Second Chance Mates

Callum’s POV

As I walked out onto the stage, I felt Apollo stiffen and sit up, taking everything in. He was puffing out his chest, showing his dominance. “She is here, our mate, in the crowd, but there are too many pack members about to narrow it down,” he growled out.

Well several she-wolves would have turned of age since we were gone, including new pack members, I shared with him. We can sniff her out after the announcement.

I made my way to my family, getting hugs from my parents. Guthrie was with Rory and I pulled him to the side. “Apollo smelled our mate earlier, while I was on the stage, but was too far away to pinpoint her,” I share with my brother, who smiles at me and pats my back.

“Well, well big brother. Congratulations. I’m sure you will scent her out in no time, you’ll just have to mingle,” he encourages.

I spend the evening, trying to sniff out our mate, but nothing. There is a lingering peach and rose scent tingling my nose, but it is moving away from the crowd, towards a row of cabins on the far side of the clearing. But due to the time since I first smell it, it is hard to pinpoint which cabin it comes from, so I head back to the party and to Guthrie and Rory, both smiling at me.

“Well?...” Rory askes eyes wide.

“I can’t trace it due to the time passed and all the scents, but it vanished near the cabins on the other side of the lawn. Rory squealed, causing me and Guthrie to wince.

“Do you think it could be Elsie? Guthrie!” she asked my brother, who could only shrug. “She’s the only one in that row of housing that is not mated.”

“Who’s Elsie?” I ask. I don’t recognise that name from before I left. Maybe one of the new pack members! Apollo is also at attention.

“You’re going to want to sit for this one bro,” Guthrie pats my back shaking his head. “And promise to keep calm as you don’t know if she is your mate yet,” he finishes.

So I do as I’m told and Rory tells me about Elsie and I can’t help but feel the anger burn. Who the fuck rejects their chosen mate, and picking the sister over her? Even if Elsie is not my mate, I’m ready to kick some werewolf ass.

Apollo and I both agree we feel a pull to this woman, who lives in the last cabin of the row, where the scent had been blown away. Tomorrow we would hunt out our mate and claim her. If it was Elsie, we would need to be gentle and not too dominant.

Rory had told me she was Hamish and Heather’s cousin and that she had gone home feeling unwell. She was obviously scared if she had run off. But no wonder, I could not fault her for that. She would be our everything, I could already feel Apollo reaching out to his mate.

Well Elsie, you can run, but you cannot hide.

* * * *

I woke up late after my restless night. Iris had been whimpering begging me to find out which one was our mate. I felt so overwhelmed and felt the tears roll down the sides of my face. I had to think, it had been about five months since my rejection and I hadn’t given it much thought, but now that I seem to have a second chance, I felt so scared that he would reject me too.

Iris growled in my head, “those warriors are strong and true, they would not be so weak. They will comfort us, love us, protect us.”

A small part of me knew this, I could already feel the mate bond pulling me, to find out which of those men was my mate. I knew what I had to do, but my insecurities held me back.

Taking a deep breath, I picked myself up from my pity party and got myself washed and dressed. I wasn’t working today, so decided to get caught up on housework, not that the place was untidy, it was a small one-bedroom cabin.

I put clean bedding on my small double bed, dusted, wiped down the shower room and cleaned the open plan living/kitchenette area. Dishes were put away and the laundry in the machine.

I had opened the windows to air the cabin. I stood in the middle of the living space looking around, feeling happy that everything was looking tidy.

I needed to go to the supermarket to get groceries, so I grabbed my bag with my wallet and headed out. It was only a short walk to the shopping area within the pack. I grabbed the essentials, plus some treats. I was looking in the chiller cabinet, when I felt that I was being watched. I looked round, but everyone about was getting on with their own shopping. I took a deep sniff of the air, but nothing unusual.

I finished getting what I needed, paid and headed back to my cabin. It was a mild day, so I decided I wanted to sit outside and read my book. I had small porch at the rear of the cabin, it I had a table and a couple of chairs. The sun had risen enough to highlight the area.

I grabbed my book, a juice and a bowl of cut up fruit and headed out. I had not really gotten into my book as Iris was still gently trying to persuade me to find our mate. I hated to admit, but as the morning became afternoon, I was beginning to agree. I should not be afraid.

I stood up and took my things back inside, as I walked back out I was aware of a tall, muscular man standing at the bottom on my steps, looking up at me with a grin.

Iris began yipping excitedly in my head, calling out for her mate. I took a deep breath in, he smelt amazing, bergamot and vetiver with a hint of peppermint. “Mate,” whispered from my lips involuntary.

“Mate,” the man growled out low, still smirking at me. He had a few days of growth on his face, which I would love to touch, wait! Where did that thought come from. His hair was black and his eyes grey blue. He was all man and he was smoking hot.

I could not move, he held me within his eyes. My heart was beating fast, no doubt he could hear it.

He took a step forward; I took one back. He walked slowly up the three steps, his eyes not leaving me, as I suddenly found myself with nowhere to go, my back against the wall.

He leaned forward and brought his nose to my neck, taking a deep smell of my scent, his wolf giving out a pleased growl. At some point I had closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of him close to me.

“Elsie, my sweet mate, look at me please,” he gently ordered. I opened my eyes, to meet his.

“You have beautiful eyes, I have never seen anything like it,” he murmured. He came closer, smelling my neck again, running his nose along my jaw, his scruffy cheek caressing mine, causing me to quietly hum.

“Do you know my name Elsie?” He asked me.

I shook my head no.

“I am Callum Currie and we’re mates,” he whispered in my ear.

I felt my eyes widen. Head Warrior Callum Currie was our mate. Iris was ecstatic.

We just stood and looked deep into each other’s eyes. I could see love, lust and strength there. I don’t know how to explain it, I just knew this was different to before. I could already feel our wolves trying to connect.

I felt a burn deep in my chest, but not painful. It was like a flickering candle wait to ignite something bigger deep inside me.

“Can I kiss you Elsie,” he asks me. This strong warrior wolf, is asking to kiss me.

“Yesss,” I murmur.

His soft lips join mine, causing sparks all over my body. His hands are on my waist, holding me gently to him. He has to lean down as I am at least a foot smaller than him.

I can’t help gasp at the sensations racing though my body. Our lips move together, deepening the kiss, our tongues dancing together.

We break apart, our foreheads together, breathing the same air.

I open my eyes, smiling at my mate. I didn’t realise tears had escaped my eyes, running down my cheeks.

“Please don’t cry Elsie my love, you are mine and I will love you with every fibre of my being.” He wiped away my tears while telling me this.

“I know what happened to you Elsie and I will let no one ever hurt you again. You are mine and I will never let you go.”

I looked down, scared, shy and unsure. All these feeling were zipping around my body.

“Look at me Elsie,” I brought my eyes back up to gaze into his.

“I Callum Currie, accept you Elsie Harrington as my mate until the goddess calls me home. I will love and cherish you for all eternity in this life and the next.”

I felt the flame in my chest spread, reaching out to Callum.

“I Elsie Harrington, accept you Callum Currie as my mate until the goddess calls me home. I will love and cherish you for all eternity in this life and the next.”

I feel our bond begin to merge together. Until we mate and mark, this will not be fully completed, but our souls are already dancing around each other. This is what finding your mate should feel like it.

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