Page 8 of Witch Way to the Diapers

The reactions around the table were immediate. Bram’s eyebrows shot up, Kade let out a surprised laugh, Roarke lifted his beer in salute, and Arden grinned widely. Reed, however, simply nodded as if Sayer had confirmed something he’d already suspected.

Reed leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look on his face. “Well, that certainly complicates things, doesn’t it?”

Sayer nodded, grateful for the understanding he saw in the other men’s eyes. “I’ve spent centuries searching for my mate. To find her now, in these circumstances... it’s not ideal. I don’t know what to do.”

Kade chuckled softly. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Whispering Pines, it’s that nothing happens here by accident. The magic of this place has a way of bringing people together when they need it most.”

“I’ll say. Elsie might think she’s doing the matchmaking here, but really, the town is doing it all on its own,” Roarke said taking a drink.

“Have you told Fia?” Arden asked, leaning forward with interest.

Sayer shook his head. “No, I... I didn’t think it was the right time. We were discussing Vienna’s future, and I didn’t want to complicate things further.”

Bram nodded. “Probably wise. Fia’s been through a lot recently. Finding out she’s the mate of a...” he glanced at Sayer deep in the eyes. “centuries-old, royal lion shifter might be a bit much to process on top of everything else.”

The casual way Bram referenced Sayer’s age, lineage, and nature caught him off guard. “You... you all seem very accepting of this,” he said cautiously.

Reed smiled, a hint of amusement in his amber eyes. “Sayer, you’re sitting at a table with two wolf shifters, a tiger, a bear,and a panther shifter. Trust me, we’ve seen our fair share of supernatural surprises.”

This revelation eased some of the tension in Sayer’s shoulders. These men understood the complexities of shifter life, the pull of finding one’s mate.

“Any advice on my next steps?” Sayer asked, feeling uncharacteristically confounded. As a successful businessman and older shifter, he was used to having all the answers. But this situation had him completely out of his depth.

“Well, first things first,” Kade said, his tone gentle but firm. “You need to stay in town for a while. Get to know Fia better, spend time with Vienna. See if you can find a way to honor your brother’s wishes without uprooting the life they’ve started here.”

Roarke nodded in agreement. “Kade’s right. Rushing into any decisions now would only cause more pain and confusion.”

Arden also nodded. “Give yourself time to adjust to this new reality.”

“And don’t underestimate the power of this community,” Bram added. “Whispering Pines has a way of healing wounded hearts and bringing people together. Give it a chance, and you might be surprised by what you find here.”

Sayer took another sip of his ale, letting their words sink in. The idea of staying in Whispering Pines, of truly getting to know Fia and Vienna in this magical setting, was becoming more appealing by the minute.

“Thank you,” he said sincerely, looking around at the group of men who had so quickly offered their support and advice. “I appreciate your insights more than you know.”

Reed clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s what neighbors are for. And speaking as the town sheriff, I can assure you that Whispering Pines is one of the safest places for a young witch like Vienna to grow up.”

As the night wore on, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. The men shared stories of their own experiences in Whispering Pines - magical mishaps, romantic entanglements, and the general chaos that seemed to be part and parcel of life in a supernatural town.

By the time Sayer bid goodnight to his new friends and made his way back to the B&B, his head was spinning with possibilities. The future he’d envisioned for Vienna - and for himself - was shifting.

Back in his room, Sayer found himself drawn to the window. True to Amaris’s word, it offered a stunning view of the enchanted forest. Even in the darkness, he could see the faint shimmer of magic dancing among the leaves.

His phone buzzed, startling him out of his reverie. It was his sister Posey.

“Hey, big brother,” her cheerful voice came through the speaker. “How did it go with Fia? Do you have our niece packed up and ready to come home yet?”

Sayer sighed, sinking down onto a plush seat. “No. This turned out to be... complicated.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Complicated how? Fia isn’t the kind of person to create problems. Did she refuse to let you see Vienna?”

“No, no, nothing like that,” Sayer hurried to assure her. “Fia was... she was very gracious, actually. She invited me to stay for dinner, let me spend time with Vienna.”

“That’s good, right?” Posey prompted when he fell silent. “So what’s the complication?”

Sayer paced the length of his room at the B&B, phone pressed to his ear as he filled Posey in on the day’s events. His usual confident demeanor was tinged with an unfamiliar uncertainty.

“So, let me get this straight,” Posey said, amusement clear in her voice. “Dune and Myla want you and Fia to raise Vienna together in Whispering Pines?”

---