The Way Back

MAX

Ever since my birthday in March, everyone’s been expecting me to be on the hunt for my mate. The hopeful looks from my parents are starting to grate on my nerves, but it’s not just them. It’s everyone.

Growing up as a werewolf, you’re taught that there are two major milestones in life: your first shift and finding your mate. The latter is supposed to complete you, to give your life purpose.

But here’s the thing—I don’t feel incomplete.

Sure, I’ve seen the bond between my parents and other mated couples in our pack. The eternal, storybook love is sweet, but the possessiveness and exclusivity? That doesn’t sit right with me.

Whenever I try to explain my feelings to my parents, they just give me this knowing smile. It’s like they’re privy to some secret I’m not. But honestly, I don’t care. All I want is to serve as the pack doctor.

Right now, my loyalty lies with science. When I’m not studying, I’m usually spending time with some willing girl.

Training is also a part of my daily routine. All male wolves are required to train daily. But that’s not why I do it—I genuinely enjoy it.

I like feeling strong, and I’ll admit, I can get pretty competitive when challenged. Winning feels good.

The day after Patrick’s birthday was an exception. Actually, any time I’ve skipped training, it’s been because of him.

Patrick is my cousin, but more importantly, he’s my best friend. I can hardly deny him anything.

I shifted first, and as soon as he transformed into his impressive silver-gray wolf, I took off running.

I’m not stupid enough to try and compete with an alpha wolf, so I knew he wasn’t lagging behind because he couldn’t keep up.

The scent of blood hit us both at the same time as we neared the human territory border. But as we got closer to the source, my heart started racing, and my wolf grew restless.

Another scent filled my nostrils: spring flowers and morning dew. I was wondering if Patrick could smell it too when my wolf started screaming in my head: “Mate! Mate! Mate!”

When we reached the spot, all we found was a still-smoking car and bodies burned beyond recognition.

But my wolf kept screaming, “Mate! Find our mate! Mate! Scared, mate!”

I looked around, confused, until she stepped out from behind a tree. I froze in place while my wolf continued to shout excitedly for her.

This couldn’t be. She was just a child. She couldn’t be my mate. It had to be a mistake. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. She was so small and delicate. Barely six years old.

Her smoky face was adorable with those big brown eyes. She was going to grow up to be a beautiful woman.

But not mine. Definitely not mine.

When I saw her looking back at me, I couldn’t handle it. I leaned against the nearest tree and started punching it as if it were to blame.

I’d never wanted a mate, and I didn’t know where all this despair was coming from, but the thought that I couldn’t claim her because she was too young caused me a pain I’d never felt before.

My insides were on fire, and I felt fuzzy and unfocused.

It couldn’t be… But my wolf insisted I comfort her, and I couldn’t. I tried to shut him out, but for the first time, he was stronger.

I vaguely heard Patrick trying to approach my mate, and I tried to ignore it, but when I saw him out of the corner of my eye reaching out to her, my wolf took over.

I attacked him.

Thank God it didn’t last long, and no real harm was done, but I felt utterly embarrassed to be so easily consumed by a bond that shouldn’t even exist.

I didn’t mind letting Patrick in on it. I just regretted attacking him. But he understood and tried to comfort me.

When he asked me to shift back into my wolf, I did it without hesitation.

I saw him going to her again, but this time he was careful not to touch her, and I had to suppress a growl that threatened to escape my throat.

Her name is Estella. Estella… beautiful name. My Estella. Mine. No, no, no. This could never be.

I completely missed the part where Patrick introduced me to her, but I heard her asking if I was a dog. I laughed internally.

It was natural for her not to know about wolves at her age. Maybe that’s why she wasn’t scared of us.

“A wolf,” Patrick corrected her gently. “Just like me. And you can ride him if you want.”

At his last words, I snapped my head at him and narrowed my eyes. My wolf’s eyes, actually.

~“What the fuck are you talking about, Patrick?”~ I mind-linked him, barely containing my anger while my wolf purred in delight at the idea.

I was honestly disgusted by his reaction.

~“She has to ride one of us, buddy, if we’re going to get help soon. She can’t run as fast as we can, and leaving her here with the dead bodies isn’t going to do her any good.~

~“She’s already terrified. So, either you lower your back and let the kid ride you, or I will!”~ he threatened.

I bared my teeth at him, growling, but I gave in and lowered my back. However, I saw Estella backing away, shaking her head.

Shit, she was scared of me! That hurt more than it should have.

But I tried to reason with myself. I hadn’t been very friendly to her, so it was understandable.

“Don’t be scared, little one,” Patrick tried to reassure her.

“Max won’t hurt you. He’s just a bit grumpy today, that’s all. Come on. Why don’t you pet him behind his ears? He likes that.”

“Like a dog?” Estella asked.

“Exactly!” He laughed. The jerk! “Come on, kiddo. He won’t bite you. I promise.”

She took a few hesitant steps closer, her expressive eyes locked on me. I did the same, scanning her for injuries, but I didn’t see any, and she didn’t seem to be in pain.

My fur quivered when she touched me with her tiny hands. Without realizing it, I leaned in and rested my snout on her small chest, right next to her heart.

The sound of her heartbeat was a comfort to me, a rhythm that echoed my own.

She was panting, struggling to climb onto my back. I tried to make it easier for her, lowering myself as much as I could, but I was still too big for her small frame.

I felt Patrick step in to help her, and it took every ounce of my self-control not to lash out at him for touching what was mine. I tensed up, and she froze.

Once I relaxed and lifted myself back up, she settled comfortably on my back, wrapping her arms around my neck and nestling her head into my fur.

Her soft breath sent a shiver down my spine. I was filled with a sense of happiness and fulfillment I didn’t know was possible.

Yes, I could feel her pain, her grief, her confusion. But despite all that, I felt content, and as she clung to me, I knew she found some comfort in my presence.

I watched as Patrick shifted, and we raced back to where we’d left our clothes, moving so quickly that our surroundings were a blur.

We mind-linked with the others, telling them what had happened and asking them to call the police on our behalf.

Coming to a sudden halt, Patrick shifted back into his human form and quickly dressed behind a tree.

I lowered myself so Estella could climb down, but she didn’t seem to understand what she needed to do. She just kept breathing on my neck.

“Estella,” Patrick’s voice was gentle. “You need to climb down now, sweetheart.”

She shook her head, rubbing it against mine and tightening her grip around my neck. I closed my eyes, her touch sending waves of pleasure through me.

I felt like a creep for enjoying it, but I was past the point of controlling my reactions.

“Estella, Max needs to shift and get dressed,” Patrick tried to reason with her.

“Uh-uh,” she mumbled, holding onto me even tighter.

“I know you’re comfortable, but you really need to let go for now. He needs to go back to your family, to help them.”

“They’re dead,” she whispered.

“I know, but we still need to help them and find your relatives.”

“I don’t have anyone. Can I stay with you, please?”

“I’m not sure about that, but we’ll do our best to keep you with us, okay?”

She nodded.

“Now let me help you get down from Max.”

She refused.

“If he doesn’t shift now, he won’t be able to do it in front of the police. No one can know about us.”

“I know,” she said quietly.

“But you’re a good girl, and you won’t tell our secret, will you?”

“Uh-uh. We can say that Max is your dog, so he doesn’t have to change, and I can stay with him all the time.”

It was the longest sentence I’d heard her say. Her voice was so sweet! All kids have sweet voices, but… I wasn’t thinking straight.

Otherwise, I’d know it was wrong for Patrick to make promises to her. She was human, and humans had different rules for these things.

“They’ll know he’s not a dog. And humans are scared of wolves. They’ll kill him.”

~“Fuck you, Patrick!”~ I cursed through our mind-link. ~“Did you really have to scare her like that when she’s just lost her family?”~

“Whatever works, mate.” He sighed.

And it did work. She slid down immediately, giving my neck one last hug before letting me go.