Revolting

Chapter Twenty Four - Mate William

I was deeply absorbed in my own thoughts as I approached the office. I could hear the conversation about the poisoned arrow, and my mind kept turning to Michael over and over. I guess that explains why I didn't notice the smell at first. In fact I had opened my mouth to deliver my grim news, before it fully hit me. It was like cinnamon... if sex could smell like cinnamon. It didn't just smell good, it was sensual, arousing, stimulating. My eyes immediately sought out the source of the scent.

And there he was.

Sasquatch.

He had rusty colored hair that looked like he had styled it with a weedwhacker, and a big bushy beard. He was looking at me with deep brown eyes, the color of milk chocolate, with an expression somewhere between awe and horror. His skin was the color of milk, except for the sudden flush of red that was creeping up his face under his beard. Although he was seated, I could tell he must be a tall man. His broad shoulders stretched the t-shirt he was wearing, but otherwise his clothes hung off of him. I knew he had suffered a long illness, but it was still rather shocking to see another Werewolf in such poor condition. My eyes followed his body down long legs, clad in a pair of sweat pants that were a tad too short for him, ending in a pair of combat boots that were so old they were beginning to split away from the sole.

He was not my type. He was certainly nothing at all like Michael. I cringed at the fact that Michael had even crossed my mind. This man... what did Shane call him? Heath? But damn, that smell, and everything in me wanted to go to him, touch him, connect with him. I had to grip the doorframe just to stop myself from falling forward. I had to remind myself to breath.

This was it, this was that magical moment I had waited for, longed for, hoped for...

I heard a muffled sound, and reluctantly tore my eyes away from the hairy red giant to the little girl beside him. It was hard to determine her exact age, because she was very petite, but she wasn't a child, because she had the curves of a woman's body on her tiny frame. She looked much better today than she had the first time I saw her, hiding under the boughs of a fallen tree. Her hair was brushed and neatly braided. Her large eyes jumped from me to Heath and back again to me, and her hand flew to her mouth as realization dawned. She knew. Everyone in the room knew, except for my little niece, who was still happily playing with her blocks on the floor. I saw her expression flicker from shock, and then to hurt, and something else. Fear? Tears welled up and stuck to her long lower eyelashes.

The awkward stillness was broken as Hannah flew up out of her chair and darted around me, making a bee-line for the back door. Her motion seemed to free Heath from the paralysis he had suffered upon seeing me. He stood slowly, his motions carefully controlled as he stalked to the doorway where I stood, blocking the way. He stopped directly in front of me, and stared at me with something like resentment.

"This," he said, gesturing to me, and then to the rest of the room behind him. "This is never going to happen." And then he pushed past me, his shoulder rubbing against mine as he forced his way past me. Even though there were two layers of fabric between us, I felt it. I felt the heat and the sparks and the instant awareness and arousal. And immediately felt the cold loss as he followed his sister out of the house.

Oh God. I had found my mate. And it was horrible. Not that he was horrible. I didn't even know him. What was horrible was this feeling, this raw ache in my chest, this gnawing need. I rubbed at my chest and stared down the hall, even though I knew he was already out the door and gone.

"Go after him, Will." Nina suggested quietly.

Go after him. Right. Follow sasquatch. I willed my feet into motion and started down the back hallway toward the back door. It wouldn't be hard to track him. His scent was still lingering in the air. It was so sweet, so addictive, I just wanted to... I don't know, stick my nose into that crazy beard and sniff him like an animal. Inside me, my wolf was happily reminding me that I AM an animal, and he IS my mate.

I yanked my shirt over my head and tossed it aside in the grass as I hurried for the tree line. I was kicking off my pants before I entered the wood. I shifted easily, taking only a moment to rearrange my bones and organs and burst out as my tawny colored wolf. With my wolf's exceptional sense of smell and hearing, and my animal-speed, I easily caught up to the brother and sister. I didn't really understand what I saw, however.

The girl, Hannah had burst out crying, and Heath had his arms around her, offering her comfort, patting her back and smoothing her hair. If I hadn't known the girl was his sister, I would have been insanely jealous. Even so, I felt a pang seeing his hands on someone else, seeing that he did in fact have a soft and gentle side. Hannah sobbed into his t-shirt, while his face twisted with unidentifiable emotions.

I sat quietly in the shadows, not wanting to intrude on their private moment. I was confused. I didn't understand the girl's pain. But I flattened my ears in sorrow and compassion as I watched Heath kiss the top of her head. "Don't worry kid," he mumbled, looking over her and meeting my eyes with a dark, unreadable expression "I've got you."