Chapter 18
Elliott packs a picnic.
“Adam won’t mind we’re in his yard?” Fern checked, hesitating as she climbed down from Elliott’s truck.
“Nope. He won’t be back from the Lodge for ages. Yes, we’re using his driveway, but the pond and waterfall are town property.”
“Mmkay...” She sounded unconvinced as she took his hand and hopped to the dirt.
Waving an arm toward the falls, Elliott announced, “Follow me to our unconventional picnic spot. There’s a cave up here, one of my bear’s favorite places.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Walking side by side, they crossed the yard, their lunch in a cooler in his right hand and his left splayed across the small of her back.
Spruce Pond sat on the south side of Able’s property, fed by Elliott’s favorite waterfall in town, Braithwaite Falls.
Different from the town’s namesake, Beckett Falls, this one was lower, narrower, and hid the best cave in a ten-mile radius.
It was the perfect place to be brave and confess the truth to Fern.
He had to do it.
They’d started their morning with poached eggs on toast and fresh berries.
Then he brought her over to hike around the pond at Beckett Falls.
They took their time on the walk, with her asking him to identify every wildflower, tree, and shrub she came across—he knew most of them—and him trying to psych himself up to say, “We’re true mates. ”
He never got there.
He was taking too long. Even Olivia had texted him the night before, scolding him for staying silent on the matter. He couldn’t bring himself to speak the words.
What if she wasn’t interested?
His bear hated that idea. Scrabbling to escape, he head-butted Elliott behind the ribs, and Fern shot him a curious glance.
Shrugging, like he didn’t know what his grizzly was doing, Elliott rubbed his chest.
That fucker would bite her if he let him out, no doubt about it. His bear was positive Fern was in it for the long haul.
Yeah, he needed to tell her. If she rejected him, he’d live. He might need to leave town, but he’d live.
“Can we swim here? I’m dying to jump in. It’s so fucking hot out.” Fern blabbed as he led her up a slope beside the falls.
“We can. Do you want to go right now?”
“No. After we eat.”
They reached a rocky ledge where the earth curved around behind the waterfall, and Elliott took the lead while holding Fern’s hand for safety. “Don’t even think about jumping. It’s too dangerous.”
“Jesus— Why would I do that?”
“To swim.” As they stepped behind the cascade, the rush of water drowned out the birdsong and rustling trees, and a cool mist spattered his face.
“Oh,” she said, leaning out toward the water. A chip of loose stone fell from the ledge. “That actually—”
“Fern, no.” Tugging on her arm, he pulled back into the recessed alcove, dark and cool and carved by nature. He dropped the lunch bag and slipped both hands around her waist, taking a second to hold her, to enjoy the moment before he had to turn it all on its head with his confession.
“You don’t want me to get hurt?” she asked, slightly muffled by his chest.
“Of course I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Because we’re friends?”
“Uh—yes?” What was she getting at? Obviously, they were friends. They were also true mates, but sure, friends worked.
“Let’s eat.” Shrinking out of his hold, she bent to grab the bag and plopped down on the damp stone.
He’d done something wrong, clearly, because he’d have bet money on them kissing if he could rewind time by twenty seconds. What the hell had he said to make her clam up and slink away?
For lunch, he’d pre-made Greek-inspired pita wraps with olives, feta, and leftover grilled chicken. They ate, and Elliott kept his eyes trained on Fern while she looked out through the falling water, stealing glimpses of the landscape beyond.
“Elliott,” she said quietly, still facing away. Her words were almost swallowed by the falls, but he’d been tapped into his bear-hearing, listening to her quiet breathing, trying to suss out the finer points of her mood. She’d gone shaky just before she spoke.
“Yeah?” His voice came out tight, recognizing a buildup to something was underway.
“Are you waiting for your true mate?”
Oh, well, fuck. She just went for it—gave him the perfect opportunity—one he’d be a fool not to take. On the heels of a strained inhale, he began, “This time two weeks ago, my life was good.”
Fern turned to face him, sitting cross-legged and looking perturbed.
“I’ll get there.” He held up a finger, aware he’d avoided her question—for the moment. “I had a simple routine, stayed home ninety percent of the time, hung out with the group once or twice a week, and lived my life. It was quiet, predictable, good enough.”
“Good enough?” she echoed, a sliver of a question stuck in her words.
“Yeah. I was afraid to rock the boat—and I said that to Able after I met you. You know what he said? He said the boat had already flipped.”
Fern sniffed out a laugh.
“Things were good, honestly. But you took a wrong turn and showed up crunching gravel and blaring smut—”
“It’s romance!” she scolded, sunlight streaming through the waterfall to surround her in a glowing mist.
“Mhm.” She swatted his knee, and he captured her hand, holding her tight as he continued, “You turned up in person, and I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since. It was easy—snuck up on me really—to change my routine, to make space in my life for you.”
Her hand stiffened in his, so he gave her a squeeze.
“I can’t imagine going to sleep in my bed, working in my studio, cooking, any of it without you there.
If you’re not beside me, I need the promise that you’re coming back soon.
” Slowly, he lifted her fingers and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, his grizzly purring in support.
“Things were good before. But you showed me they can be great. And, Fern, I know that’s a fucking insane speech to give ten days after meeting someone for the first time. But I mean it.”
Flushed, her eyes imploring, Fern whispered, “You better not tell me you’re waiting for your true mate.”
“I don’t have to.” Fighting through the blood rushing in his ears, he cupped her chin and made her look at him before adding, “I already found you.”
Fern pushed his arm away before immediately pulling him back in and planting her palms on his cheeks. “Wait— Are you fucking kidding me?”
“No?” He had no idea if she was about to kiss him or slap him.
It was the former. Her lips were damp from the mist. Light and warm, she feathered touches against his mouth, climbing onto his lap as she deepened their embrace.
That was a good sign.
Elliott let his hands roam her body, feeling every inch of her, memorizing her, in case she decided he was insane and ran screaming. “Fern,” he murmured against her mouth, voice rough, “we’re true mates.”
“I know,” she breathed. “You told me.”
“I felt like I needed to say the exact words.”
Laughing, she pulled away enough to shake her head at him while grinding her hot center against his growing erection. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I’m sorry. I realized it last Monday. Noa and Liv helped me put it together.”
She scooted back, her pussy landing on his thigh. “Elliott! Everyone knows?”
He grimaced. “I was supposed to tell you. I wanted to—I just kept chickening out. I’m sorry.”
With a frustrated sigh, she swiveled her hips, grinding against his leg.
“What are you doing?” His hands dropped to her waist, holding her firm, holding her down.
“I’m annoyed, but I get it. I also think it’s extremely romantic that we’re fated to be together. Assuming you’re... okay with it?” She leaned in, nuzzling her nose into his neck.
“I’m more than okay with it,” he groaned as understanding dawned and his cock throbbed. After palming her ass one more time, he gripped her waist and said, “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but there’s more to talk about, so... stop that.”
Fern pouted as he lifted her to sit beside him again, but she flung her legs over his and snuggled her head against his chest. “Is this okay?”
“Of course.” With his arm around her back, he pulled her in tightly.
“What else is there to talk about? A lot, I guess. Oh my god, oh my god!” She arched her neck, looking up at him with wide eyes. “I get an animal! Wait, how did you know we were true mates? How did Liv and Noa know? Why have you known for a week and not told me?”
His little chatterbox. She went off the most when she was nervous. He could only hope these were the good sort of nerves. “I should’ve known immediately, the moment you pulled into my driveway and I scented you.”
“You scented me? What do I smell like?”
“Raspberries, blackberries, jasmine, and a hint of vanilla.”
“That’s very specific. You smell... fresh and manly.”
He chuckled. “When you get your animal, you’ll see what I mean. You’ll be able to pick out more nuance.”
“Don’t potential mates smell good too?”
“Yeah, but I’ve been compelled to care for you since the first moment we met. I should’ve realized when I brought you a fish and weed, unprompted.”
She laughed delightfully, scooting further onto his lap so her ass settled sideways between his thighs. “It was pretty easy to get you to stay and help me unpack my apartment.”
“Exactly. Or you know—my bear taking over, chasing you down, and wanting to bite you should have been a giveaway, but it wasn’t.
I didn’t consider that we could be true mates, especially not since Beck and Liv found each other.
It’s rare, or it’s supposed to be, to find them.
Most people pair up with potential mates. ”
“But here we are.”
“Here we are,” he agreed, reaching up to trail his finger over the shell of her ear. “I— You’re perfect for me.”
He stumbled over his final sentence, rethinking things as “I love you” almost rolled off his tongue. Ten days was far too soon to be saying that. Right?