Chapter One
Charlie
“Isaac, are you sure about this?” My hands twisted in the sleeves of my sweater as I sat in the black leather chair, waiting for my turn. “Maybe I should just wait and see if it happens naturally.”
“Don’t chicken out now, Charlie.” My friend turned in his seat to fully look at me. “You have been thinking about doing this for over three years at this point. You have tried sitting back and waiting for fate to find you, but it still hasn’t come knocking. It’s time to step up and make your own pathway to finding your true mate.”
“I guess.” I shrugged, the sharp tang of anxiety still lingering.
“Besides, I have researched everything about this place and the artists who run it. You are in safe and capable hands. I wouldn’t have allowed you to come here if it weren’t a premier tattoo shop. I’m getting one too.”
Isaac was right. I had been debating for years on whether to get one of Fated Ink’s magical tracking sigils placed on my arm. I had heard the stories, seen the results on campus, and then later, at my office. The markings worked; I had seen too many fated pairs brought together, thanks to this parlor’s specialty. I had been envious of every single one. Happy for them—but jealous that they had found the one person meant for them.
I want what they have.My fox voiced his opinion for the twentieth time this hour.
I got it. You want to find your mate. We’re here, aren’t we? I promised you that I wouldn’t back out this time. Now chill out.I rolled my eyes as I reminded my beast. He grew more impatient every year that passed without us finding our mate.
“Charlie?” Looking up at the sound of my name, I met the violet eyes of Brighton. I met the tattoo artist earlier in the week when I came for my first consultation. Since they worked in magic, the witches who ran the shop met with potential clients in person before agreeing to take a job. Once they knew that we were honest and true about finding love, Isaac and I were able to schedule our appointments. “Are you ready to head back? Leon will be out in a moment to take Isaac back, but I’m all set to begin our session.”
Isaac reached over and squeezed my hand, smiling. “You can do this. I’ll meet you out here when we’re both done.”
I returned the gesture with hesitation and stood. Nerves still swarmed my body, but my determination to follow through with my promise to my beast and bestie had me following Brighton to his station. “Let’s do this.”
“Everything is prepared.” Brighton gestured toward the little tray that held the supplies he would need. “Take a seat in the chair, and I will begin the ritual. Did you need me to go over the process again?”
“I remember what we discussed in our initial meeting.” I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes, mentally going over the steps. “We will start with a meditation where your guides will show you the symbolic energy of my fated mate. You will weave the spell into the ink and place the magical sigil onto my forearm. This will act as a magnet for my mate and me, drawing us to each other, sending out a subtle nudge to the universe to create more possibilities for us to cross paths. When my mate is within five feet of me, the tattoo will give off a slight blue glow. Do I have it all correct?” I opened my eyes and glanced at the artist.
“That sums it all up perfectly.” Brighton’s eyes crinkled as his lips quirked up. “I know you are nervous, but I’ve never seenanyone regret getting one of these tattoos. I will give you one more chance, though, to decide to leave my chair before I begin.”
“I’m sure I want this.” I nodded my head and leaned farther back in the black leather seat. “Let’s get started.”
“Alright.” Brighton stretched his lean body before sitting next to me. “Close your eyes and relax. I am going to place my hand on your arm and attempt to contact my guides. Then I will begin to tattoo your forearm with the symbol for your mate. Remember that it is unique to them and will reflect their energetic signature.”
I nodded and waited. I felt Brighton’s hand on my skin, and a gentle pulse of energy passed between us. I tried to focus my thoughts on finding my mate and the connection we held. I imagined the feeling of meeting them and hoped that the guides chose to give Brighton the information he needed to create the sigil. The low hum of the parlor died down as I concentrated on my yearning for a mate. Behind my closed eyes, an image began to form. A large white wolf with startling sapphire eyes emerged from flames. My body vibrated with excitement now, instead of nerves.
“I’m going to put on my gloves now and begin the inking process. Try to stay as still as possible. Let me know if you need to take a break.” Brighton’s voice reached my ears, and I nodded, but my focus remained on the image in my mind. The fierce white wolf. My mate.
I was unsure how much time passed before Brighton laid a gentle hand on my shoulder and shifted my focus to him again. “It’s done. Take a look and tell me what you think.”
My fox gave a playful yip as we took in the tattoo for the first time. His excitement matched my own. The ink on my skin acted as a promise that we would find our mate soon. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Brighton took off his gloves and moved the tray away from our chairs. “Make sure to follow theinstructions for aftercare. Vee will give you a booklet at the front desk that has the steps for taking care of the area and what to look out for. We also included a few magical tips you could put into action to make the tracking spell work faster.”
“Okay.” I examined the symbol on my arm, a wolf paw print outline encompassing intricate flames and what looked like a tiny fox in the center. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome.” Brighton stood and helped me up from my seat. “Remember to follow your instincts. The tattoo cannot make you do anything, but it will communicate with a part of your soul and guide you to situations where your mate will find you. Don’t dismiss a random thought of going for a drive, or needing to grab a gallon of milk at two a.m. Take into consideration that those could be the pull of your mate bond.”
“Does it usually take a while still to work?” I stretched my body, still a bit stiff from sitting through the session. “Should I be feeling something already?”
“You won’t always feel a call to action from it. The energy is already active, but it’ll only guide you when it senses that the timing for the meeting is positive. Don’t worry, though, you will start to have a stronger inclination toward certain paths to take. Usually, within twenty-four hours, you will start to experience a strong pull to do certain things. That is why we suggest taking a break from your normal work schedule and focusing on what you’re pulled to do for the next four weeks. We have never seen it take longer than two to three weeks for someone to meet their fated mate after getting their tattoo. The important thing now is to take care of your new ink and to follow those signs.”
Thank the goddess I’d already quit working for other people and now had my own small business as a graphic designer. Working from anywhere had advantages, including being able to pick up and go at any time. Looking at my wolf paw once more, joy radiated from deep within.
Soon.My fox chuckled happily.We’ll meet our mate soon.
Chapter Two
Jamie
