, and beautiful without the conceited attitude that most females have. She was always helping people, and her rank was high enough that after she graduated and showed a talent for healing, the packs' Oracle offered her an apprenticeship, which Colette gladly took.

Sighing, Ethan pushed himself off the tree, hood over his head, hands in pockets, and began the long walk to his Mom's small cottage on the outskirts of pack land. 'What a mess my life is,' he thought sadly; the only bright thing in it right now was the beginnings of a friendship he had with Isabella Romano.

Most people were a little afraid of her. Ethan guessed that that was why she had so few friends, not that he was swimming in friends himself, but she projected an aura of brutality. Her violet eyes often cut down anyone trying to engage in conversation with her, especially males. Still, for reasons only Bella knew, she’d decided that Ethan would make her exclusive friends list.

Following the Romano family around for the past few years had allowed Ethan a glimpse into the eldest daughter's real soul. She liked to scale the hills at the beginning of the pack land, not far from his Mom's cottage, and Ethan often came upon her while out running in the evening.

She always looked out over their township, silently lost in memories, and he would make sure to give Isabella the privacy she wanted, mostly turning his head as he sprinted past her and charged back down the trail that would lead him home.

But every so often, before he entered the clearing where Isabella sat, he could hear her, sobbing, completely broken and alone. This was the side she closed off from everyone, and Ethan showed his respect by turning around during those times and leaving her to grieve in peace.

Rumour had it that the Romano family entered the Shadow Moon pack in the dead of night, covered in blood many moons ago.

Their old pack was ambushed by rogues, and Isabella had lost her best friend, the Alpha's son, in the fight, although that was never confirmed. The only high-born deaths that were registered for that battle were the Luna of the Howling Warrior pack and the unborn male pup she carried. Ethan knew this due to the many hours he clocked up in the pack's library, his safe haven from the anti-gay parade that delighted in his torture.

The Romanos never spoke of it, and the Alpha had commanded no one else bring up anything to do with those events.

Except he found out from the library records that the Shadow Moon pack and Howling Warrior pack ceased being allies from that night onward.

The only time both packs were allowed to mingle was at The Howling, and only unmated wolves eighteen years or over were allowed onto Shadow Moon land.

Ethan spotted the turn-off that led home and followed it. His body was sore and still tender from the last confrontation, and he would probably need a bath to unkink his muscles before the Howling. Not that there was much point going, but hey, maybe he would get to see a few mated pairs come out of it all. That was always nice.

Unfortunately, those were his last coherent thoughts before a rustling in the bushes distracted Ethan, long enough for someone behind to bash him on the back of his head and send him into a world of nothingness.

Bile rose in Ethan’s throat as he slowly swam back to consciousness, 'What the actual fuck just happened?'

Slowly, one eye opened and struggled to focus. Dirt?..

Ears strained, making out the smallest of noises, a female voice, sounds of a struggle, retreating footsteps, and then that voice, that beautiful voice, was hovering over him, sending tingles of awareness through his body...wait? Mate? MATE?? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!

'Haha, told you I wasn't gay,' the smug sound of his wolf's voice echoed in his mind as Ethan struggled to remain conscious.