Fifteen.

The spring rainstorm had soaked him through, causing Calum to sigh deeply, when he stepped over the threshold and into the pub, on the small coastal village in Northern Ireland. He had been here in this particular establishment many times before, the large unmasked grey stone walls, and exposed timber beams, were now quite familiar to him. As was the smell of the coal burning in the fire place at one side of the room. All year round it burned, regardless of whether it were below freezing outside, or scorching hot, the landlady always had it on, for the *atmosphere* apparently. The polished walnut bar beckoned him forward, and he propped himself up, into one of the stools standing in front, noticing the hurling game that was televised, on a ridiculously large flat screen television, which was mounted on the wall opposite the fireplace.

"Still no luck then?" Owen asked, a barman who had become more than a little familiar with Calum's story, over his numerous visits.

"No. Unfortunately not," he shook his head, "though, I can't help but feel, like I am in the wrong place." He rubbed his face. "Fosters please, Owen, and a steak and kidney pie?" he asked, ordering his midday meal from their menu.

Owen typed it into the till, before returning. "So, what makes you so sure you ain't in the right place?" He asked, beginning to pour Calum's lager.

Calum just casually shrugged, "I'm not sure, but I have this inexplicable pull home. Maybe I'm just losing hope of finding her, I guess."

He took his beer, and pulled a long sip into his mouth, savouring the taste.

"You should chat to Elijah," Owen stated, all knowingly.

"Who?" Calum asked, wondering how this man could help.

"Elijah Lawrence? I think you have met once before. Wolf shifter, also hunting his mate. Maybe you can inspire one another," the bar man suggested.

Calum half laughed, "Aye, I remember him. Or maybe we could commiserate with one another."

Owen gave the customer a sympathetic smile, as the door opened, "Well, speak of the devil. Here's your chance, Calum," he said, nodding in the direction of the door.

Calum turned around to see the blonde wolf shifter, as he was striding into the pub. He had that overstated confident aura that most wolves seemed to exude, but behind his eyes, Calum could make out the pain dwelling in those depths. Commiserations it was then.

"Owen, get him a drink on me, looks like he needs it." Calum stated, before retreating to sit next to the fire, and wait for his meal.

It was a sopping wet spring day, and Calum needed the heat. He allowed it to seep into his bones, as he took the table and the seat closest to it. The landlady was no fool, he idly thought as his back absorbed the warmth. If this fire brought him here time and again, it must encourage others as well. There was something comforting about the smell, and the sound of the wood crackling with the coal, that soothed him as he waited. Although, it wasn't long before he looked up and discovered he had company.

"Apparently the barman thinks we have something in common," the wolf spoke, sitting down across from him, uninvited.

Calum's back arched internally and he suppressed a hiss. While his human side may feel for the man on an empathetic level, his feline side did not appreciate the undesired company, encroaching on him. But then, that was wolves for you, give them an inch and they would always take a mile.

Taking a breath to shake off his irritation at the unwanted company, Calum answered, "Aye, I guess in a way we do. Both looking for a woman we lost, I believe."

Elijah smirked, "I don't think I can class Colt as lost. More along the lines of hiding." He sighed, sipping his drink. "Thanks, by the way, its been a while since I was on the receiving end of someone's generosity."

Calum shrugged, "No worries, Pal. Seemed like the right thing to do."

Elijah smiled, "What's she like?" He asked unashamedly.

Calum sighed looking unamused. Then giving himself another shake, he decided to cut the wolf a break.

"In scent, she is everything. But, looks wise? All I know is she has dark hair." He answered, "it's been over a year since I first seen her, and that was at a distance. You?" He asked, sensing the man's need to talk, and feeling the need to divert attention from himself.

"Colt is... Fuck, words can't describe how perfect she is. But, I fucked it up. On so many occasions, and in the worst, most despicable of ways. She is half Scottish, you know. A wildcat like yourself. Sorry," he held his hand up, at Calum's raised brow. "I recognised the markers in your scent. Her Mom, mated a wolf and moved to the states. Fierce woman, like her daughter. Colt has the blackest of hair, hazel eyes, and the most beautiful plump lips, everything about her is mesmerising. The way she moves is hypnotic, but she is strong as well. Strong enough to leave me when she needed to," Elijah trailed off dejectedly.

"But, now you want to find her?" Calum asked, the cogs in his brain whirring a mile a minute, even though, on the surface of his face nothing could be detected.

"I changed. I want to show her that. No," Elijah continued, "Its more than that, I want a second chance with her. A chance to be a real mate to her, to look after her the way she needs, not the just way I want, you know?" He asked.

"What if she doesn't want to know?" Calum asked steadily, sipping his own drink.

"Then, I don't know to be honest. It wouldn't surprise me if she didn't believe me, I told her so many lies, scared the truth would send her running. Damn it," he stated, rubbing his face, "I even set lies in motion years before I met her. I constantly underestimated Colt, scared to let her in, but then angry at the same time, that she wasn't all in, by my own ridiculous standards of course," Elijah poured his heart out. "I have had a lot of help since then though, medically and psychologically. Her last parting gift to me actually, was the phone number of a doctor she thought could help me, and I used it. He's helped a lot, and now we have weekly check ins, but I still need her," he explained. "But, even then, if she doesn't want me, I still have to know she is at least safe."

Elijah sighed, taking a long drink of his own pint.

"Sorry Man, I didn't intend to unload all over you. Guess I just needed to talk to someone or something," he said, as sheepishly as a wolf could.

"You need a pack. It's fine," Calum stated. "Wolves aren't meant to be on their own. I don't mind listening."

Calum leaned back in his seat as Owen appeared with his meal. "Thanks," he said, calmly beginning to eat.

Elijah got up and went to the bar, the smell from Calum's plate too enticing, causing his own stomach to clench in hunger. He ordered own his meal, then returned to his seat, sitting in companionable silence, as the wildcat ate, and he let himself enjoy just being around someone. There was a strange affinity he seemed to feel with the Scotsman, and he couldn't quite put his finger on why. He remembered seeing him before, but it was a brief interaction, and they didn't spend too much time together. Maybe it was just the fact that the man was a wildcat, but somehow, being around him, made Elijah feel closer to Colt.

Meanwhile, Calum quietly ate his meal, and yet, his brain still whirled. There was something important he was missing, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. Something the wolf had said, sparked inside him. Twisting and writhing as it tried to draw his attention to something important. But, the man had said so much, it wasn't easy to pinpoint the exact part of the conversation that had him in turmoil. Then he had the faintest whisper a thought. It seemed crazy, but maybe, just maybe there was a reason he had met this man.

"What makes you think, Northern Ireland is the place you will find her?" Calum asked, after he finished his meal.

"Well, officially she is supposed to be in France. I found that out from her cousin. But, she isn't there. I could feel it as soon as I stepped off the plane in Paris. She was apparently renovating an old chateau in Northern France, but there were absolutely no sale records with her name. I double checked the sales that did go through at the time, by visiting in person, but it wasn't her. I think she lied, knowing I would find out. But, I was in Ireland before, because she was here, not last winter, but the one before that. So, I came back here, you see, I'm betting my chances on finding the woman she was with. Dark skinned with white hair, I believe my old pack Beta may also be with her." Elijah answered, hopeful that if Calum had been around for a while he may be able to point him in the correct direction.

Calum only nodded though, "I guess we all have to have some sort of starting point."

All of sudden it hit him full force. He knew exactly where Elijah's mate was, and who's daughter she was. Isla Campbell, was infamous at home because, she mated a wolf. Her daughter was living in his own clan lands. She had dark hair, was friends with a white haired woman in Ireland, but he hadn't found any trace of her because, she wasn't here anymore.

Calum felt like he had been the biggest idiot going. Wildcat females are rare, even on occasions where a wildcat is born to a human, if she is a girl, eventually she is treated the same as all the others. There was only one real possibility of who his mate could be, and she had been under his nose all along.

Calum's true mate was the chosen mate of this wolf! Internally his mind hissed and his claws threatened to unsheath themselves. This man had not only taken what was his, but he had hurt her, he admitted as much himself. Maybe he was the reason she jumped that day?

But, Calum had to stay calm, despite the disjointed pieces that were all falling into place, he had to remain calm. He needed to get away from the wolf, before he could no longer conceal his agitation.

He pulled his focus back. Concentrating at first on the positives, now he knew where to find her, no wonder he felt homesick, he was being pulled home to his mate. The woman who he did smell from his boat. The woman who was reported to have flattened Angus, he thought pleasingly. Then a horrifying realisation hit him. The woman who he gave all his friends leave to pursue as he didn't want her. Shit. The woman, who, even now three weeks on may have accepted a proposal from any one of the numerous other men trying to woo her back home.

*Fuck* he thought. Knowing, that his main priority now had to be, to get home and find his mate, before it really was too late.

*Author's Note: I knew he would regret that conversation at the ceilidh... What did you think of the chapter?