Page 31 of Missing

"Harper," Orlando chimed in gently, "what do you know about mates?"

"Only what Melody told me last night," she admitted, clutching the fabric of her shirt as if it were a lifeline.

"I only explained the basics," Melody said, "I don't know enough about it all to explain properly."

"Alright then." I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. "Let's start with the fact that we're all supernaturals here – Dante, Orlando, and myself included. When a supernatural finds their mate, they form an unbreakable bond – one that goes beyond simple love or attraction."

"Like a soulmate?" Harper asked, her eyes wide and vulnerable.

"Something like that, yeah," I replied, struggling to find the right words to explain such a complicated concept. "But there's more to it than that."

"Okay…" she said hesitantly, taking a shaky breath. "So, how does this whole… mate thing work?"

"Each type of supernatural has a different way of finding and connecting with their mates," Orlando began, his voice steady and knowledgeable.

"Let's start with the easy one." I gestured towards Dante, who was standing off to the side looking like a kicked puppy. It was hard not to feel a little sorry for the guy.

"Okay," Harper said hesitantly, her green eyes wide and filled with confusion. "What do you mean by 'easy'?"

"Right," I sighed, trying to find the words to explain without overwhelming her. "Dante is a wolf shifter. In his wolf form, they have this extraordinary sense of smell. When they find their mate, their wolf instantly knows."

"Like some kind of...instinct?" Harper asked, a frown creasing her brow as she tried to wrap her head around it.

"Exactly," I nodded. "So when Dante's wolf scented you, he knew you were his mate. But you freaked out and ran away, which...well, it essentially meant you rejected him."

"Shit," Harper whispered, her face paling as the full weight of her actions hit her. "Dante, I'm so sorry. I didn't know, I don't understand this world at all." She looked around at all of us, desperation in her eyes. "Three days ago, I was just a simple human living a human life. Now all this has happened, and I don't know which way is up."

Dante stared back at her, his brown eyes filled with a mix of hurt and hope. I could tell he was torn between wanting to comfort her and maintaining his distance, afraid of pushing her further away. It was a shitty situation for everyone involved, but I couldn't help feeling that strange, protective urge towards Harper – like I needed to shield her from all of this chaos.

"Let me explain further," I said, trying to keep my voice steady and my gaze locked on Harper. "When a wolf is rejected by his mate, he's doomed to be alone for life. Never able to move on or find happiness with anyone else."

The colour completely drained from Harper's face as she stared at Dante, her green eyes wide with horror. "Oh, no..." She muttered under her breath, her hands trembling at her sides.

I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she processed the information. Her lower lip quivered, and I felt a sudden urge to reach out and pull her into my arms. But I didn't.

"How do I fix it?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Simple," I replied, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Just don't reject him.”

Chapter 28

Harper Hillstrom

My body ached as I sat on the plush carpet in my room, knees pulled up to my chest. My senses were still reeling from the revelations of the past few days, and the presence of Griffin sitting cross-legged before me did little to ease my unease. His chiselled features were set in steely determination, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine.

"Simple," he uttered, his voice low and just a touch condescending. "Just don't reject him."

I raised my eyebrows at him, incredulity written across my face. Oh, it's that simple, huh? Bonding with someone I've known for all of two days like we're some fucking Disney princesses destined to be together? "It's not that simple, Griffin," I snapped, my defences rising as they always did when I felt cornered. "I don't even know your full name!"

His expression remained steady, but I could see the slightest hint of vulnerability in his gaze. It was the first crack in his armour I'd seen since we met, and it made me pause. For a moment, the room was silent, filled only with the sound of our breathing.

The silence was shattered by Dante walking forward from where he stood this whole time and blurts. "My name is Dante Heed, I got my powers just over three months ago. I have firepower, I'm a transporter, and I'm a shifter." He looked at me like that introduction was going to solve all our problems.

"Great, now we're properly introduced. That doesn't change the fact that I still don't know any of you," I retorted, feeling my anger simmer beneath the surface. I didn't want to be here, sitting in front of these strangers who seemed to think they had some sort of claim over me.

Orlando, who'd been watching our interaction spoke up. His voice was calm and measured, completely different from the other two. "That's okay, Harper. You can get to know us."

I glanced over at him, taking in his lean frame and dark mop-like hair. There was something about the way he held himself, the look in his green eyes, that made me feel as if I could trust him far more than the others. But trust wasn't something I gave away easily.

---