Adam’s POV I woke up with a brain melting migraine, trying desperately to peel my eyes open. Where the hell am I? The last thing I remember is going to the edge of the territory to go shopping and fill my empty fridge and meet Leila Knox, the wolf I met on a dating app to see if she was my mate. Living in a more private pack makes finding your mate a lot more difficult, and my schedule as a warrior makes it extremely difficult to make it off territory. I figured I may as well kill two birds with one stone, meet her for coffee and then get groceries on my way home. If she ended up being my mate, at least I could buy whatever food she liked, my own pitiful rationale mixed with wishful thinking told me. I just couldn’t wait to see the gorgeous girl with honey brown hair and golden eyes. She has consumed nearly every thought of mine. Too bad I never made it to her. I stopped for fuel at a station just outside of our territory, hopped out of my truck, put my debit card in the reader and

Clara’s POV We all follow Nolan in a somewhat single file line upstairs to our respective rooms, Brianna is thrilled and giddy, probably pumped full of adrenaline and now sugar from today’s activities. Everyone aside from her seems either exhausted or solemn or both. Nolan pulls Adam aside for a quick talk and a hug, and we all go about our business heading to bed so as not to intrude on or hear their conversation. Grams reels me in tight to her side, locking our elbows and resting her head against mine. I nuzzle her from the side, rustling her perfect hair with my forehead; my own silent feud simmering down, knowing she just wants me safe. She has always been my safe place and my rock, yet now I’m supposed to trust Nolan this way, as my partner, my true mate. My stomach churns at the thought of trusting another person as wholly as I do her, or even more so, as they say with your mate. With her free hand, Grams pulls my face towards hers and places a gentle kiss on my forehead as sh

Clara’s POV ******* I’m a bundle of nerves. I can feel my anxiety running through me like electricity crackling in my veins. I smooth the front of my dress down at my waist trying to collect myself. Nolan left me a note on my nightstand asking me to meet him in the small clearing behind the pack house for a romantic picnic dinner. No one has ever gone through the trouble of something so sweet or elaborate for me. I usually hate surprises but I can’t wait for this one. I follow the trail of tea lights from the edge of the woods towards the clearing, walking carefully as not to make much noise. I know he’ll be able to catch my scent once I’m close enough anyways. I’m playing different scenarios in my mind, imaging doing a lot more than kissing him thanks to this romantic scene. The wind is blowing softly, the smell of pine and Rainier cherries wafting around me. It’s not cold but it’s not warm enough. I wrap my arms around me to comfort myself from the wind chill, wolves don’t get co