Mates and Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>All I wanted for my birthday was a cake. Instead I'm a snake... on a quest. </strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Yep an honest-to-scales snake. Did I mention I hate snakes? </span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Apparently not everyone does because when my birthday explodes along with the bar I'm stolen by a smoking hot shifter to his bear lair against my will. </span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>I was supposed to be keeping a low low profile before heading back to my secret human village. Instead I'm on a magical quest with Ward who claims we have a Fated Mates situation. </span></p><p><em style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>A what now? </em></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>I didn't sign up for that. Or the uncontrollable shifting. Or his Goddess spritzing a rampaging shifter problem across the realm. Somehow I end up the only person who can find her relics because I maybe accidentally ate the first one. Though I don't think they're in the one bed we end up in. Which is probably a good thing since they don't seem to fix my snake problem they only make me stranger. </span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The quest wouldn't be so bad if the whole continent wasn't determined to separate my soul from my body. Even if I don't trust him sticking with Ward is the only chance I have to not be a snake and stop the realm from being torn apart by claws and fangs. </span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>What choice do I have? I'll need to find a whole bucket of courage with some trust on the side to try out this mate thing and maybe save the Harrowlands.</span></p>