“Our mate will be awesome. You just wait and see. That is if she can get past all of your ink.”
Wade rolled his eyes. His wolf hated his tattoos, and he knew it, but it was his body to do with as he pleased. Besides, he needed something to help keep the nightmares at bay. After he’d covered most of his body with images from the horrors he had witnessed, he’d moved on to spending his time behind the gun, inking members of the pack.
It had seemed like a good career path at the time, and he still couldn’t come to regret it, no matter how much his wolf hated it. It was his outlet, his passion, and he enjoyed the fuck out of what he did. Over the years, he’d picked up a steady clientele with many repeat customers. When word of his work spread, his business took off and he found himself as the proud owner of Howling Wolf Tattoos.
Wade tried to keep a reassuring voice, not wanting to further upset his wolf on the whole mate matter.“Whatever, I’m not even worried about it. I’m sure the Fates will bless us with a mate who likes ink.”
“You damn well had better hope so. I will not allow your obsession to scare away our mate,”his wolf cautioned.
The stern warning from his wolf made Wade pause mid-stride. The warning had been completely out of character for his normally playful animal. Not that he truly thought the Fates had seen to his mate. He had to believe if they had chosen a mate for him, she would accept him as he was, unconditionally. He believed that with every being of his soul.
“Can you hurry up and suck down your coffee? I’d like to be on time for once?”
Wade glanced at the clock. He had fifteen minutes to make it to the pavilion, or the pack would leave without him. It would have been fine with him to catch up later or miss the run all together, but he knew he’d never hear the end of it from his wolf if he didn’t get his ass in gear. Taking another sip of his coffee, he made his way to the back door and set the cup on the counter before heading off into the morning sun.
“Let’s get this over with,” Wade said, allowing his transformation to begin.
“Thank Odin!”
Ancient majik swirled around him as bones began to shift one by one. A sense of much needed calmness surrounded him as his mouth elongated, and fur began to cover his body. His muscles stretched, his bones popping as they shifted into their new shape.
Calmness, peacefulness, washed over Wade as he surrendered control of his body to his wolf, especially when he really didn’t feel like dealing with the world or being a human.
And today was one of those days.
He felt off. He couldn’t put his finger or paw on it, but something wasn’t quite right. He wasn’t awake enough and he didn’t have anywhere near enough caffeine in his system to figure it out.
