Page 30 of Dawn Unearthed

“True, but can you reject the mating bond? Can you ignore the urge that’s riding you right now?”

“Wouldn’t it be better that way?” I asked, and my bear let out a painful growl inside me. I’d yet to voice that aloud, and I wasn’t sure why I did now. I didn’t want to walk away from her, but I also didn’t want to scare her. Protecting her and needing her didn’t seem to go hand in hand. I sighed. I had no idea what I was doing.

“You don’t know what it means to walk away from a mate,” Jaxton whispered. “The pain and agony you’ll feel every day you even try to take a breath. They say there’s a choice, and there can be in the direst of circumstances, but it changes everything. Sage is new to all of this, and you need to make sure she understands what else is out there. Because the pack is watching, and so is the rest of the town. The witches began this place. They’re at the center of it all. We all watch them as we do you. You need to help Sage. Be there. There’s a reason you’re fated. And if you fight that, blood will be drawn. We all know that.”

And then Jaxton flew away, leaving his sweats behind him. Trace let out a small laugh, though there was little humor in it. “He is good at that whole prophecy thing, isn’t he?”

My stomach turned, even as my bear tugged at me. “Maybe. Or maybe he’s saying what needs to be said.”

“Go see her. Put on a shirt, though. And maybe some shoes. Don’t act too much like an animal.”

I snorted. “Iaman animal. Maybe that’s something she needs to get used to.”

Trace shrugged. “You’d better go see if she can. Or else you’ll be wonderingwhat iffor a very long time.”

I nodded, then began running, my bear on edge as I made my way to my house. I changed clothes, washed my face, made sure I didn’t have any mud in my hair, and let out a breath.

I already knew where she was, my bear could sense her, but I also knew because everybody seemed to keep me abreast of where she was at all times as if waiting for things to change. I didn’t know what to think or what I was supposed to do.

I made my way to the town center and inhaled her scent as I walked toward the bakery she would open sometime in the next two weeks. The building had once held a small café that hadn’t done well. The humans who hadn’t sensed the magic tried to sell wares to the unsuspecting—only they were the ones caught unawares.

I cleared my throat and wondered what I should say. WhatcouldI say? Before I could even knock on the door, it opened. I stared at the woman in front of me, her honey-brown hair pulled away from her face and piled on the top of her head, her hazel eyes wide.

“Rome,” she said, seeming startled. “I’m sorry, did I know you were coming here?”

I shook my head. “No, but I wanted to see you.” I cleared my throat. “If you’re on your way out…”

She shook her head. “No, no. I just felt like someone was at the door. Or maybe I heard something? I don’t know.”

My bear perked up at that. So, she’d felt me. She was a witch, and they had mates, as well. I didn’t know exactly how it all worked, but the fact that she had sensed me had to mean something. “May I come in?” I let out a breath. “To see your shop,” I added, knowing that that was the truth but not all of it.

Her gaze brightened for a minute, and she pulled back. “Of course. We’re still setting it up—or at least I am. Aunt Penelope was here earlier, but she’s next door working now. The contractors I hired from afar have done a great job.”

“Jaxton helped organize them,” I said casually, looking around at the space. It was a two-story building, much like many of the businesses on this street. This one had once been a house long ago and had a small apartment up top that I figured she might use as her office and storage for now. Still, there was a professional kitchen, as well as a whole front area for where she could show off her baked goods, and a section I figured would eventually be a seating area once the tables and chairs were out.

“It’s looking great in here,” I said.

“It had great bones to begin with. I did most of the work through video online because I couldn’t leave my other job yet, not even to visit.” She paused. “And I think because I wasn’t supposed to be here yet. I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like something I would do, not seeing the town before everything changed. I hadn’t even stepped foot in this building, yet there I was, making an entire business plan.”

I nodded. “Ravenwood has that effect. Rowen said she was looking into a spell that kept you away. Maybe you weren’t supposed to be here until you finally stepped foot on the town’s grounds. Of course, I’m glad that you were on the road when you were since you saved me.”

She smiled softly, and my bear groaned. I barely held it in. “I’m still not quite sure how I did that.”

I shrugged. “I think your power somehow fluctuated so you could feel it, and it zapped me awake.”

“Oh. Did it hurt?” She bit her lip, and I wanted to lean down and lick away the sting.

Down, bear.

I shook my head. “First, I’m a bear. Something like that wouldn’t hurt me. And, second, you woke me up so I could move out of the way of the tree before anything else came at me or I drowned in mud or something. So, thank you.”

“It was an odd way to meet. I’m glad you’re okay.” She let out a breath and looked around. “I’m in the middle of doing a few things, but I can show you around.” She looked at me then, and I could see her tattoos peeking out from her collar as if waving at me.

“Do you feel them? Your anchor?”

Her eyes widened, and her hands moved to her neck. “Yes, it tickles. I’m trying to ignore them, but I don’t think they want me to. The fact that they keep moving around my body is a bit jarring.”

I grinned and pulled my shirt to the side slightly so she could see my bear peeking out. “It doesn’t go well if you ignore them all the time.”

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