Leo

Leo’s POV

Being away from my pack this long is always depressing. Even sitting in this bar with Kai, swirling my second whisky in the glass, I’m miserable. Being a warrior for my pack is all I ever wanted, and even though I made it, being away from my territory blows. The thumping music stills our conversation about this mission. We had been sent here weeks ago to aid this pack with rogue attacks that seem to be never-ending. All I want is to go home.

My wolf is feeling the strain too. He’s been itching to go home, but the last twelve hours had been a nightmare. His persistent clawing at my insides is making me more and more irrational and irritable.

“All active warriors. West border. Three incoming” blares across my mind-link from our lead warrior. I heave a sigh and lock eyes with Kai. I down the last of my whiskey.

“We’re off duty man. Leave it. Three rogues can be handled without us” he chips, leaning back in his chair.

“I’m going” I chirp back. I stand, my imposing frame casting shadows over him. I know I'm being a dick for no reason, but with Sky, my wolf, scraping at my insides, my fuse is short. And it appears that Kai's laziness is just the thing to ignite it. He heaves a sigh, folds his arms across his chest and slouches in his seat like a five-year-old throwing a tantrum. I roll my eyes, turning to leave. He thinks I'm affected by his bloody mood swings, he can think again. He's not my mate! Even his mate agrees he's a brat!

Walking out of the bar with my long strides, I can feel his aura clambering to catch up with me.

'co-dependant shit' Sky comments laughing.

'I knew he would come with me as soon as I walked away. Grown ass man-child' I snicker back internally.

'I wouldn't mind, but Kon is a beast. At least we're similar! This fluff ball is completely the opposite of his wolf!' Sky jabs back. It's true, the reason he and Kai became close in the first place is down to the monster that is his wolf. His huge sand-coloured wolf and his own had become very close during their warrior training in high school. They had always been similar in size and strength, but when considering an average warrior was much smaller than them, they gravitated towards one another immediately. He always seemed to be in tune with Sky's moves, and they could both anticipate attacks in the blind spot of their companion. Leo had realised that Kai became a little too close to him in the run-up to his 18th birthday, clearly hoping they would realise they were fated mates. Although I was not opposed to any mate given to me by the Goddess, no matter their gender, I always thought of Kai as a brother. Sky and Kon bonded the same way. It was loving but in a familial way rather than sexual.

When Kai turned 18 a month after me, he knew the Goddess had gifted him a male mate, and a warrior... it's just that it wasn't me. Once he met Cris, his fated mate, on the training field, any disappointment he felt about it not being me fizzled away. Kai and Cris complimented each other in many ways as all mates do. Kai brought out a softer side of Cris, who was always shrouded in seriousness and aggression. Cris calmed Kai down and eased his brattish tendencies. I heave a sigh, knowing we had been away too long due to my friend's attitude and petulance returning full force. I didn't need this right now. All I needed was to kill something... hoping that would enforce some calm on his damn wolf.

'I'll be calm when you take our ass home. You have 12 hours before I fucking force you' he growls. I frown... what the hell has gotten into this prick?

'We can't go home yet and you fucking know it, so you can calm the fuck down or you will give us both a headache.' I bark back. I'm sick of his shit today. We have responsibilities. Staying here until this mission is complete and we’re requested to return is one of them. Apparently today I’m surrounded by brats. My best friend. And my wolf. Great.

Weaving through the forest towards the border, I remain in human form, worried that if I shift, Sky would drag my uncooperative ass home through the rogue territory. I know Kai would follow to make sure I am safe, but I wouldn't allow him to risk all of our lives. Stupid prick of a wolf.

'I'm in your head prick. Carry on, I'm forcing a shift and we will go whether you like it or not!' he barks. Perfect.

'What the fuck has gotten into you! We have been away from home much longer than this before and you've never been this much of a prick!' I ask, wanting to end this shit.

'You will know when you will know. So shut the fuck up and take us home' he yells. Great. Fucking riddles now. Awesome.

Something suddenly strikes me. I freeze. the fault in my step causes the ground beneath my feet to crunch loudly in the crisp evening air. Longing and yearning rise in my gut realising this could possibly be the day I had waited a year for. Surely. Please, Goddess.

'Sky. Is today our mate's birthday?' I ask. No reply. Perfect. Now he decides to be quiet.

Kai practically barrels into my back, unaware I suddenly stopped without warning. Some warrior. He isn't even paying attention as he sulks behind me.

"What the hell man? You ok?" he asks. I wait, still hoping for confirmation from Sky that he will never provide. Although finding your mate is a wolf trait, and can be achieved through the tugging of the bond, smell of the mate and eye contact when a wolf rises to the surface, it is common knowledge that the hunt for a mate is a completely human experience. As they're not only our wolves' mates, they're a part of our human soul, we have to be the ones to seek them out. Realising I won't be getting helpful information from Sky, I turn to Kai as he holds his hand on my shoulder in comfort. I didn't even feel it make contact. And here I was criticising his observational skills. Straightening my form, I place my hands in my jeans pockets, suddenly feeling uncomfortable as I need help from my friend, but do not know how to ask.

"I don't know. Sky's being a prick and wants to go home. He has never been like this before. Says he will force a shift and drag me if needed, that's why I haven't shifted to get to the border. I don't trust him right now..." I trail off. Hoping he isn't going to make me ask, and will realise where I'm headed with this.

"Sky has always hated being out of territory though." he shrugs, completely missing my hints. This moron is going to make me spell this out, isn't he? I think.

"No. He's being aggressive with me. I feel like I have been battling him all day. He's clawing at me, and has been since we got up..." I trail off again. The mate bond has been a touchy subject for me. Not meeting your mate for an entire year is pretty rare for warriors who travel as much as we do. We are on and off territory all the time, going to alliance packs to help out. Each new bond found made by my friends me more and more bitter. I had been known to say things like The Goddess must've forgotten about me or My mate is probably dead when asked about it. I think my attitude about the topic has made everyone fearful of approaching it with me. But I wanted nothing more. I wanted my mate more than I have wanted anything in life.

I look down at my feet, scuffing the dirt around with the toe of my shoe, hoping Kai will finally understand why I have brought up Sky's bad attitude.

"You think...." he starts, and my eyes jump to meet his. My eyes widen with pure hope and longing. If he could deduce from what I had given him that I was approaching the topic of the mate bond, surely it could be true. As a mated warrior, he had heard all of the stories I had shied away from. Maybe this is how it feels to be away from your mate's territory when they come of age? He would know.

"Give me a second," he says, turning away from my pleading, pathetic face.

Wait, he isn't going to say anything? Does he know something? Maybe this is an instinct for an approaching attack and not the mate I've been craving. Is that why he's not said anything? He doesn't want to crush my hope right to my face? my mind swirls. He turns away, digging his phone out of his pocket and concentrating on the screen. He's tapping away, pausing to await some kind of response. I heave a sigh, unable to look at the screen. I can't let my blossoming hope die yet. I'm not ready.

"Shift," he says, and for the second time, my eyes snap to his. I must look pathetic right now.

"I can't, I told you... Sky..." I said, pointing to my temple. He nods in understanding, turning his phone screen to face me.

"I know. That's why I sent a request to leave immediately through the pack app for both of us. Lets go" he says as my eyes focus on the screen. I fucking love this app. It was the brainchild of our future Alpha, Lilly. The girl is a fucking genius when it came to embracing the technology of today and utilising it to advance our practices. She built the damn thing from the ground up, and still never missed a training session or meeting.

Between her and future Beta Violet, they're dragging the community into the twenty-first century with their updates and advancements. Doesn't hurt that they're both absolutely fucking stunning. I always thought of them as Ying and Yang. With Lilly's golden blond, pin-straight hair, and Violet's brunette hair of the same length that holds perfect curls at its ends naturally. I try to recall their birthdays... knowing they were coming up to 18. No. It's not for a few more weeks. I'm positive. Crap. Oh well. Whoever I get will be perfect. Being gifted with one of them is not what fate has decided for me, no matter how hot they are. But I am going home to see if that is why I am feeling like this.

I continue to stare at the screen, prying my eyes away from the large, bold "APPROVED" at the top of the screen, to read his request reason at the bottom. Please don't say 'family reasons' or 'homesickness' I think in desperation. Surely that's not what he thinks.

"Awoken mate bond request" Is printed underneath.

I smile, searching Kai's face for deceit or traces of a joke. He smiles back, proud and excited. Without another word, I shift into Sky. I pause to look at Kai as he too, allows Kon to take over, whilst shaking out my grey fur in excitement.

'Man... are you BIGGER?' Kai exclaims through the mind-link.

I hesitate, looking down. I don't feel bigger. Stronger maybe... but that could be the sheer amount of excitement and adrenaline running through my veins. I shrug my wolf's shoulders without looking back. Dig my paws into the dirt... and take off. Kai trails behind as I pant with excitement.

Home. Home to find my mate. My mate that I've waited for.

I'm so excited, I run on pure instinct. Today changes everything.