A-Z of Werewolf writing

Love is better the Second Time around

You know that part of a book where the wolf is running through a forest, maybe taking a quick run or a whiff of fresh air whilst feeling uneasy and uncontrollably irritated with their wolf screaming a word in their head that they can't comprehend for the past few weeks?

That's the sign that they're about to find their mate, right?

Then, still running, they get a whiff of a scent (commonly used: honey, strawberry, vanilla 😉) and start chasing the source of the smell like it's ecstasy — addicting, entrancing and you can't get enough of it.

And when they meet, eyes locked and slowly walking towards each other, everything was right and made sense as their wolf howled loud and clear, "MATE!"

And just when one is about to profess their love...

They get rejected.

Sob. Heartbreak. World shattered.

But, y'all can breathe because these are the lucky wolves that the authors chose to have a second chance mate.

Not all are lucky, but they are, so let's talk about them more.

So what are Second Chance Mates?

This is when two wolves are paired together by the Moon Goddess after their initial mate died or rejected them, breaking the bond.

Not all of us are lucky with love the first time around. Heck, it's so hard for them to find love in general! Most wolves wait for centuries before they find their mate. Imagine how long they have to wait before their second mate comes. It's a lot harder to find love the second time because it is instilled in their mind that the Moon Goddess will only give them one mate.

What makes them so special?

Having a second chance mate is so hard to find, it's like finding a tiny piece of a sock in your pile of laundry — almost impossible.

They are very, very, unbelievably, rare. Nobody believes a wolf when they say that they have a second chance mate because only certain wolves get to be that blessed by the Moon Goddess.

That's how special they are.

There's a reason why mates are so precious once they come into a wolf's life. For an alpha/luna, their mate not only completes them but it strengthens the pack's bond. For common pack members, it simply completes their soul and gives their life new meaning.

Some go through heaven and hell before they find them. They wait for so long that some give up and settle for a bondmate.

What more a second chance mate?

How does Second Chance Mates work?

This works the same way with the first mate — a bond is created, sparks fly when they touch, and they have an alluring scent specially made for that wolf. Sound easy, right?

A wolf will have a lot of struggles, maybe even more struggles if you're not the first. They may have a hard time processing and accepting their new mate.

Remember, wolves are extremely and unbelievably loyal to their mate — some would rather die and walk to the moon than think of finding and loving someone new. Some even die because of heart break. Literally.

Then, there are unfortunate wolves that never got to meet their mates because they've already walked to the moon too soon, therefore, the Moon Goddess bestowed them a new mate.

And then there are the heartbroken, rejected wolves that close their hearts and vow to never love again. They're the ones that believed in love and mates in the first place, only to be rejected and thrown aside by the one wolf they've wished for all their lives, so they built up walls and allows no one else to enter... until their second chance mate comes along.

Here's the fun part: their journey of how they fall in love.

I don't know about y'all but the journey is what makes a romance book sooooo good and makes you feel giddy inside.

Like I said, being a second chance mate will have a lot of struggles, fights, comparisons to their previous mate and they will surely doubt their new found mate and the decision of the Moon Goddess.

But, they also get the chance to learn from their past mistakes and have a mate. The Moon Goddess (basically the author) wouldn't keep them alive if they don't have a purpose.

Writing a book as unique as this is open to a lot of plots. You can make your own history of second chance mates, how they are treated by the werewolf community, and decide how they find one another.

This isn't just a bond or a gift from the Moon Goddess. Wolves are human too (somewhat) and they can love again.

Give them a connection, a moment where only they will understand. Like, every morning, they will get up and take a walk. It can be in total silence or they talk about their day yesterday. Or they call pancakes blobs. Give them an emotional, mental and physical connection that will make their bond stronger, and they will create a bond with the readers.

Remember to keep the characters imperfect. Give them fear, give them hate, let them make unforgivable mistakes or an odd assumption that water isn't wet. Give them flaws. It's only then that they become relatable to the readers.

At the end of the day, these are your characters, your story, your babies. There is no specific way to write a book. These are simply guidelines or insights about these specific kinds of characters. Let your imagination run wild. Dream and share it to the world with your words. Bring them to a different world. But most of all, always be proud of your works for they are your achievement, no matter how big or small it is.