Page 1 of Burned By My Mate

*

He burns for his fated mate.

Emerson

I just moved to Twisted Oak and sunk all of my money into a small house here on the outskirts of town.

This move is meant to be my fresh start, and so far things are going well.

Until one day, I go into town for groceries and come back to my new house on fire.

As if my day couldn’t get any worse, the firefighter who shows up to help turns out to be the rudest man I’ve ever met.

Now, I’m stuck in this small town with no money, no home, and no options.

Logan

When I head out on a call to put out a fire, I’m already in a bad mood.

I can tell that it was arson, and the prime suspect is the new owner.

So, I confront her, and from there, things only get worse.

We got off on the wrong foot, which is a big problem for me, because it turns out that she’s my fated mate.

Now, I have my work cut out for me.

I’ve got two missions: prove to Emerson that I’m not the jerk she thinks I am and show her she’s safe with me, because someone’s targeting her, and I won’t let anyone hurt my mate.

ONE

Emerson

I smileas I take a look around at my new house. A thrill of excitement rushes through me despite my exhaustion. I just moved in a few days ago, and I’m standing in the small living room, surrounded by half-unpacked boxes.

I survey the space with a sense of pride. It’s not much—a small, single-story home on the outskirts of Twisted Oak—but it’s mine.

Finally.

It was scary to spend all of my money on this place, but I knew that it was the right move. I’ve always believed that if you ask the universe for a sign, it will lead you in the right direction. I asked what I should do, and a few days later, a listing for this house popped up, and I fell in love with it.

It’s remote, so I’ll have some privacy to work, plus I had just enough money to buy it. I like what I’ve seen of Twisted Oak, too, and I can really see myself being happy here.

Rolling out my shoulders, I exhale slowly. This move was supposed to be a

fresh start, a way to rebuild my life after years of feeling stuck. I spent every last cent I had to buy this place outright, hoping to put down roots in this sleepy, small town.

I’ve only been here a few days, and so far, Twisted Oak is exactly what I expected—a quiet, friendly little town where everyone knows each other. When I stopped byBaker’s Marketyesterday, an older woman at the checkout, Mrs. Dorsey, told me she used to babysit the previous owner of my house. She gave me a warm smile and a plate of cookies with a warning to stay away from the Red Fog territory. I thanked her, not quite sure what she meant by that. I don’t know much about the area yet, but I’m hoping that will change soon. Who knows, maybe one day it will be me welcoming newcomers to town and offering them advice.

I smile at the thought, but for now, my focus is on getting my home in order. The house needs work, but that’s part of the charm. I’ve already scrubbed the walls, ripped out some old carpet, and started painting the bedroom a soft, creamy white. It’s been a long few days, and my stomach growls, reminding me that I skipped lunch.

I glance at the clock on my phone—just past six in the evening. If I hurry, I can grab some groceries and maybe even treat myself to a real dinner instead of peanut butter on toast.

Grabbing my purse, I step out of the house and stretch, rolling my shoulders to ease the ache from a day of heavy lifting and scrubbing. The late-summer air is warm, carrying the scent of pine from the woods behind my house. I should be more tired, but I feel strangely energized, like I’m on the cusp of something new, somethinggood.

With one last glance at my little house, I head for my car, climb inside, and head toward town.

Twisted Oakis charming in a way that feels almost nostalgic. The downtown area is lined with brick buildings, mom-and-popshops, and string lights that twinkle even though the sun is still setting. A small diner,Ruby’s,sits on the corner, and I make a mental note to eat there one day when I have the funds.

---