Page 12 of Wooded Bliss

More days than not, I’m pretty sure we failed him. He spends the least amount of time in bear form. I’m just not sure what to do about it at this point. He’s no longer a child and we did the best we could at the time even if it wasn’t nearly enough.

Our parents would have done it better.

But they were taken from us far too soon and all we could do was try to keep our heads above water.

We might have been standing next to each other day in and day out, but things have fallen through the cracks. I never brought up my reservations about finding a mate to my brothers. What would be the point?

“Our mate is the other half of our soul?” Wylie looks confused as fuck, his words coming out more like a question than the statement of fact it is.

I give a curt nod and agree without inflection, “They are.”

Ripp shifts from one foot to the other, “Why don’t you want your mate?”

I look at my eldest brother and even though he’s clearly uncomfortable, I can feel how much he wants to solve this issue. Since the pack became just the four of us, the Alpha inside of him has been itching for problems to solve. It’s one of the reasons he poured himself into working for the Forestry Service. It was a way for him to protect the land surrounding our home and, in a way, protect us in the process.

It’s a damn good cover for a bear shifter.

“I just don’t,” I try to verbally sidestep his direct question. From the way he straightens his shoulders, he’s not going to let it go. I sigh, hating the feeling of vulnerability wanting to take me under. When I glance at Circe, she’s not looking at me but at Ripp instead. “Look,” I try to sound strong, hoping my voice doesn’t break and give me away, “I’m good with living in these woods and only having you guys. I don’t need a mate.”

“That’s bullshit,” Wylie sounds incensed as he stands and takes a menacing step toward me.

“What?” I snarl, “Are you interested in my mate?”

The smirk on Wylie’s face has me clenching my fists before I force myself to release them and shake out my hands. I want to wipe the look off his face. But I can’t give into the impulse.

“No,” he scoffs, “I’m only interested in my mate, the same mate who hasn’t made her presence known yet. But when she does you better believe I’ll be claiming her and never letting her go.”

“I believe your mate will be making an appearance before you know it,” Circe’s voice is ominous in a way which has me snapping my focus back to her.

She did this. I don’t know how and I’m not even sure it matters, but she is behind Birdie showing up at my door like a fucking present complete with a shiny bow and a tag addressed to me.

“How the fuck did you manage to find out who my mate is, when I had no idea, and get her out here?” I’m seething, spitting my question at Circe who doesn’t look concerned in the least when confronted with my anger.

Circe shrugs one shoulder as if we’re talking about outfit choices or some shit. “I didn’t know who your mate was until you revealed her,” she admits.

I watch her face closely, looking for any hint that she’s lying. Either she’s very good or she’s telling the truth. I’m not sure I even give a fuck which one at the moment.

“Then how do you explain her showing up here?”

Circe sighs and sets aside whatever she’s mixing up. Considering the ingredients on the counter, I would guess she’s making cookies.

My youngest brother, being the pain in the ass he is, must have the same thought because he perks right fucking up, his voice bright, “Are you making cookies?”

Circe beams at him which has a warning growl rumbling out of Ripp’s chest. I’m not the only one surprised if the look on Ripp’s face is anything to go by. However, none of this is going to give me the answers I want and need.

“I don’t give a fuck if she’s making cookies or a damn Beef Wellington,” I snarl. “Answer the fucking question.”

“Thatcher,” her tone is placating and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end, “I can’t explain how this happened.”

My eyes narrow as I take her in. “Did you or did you not cast some sort of spell involving our mates? You said you felt a calling here. There’s no way my mate would suddenly show up, with a delivery from a flower shop I didn’t even know was open let alone owned and operated by my mate, without you being involved.”

“I wouldn’t call it a spell exactly,” she hedges, and I growl, the sound reverberating through the kitchen. Ripp curls his lip, but he’s not looking at the interloper; he’s looking right at me. I’m not trying to challenge his authority, but I’m sick of getting the runaround from this witch. “All I did was put out a call to your mates. I have no control over who they are or how it is answered.”

“You didn’t place the order?” My voice is filled with righteous skepticism.

She shakes her head slowly. “No, I didn’t place the order, but if the fates deigned that the only way to get your mate out here to you, since you haven’t met before now, then the order would have been placed.”

“Just like that?”

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