Sadie's Claim: Perfectly Stated

By Kae Galla

My true mate is a well respected member of our pack, but he's a lot older than me. Apparently that is a problem for him, despite our extended lifespan. The way my mate acts, you'd think I have a flesh eating disease or something. He does everything in his power to stay far away from me. 

I thought things would change when I came of age, but it didn't. With minimal hopes of ever being with my true mate, I follow my other dreams and join the shifter's version of the military. 

By the time I return home, things have changed…I have changed.

With time to think, will my mate look at me differently?

Will we be able to get over the past and build a new future?

And when my past brings a war to our pack lands, will we be strong enough to protect those we care about?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kayla Galla
• Release date: Dec 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215768938

Book preview

Prologue

Sadie

For two years now, I’ve known the identity of my true mate. As a wolf shifter, our sixteenth birthday is special because it unlocks the part of us that is able to identify and connect with our soulmate. All we have to do is see them or be within scent range and we know instinctively. Some take years to find their mates and others never do. I thought at first that made me fortunate, and I would still agree with that statement, if it weren’t for the fact that my mate has avoided me like the plague since discovering that I am his mate.

My father, our pack’s alpha, assured me that Kye was merely concerned about my age. In a way, I can understand that, considering he is in his nineties. Waiting isn’t usually an issue due to the fact that our species has a centuries-long lifespan, but it would have been nice to at least get to know my mate and spend time with him. Just because we can know who our mate is at sixteen doesn’t mean we would have been able to be together yet. Long ago, the elders imposed a decree stating that no shifter shall be claimed until their eighteenth birthday.

Kye hasn’t said more than a handful of words to me in the past two years. He didn’t even show up at my birthday party last night. I’m officially an adult and have no idea what to say to my mate.

There’s an undeniable pull to one’s mate. It’s like my entire being needs to be near him. Typically, a mated pair can’t bear to be separated from one another. Your mate is your other half. You can’t feel whole without half of who you are supposed to be. Shifters even heal faster when their mate is near. It is a struggle being so close to Kye while being unable to spend any time with him. I’ve done my best to handle the feelings of loss and abandonment, but it’s hard to stay positive when it feels as though you’re unwanted.

The entire pack looks at me with pity and sadness, as if they know Kye will never claim me. What I don’t understand is if he won’t claim me then why doesn’t he put us both out of our misery and reject me. It doesn’t happen often, but if a mate can’t bear the choice fate has made for them, they can speak the ancient words which would sever the bond completely.

Maybe he was just busy last night. I think to myself as I sit in the bay window of my bedroom, looking out into the forest.

What has you thinking so hard? my mother asks as she enters the room.

With a deep sigh, I know I can’t hide anything from her knowing stare. I don’t understand why Kye won’t even talk to me. If I walk into the room, he leaves. If I try to make small talk, he stares over my head then walks away. I’ve even seen him cut training sessions with the guards short because I was there watching. I know as captain of the guard he’s busy but...why doesn’t he want me?

As my eyes begin to mist with tears, my mother wraps me in her warm embrace. I let it all out, all my worries and fears, all the sadness and anxiety pour out of me.

I don’t know what he’s thinking, sweet girl. I was sure once you came of age, he’d claim you. What I do know is that you are a wonderful, intelligent, funny, and caring young female. You deserve to have every blessing this life has to offer. Give him time but don’t stop living your life to wait for a male to make you happy. Find that happiness and that purpose while you wait for him to see his stupidity for making you wait.

I’ve watched Kye these past two years. He is a good person and I know that he would make a good mate someday.

I think that you need to find something else to focus on. This will all work itself out. In the meantime, your brother mentioned that he’d be hanging out at the rec center today. Why don’t you go spend some time with him? Maybe beat him in a game of air hockey or two. She winks at me as I smile, knowing that spending time with my brother always brightens my mood.

I nod then go in search of my shoes.

The rec center isn't far from our family home, maybe a five minute walk. Then if you continue another two or three minutes. you’ll find the pack house which is where my brother and my father work. One day Slade will take over for our father as pack alpha. I don’t know yet what my contribution to the pack will be, but there’s no place else I’d rather be.

An ache forms in my gut at the thought because the truth is, deep down, I know that where I want to be most is at Kye’s side, even if that means leaving the pack I love. Dark depressive thoughts threaten to ruin my mood again as I worry about the potential ramifications if Kye were to reject me. I know I’d never be able to stay so close to him with that kind of finality and hurt. Would I be forced from my home? If I thought the pitying stares were bad now, they’d be so much worse...

Hey, watch it! An angry voice barks as I collide with someone’s hard back.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t been paying attention or watching where I was walking. Stumbling backwards, a hand wraps around my wrist, catching me before I can fall.

I-I’m sorry, I stammer.

The hand immediately releases me, as if I’ve burned it, which in a way I have. From that one simple touch, my skin hums with excitement and I know exactly who I’ve bumped into. I look up into the unreadable steel gray eyes of my mate and hope that for once, he won’t disappear. This is the first time he’s seen me since I’ve come of age, maybe that will make a difference.

Hi, I whisper when all he does is glare at me.

Watch where you’re going, he grumbles before turning to leave.

Wait, I plead, falling into step behind him.

When he realizes I’m following him, he stops. What? Irritation and impatience pour off of him in waves.

I uh-I missed you at my birthday party. I thought...well, I thought you’d come, I admit.

Why? He folds his arms across his chest and sets his gaze above my head as if he can’t stand to look at me.

Seriously? Because I’m your mate, that’s why. I can feel my own anger and irritations pushing aside the hurt long enough for me to have this conversation.

No, I’m not, he states with finality.

His words sting but I don’t buckle. Yes, you are. Just because you haven’t claimed me yet, that doesn’t mean you’re not still my mate.

If that’s what you want to believe, be my guest. But unless my mark is on your neck, you have no reason to expect me to be around.

Why are you being like this? My heart aches as I try to process his words.

Like what?

You act as if I’m repulsive. Like I’m some sort of obsessed stalker. What have I ever done to make you hate me so much? The entirety of my being feels as though it will combust at any moment, but I hold myself together.

You don’t know me and I don’t know you. You are a child trying to play grown up. Do us both a favor and leave me alone.

He storms off before I can say anything in my defense. I knew our age gap was an issue for him when I was underage but I didn’t realize he saw me that way. Kye is only 97. For shifters who live to be several hundred years, that kind of age gap is normal, so why is he so fixated on my age?

Turning on my heels, I run toward the woods before despair engulfs me.

Kye

FOR MONTHS, I’VE BEEN getting regular emails from a shifter named Dasie. I’m not sure what it is about the she-wolf, but we’ve become close friends through our daily email correspondence. What started out as a simple pack collaboration email request has turned into pen pals of sorts. The unusual relationship helps to ease the tension and nerves brought on by pushing my mate away.

My mate is beautiful and kind. She is too smart for her own good and has an awesome sense of humor. All of which I’ve only ever witnessed from afar because while she is all of these wonderful attributes, she is also too young. At nineteen, she is but a pup and the alpha’s daughter at that.

It kills me to push her away, but I don’t trust my self-control where she is concerned. Better to keep my distance than to slip up and do something that can’t be undone. It’d be the death of me if I ever hurt her in that manner.

Nights like tonight, when I can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to finally claim my mate, I’m so thankful for the distraction work provides. As the head of the guard, there is no shortage of tasks for me to handle as well as training sessions to oversee, but tonight I’m focused on paperwork and applications for the upcoming recruits.

A chime from my phone notifies me that I have a new incoming email. Setting the papers down, I smile as I load the proper app on my phone.

Dear Kye,

I know it’s a little early in the evening and I’m sure you’re hard at work, but I wanted to share my good news with you. My alpha got word regarding my pack advancement courses I told you about. I don’t have a lot of details yet, but I’m proud of myself for taking this step. This is a huge deal for me. While I’m excited for the new journey, I’m also nervous.

With training starting pretty much immediately, I don’t know how often I’ll be able to access my emails. It’s my understanding that for the first month or so, I’ll be kept pretty busy.

Please don't stop writing to me. There aren’t many people I consider friends, and I’d hate to lose you through this. I value our friendship more than you could ever know.

P.S.

Try to have a little fun for me.

Sincerely,

Dasie

I’d be lying if I said this news didn’t put me on edge. There is no reason for me to feel this way, but at the same time, I can’t shake it. Dasie is a friend who has been looking forward to advancing her career. I should be happy for her, not sad that I won’t be able to talk with her as often. Before I can shake the feeling there is a knock on my door.

Enter.

Sadie peaks inside before slowly coming in. My mate looks nervous and as much as I hate that I make her feel uneasy, I don’t do anything to alleviate the feeling.

I was wondering if you were going to come to the bonfire tonight, my mate asks with a soft hopeful smile.

Why would I do that? I ask in a forced bored tone of voice.

There is a moment’s pause before she says, Because I asked you to.

My heart aches and I desperately want to agree, even if just to watch her interact with the rest of the pack. But I am a weak man and I know if I give in now, I’ll give in to so much more. I’ve spent the past three years avoiding close proximity to her, that won’t change any time soon.

No, I state firmly.

But, it’s my-

I said no. I cut her off before she can finish whatever plea she has in mind.

She gasps at the harshness of my tone but wisely says nothing as she turns to leave. As she steps through the threshold, she turns and says Good-bye so softly I would have missed it if I weren’t watching her leave, then closes the door behind her.

It takes me long into the night before I’m able to finish what little work I had remaining. My mind kept replaying Sadie’s visit and my heart wanted to go to her, but I know staying away from her is what is best. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.

As dawn creeps above the horizon, I stretch and walk around my office, trying to alleviate some