Chapter 4

"This can't be happening, he's my mate." Katie had this thought running through her head over and over again as she ran down the street. She didn't know where she was going, she only knew she had to get as far away as possible. "What have I done that Goddess would be so cruel to me? My best friend and my boyfriend mated." The plans Katie had for her life began to disappear from her own mind. What would she do? Where would she go?

She then did something she had only done a handful of times in her young life, she shifted. Her wolf was stronger than her human form and was sure to cast away the pain. Only Katie still felt all of the anguish she felt before the shift. Her wolf began to run, she ran until Katie's human mind was exhausted and Katie submitted fully allowing her wolf to take her wherever she wanted, anywhere but near her friends.

Katie awoke just as the sun was rising. She didn't understand why she was in the forest or why she felt so hot, it was July but the forest usually felt cool. Her head was pounding, her throat was sore and she had an overwhelming feeling of sadness. She felt so confused, what had happened? As she slowly looked around at her surroundings she realized she didn't see her hands she saw her silver paws. It all came rushing back to her, her excitement for Emma, her annoyance toward Ethan and her pain of losing Brian. She started to remember she had howled, for what seemed like hours, in an expression of primal pain. She began to think what she felt for him must have been love.

Her entire body began to shake. She would shake until she rid herself of the hurt, the unimaginable hurt of her destined mate now bound to her best friend. Once again, she allowed herself to submit to a trance-like slumber. She used it as an escape from the gut-wrenching agony she felt with every breath.

Many hours later she begrudgingly opened her eyes. She knew she couldn't stay in the forest forever even though there was a small part of her that wondered if that was actually true. Thankfully, she had worn her crossbody bag to the party, she laughed at the reason why. She hadn't wanted to spill it and give Ethan anymore ammunition to point out her inability to be graceful. She explored her surroundings to ensure she was only and then she shifted back into her human form. She opened her bag so see that she had thirty-seven text messages and fourteen voicemails. Her heart beat faster as she saw that Brian had text her. 

It didn't take long for the euphoric feeling to diminish as she read the messages. She soon found out that the messages from Brian were sent before the mate bound was formed with Emma. "Hey Katie-girl I'm finally parked C U soon" Her heart broke all over again as she read his term of endearment special only to her. She forced herself to read on, maybe a small part of her needed to feel the pain all at once. "Hey where R U??? I need to see how hot UR!" Then the final crushing blow, "Meet me on the dancefloor" It was crushing because she knew it was the last time he would ever think about her in a desirable way. She felt numb, she didn't sob yet her tears fell freely from her hazel eyes. As she allowed them to fall she realized the sun was beginning to set as her naked body had a small shiver.

Survival mode set in. Even though she was unable to see past her pain she also felt other basic needs she needed to meet. She looked in her bag and saw she had forty-seven dollars in cash along with some change. That would, of course, be enough cash to allow her to buy a decent meal but how could she go anywhere when she had no clothing. Although she felt the Moon Goddess had forsaken her, she felt her only option was to pray and ask Goddess for her guidance.

Without even thinking about it Katie began to walk to where the forest seemed somewhat brighter. She could hear the sounds of water splashing and laughter. "Oh, dear Goddess, you have not forgotten me." Katie whispered this aloud as she saw that she was at a clearing that had a creek running through. There was a group of people splashing, teasing and laughing in the water and by all that was good in Goddess there were several piles of clothing yards away from the water. She needed to know she wouldn't be spotted so she inspected the group more closely and realized the group was completely engrossed in their fun, they looked to be about her age and drinking...a lot. She steeled her courage and creeped toward the clothing. No one ever looked up and she was able to grab a t-shirt that was only about three sizes too big and a pair of shorts that fit so well they could have been made for her.

She left the group and realized her adrenaline was very high. She also realized she hadn't felt the pain she was sure would never leave her for at least twenty minutes. It was in that moment that she had the thought that she would be alright. She knew that it wouldn't happen quickly but she would heal. Maybe Goddess did have a better plan for her, maybe Brian wasn't her chosen mate. She remembered to have a thought directed at Goddess thanking her for help in clothing her human form. She had no more time for thinking as she felt the strong rumble in her stomach. She used her wolf-heightened sense of smell to lead herself to where she could satisfy her hunger.

She soon found herself in a small town. She was thrilled to see a fast food restaurant in the small town plaza. It was just what she needed, a meal that was cheap and would satisfy her hunger. She spent a little over six dollars of her precious money in order to meet her need. When she was finished her body felt much better but she knew she had a big problem. Although she was sure her pain would diminish with time, she wasn't ready to return home and face the humiliation of losing two of the most important people in her life. She found a bench on the main street in front of Crouch's grocery and sat while she debated her options.

"Options?" she thought. "What options?" Just then she saw a man exit the store. He was putting a sign in the window. "Probably to advertise a sale." she thought. While she watched him she began to think that Goddess was once again guiding her for the sign said, "Help Wanted Inquire Within" In that moment she knew exactly what she would do. 

"Excuse me" she called as she approached the man whose name tag said, "Dan, Store Manager" He watched her look back and forth between himself and the sign and replied, "I'm desperate, how soon can you start?" Katie looked at the middle-aged man with kind eyes and said, "Can you give me ten minutes?" Dan laughed and said, "See you in ten."

She pulled out her phone and saw seven missed calls from her mom. She loved her very much and knew she needed to let her know she was alright. Her mom answered before the first ring, "Katie, I've been so worried, I heard everything that happened. Are you okay? Where are you? I'll come get you." She said with both fear and relief in her voice. Katie mustered up all of the confidence she could and said, "Mom, I'm fine but I'm going to need some time. I'm just calling to let you know I'm okay but I won't be coming home. I love you mom." Katie was taken over by sadness as she heard her mother start to say, "Katie, no we can..." But she didn't hear the rest as she hit the button that said End Call. She took one last look at the phone and saw missed calls from all of the important people in her life, Emma...Brian...Catherine Reid and even Ethan. She couldn't bare the thought of the pain she knew she would feel if she read or listened to her messages. Just as her caller ID began to show the name Mom she powered off her phone and put it in her bag.

She walked into the store where Dan was waiting, offered her hand in greeting and said, "I'm Katie, thank you for this opportunity. What do you need me to do?"