Free My Perfect Mate by Caryn Moya Block

leads were staked into the ice. If no one came back,
the dogs would die of starvation. There was no sign of food left
for them.
    “He could be coming back, Susan. Don’t
jump to conclusions,” JP warned.
    “I’m not sure about that?” Ujarak said
rubbing a hand across his eyes. “This doesn’t feel right. Aisyt
said there were three nanuk ahead of us. Where are the others? Why
does the trail end here?”
    “Let’s make camp. Once we’re settled,
we can decide what to do with the dogs. I want to get Susan out of
the cold.”
    “No ice castle?” Ujarak
asked.
    “Not this time. Get the tent set up.
We all need to eat something.”
    Susan hurried to the bags with food
and dug out the jerky. She gave each dog a piece. It wouldn’t be
enough to fill their stomachs, but it was something. She
sighed.
    After the tent was up and the gear
settled inside, Susan started the propane heater and lantern. It
was nice to have light. The winter in the Arctic was one endless
night. Did the amarok suffer depression from the loss of
sunshine?
    “Suzy-Q, heat something to eat. I’m
starving!” Ujarak carried in a bundle of supplies, including a
small camp stove.
    “Look, bear-man, don’t start thinking
of me as your chief cook and bottle washer. I’m not even sure what
you packed besides the jerky.”
    “There’s caribou stew in one of the
containers. Mom sent it along. I’ll find it while you set up the
burner.”
    “Okay, bring me a pan of snow. I’ll
start water for tea.” Susan unfolded the camp stove and hooked up
the fuel. Ujarak headed outside.
    “Everything okay in here?” JP asked
bringing in three sleeping bags.
    “Just heating some food for
us.”
    “Great. I didn’t realize how hungry I
was until we stopped.” For some reason, Susan thought he meant more
than for food. Her face warmed.
    “Found it,” Ujarak said walking into
the tent. He looked from Susan to JP. “Am I interrupting
something?”
    “Of course not.” Susan reached for the
food container and turned back to the stove. She could feel
Jean-Paul’s eyes on her.
    It wasn’t long before the stew bubbled
on the stove and Susan served up three heaping bowls. It was
important to keep strength up in these conditions. The guys weren’t
talking, each one taking a position on opposite sides of the tent.
“Come and get it.” Susan handed out the food. She looked at the two
men and sighed. Finally, she scooted over by JP and leaned against
him while she ate. Her wolf needed the contact with her mate.
Besides, Ujarak was Aisyt’s mate now.
    “What’s the difference between a
heartmate and Destined One?” Susan asked. Ujarak was probably too
proud to ask.
    “Just what it says, really,” JP
replied. “Someone who is picked by Destiny or the universe to be
your mate. We normally feel a connection with the person at first
meeting.”
    “Aisyt said she’d waited thousands of
years for me.” Ujarak scooted a little closer.
    “The Fae are immortal. Once we reach
adulthood, we stop aging. We can be killed, of course, but we don’t
die of old age.”
    “What?” Susan turned to look at JP.
Lycans lived long lives, but she would age and die.
    “When we bond with our Destined One,
we are tied to their lifespan. So when Susan and I go through the
magical Destined One ceremony, I will begin to age along with her.
It will be the same with Ujarak and Aisyt.”
    “Wait. Doesn’t the lycan mating bond
work the same way?” Susan shook her head. All this time she thought
by cementing the bond in place, JP was connected to her.
    JP reached for her hand. “From what I
can tell, the lycan mating bond has connected us telepathically and
spiritually. I’m sure what Mathis told me about not wanting to live
without your mate is true. I am still immortal and won’t age until
we go through the Destined One ritual.”
    “So Aisyt really has lived for
thousands of years? Why would she pick me for a mate?” Ujarak
tilted his head and pursed his