“I love the honey buns. And the honey bread. Pretty much anything that you make that has honey in it.”
I shook my head, my lips twitching. “Could you be more of a bear stereotype?”
“I could, but you haven’t seen me rub my back against a tree yet.”
I snorted, imagining it. “Wait, in bear form or human form?”
“I’m not going to answer that for fear of humiliating myself.”
I laughed again and shook my head. “So, what is it that you do?” I asked.
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, they said you’re the cleaner and the fixer, but I don’t know what that means.”
He shrugged as he stuck his hands into his pockets. He was still so close to me that I could feel the heat of him, his need, but we were both excellent about not mentioning it. “I am all of that. I help build furniture and other things around the area, too. I’ve helped build houses, and I make other things. I’m good with my hands.”
He winked as he said it, and I blushed. “Rome.”
“Sorry. I am. And, one day, I hope you’ll see.”
“Maybe,” I said primly.
He grinned, looking far more like a cat in cream than a bear. “This town takes a lot of upkeep, more than a normal one.”
“I saw the damage the revenants did. And, sometimes, I see the small accidents around town from shifters or other witches who need help. Or maybe it’s even the so-called fae since I don’t know if they truly exist.”
“First, you’ve seen the fae already. You’ve met them. You know them. You just don’t know how to recognize them yet.”
I frowned. “I know the fae?”
“You do. They look human.”
I frowned. “Do they shift?”
“That’s not my story to tell.” He gave me a cautious look, and I nodded, understanding. He smiled softly again before changing the subject. “The town constantly gets damaged in some way. Windows are blown out and things. Random things happen when people have magic or turn into giant animals. Jaxton and I clean up after them. It’s our job as alpha and wing leader, but more so as fixers to ensure that the town is safe. That means we’re the ones cleaning up others’ messes and making sure that things look as if it was a power outage or a gas leak. Covering up anything unsuspecting eyes see that they shouldn’t. We—Jaxton and me—clean it up.”
“And you do it because you’re alpha?” I asked, trying to understand.
He shook his head. “No, other alphas would probably assign someone. Jaxton and I are just good at what we do, so we tend to gravitate towards that.”
“You’ve been friends your whole lives, then?” I asked.
He nodded. “Jaxton and Ash were part of our group. It was the five of us, all through school and high school. Ravenwood holds our pack and wing and is our home, though my brothers and I go up to Canada often.”
“Because your father is the Alpha of all bear shifters in both continents.”
He nodded. “It’s a heady responsibility, one I may have to assume one day,” he said softly. My eyes widened.
“You’d have to move to Canada?”
He shook his head. “No, my father took over that pack because the alpha needed him to. If my father needs to step down someday and I become the next Alpha of all bears, I can do that from my stronghold here. Our mantle isn’t forced to be in one area, but rather where the Alpha is the strongest.”
“That’s a lot of responsibility, Rome.” I looked at him then, at the strength of him, and knew he could do it.
Except, if I were his mate, I would have to be by his side, right? “Shifters can only be born?” I asked quickly.
His mouth quirked into a smile. “Yes. If you’re my mate, you’re not going to turn into a shifter. You would be alpha with me.”
I ignored the squeezing in my chest. “As a witch. Is everyone okay with that?” I asked, speaking as if mating was a foregone conclusion. I wasn’t there yet, but I could see it. Feel it.
“I’m not sure,” he said after a moment, freezing me.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“There’s a lot going on with my pack, things I’m starting to see now that opinions are out in the open. Things that I need to work on, but I don’t want to burden you with that. At least, not yet.”
“Because we haven’t made a decision one way or another,” I said softly.
“And because the burden isn’t one I know the details of yet to share.” He shook his head, and I wanted to reach out and hold him, only I didn’t know if I’d help. He cleared his throat. “Trace, Alden, Ash, Jaxton, and I pretty much roamed all over town and figured out where we fit. Being an EMT, Trace helps with healing, Alden is better with numbers and is an accountant, and Jaxton and I fix what we can around town. Ash, well, Ash was Ash.”
I frowned. “Laurel’s brother?”
“Yeah, he left town a few years ago and hasn’t been back since. He grew up with us until things changed.”
It sounded like every word he said was being pulled from him, so I didn’t push. I didn’t ask. I didn’t want to hurt him. I hated that he sounded so pained while thinking about his friend.
“Now, are you going to show me some magic?” he asked, and I bit my lip.
“Maybe. Let’s make sure I don’t accidentally blow something up.”
“You don’t have an affinity for fire or earth. I think I’m good with water.”
“Unless I drown you,” I singsonged.
He snorted. “Bears can swim.”
“Whatever you say.” I let out a breath and held up my hands.
“Guardians of the west, lend me your strength. Lord and Lady, lend me your ear. Shape this element into a sphere. Great Undine of water and sea, this is my will, so mote it be.”
Rome leaned closer towards me, and I could feel the heat of him. I felt his bear. I knew that no matter what happened, he would be there. I wasn’t alone. A small sphere of water levitated over the pond, and I kept my eyes open, watching as it spun in a circle, flicking off little droplets as it did. I moved the ball from palm to palm, not letting it brush my skin but feeling as if I were struggling with a single ball.
Rome let out a rough chuckle, and I tossed the sphere towards him. He stumbled back, but I didn’t get him wet. Instead, I pulled the water toward me and rose another sphere into the air. I juggled the two, but I could feel my energy drifting a bit, so I let them fall gently into the pond.
“You learned that today?” he asked, his eyes wide.
I rubbed my palms on my pants, magic itching through my body. I was full of energy, my body tight, my breasts full. I needed him, the energy pulsating through me reaching for him. His nostrils flared, and I knew that he could scent me. Sense the power, the need within me.
“I learned that today. But this? This is new. I didn’t have this when I practiced with Rowen.”
“Using that much magic? With that much skill? Oh, yeah, it can pull you against something. And with me here? I can see why.”
That made me laugh. “You’re saying you’re the reason I feel like I need to climb you like a tree right now?” I asked, surprising myself.