Chapter Five
Lars
The last forty-eight hours had been a battle.
A battle with myself. With my wolf. Even with my beliefs about Fate and the role the Goddess played in my life.
I went to work, fueled myself with too much caffeine, and tried to focus on my work to no avail. All I did was stare at the computer screen and allow the same thoughts to rotate through my brain over and over.
“Lars.” The word came from my left, startling me until I realized who spoke.
“Hey, Zeke. What’s up?” I asked, turning in my chair.
“I’ve been calling your name for at least two Mississippis. Where were you, man?”
Ah, shit. I was in my own world. “Overthinking some things.” I laughed and shook my head at myself. I really needed to make a decision.
“It’s almost lunchtime. Want to grab a burger and talk about it?”
I checked the time. Damn, I hadn’t gotten much of anything done that morning. “You know what? Sure. I think a new perspective would help me.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
We walked a few blocks to the new burger place and after getting our food, sat down. “What’s on your mind, Lars? You haven’t been yourself all week.”
Zeke was my office friend. We didn’t really hang out much, but he was mated with six kids, and I had a feeling our lunches were his only outings. He’d never shared that information and I’d never asked. But he was a good friend and had asked me for advice on things a few times. Now it was my turn.
“You know, I was rejected or somehow lost my mate a long time ago,” I began, laying down the foundation for my predicament.
“I do. Did something happen? Did you meet someone else?”
I may have mentioned the dating app to him. “I went on a few dates, but no. Nothing sparked. But I did receive a letter in the mail the other day.”
“From who?” He leaned over the table a bit more, clearly interested.
“The Bearclaw Inn. A guy named Franklin. Heard of it?”
Zeke sat back and closed his eyes. “An invitation to a weekend at the Bearclaw Inn? Like the inn where no one leaves unmated? Please tell me you’re talking about that one.”
I laughed, reaching for a fry. “I’m guessing you have thoughts about it.”
“If I wasn’t happily mated, I would sit around and dream and try to manifest an invitation from that place. That’s my thought about it. Please tell me you’re going to go, Lars. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Sighing, I nodded. “That’s my problem with it. I already had my mate once. So how can I leave unmated if, technically, I already am. My bond with William has faded with absence and time, but there will always be a part of me that longs for him.”
“No one would blame you for seeking out a mate. A partner for this life. And we were taught, as shifters, that we only have one mate in this world but life is hard—things get messy and we are part human, and to be human is to be flawed. Are you happy being alone? Many people are.”
“I’m not. I want a mate. Someone to share this life with and there’s nothing I’ve wanted more than a family and children.”
“You know there are chosen mates, Lars. I know it must be painful but maybe a new mate, one that you choose, or Franklin chooses, would help you move on. You can’t live in the shadow of what-if forever.”
By the end of the conversation, my decision was made.
Zeke encouraged me to ask for the time off immediately when we arrived back at work, but I stalled.
“When did you receive the letter?” Zeke asked when I hesitated.
“Monday.”
“And what is today?”
Heat rose in my cheeks. “Wednesday.”
“Right. So you need tomorrow to pack and get ready and travel on Friday. It’s a flight away, right?”
Shoot. He really needed to stop being right so often.
“Yes. Shoot.”
I went to my desk and put in for the days off. It was actually perfect timing. We were between projects, and I had nothing pressing to do. I couldn’t remember when I last got away for the weekend or a day for that matter. Hell, I hadn’t even taken a vacation in years.
I went home and booked the flight and the car ride to the bed-and-breakfast.
The next day, I shopped for some new clothes. Nothing too fancy, but I didn’t want to meet my new mate in my old T-shirts and basketball shorts that were barely good enough to wear to the farmer’s market on the weekend.
While I packed up the next day, it all hit me.
I was on my way to a new beginning. A new beginning for love and mending my heart. Maybe a trip that would change my life forever and put me on the path to having the family I’d always dreamed of.
Sure, there remained a sliver of doubt about the whole thing. About the inn. About Franklin. About the rumors of what it promised, but I had hope for the first time.
There was someone new out there for me.
And I was on my way to meet him.