Ash (Mystic Mountain #4)

Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

S uzannah felt the woman beside her give her another hug, this time with just one arm, but it was more warmth in that one arm than she'd felt in years. Warmth that urged her to lean in and relax in her embrace. Suzannah wanted to do just that.

The woman's flame red hair was piled up on her head like a fancy Gibson girl doll. A generous pouf with tendrils falling down around her face and to her shoulders. "I'm Hetty."

Suzannah nodded. "Hetty." She said the name and felt another wave of warmth come over her as if she was standing in front of an oven as the door swung open. "I'm really happy to meet you."

For a moment, Hetty's happiness dimmed and then she blinked again and again as if she was blinking back tears.

Suzannah reached into her pocket and withdrew a handkerchief. "Don't cry." She lifted the delicate square and dabbed at the tears that were gathering on Hetty's cheeks. "Please, don't cry."

"We've missed so many years with you."

Her words stirred up an aching sadness in Suzannah's heart. "Did... did you know about me?"

Hetty shook her head as her lips pinched together. It looked like she was trying to hold back more tears.

When she spoke, it was with an almost gasp of air. "I didn't know about you until near the end. Your grandfather was Betty's brother. He left here when he was young, nearly nineteen or so. Frustrated at the quiet life we led here, he ran off to bigger and better things."

Suzannah frowned at the words. They didn't sound genuine in Hetty's voice.

Ah, she nodded inwardly, they were likely the words that she'd heard, not what she believed.

"He turned his back on Betty and his family. Once he left, he never came back for a visit. Betty never even received a letter from the man or a phone call." Hetty's brow furrowed above her nose and then she shook her head. "At least that's what I believed."

Suzannah felt Hetty begin to sag with sadness or maybe exhaustion.

Either reason was heartbreaking.

"At least that was what she told me."

Suzannah gently walked her toward one of the cafe tables in the front of the bakery.

As she did, the man who'd been standing nearby moved. Before she could ask for help, he'd pulled out a chair for her to sit Hetty in.

She turned to smile at him and offer her thanks, but he was already moving again, moving another chair, he stood there holding it out for her.

Suzannah felt her smile deepen as she took the seat he offered.

James disappeared from view, but her focus and concern was fixed on Hetty.

"One night," Hetty reached out her hands and covered one of Suzannah's with a gentle touch, "when Betty was barely holding on, I went to check on her and found her sleeping. At first," Hetty swallowed softly, "she was so still that I thought she might have passed, but then I heard a soft whimper of sound from my dear friend. She had a letter clutched against her chest. A letter that looked as though she'd read it a thousand times.

"As she slept on, I wondered what news could cause her to be so sad, so I took the letter from her grasp and read it by the light beside her bed."

Suzannah kept her gaze fixed on the other woman's face.

She felt like she was being given a gift of the past.

She was hearing a story about her life that she had never heard of before. Filling in the empty space of her life.

"It was a letter from her brother. He told her that he'd married and had a daughter. And she had a child, but none of them would ever come to Mystic Mountain if he had anything to say about it." Hetty's hands clutched Suzannah's hand even tighter. "She knew that you were out there but lived every day knowing that you were lost to her."

Suzannah lifted her free hand and placed it against her chest, right over her heart. She pressed her palm against her sternum trying to ease the ache she felt.

She'd lived for years thinking that she was alone in the world.

Her mother had turned her back on her as soon as she'd become an adult. Walked away and never returned.

"I gave that letter to James," Hetty gave her a hopeful smile. "I asked him to try and find you. We were going to try and bring you here before-"

Hetty cried and Suzannah wanted to calm her, but her whole body hurt. She put her handkerchief into Hetty's hand, but that's all that she could manage.

James pulled a chair up beside her and gave Suzannah a sad, melancholy smile. "I am sorry, dear. I can work quickly, but sometimes even a crafty man like myself can't pull everything together in time." His eyes, from what she could see behind his round glasses, were saddened. "It was interesting that I found you in Sylvan City of all places."

Suzannah wasn't sure what he was trying to say. Her mind, usually sharp and quick to put puzzles together, was having some difficulty focusing on the attorney's train of thought.

He looked up and her gaze followed his to the nearly silent man who was standing nearby.

James talked to him, nodding along with his words. "Have you heard about Sylvan City, Ash?"

"Ash." She repeated the name before she could think better of it.

And Ash looked at her as if he was stunned to hear her voice.

"Sorry," she murmured an apology as his gaze fixed on her face.

James kept talking as though he hadn't noticed their interaction.

And maybe he hadn't.

"Sylvan City is why the world knows about shapeshifters."

She nodded and looked at James first before turning back to look at Ash. "A few years ago at a press conference, a man tried to kill a woman, but one of the policemen who worked as a guard at the event stepped in to save her. Right in front of television cameras and a room full of stunned politicians and the most famous people in the city, that man turned into a tiger!"

Suzannah couldn't help the wistful tone of her voice. It was a romantic story once you got past the gun wielding maniac, but she still found herself swooning over the story. She might have trouble finding someone who wants to spend their lives with her, but Paige Lundin had gone from being in the crosshairs of a murderer to being in love and mated to a tiger shapeshifter.

Suzannah lowered her own gaze down toward her lap. "I'm sorry. I'm sure that you all must feel like I've grown... a second head for believing in shapeshifters."

James touched her arm. "No, no, my dear. We don't think you're... odd for believing in shapeshifters."

She was surprised to hear that. "I've seen the news stories from outside of the city. Many think that it's a mass hallucination. Something to do with the water or the air, but it was on television. Still, even in Sylvan City people are divided. The area I lived in wasn't very shapeshifter friendly." Her face heated with embarrassment. Businesses didn't want them in our area and sadly, it was our community that suffered. I've..." She felt her skin tingle. "I've never seen a shapeshifter... um... shift in front of me, but I don't believe that they're people that we should be afraid of."

There was laughter in the air, and she turned from James to Hetty.

The two were smiling at her and chuckling softly.

She didn't know what she had missed. Or what she said that was so odd.

"From the news stories that I've seen, I know there are places where they're afraid to believe that shapeshifters are real."

She still didn't understand what was going on.

She lowered her gaze and felt her face heat again. The last thing she wanted to do was make a fool of herself in front of these people.

"Oh, my dear, dear girl." Hetty leaned against her shoulder and squeezed her hand. "We're not laughing at you...'

"At least not in the way you're thinking we are." James' voice was soft and gentle.

"That's right, James." Hetty's voice was warm like a comforting blanket or a fresh loaf of bread. "You see, my dear... Here in Mystic Mountain, we've always known about shapeshifters."

Suzannah's head lifted up and she looked at James, hoping he'd confirm.

"We have known for generations, Suzannah. You should also know that many of the people who live here are shapeshifters. Including myself."

She was torn between relief and fear. Part of her wanted to ask to see such a transformation and the other part of her was very near fainting dead away.

Under her breath, she whispered. "Did I really wake up this morning?"

"I'll say you did." Hetty chuckled beside her. "Either that or I slaved away this morning for nothing."

Suzannah felt something shifting inside of her as if she'd been leaning at an odd angle for quite some time and now, she'd finally found her ground.

"So it's real."

James held out his arm and as Suzannah looked down at it, he pulled his cuff back toward his elbow. "Now, watch."

As she looked, his pale skin darkened and her gaze seemed to blur and then a moment later, she could see reddish brown fur coating his arm.

Or was it a leg?

She looked up at his face, stunned. "A fox."

He smiled and his face was still human, but there was something... something in his features or maybe his expression that had elements... or the energy of an animal.

Suzannah felt a little off balance again, but it was just disconcerting.

She didn't want to faint. There was no way she wanted to miss a minute of this new world that she'd entered.

"This is so amazing."

She was still reeling from James' revelation that she almost forgot that there were other people in the room. She turned to Hetty. "What about... Oh, is it okay to ask?"

Hetty gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Outside of this room, it might be best to give folks some time to get to know you before you ask. Some will just tell you if they've a mind to share, but then there are those that you might be able to 'feel' after a time. I, myself, am not a shapeshifter."

Hetty sounded almost disappointed at her situation. With a smile and a wink she told Suzannah. "If I was, I'd love to be something gorgeous and lush like a... a hedgehog, or a guinea pig. something adorable and impossible not to adore and love."

Suzannah smiled at her words, her mind drifting as she sought her own answer to the question. And yet hoping that she wouldn't be asked, because she knew what her instinctual answer would be.

"What about you, Suzannah?"

She fought back the broad smile that she felt inside of her at James' question.

Looking at the fox shifter, she relaxed.

She couldn't help but feel as if there was a long dormant joy welling up inside of her.

Hesitating, she looked back at Hetty and decided to open up and really turn a new leaf in her life.

"I'd want to be a bear."

A sh nearly lost control when she answered the question.

She wanted to be a bear.

Every inch of his skin tingled. His heart was pounding in his chest.

His bear was nearly losing his mind with joy.

A bear. Did you hear that, human? She wants to be a bear!

Yes.

"What?" Suzannah turned her head, looking from Hetty to James, and back again. "Did I say something wrong?"

James looked at him as if he was waiting for Ash to speak up, but Ash was worried that if he opened his mouth he might shout for joy.

James gestured at him. "This is perfect. Our Ash here, is a bear."

Suzannah looked up at him and his breath caught in his throat.

She'd been happy to know that James was a fox because foxes weren't known to be scary to humans.

Even Hetty's wish to be a hedgehog or guinea pig were cute.

Ash had no idea what kind of reaction she might have.

It would kill him if she was suddenly afraid of him.

"A bear."

Within him, Ash's bear was desperate to get a better look at their mate, but Ash wasn't quite ready to show that much of bear. At least not until he knew how she was going to react.

He nodded.

He watched as the tip of her tongue traced across her bottom lip, wetting her perfect flesh.

He found himself hungry, desperate to taste that flesh for himself.

With his gaze fixed on her face, he could see the way her eyes moved over his face.

He wanted to bask in her gaze as if it was sunlight.

She leaned forward, bracing her forearms on her thighs, and asked with a soft, almost hesitant whisper. "May I ask what kind of bear?"

Just beyond the link he shared with his bear, the irritating ursine side of his soul wanted to burst out and beg for her touch.

Ash brought that thought to a screeching halt in his head.

We'll get to that, he assured his bear. I really hope we'll get to that.

His bear chuffed softly through their link. She knows about shifters. She lived among them .

"Ash?"

He turned to look at James.

"She asked you what kind of bear you are."

Ash nodded and looked at her with what he hoped was a mild expression.

Tell her.

He felt a muscle tick in his jaw at the sudden comment.

I'm getting to it.

A heavy sigh filled his ears.

Ash drew in a breath to speak.

Waiting.

Stop .

He saw Suzannah smile, and he felt the corners of his mouth tip up in a smile as well.

"It looks like you've got a lot going on in your head."

Her words, directed at him, made him feel like he was floating and for a bear, that meant something. He was used to having his feet, two and four of them, firmly on the ground.

He knew he should reach out to her and say something to make her feel... at ease with him.

"My bear is trying to hurry me along."

Her eyes widened, but instead of being afraid, she smiled.

"You talk to your bear."

He nodded. "He wants to meet you."

Ash ignored the pointed looks from James and Hetty. His attention was focused on Suzannah.

His mate seemed shocked, but he hoped that the smile on her face said that she was pleased.

It certainly didn't look like she was afraid or hesitant about what he'd said to her.

"Me?" Her fingers plucked at the full skirt she wore. "Your bear wants to meet me."

She blinked at him a few times as her smile grew. "That... that's amazing."

Hetty stood up slowly and leaned in toward Suzannah. "I have a few things in the oven-"

Suzannah started to stand, but Hetty put a hand on her shoulder.

"You sit right here, dear." Then she looked over at James. "Would you like to come and help me?"

Suzannah's face was filled with worry. "I can help."

Ash was already on his feet, having learned from his father that a gentleman stood when a lady did.

Hetty pointed a finger at him. "You, sit."

His bear didn't find the command upsetting. Instead, he chuffed happily as Ash put his backside in a chair.

She tapped Suzannah's shoulder with her hand. "And you... You talk to this young man. Get to know him. I'll bring out a sampler of our best."

"But-"

Ash could see that Suzannah was in earnest and wanted to help.

He knew the woman standing beside Suzannah and knew how intent she was to get her own way.

"You should let Hetty get what she wants."

Suzannah smiled at him. "You look like you're speaking from experience."

He nodded. "I've known her all my life."

Her smile turned wistful, and he wanted to reach out to her and hold her hand, but he wasn't sure that she'd appreciate it.

His bear made it clear through their link that he understood his reluctance, but he didn't like it any more than Ash did.

"Maybe," she tilted her head, looking at him with something akin to hope on her face, "you could help me figure out how to fit in here."

She would fit in our home.

He almost laughed and saw the change in her expression. The downturn of her smile.

"I'm sorry," he shook his head. "I wasn't going to laugh at you. My bear," he sighed, and his chin dropped a little, "is poking at me."

"Poking?" She lifted her hand and extended her pointer finger in his direction, poking the air between them. "Like that?"

One eye squinted closed as he winced. "Not physically. But he's making his thoughts and feelings very clear."

Her answering smile made him feel like he was basking in the sun again. "That's just amazing. I've wondered about shapeshifters since I saw that news broadcast. I've never known anyone who was a shapeshifter- or at least anyone who said they were. And it's certainly not something I could ask another person-"

She blinked at him, and he could see her expression change. It looked like she was biting the inside of her cheek.

"Is person okay?"

He wanted to hug her.

Go ahead, do it. Hug her!

He drew in a lung-filling breath through his nose and growled under his breath.

Suzannah's eyes widened at the sound. "Wow."

He smiled at her and felt a little embarrassed at his lack of restraint. "Sorry."

"That sounded... um..."

"Just like a bear?"

She nodded, her eyes still wider than normal.

"This is all... This is so amazing."

"You-"

He'd spoken without thinking and bit down on his tongue to keep from continuing.

"Me?"

Tell her.

Sucking up his hesitation, Ash looked her in the eye. "You." He nodded. "You're amazing."

The world around him seemed to stop.

He didn't hear the soft conversation going on in the kitchen.

He didn't feel the heat from the ovens.

He didn't even hear the blood rushing through his veins.

He heard her soft intake of breath.

He could hear her heart beating in her chest and his own heart shifted and changed to fall in step with her own.

She was beautiful.

She was enchanting.

She was a wonder.

"H-how... I mean... Why would you say that?"

The healthy flush of blood in her cheeks was rosy and her eyes were shining.

Every inch of his body and every bit of his soul was focused on her. Just her.

"It's the truth," he told her. He meant it.

"You're just being kind."

"It's not about being kind."

The look she gave him said she didn't believe it.

He wanted her to understand that he meant it.

"I wouldn't lie to you."

"People don't think that being kind is a lie," she flushed again and turned her gaze away. "I am grateful that you're trying to make me feel better."

"No." He shook his head again, struggling with his thoughts and her words. "No, it's not about that."

"Really, Ash, you don't have to go to any extent to make me feel better. I'm not anyone worth that kind of effort."

"Of course you are." He felt a weight in the center of his chest at her words. At her own disregard for herself.

She turned her gaze away, lowering it to the floor.

He could almost see the defeat in her body.

How long had she believed that about herself.

Believed that she wasn't worthy of that kind of consideration.

He had to fight off the anger building in his veins. It wasn't just his own feelings he was fighting, it was the feelings of his bear as well. Separate they were formidable, but together, they were quite literally a force of nature.

"But thank you. You're very kind."

He saw the kindness in her eyes.

Heard the gentle tone of her voice.

While she didn't think that she was worthy of kindness, she gave it freely.

His heart ached for her.

"Suzannah."

Saying her name did something to him.

It felt as if a wall that he hadn't known was there was suddenly gone.

It wasn't that the wall faded away or dissolved.

It exploded with enough force that it stole his breath away.

He wondered if she felt it, too. The look in her eyes, the surprised part of her lips, and the kick in her pulse as it started to pound through her veins.

"I've been taught to be kind, but that's not why I say these things to you. It's not why I want you to understand how truly wonderful you are."

"But, why-"

"You're the most amazing person in the world."

She retreated, leaning back from him. "How can you say that? It doesn't make any sense. You don't even know me."

He felt her frustration buffeting him like a wild wind.

She shook her head. "I don't understand how you could know that."

This isn't going well .

His bear tried to reassure him. We haven't had practice with our mate .

Our mate. Ash reminded himself. He didn't know how to be a mate to her, but she also didn't know who she was to him.

And so he told her.

"You're our mate."