And then Jaxton flew away, leaving his sweats behind him. Trace let out a small laugh, though there was little humor in it. “He is good at that whole prophecy thing, isn’t he?”
My stomach turned, even as my bear tugged at me. “Maybe. Or maybe he’s saying what needs to be said.”
“Go see her. Put on a shirt, though. And maybe some shoes. Don’t act too much like an animal.”
I snorted. “I am an animal. Maybe that’s something she needs to get used to.”
Trace shrugged. “You’d better go see if she can. Or else you’ll be wondering what if for a very long time.”
I nodded, then began running, my bear on edge as I made my way to my house. I changed clothes, washed my face, made sure I didn’t have any mud in my hair, and let out a breath.
I already knew where she was, my bear could sense her, but I also knew because everybody seemed to keep me abreast of where she was at all times as if waiting for things to change. I didn’t know what to think or what I was supposed to do.
I made my way to the town center and inhaled her scent as I walked toward the bakery she would open sometime in the next two weeks. The building had once held a small café that hadn’t done well. The humans who hadn’t sensed the magic tried to sell wares to the unsuspecting—only they were the ones caught unawares.
I cleared my throat and wondered what I should say. What could I say? Before I could even knock on the door, it opened. I stared at the woman in front of me, her honey-brown hair pulled away from her face and piled on the top of her head, her hazel eyes wide.
“Rome,” she said, seeming startled. “I’m sorry, did I know you were coming here?”
I shook my head. “No, but I wanted to see you.” I cleared my throat. “If you’re on your way out…”
She shook her head. “No, no. I just felt like someone was at the door. Or maybe I heard something? I don’t know.”
My bear perked up at that. So, she’d felt me. She was a witch, and they had mates, as well. I didn’t know exactly how it all worked, but the fact that she had sensed me had to mean something. “May I come in?” I let out a breath. “To see your shop,” I added, knowing that that was the truth but not all of it.
Her gaze brightened for a minute, and she pulled back. “Of course. We’re still setting it up—or at least I am. Aunt Penelope was here earlier, but she’s next door working now. The contractors I hired from afar have done a great job.”
“Jaxton helped organize them,” I said casually, looking around at the space. It was a two-story building, much like many of the businesses on this street. This one had once been a house long ago and had a small apartment up top that I figured she might use as her office and storage for now. Still, there was a professional kitchen, as well as a whole front area for where she could show off her baked goods, and a section I figured would eventually be a seating area once the tables and chairs were out.
“It’s looking great in here,” I said.
“It had great bones to begin with. I did most of the work through video online because I couldn’t leave my other job yet, not even to visit.” She paused. “And I think because I wasn’t supposed to be here yet. I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like something I would do, not seeing the town before everything changed. I hadn’t even stepped foot in this building, yet there I was, making an entire business plan.”
I nodded. “Ravenwood has that effect. Rowen said she was looking into a spell that kept you away. Maybe you weren’t supposed to be here until you finally stepped foot on the town’s grounds. Of course, I’m glad that you were on the road when you were since you saved me.”
She smiled softly, and my bear groaned. I barely held it in. “I’m still not quite sure how I did that.”
I shrugged. “I think your power somehow fluctuated so you could feel it, and it zapped me awake.”
“Oh. Did it hurt?” She bit her lip, and I wanted to lean down and lick away the sting.
Down, bear.
I shook my head. “First, I’m a bear. Something like that wouldn’t hurt me. And, second, you woke me up so I could move out of the way of the tree before anything else came at me or I drowned in mud or something. So, thank you.”
“It was an odd way to meet. I’m glad you’re okay.” She let out a breath and looked around. “I’m in the middle of doing a few things, but I can show you around.” She looked at me then, and I could see her tattoos peeking out from her collar as if waving at me.
“Do you feel them? Your anchor?”
Her eyes widened, and her hands moved to her neck. “Yes, it tickles. I’m trying to ignore them, but I don’t think they want me to. The fact that they keep moving around my body is a bit jarring.”
I grinned and pulled my shirt to the side slightly so she could see my bear peeking out. “It doesn’t go well if you ignore them all the time.”
Her eyes widened, and her hand reached out as if to touch. My bear preened, wanting her fingers, wanting her caress, but she froze as if finally aware of what she was doing.
“Oh, I didn’t mean...”
“You can touch me anytime you want, Sage,” I said and could have rightly kicked myself. “I mean. Well…” I was standing so close to her then, I could inhale that sweet rose scent of hers.
“Why do I feel like I know you?” she asked, her voice breathy.
I looked down at her, my bear pushing at me, but I knew I needed to pull back. “There are some things you don’t know, Sage.”
She let out a slight growl, and my bear perked up, my cock hardening at the sound. “I hate that. Everyone keeps telling me I don’t know things. And it’s true, but how am I supposed to learn them if you all won’t tell me? I believe in magic now. It’s only been a few days, but I’m going strong into opening this bakery and fighting revenants and working with magic and pretending that I know what I’m doing. Nobody is telling me everything, and I feel like I’m always a hundred steps behind. Just tell me, Rome. What are you hiding?”
I looked into her eyes and held back a curse. “We’re mates,” I blurted, knowing I would probably regret this. My bear pushed at me, even as it winced a bit at my brevity.
She blinked at me then. “What?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Shit. I’m usually better at this.”
“Better at what? How many women have you told that you’re mated? What does that even mean?”
I ran my hand through my hair and then over my beard. “Many of those other—bear shifters, other shifters, even witches—have someone they’re fated to be with. Through a series of choices, you can create a bond with your mate, and they will be forever yours—throughout eternity. The mating bond is different for each person or triad, and it changes over time to be what the people need it to be. It’s personal, and it’s everything. It’s the future. It’s a glimpse into who you could be. It’s a connection of souls.”
She looked at me then and shook her head. “No, you don’t even know me.”
I let out a breath. “My bear does. And the man wants to know you.”