Chapter Seventeen
Haven
Iturn toward her. “You bake?”
“I own a bakery in town. You’ll have to come in, or I can bring some goodies to you.” She walks toward the wall. “They are breathtaking together.”
“It makes me feel as if she's still with me,” I say.
“She is.” She stares at me. “Sorry for the abrupt excuse. If I sent them downstairs to cook, they could have heard our conversation. Are you in shock? I was human before I came here, so I can understand. Sally messaged me. She thought I could help if you need it. You can tell me it’s not my business, too, if you want.
I know the family can be intrusive, but it comes from love. ”
“It was a bit shocking.” I move to the bed and sit on the edge. “Rylee is the only friend I tell everything to, so it’s different to have so many care about me, but it’s not bad.”
“You don’t have other friends? Family?” she asks, sitting beside me.
“No. I work with some nice people, but I wouldn’t call them friends. My father and brother are the only family I have left, and I’ve been fighting to get away from them.” I shrug.
“Damn, that sucks. But fortunately, you’ve landed in a place with tons of people you can rely on.” She crooks her leg and leans back against the bar. “Do you like them?”
“Like?” I shake my head. “Like is too weak a word.” I roll my lips. “I feel like I’m meant to be here, to be with them.”
“I know the feeling well,” she whispers.
“Did you feel an immediate connection?” I ask, mimicking her position.
“Yes. I knew about their world. My best friend is Steph. I moved here first, and she followed a few months later. I knew she was a bear shifter, so I suppose I didn’t find it odd.
She told me a little about mates. Hearing it and living it are very different, but not bad.
I was drawn to them immediately.” She smiles softly.
“Once you get past the shock, it’s quite the ride.
I had three men who wanted to give me everything.
It was more of an adjustment to believe them.
I didn’t have anyone in my life who cared about me either. ”
“Was it hard to decide to become like them?” I ask.
“Not really. I needed time to get to know them. I asked them to go on dates with me.” She laughs, and I join her. “They agreed. It was easy to fall in love with them. Once I trusted them.”
“What about the change? Turning into a lion had to be painful.”
“I won’t lie. It was horrible. Yet, beautiful.” She wrinkles her nose. “The pain was bad, but when I met my lion, I knew my place was with my mates.”
“Met your lion?” I frown.
“It’s hard to describe,” she mumbles. “Did they explain that they'll bite you?”
“Yes.”
“Once the bite takes effect, you’ll feel the pain. It'll be as if you're dreaming. It’s a very personal experience, and I can’t guarantee yours will be the same as mine. I had to accept some things about myself.” She sighs. “I won’t say it was easy, but in the end, it was worth it.”
“I haven’t decided.” Have I?
“You’ll know when the time is right,” she whispers.
“I don’t want to leave them,” I say.
She grins. “I know. You know what you want, but as I said, it’s not time yet.
They'll wait and let you dictate the timeline. I don’t know all of them well, especially Lawson, but I know they are good men.
Las is close to Remy. We had a rough start with Hunter and Bane, since they work for Heath, yet this family forgives easily.
Las wouldn’t be friends with anyone he didn’t respect and trust.”
“What happened?” I can’t imagine my mates doing anything that wasn’t deserved.
“Well…” She bites her lip. “It was a misunderstanding, and all is forgiven.” I narrow my eyes.
“Your men can share the story.” She clears her throat.
“The men here are different from any you have ever met. They won’t cheat, and they will never leave you.
Their animal has already chosen you, and the men are falling for you. ”
“How can you tell?” I ask, deciding to let her evade my question.
“I’ve seen it before, in my mates, and the others here.
They follow you with their eyes. When you speak, they actually listen.
They want you to be happy.” She looks around the room.
“I’m betting this room was bare before they met you.
I wonder who picked out the furniture or if it was a group effort.
” She looks at me. “They'll accept the good, the bad, and everything in between. I’m sure they have plenty in their past that's hard to talk about and share with you. The beauty of the mating bond is that the universe knows who belongs together and who can handle everything they are.” She places her hand over mine. “You probably haven’t had many great men, if any, in your life to depend on and trust.” I nod. “You can trust them to catch you.”
“I want to,” I say softly. “I think I already am.”
“Go with it. Believe me, you won’t regret it.
” She moves her hand and presses it to her chest. “I was supposed to be a lion. I can’t imagine being without my mates.
Everything fell into place when we completed the mating bond.
I have to warn you, though, once you become a jaguar, you’ll want to have sex all the time.
Shifter females go into heat, and the only way to ease it is to be with your mates. ” I tilt my head.
“This is a bad thing?” I ask, and we laugh.
“Not. At. All.” She smirks. She must hear something I don’t because her laughter cuts off, and she sits straight.
“They’re back.” She shakes her head. “And they aren’t alone.
” We stand at the same time. “If you ever need anything. Just to talk, call me. Do you have your phone?” I slide it out of my pocket and hand it to her.
“The women in the family have to stick together.” She programs her number in.
“I sent myself a message.” I take it back just as the door downstairs opens.
“I love a good housewarming party.”
“Is that Sally?” I ask.
“Yep.” Breeane shakes her head.
“Thank you.” I squeeze her hand.
“Anytime.”
“Damn. Why haven’t I been here before?” Sally says, her voice carrying through the house. “You’ve been hiding all this gorgeousness, Bane.” We walk toward the doorway and step into the hallway.
“Let’s not talk about you coming to a man’s house who isn’t us.”
“That’s Luca,” Breeane whispers as we go down the stairs.
“You know better, boyfriend,” Sally says.
We reach the bottom of the stairs.
“Damn, nice place,” another beautiful man says. He's wearing a cowboy hat and holding a baby.
“Haven,” Hunter rumbles, holding his arm out. I take his cue and slide to his side. “We ran into Sally while getting food.”
“We decided to turn lunch into a housewarming party for you,” Sally says, grinning.
“We?” Remy mumbles.
“Yes,” she says, lifting the covers from a dozen trays on the island. “Of course, I had to be polite and send a group text.”
“This is Elijah and his mate Saylor,” Hunter continues. “And their son, Draden Brae.”
“I hope we aren’t intruding,” Saylor says, and I shake my head.
“We always intrude,” Micah says.
“You’ve met Micah and Daisy, and Quinn and Stephanie.” He points toward a gorgeous woman and two men. “That's Saphira and her mates, Kingston and Maverick. They are dragon shifters.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, but I’m a little shocked. Dragons. “Do you breathe fire?”
“Yes.” Saphira laughs. “I could show you.”
“No,” Kingston and Quinn say at the same time.
“They have a nice place. Let’s not burn it down,” Maverick says dryly.
“Alright,” Saphira pouts.
“And you remember Heath and Juliana,” Bane says, and I smile at them.
“Are you settling in?” Heath asks.
“The guys have been great. I love my room.” I study Heath. His presence is powerful. He’s standing close to Juliana, his arm wrapped around her and his other hand clasping his cane. It’s nothing he's doing; he projects authority.
“Let’s eat,” Sally says, and opens a cupboard. “We need plates.”
“I’ll get them,” Remy says quickly, moving toward her. He must be cringing inside with so many people in his domain.
“Sally, you're a guest.” I move away from Hunter and walk toward her. “Sit. I can help Remy.” I smile, and she catches on quickly, leaving the area.
“Give me a tour, big man,” she says to Bane.
Everyone breaks away in groups, and I press my hand to Remy’s back.
“What can I do?” I ask softly.
“You already have,” he responds, tilting his head to look at me. “Can I ask you a favor?”
“Yes.”
He bends down, placing his mouth near my ear. “Watch Bane and Lawson,” he whispers. “You can read them already, and they aren’t as comfortable around groups. They'll appreciate the distraction.”
“Of course.”
He stands straight and places a stack of plates near the food. “Are you good?” he asks, nodding toward the living room where most of the company has gathered.
“I’m glad you have this,” I say softly. “They care, and just want to be welcoming.”
“You have it too,” he says.
“That’s a nice thought.” I look around at all the faces.
“It’s a fact, not a thought.” He palms the back of my head, and I look at him. “Everything we have is yours. The family is part of that.”
“Thank you.”
His eyes crinkle, and he kisses me softly. “Hungry?” he asks.
“Very,” I murmur, and he grins.
“Let me get you some food,” he says, and releases me, reaching for a plate.
“I hope you like fried chicken,” Sally says as she enters the kitchen.
“No, I hate it,” I say.
“What?” she gasps, her hand over her heart.
“Kidding.” I laugh. “It’s chicken with a crispy, savory crust. What’s not to like?”
“Sweet Jesus.” She drops her arm and grins. “You got me. I would have still loved you, but I would have spent years trying to convince you to like it.” I stare at her beautiful face filled with love and light. She would. She spreads love.
“I would let you.” We share a quiet moment while in the middle of a loud conversation.
“Anytime you need me,” she whispers, squeezing my arm.
“Same,” I reply.