I needed to shift back to my human form, but that was easier said than done. I was out of energy, and powerless stuck as a wolf.

My vision was clouded, and I was losing blood. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold on. But I had to hold on, not for my sake but for Mattie’s, and my mom’s. The two most important women in my life were in danger, and I was helpless. I had never felt so weak before.

We were on a boat. I knew that, I’d been more aware when they carried me on. The waves rocked us back and forth, but it was impossible to know how far from the land we’d drifted. I had no idea what was happening, and as a wolf, it was impossible to ask questions. I reached out for my human side, but I got nothing. I’d lost too much blood, and I didn’t have the strength.

With no warning I was thrown against the side of the ship. A few moments later I was tossed again in the opposite direction. I was disoriented, but I knew I wasn’t being thrown by anyone. It was the boat. The waves were getting stronger. My vision was too limited to see the clouds, but the storm must have gotten worse. I was thrown again and again. A tiny ray of hope filled me. Maybe this wasn’t a natural storm. Maybe something else was at play. That hope gave me strength, and I shifted into my human form, just as I was catapulted off of the boat.

I was immediately pulled under, thrown about by the waves. I was weak, but I would find a way to swim to shore. I had no choice.

Before I could reach the surface, I saw a familiar face above me. Delpha? Save your energy, Pierce. Delpha’s voice came from all around me.

I didn’t answer. The current increased and brought me to the surface allowing me to catch my breath. I drifted with the waves as I slowly pushed toward the shore.

“Pierce!”

I heard my name again, but this time it wasn’t Delpha.

“Mattie?” I forced my eyes open. She was leaning over me. Her damp hair hung down, brushing against my shoulder. She took my hand in hers. “Are you okay?”

“I’m ok.” Relief flooded me. Mattie was okay. Delpha had saved me.

“You’re bleeding.” She looked at the blood on her hand.

“Thank goodness!” My mom’s voice came from behind us.

“Mom?” I struggled to understand what was going on.

Mom kneeled down beside us. She was soaking wet, and I knew she’d been in the ocean as well. “Delpha, we owe you a greater debt of gratitude than we can ever repay.”

Delpha collapsed on the sand next to me. “Oh, I’m sure Pierce will find a way to pay me back.”

“Wow, you were incredible out there.” I leaned up on my elbows. Thankfully I healed quickly.

She sighed. “I just had to call out for Great-Grandpa.”

“You usually don’t like to do that.” She hated to. I understood complicated family dynamics, but her family situation was even crazier than mine.

“I never do, but this time it was worth it.”

“You traded the codex.” Mom patted my arm and then stood up. “Didn’t you?”

Delpha shrugged. “I needed a relic. Something to make it worth his time, and you owe Mattie for getting it to me.”

“Mattie?” I turned to her. “You found it?”

She brushed her hair behind her ears. “Not found exactly. I stole it from my ex-boss. Turns out he’s a shifter too. A wolf.”

“He’s not a wolf.” Ty limped down the beach. “He’s your kind.”

“Wait. What?” I struggled to follow. “The true shapeshifter who is in town? That was the professor who harassed Mattie?” Why hadn’t I considered that? I had assumed he was just a lecherous jerk, I had never imagined he was something other than human. It was a stupid mistake. Wasn’t I the one who had warned Mattie that she had probably met many supernatural creatures without knowing it?

“Yes.” Mattie sighed. “Trust me it was quite the shock. I don’t know where I’d be if Ty hadn’t confronted him and given me a way to escape.”

“Where is he now?” Anger surged through me.

“Bane joined the fight just in time.” Ty looked out at the waves. “The police have him.”

“I want to see him.” I wanted to make sure he never messed with Mattie again.

“Not yet, you don’t.” Mom frowned. “You might be healing fast, but you still need rest.”

“So I guess him being here is my fault.” Mattie sat next to me and pulled her knees up to her chest.

“What?” I took her hand. “No. Of course not. Don’t think that way.”

“But I led him here.”

“It’s my fault for not realizing what he was in time.” My mom crossed her arms. “He’s a different type of true shapeshifter. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“He said all this crazy stuff.” Mattie starred out at the water, and I knew her mind was elsewhere.

“Crazy stuff like what?” I needed to know. I needed to help her.

“He said she belonged to him.” Ty turned to look at me.

“Wait, Ty. How are you involved? Mattie said you saved her, but why?” With everything going on, that question had only then slipped from my lips. “I saw you watching when I left with Brent.”

“Like I told Mattie, if anyone hurts you it’s going to be me.”

Mom grunted.

“You know what I mean.” Ty bowed his head slightly. “Don’t worry.”

“Why did Delpha’s great-grandfather want that old book?” Mattie stretched her legs out in front of her.

Delpha sat cross-legged and braided her hair. If she was injured at all she certainly didn’t show it. “He has a collection of relics. I guess after thousands of years you have to find something to collect.”

“And where is Brent?” There were so many questions, so many people to account for.

“He went under. Same with Kendra.” Delpha smiled slightly.

“Oh.” I was filled with a mix of emotions.

“They aren’t dead, idiot.” Delpha punched my arm.

“You said they went under.”

“They did. There are many creatures under there that can prolong a life. I can’t say what’s going to happen to them, but they won’t be bothering you again.” Delpha started to braid another section of her hair.

“Torture?” Mattie gasped. “Are you talking torture?”

“Not like you are thinking of it.” Delpha shrugged. “But you are way too good of a person if you care. They tried to kill Pierce. They were helping Longhorn get you so he could get even stronger.”

“Get even stronger?” Mattie’s brow furrowed.

“It’s why he wanted the book.” Ty joined our group on the sand. “I got some details out of him before the police took him away. He’s hunting down all the other true shapeshifters' mates. He wants to be the only one.”

“That’s horrible.” Mattie scooted closer to me.

“It is.” The very thought chilled me to the bone.

“But why did he want the book?” Mattie rested her head on my shoulder. “I mean, he obviously had another copy.”

“There is only one copy. We’ve held it here because it was the only safe place.” My mom explained.

“He found me without the book?” Mattie straightened up. “How?”

“Because he can feel it. It’s why he came on to you the way he did. He figured out your potential.”

“Before I even knew she existed.” I thought about all the ways things could have gone even more wrong.

“Whose fault is that?” Mom wagged a finger at me. “I told you to read the book.”

“And I would have found her easily?” My grandfather told me the codex consisted of riddles. Riddles weren’t my thing. “You never did tell us what it said, and now we can’t check ourselves.”

Mom smiled. “True.”

“What did the book say about me?” Mattie looked up at my mom. “Could you tell us now? We’ll never see it.”

“Your entry was simple. The 90^th of the Vale line will need to find one with as much of a need as him. She will fill a role that hasn’t been filled in his lifetime.”

“That’s it? You tracked Mattie down with that?” I was dumbstruck. True, looking at it now the librarian part was obvious, but there were thousands of librarians.

“Longhorn isn’t the only one with a sense for these things. I have my ways.” Mom examined the key that was around her neck again—where it belonged.

“But if you hadn’t looked…” Mattie trailed off. “And the timing was so perfect. I needed a job at that moment…”

“Because fate is fate, Mattie. If something is meant to be, it happens.” Mom crossed her feet at the ankles. “Nothing about your life has been an accident. It has led you here.”

“But what if I hadn’t said yes to the job?” Mattie pulled her knees up to her chest again.

“Then it wouldn’t have been fate.”

“Then the book would have been wrong…” Mattie’s arm brushed against mine, sending a wave of awareness through me. It was not the time to be thinking those kinds of thoughts, but they were there anyway.

“No.” Mom shook her head. “It would have been right, but you would have been wrong. There have been true shapeshifters who have failed to meet their mates, but it is because they, or their intended partner, fought fate. It only took this long for you to find each other because Pierce fought it.”

“What do you mean?” Mattie tilted her head to the side.

Understanding hit me. “I went to NYU a few years before you went there. I wanted to stay, do a graduate program, and I knew I should, but I felt guilty and came back to town no matter how much I didn’t want to.”

“I always knew you were a dingbat.” Delpha stuck her tongue out at me.

Understanding crossed Mattie’s face. “And if you’d have stayed, we might have met.”

“Yes.” I thought about all the wasted years, all the lonely nights.

“But it all worked out.” Delpha clapped her hands, pulling me from my thoughts. “Perfectly.”

“Except they only have three weeks.” Ty brought us back to reality. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”

“As if you mind being that.” Delpha rolled her eyes.

“I do. Now. I like her.” Ty nodded in Mattie’s direction. “I want her to stay around.”

Mattie stilled.

“You don’t have to decide now. Let’s take it a day at a time and see what happens.” I wanted her to decide immediately, to know I wouldn’t lose her, but I couldn’t push her. That wasn’t the way things worked.

Relief washed over Mattie’s face. “Ok. I can do that.”

I took her hand in mine and hoped if we left things up to fate it would all work out. I looked over at Mattie. She seemed fine, but that didn’t necessarily mean she was fine. “How are you doing?”

“I’ve been better, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever been happier to be alive.” She rested her head on my shoulder again.

“Alive is good.” I hoped using some humor was the right way to go.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” She ran her fingers over my arm. “I was worried.”

I closed my eyes momentarily so I could enjoy the sensation of her touch. “I was worried about you too.” I opened my eyes again.

She shrugged. “I had help.” She nodded at Ty.

“I’m not sure why you put yourself on the line for me, but thank you.” I meant it. I owed Ty a great debt.

I stood and held out my hand to Mattie. “As usual my offer to carry you still stands.”

She shook her head. “Nope. Not going to happen.” She accepted my hand and stood up.

“Not until you’re carrying her over the threshold.” Delpha waggled her eyebrows.

Mattie flushed, and I sent Delpha a warning look, even though that image was one I enjoyed very much.

---

We spent a few weeks trying to pretend our situation was normal. We both worked all day and spent our evenings doing normal dating things like dinner and movies. For awhile I forgot about my birthday and the idea of mating. Being with Mattie was natural. She was happy, and so was I. Then she asked for a few days to think. It was the longest few days of my life. I stayed away, getting updates when I could from my mom and Delpha, but neither would tell me much except emphasizing the importance of staying positive. They had no idea what I was feeling; it was something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

I could barely concentrate on anything. All I could think about was how amazing our time together had been, and how much I needed Mattie in my life. I could see our future—marriage, kids, all that. And that was something I never thought I’d have. Now that it was even a possibility, letting go was nearly unfathomable. I didn’t sleep at all. Instead I spent my nights running, wondering how fate could be so cruel to bring Mattie to me if she wasn’t going to stay.

“It’s not over yet.” Ty called as soon as I shifted back into my human form. After years of rivalry we were kind of friends now. Or as close to friends as I would ever be with a wolf.

“My birthday is tomorrow.” I had never dreaded a day more. I needed more time to convince Mattie mating with me was the right decision.

“Then you have nearly twenty-four hours.” Ty waited at the foot of the wooden deck stairs. “That’s lots of time.”

“Have you seen her?” I was desperate for any sort of update.

Ty nodded. “Yeah. We bonded.”

I felt a growl rise in me.

He shook his head. “Not like that. You know she’s only into you. And she’s a friend. She’s talked me into taking some classes at the college.”

“That’s great.” In theory it was, but I was still jealous he’d been talking to her, while I was forced to stay away.

“She needed the time, man. You are doing the right thing.”

“Easy for you to say.” I couldn’t cut the edge from my voice. I was stressed and worried. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do if Mattie left.

“Hey, at least you found your mate. I haven’t gotten that far.”

“You will one day.” I tried to force some enthusiasm in my voice, but it fell short.

He laughed. “Yeah, I hope you’re right.”

I leaned my elbows on the deck railing. “Thanks.”

“Are you thanking me for saving her again?”

“That and for this. I’ve needed a friend.”

He shrugged. “I get it. You’re a loser with no friends, I can fill in when needed.”

“Glad some things never change.”

He smiled. “Take a shower and chill out. You don’t want to smell like woods when she shows up.”

“When? I’d say if.”

“I’d say when.” He smiled again, and this time I thought I read something in his expression. I heeded his advice and headed inside. He was right, twenty-four hours was a long time—especially when you were waiting.