Page 6 of Lonely Alpha

I laughed, reaching for a fry. “I’m guessing you have thoughts about it.”

“If I wasn’t happily mated, I would sit around and dream and try to manifest an invitation from that place. That’s my thought about it. Please tell me you’re going to go, Lars. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Sighing, I nodded. “That’s my problem with it. I already had my mate once. So how can I leave unmated if, technically, I already am. My bond with William has faded with absence and time, but there will always be a part of me that longs for him.”

“No one would blame you for seeking out a mate. A partner for this life. And we were taught, as shifters, that we only have one mate in this world but life is hard—things get messy and we are part human, and to be human is to be flawed. Are you happy being alone? Many people are.”

“I’m not. I want a mate. Someone to share this life with and there’s nothing I’ve wanted more than a family and children.”

“You know there are chosen mates, Lars. I know it must be painful but maybe a new mate, one that you choose, or Franklin chooses, would help you move on. You can’t live in the shadow of what-if forever.”

By the end of the conversation, my decision was made.

Zeke encouraged me to ask for the time off immediately when we arrived back at work, but I stalled.

“When did you receive the letter?” Zeke asked when I hesitated.

“Monday.”

“And what is today?”

Heat rose in my cheeks. “Wednesday.”

“Right. So you need tomorrow to pack and get ready and travel on Friday. It’s a flight away, right?”

Shoot. He really needed to stop being right so often.

“Yes. Shoot.”

I went to my desk and put in for the days off. It was actually perfect timing. We were between projects, and I had nothing pressing to do. I couldn’t remember when I last got away for the weekend or a day for that matter. Hell, I hadn’t even taken a vacation in years.

I went home and booked the flight and the car ride to the bed-and-breakfast.

The next day, I shopped for some new clothes. Nothing too fancy, but I didn’t want to meet my new mate in my old T-shirts and basketball shorts that were barely good enough to wear to the farmer’s market on the weekend.

While I packed up the next day, it all hit me.

I was on my way to a new beginning. A new beginning for love and mending my heart. Maybe a trip that would change my life forever and put me on the path to having the family I’d always dreamed of.

Sure, there remained a sliver of doubt about the whole thing. About the inn. About Franklin. About the rumors of what it promised, but I had hope for the first time.

There was someone new out there for me.

And I was on my way to meet him.

Chapter Six

William

The Bearclaw Inn was only a few hours’ drive from my house, so I opted to leave early and take my time. And that would be great, once the actual day got here. And it was still a day away, leaving me with nothing to do but fret and fuss and worry about whether I’d made the right decision to go or stay.

But I had committed, so I would go. And I needed something to fill my hours until it was time to leave because if I just sat around here, I would end up wallowing in missing Lars and wondering where he was and talk myself out of the possibility of there being someone else. I truly believed that the short time we’d had together was better than a lifetime with anyone else.

And how fair would that be to whoever might arrive at the Bearclaw Inn anticipating a mate?

Overthinking…

I sat on the edge of my bed, trying to work my mind around the possibility that someone else could make me feel the way Lars did. Or if not that way, different but equally amazing. I was sinking fast when my phone rang, sending me bouncing to my feet with gratitude for whomever was calling.

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