Rebecca Royce: Wolf Reborn

Someone was leaving the island by canoe. It was the third time this week. Theo Kane narrowed his eyes and tried to figure out the mystery but from his vantage point it was next to impossible. Whoever it was certainly was sneaky. The canoe had left from three different ports on all three nights, making it impossible for Theo to lay in wait for the culprit.

But he would catch him eventually.

It would do no good to stare out into the rough water and watch the person row away. Theo swung around and sniffed the air one more time. Nothing. This was getting worse and worse. Whoever this was had scent-disguising herbs in his or her possession. Even finding the canoe would provide no help with the problem of identity.

Not my problem . He forced the canoe from his mind. But out of habit he found himself drawn into the problem, looking for a solution, mapping out a game plan. Couldn't help it really--he was part human. Shaking his head he closed eyes to the darkness that surrounded him. Nothing mattered. Not when the night called.

The ground felt cool beneath his paws as he ran through the woods listening to the wind. Theo wasn't even sure what drove him forward. Something, the endless unnamed thing that haunted his dreams and made his waking life a constant nightmare, pushed him towards the cliffs on the other side of the island.

When he'd been a child, before his father had betrayed them and his world had crumbled, he'd loved running with his brothers through these woods. Each of them would shift back and forth from their wolf to their human form until they collapsed with exhaustion. They would challenge each other to see which one of them could hold out the longest. Tristan always won. They should have realized then Tristan was destined to be their future Alpha.

But Theo had often been a close second. He shook his head to push away the thoughts. There was no point in remembering his human life now. A year ago, he'd made the decision to give up that aspect of himself. The only time he ever regretted it was when this recurring feeling called to him and drove him to near insanity.

He let his senses travel outwards into the night. There was plenty of prey for him to hunt. Going hungry was not something he needed to worry about on Westervelt Island. His brothers made sure of that by importing enough prey to keep the island stocked and their wolf-half occupied. Tonight, a new scent hung in the air. The scent of the anonymous entity lingered within him and he couldn't identify it. The nameless being that drove him crazy.

Mate.

He skidded to a halt, and little sprays of dust spurted from beneath his feet. It had been months since his wolf side had spoken to his human side. Who could have guessed the wolf half of him wouldn't want him to live permanently in its natural form?

What? His voice sounded strained to his own ears. It had been a long time since he'd spoken, even telepathically.

You are feeling your mate. Her scent calls to us and drives us to find her .

Theo really hoped his wolf was wrong. He couldn't have a mate. It would be the cruelest thing in the world to both of them. In his human form, he was a monstrosity--both in body and soul. The demon that had attacked and wounded him had done more than permanently mutilate his face. No one really understood it. But somehow the acid that burned through his skin had a separate, more sinister effect than anyone had anticipated.

It had brought him to the brink of insanity and the only cure was to remain in his wolf form where he could harm no one and he was protected from the onslaught of destructive behavior he couldn't seem to stop or control. Ashlee, Tristan's mate and the healer for their pack, searched for a way to free him from the madness, but so far none had been found. He suspected they all preferred that he limited his visits to the Institute to the brief hour he telepathically communicated with Tristan once a month. Theo had made it a point not even to run with the pack when they all shifted together. For all intents and purposes, it was better that he be a lone wolf. Forever.

He certainly preferred it.

You're not listening to me and you're doing it on purpose . His wolf snorted in disgust and Theo looked down at the grey and brown fur that covered his paws for a moment to hide his shame. It really shouldn't surprise him that his canine was so perceptive.

I have a mate and I'm being driven to find her?

Not to find her. She's obviously here which is why you can smell her. She must have arrived six months ago when this urge to find a missing part of you started.

Even in his wolf form, Theo felt his eyes widen in surprise. So why didn't you say something then?

A beat of silence met his query and Theo suspected he wasn't going to like what he heard.

Because I'm angry at you .

You're what? He'd never heard of anyone's wolf getting angry at them before. He almost laughed out loud at the absurdity of it.

Theo would swear he heard a sigh. I'm mad at you .

How is that even possible? We're two halves of the same person. Theo's mind whirled.

I'm a wolf and you're a jackass .

Theo wished he could laugh. Instead, he turned and howled at the darkening sky. This was his favorite time of year. Spring pushed into Winter's territory, demanding it be given its due. Each day was a mystery; would it be warm, cold, or sunny? Might it even still snow? He loved Maine and he adored their little island. Or at least he used to. Love of one location over another was a human interest. Wolves were only concerned with how they would survive, what they would eat, who they would...

Mate .

Damn it. His wolf was really not going to let this go. He closed his eyes for a second and took off running towards the cliffs again. At least this time he knew he wasn't crazy, that the acid's insanity hadn't found a way to harm him while he was in this form.

He ran harder. He could beat this urge. Where was it written that he had to take a mate? So what that she existed in the world? He would do them both a favor and spare them the pain of ever meeting because he knew the truth.

If the acid hadn't caused his mental and physical degradation, then it was something else much worse. Ashlee had made hints that she didn't believe this was the case, but had never uttered the fully formed thought. However, deep in his heart Theo knew it meant he truly was Kendrick Kane's son. The one member of his family who inherited his father's insanity--the insanity that had led their patriarch to destroy the pack and betray their mother. Theo knew he would do nothing but bring shame and harm to his people if he was allowed to roam around as a human.

But don't you want to know what she looks like? Just so you know .

Just so I know what? Actually, it would be better if he never saw her. That way he wouldn't spend the rest of eternity obsessing.

So you know who it is the universe picked out to be our perfect other half. It might be interesting to find out what she's like, how she's different from us, how she's the same.

You aren't going to let this go, are you?

No. Besides there is still the matter of the shifter in the boat who may or may not be the traitor no one has unearthed because you and I haven't been around to find them.

The first bullet grazed his ear and caught him by surprise. He hit the ground hard before lunging into the bushes for cover. This was not good. How had he been so careless?