Chapter Eleven
Sothea
Our relationship was zooming along, at least I thought it was in human terms. They required extensive courting, according to Greta who watched a lot of reality TV. But I didn’t mind because as long as we were spending time together, I could accept that.
My bear, on the other hand, was not okay.
He wanted the deal closed, everything finalized, mated, and marked.
My pointing out that he’d bitten me and wore the tattoo mark did not convince him.
As far as my bear was concerned, there were rules to be followed, and traditions.
And, at some point, he was going to have to know about my bear.
So I called and made reservations at a nice restaurant and then asked Altan if he’d go with me.
I probably should have done it in the opposite order, but I had a little anxiety about the whole thing.
Over the time we’d spent together, I had put out a few hints, trying to find out if he even knew shifters were a thing, but I didn’t get anything back that told me one way or another.
As close as we’d grown, I hoped even if he didn’t know about us, he would be able to accept my bear because the beast was head over heels about him.
We hadn’t been out for a fancy meal, so far, and I thought on some level, I might have been trying to put him in a good mood before making the big announcement.
“You look so handsome,” he crooned when he opened his door. “I should go change.”
“No way.” Altan’s baby-blue sweater and nice slacks were more than dressy enough and made him look incredible. “You’re perfect.”
“But you’re wearing a sport coat.”
“If I had a sweater like that, I wouldn’t. Come on. This steak house is brand new and I was really lucky to get the reservation. Rumor has it, they have a policy that if you miss your reservation time, they put you on a list and you cannot come again for a year.”
“Brand new and they are doing that?” He tsked. “I’m not sure I want to give them our business.”
“They have booths with curtains for privacy, and I reserved one.”
“Well, maybe we’ll give them one try.”
The atmosphere when we walked inside made me think they could get away with the reservation rules.
It was like a place from a movie with flocked wallpaper, deep carpets, and the curtained booths.
The host led us to the table, pulled the curtain back, and, once we slid into the plush seat, tugged the curtain closed.
“Your cocktail server will be right with you,” he said from outside our little cocoon.
“I’ve heard of places like this,” Altan said, “but I thought it was a fairy tale. If the food is good, it’s going to star in my dreams.”
A few minutes later, we placed a cocktail order and both went with martinis because the place was from another era. The regular server showed up with menus and a smile, recited the specials, and then disappeared again.
“Didn’t he want our order?” Altan asked, whispering again.
“Yes, but in places like this, they don’t want the patrons to feel rushed. Plus, who knows what we might be getting up to in our privacy booth.”
“Ohh, what?” Altan flung himself at me. “I guess they are giving us time to make out.”
“If that’s what you want to do, omega, I’m there.” I wrapped my arms around him, pulled him close, and kissed him. After what seemed like seconds, but probably wasn’t, I heard the clearing of a throat nearby. “I think it’s our server again.”
“He needs to get a life.”
“Maybe after he takes our order. Do you know what you want?”
He didn’t, but then neither did I, so we asked for a recommendation and both ended up with thick, juicy rib eyes.
My bear liked getting time alone with his mate and meat on the same day.
Thin fried potatoes and creamed spinach completed the plate, with a small basket of fresh-baked rolls and one of those raw vegetable vases they used to have in the 1950s on the side.
Between courses we necked as anyone would do who found themselves with their hot mate behind a privacy curtain.
They had to open it so we could make selections from the dessert cart, something else I’d seen in old movies but never in person.
We took small servings of several types of dessert like chocolate cake and tiny crepes in orange sauce which were flamed for our enjoyment.
Tiny cups of espresso finished the meal.
By the time we left the place, we were drunk but not on martinis. On very good food and romance. I had planned on bringing up the bear thing in the restaurant, but I decided to hold off until we got back to my place where we’d have more privacy than just a curtain.
The bear was even more impatient, but he was about to be revealed to the omega, so he’d just have to hang in there for a little bit.
The drive home under starry skies continued the mood, and we walked, arms linked up to my front door.
I had to fish for my keys in my pocket. Back in the day when cars were operated by actual keys, my ring would have been in my hand, but now, all I had to do was have the fob on my person somewhere.
I really needed a door like that for the house.
If they made them. I’d check. Once we got inside, I closed the door behind us.
“Thank you for the best dinner ever.” Altan flung his arms around my neck and kissed me. “You’re the best alpha ever, too.”
“Thank you. That’s the only prize I’d ever want to win, and only if you were awarding it.
” Wanting to settle in and enjoy the moment, I was still far too aware of my bear lurking, waiting, expectant.
It wasn’t fair for him not to be part of our mate’s life.
And until he knew about and accepted him, we could never be complete.
I wore his mark; he wore my tattoo… How many times had I said that in my head?
As if trying to convince myself it was enough.
My bear was right. It was not enough, even if it was wonderful.
I wanted it all, and my mate deserved to know what kind of relationship he’d be in if he chose us.
Us. My bear was willing to accept our fated even though he didn’t have a counterpart in it. So…yeah.
“Would you like something to drink?” I asked. “Before we sit down?”
“Sitting?” He bumped my nose with his playfully. “I was hoping for more than that.”
“We need to talk.”
Altan took a big step back. “That sounds bad. Are you breaking up with me? Why didn’t you just take me home, then? Never mind, I’ll walk.” He turned toward the door, but I caught his arm and brought him back to face me.
“Omega, nothing could be further from the truth. I do not want to end what is between us, but until you know everything about me… Well, will you please sit on the couch?”
He let me lead him over, but settled with a good foot of space between us.
I hated the wariness in his expression. Then, it faded, to be replaced with determination.
“Go ahead. Tell me…you’re not sick, are you?
Because if you are, I’m here for you. Anything that’s wrong, we can fix together, somehow. ”
“I am perfectly well. But I don’t even know how Fate put you in my life. You’re so much more than I deserve. But I guess it’s time to trust that it will all work out. Do humans, that is, do you believe in fated mates?”
“Is that like soul mates? Wait…humans? What are you saying? You aren’t an alien, are you? That might explain why you’re so wonderful because the alphas I’ve dated before were anything but.”
“Not an alien.” I drew in the deepest breath of my life and let it out with the words, “A shifter.”
His gaze narrowed. “Like a werewolf?”
“Nothing like a werewolf at all.” I fought my reaction to the word all shifters I’d ever met hated. “In fact, I am a bear shifter.”
He broke out into laughter, but when I didn’t join in, it faded away. “Sothea, tell me you’re not serious. I mean, sure there are shifters in books, books and movies, but you have to know they aren’t real. Just the stuff of stories. Romance books mostly, right?”
“And where do you think the ideas come from?” At least, I assumed that the authors of the better books got their information from other shifters. “Omega, I am a bear shifter, and until you meet my bear, we’ve taken this relationship as far as we can.”
“So you are breaking up with me after all?”
“Only if you can’t find it in your heart to accept my bear. He already loves you.”
“This whole thing is so strange. But, if you insist, bring him on. I’m ready.”
“We’ll have to go outside. I’m afraid he’s a little big for the living room.”
“Whatever you say.” He stood up and followed me through the kitchen and out the back door. “You have to know how hard this is to believe.”
“Just give me a minute to get undressed.”
“Your clothes don’t ‘shift’ with you?” He perched on the top step of the back porch, arms wrapped around his knees.
“No, they shred.”
“Then by all means. You look too good tonight to ruin your outfit.”
He still didn’t believe me, but it didn’t matter because in thirty seconds, he’d have visual proof. I prayed Fate and the Goddess grant that he wouldn’t run away or hate me for being something so “alien.”
Clothing off, I stood in front of him. “I love you.” And I let my bear take transcendence. While in the shift, my awareness was limited, so I couldn’t see his reaction until the bear’s vision settled, terrified that I’d find an empty porch.
But then, standing on all four paws, I saw him. Still sitting there, jaw dropped, and offering no indication of how he’d react. I was still scared, but my bear side was fearless and, like me, deeply in love. He lumbered up the steps and flopped down next to the omega, giant head in his lap.
Could have gone really bad, but my bear did not ask my opinion, and the cry from my omega’s lips was anything but bad. “Is it okay to touch you?”
The rumble was a yes, and Altan seemed to understand as he stroked the big furry head. We stayed that way for a while, and I thought we were there—past any worries. But when I took my skin, Altan looked troubled.
“Are you okay, omega?”
“I am…sort of. Your bear is the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen, but it’s still a lot to process. In books, shifters don’t marry, they mate, right? And it’s a much bigger deal than something with paperwork that can be unwritten?”
“Yes.”
“Would you be mad if I asked you to take me home? I have a lot to think about.”