Page 3 of Wooded Bliss

Circe’s gaze snaps to him and she frowns slightly as her eyebrows pull together. Sadness sweeps across her features, but it’s gone so fast that I’m not entirely sure it was there at all.

“I don’t know what you have endured,” her voice is soft and soothing. “What I do know is I felt a pull to come here and have seen firsthand the power of the mate bond and how it can transcend pain, loss, and the lines between supernaturals and humans.”

When I scoff, Circe gives me a look filled with a haughty knowing which sets my teeth on edge.“She’s not wrong,”my bear growls.“Need mate.”

I roll my eyes internally. Do I have a bear spirit inside of me or a broken record? The jury is out on that one. My bear only responds with a low, rolling growl.

Ripp’s voice is wary, “What do you know about mate bonds?”

Circe shrugs one shoulder and looks over Ripp as if she doesn’t truly see him. It’s kind of strange and has my hackles rising, but when she looks at me again, my stomach drops. “My sister is very happily mated to a warrior in the Blood Rising Pack.”

“Good pack. Good wolves,”my bear growls and I feel how impressed he is.

“Before you start to question me, they’re fated mates,” Circe adds, her voice insistent.

“What does that have to do with why you’re here?” Ripp’s voice is a dark growl, “We’re not exactly a wolf pack.”

Circe doesn’t seem deterred by Ripp’s attitude in the least. “All I know is I felt the need to come here. First, I made it to Whispering Pines and then I felt the need to walk into thewoods. I don’t know exactly why or what my purpose here is, but whenever I think of the mate bond and you four bears, I feel a sense of peace.”

Wylie’s bear chuffs, but I’m not sure if it’s a sound of hope or indignation. Grady looks giddy and I swear he’s a second away from rubbing his hands together with glee.

Me?

I turn away and stomp back toward the cabin I’ve taken over as mine. Whatever Circe is offering, whatever brought her to us and our very sad Bosch pack, which only consists of four now, I want nothing to do with it.

Today has been a long reminder of loss and what I’ll never have. All I want now is a beer and a rare steak.

CHAPTER 2

BIRDIE

While wrapping up a bouquet order, I can’t help but smile. These flowers are gorgeous. Peonies are some of my favorite flowers and there is a riot of them in this bouquet. Whoever is getting these is lucky.

I hope they bring a smile to the face of the person who will be enjoying them. There’s no way I wouldn’t smile if I had these flowers greeting me for however long they last. But, then again, I’ve never been given flowers. At least, not since I opened my shop, Blooms Happen.

I’m okay with it because it’s like I live with nature around me all the time between the walls of my shop. Even better, the flowers surrounding me are the best parts of nature.

And no bugs.

Well, there might be the occasional ladybug and I’m sure there’s an aphid which has snuck into the place. But what I don’t know, and don’t see, won’t hurt me.

As I put the finished masterpiece to the side, all tied up with a pretty bow around the glass vase, my cheeks hurt with how big I’m smiling. It looks perfect. I don’t really want to see it leave but knowing someone will be enjoying it softens the blow.

The bell ringing out from my shop’s front door has me tearing my eyes away from the bouquet and toward whoever is gracing me with their presence. My grin grows even wider when I see Agnes. She’s walking slowly, but the joy coming from her the moment she looks around at the vibrant color and life in my shop is something I feel deep in my soul.

“Hi, Agnes,” my voice is bright.

She barely looks at me, her gaze moving back toward the flowers, but I don’t mind. “Hello, my dear,” she greets me. “It’s a good day to get some new flowers.”

I chuckle as I move away from my workspace and into the main part of my shop. I’m so glad I was able to design my shop to be exactly what I wanted it to be. Everything is open and I can work on bouquets while still keeping an eye on the main floor.

Everything in Blooms Happen is a moody green and the space is filled with natural light from the large front windows which I try to keep as clear as possible. There are a few hanging plants around and a lot of wood in all different tones. It brings so much texture to the space and gives a nice backdrop for the pops of color everywhere.

The whole place has a natural boho feel, which was exactly what I was going for. This shop makes it feel like I’m out in the woods, but a special kind where fairies and little creatures whowant to follow me around like a princess live. It’s the kind of space I always fantasized about really existing.

Yes, I’ve given little homes to the fairies I hope come and find a home in my flower shop. There is more than one fairy garden in my shop. They range from mossy to bright and colorful. They’re quirky, fun, and I’ve sold more than one of them.

It’s usually a little girl who notices the fairy gardens, but that didn’t sit right with me which is why I also have a few gnome gardens filled with mushrooms to choose from as well. Little boys like whimsy just as much as anyone, even if they think they should be emulating the masculine energy in their lives. No one should be left out when it comes to joy and fantasy.

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