Page 53 of Ash

He wasn't surprised to see Celeste, True, and Katherine on his doorstep.

Ash had heard the four wheeled drive SUV coming up the winding road toward his cabin. And the instant the doors opened up, he'd scented the women who'd come to visit.

Ash opened the door with one hand while he tried to wipe at the sweat he'd worked up with a rag in the other.

True Salazar was the first woman to speak. "Goodness! So this is what the grumpy bear looks like without his fur."

True was mated to Xavier Salazar and panther shifter who lived on the mountain as well. She had the sharpest wit of the women and no fear of using it.

"Good afternoon, True." He nodded at the other two. "Ladies."

"Ash." Katherine was mated to Locke Ascher, a lion shifter, and before she came to Mystic, she had been friends with True. They were always close to each other.

Celeste Winter was the last to step inside his home.

She put her hand on his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Hello, Ash. It's good to see you."

"Celeste."

His gaze followed her as she walked in and that's when he noticed that the three women came bearing gifts.

Ash looked at the bags that they were placing on his kitchen table and shook his head. "Did I miss something?"

Celeste's smile deepened as she leaned her hip against the table. "We just came over to see how you were doing."

As lovely as Celeste was being, he knew there was something more to the visit from the ladies.

Worried about it, he had to work to focus on a question that popped into his head. "I want to thank you and Aaron for going to the diner and bringing Suzannah home."

Whatever True and Katherine had been talking about was dropped as they turned toward him.

Smiling they gathered closer.

Celeste didn't miss a beat. "Of course, We were happy to help. We had no idea that she would be your mate."

Whenever Ash had spent time around Celeste, he always found her energy to soothe his bear.

She wasn't his. She was Aaron Winter's mate, but she was kind, endlessly kind.

"I can't tell you how happy I am for you."

Before he met Suzannah, he might have shied away from her words.

She was the mate of his friend.

He might have been jealous of his friend's happiness, but he would never wish them ill.

Being around them reminded him of his parents and the way that they fit into each other's souls like puzzle pieces. He'd wished that he could find that for himself...

And now?

"I hope I make her as happy as you are."

Celeste's expression softened and he could see the way her eyes were shining. "You will, Ash. I've always known that you'd find your mate."

His bear was sunning himself in Celeste's regard.

If Ash were to let him out, he'd probably roll over his back for a scratch.

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