Wanting to Belong: Hephaestus' Story — Lisa Oliver

Hephaestus, ancient Greek God of fire, metallurgy, and volcanoes, had lived a quiet life on earth, with the three cyclops his only companions. It was a lonely life, especially for one who'd never felt as though he belonged with his kin, but Hephaestus believed he was content. Until one afternoon, when he got blinded by a light, and right before his eyes, the one the Fates intended for him was sprawled on the road, all thanks to his inattention. Finding out later the little shifter was homeless, all compounded the guilt he was feeling.  Landyn, a small Black Footed Ferret shifter, hadn't stopped running for two years. Every time he felt he'd found somewhere safe, a voice from the past would jump out at him and remind him all over again that safety was an illusion. Having lost the use of his bike after a random car accident, Landyn was on the point of giving up on life. He had no food, nowhere to stay, and no energy left to run. When a random man finds him at the bridge he'd been sheltering under, he truly thought his life was done.  But the Fates love it when two misfits find each other, and Landyn and Hephaestus find a connection, even when the only thing they have in common is the fact they believe their mate would be better off with someone else. Unfortunately, there are others who are not as happy with their mating, and they'll do anything to split the two apart. Can Hephaestus and Landyn overcome the odds, or will their dreams of belonging disappear into the flames of Hephaestus's forge? Featuring a cute ferret determined to see the best in life, a grumpy artist with a secret heart of gold, cameo appearances from some of the gods you've read about in other books in this series, and giants. This story can be read as a standalone.