CHAPTER 6
“When I see your face.”
Henry
With the level of adrenaline coursing through my body right now, it’s an absolute miracle I managed to leave the cafe and get into my truck without accidentally ripping the door off its hinges.
Everett, my beautiful mate with his honey bread scent has been right here all along. He must have been at the singles event too. So many missed opportunities, but then that's how fate works. We were so close to each other, but it just wasn’t the right time for us to meet until now.
He looks young, early twenties, I would guess.
Fresh faced and so fucking sexy. I hope he isn’t disappointed that I'm older.
He didn't give me any indication that he disliked what he saw.
If that kiss was anything to go by, he more than liked how I looked.
I feel a shiver rush down my spine at the memory, my tongue running over my lips in an attempt to chase his taste.
My bear isn’t happy we left him behind, and he’s making it known by grumpily pushing at my control, wanting to burst out of me and claim our mate right where he stands.
I can’t say I blame him. Everett’s scent was addicting, but seeing his face of freckles and the way his smile made my heart fucking double in size was intoxicating.
My human brain needs to get us the fuck out of here before he succeeds and breaks through, I don’t think my truck can hold the weight of a pissed off bear and I really don’t feel like taking a tranq dart in the ass when the cops show up.
Thankfully, the thought of that happening, and us missing our date with Everett as a consequence, has my furry side somewhat relenting, at least enough to let me drive home.
Not that he makes it a comfortable ride.
The further from the city we get, the more he makes his frustration known.
Let me tell you, driving with paws instead of hands makes navigating a highway risky business.
By the time I skid to a stop on my driveway, I have just enough time to force the truck into park and roll out to the dirt with barely seconds to spare before my bear bursts free.
This is the second time in two days I’ve almost lost control of myself behind the wheel.
I haven’t been this unstable since I was a teenager.
Is this what finding your mate does to you?
Because nobody talks about this side of things.
Rearing up on my hind legs, I roar with both excitement and frustration.
My paws hit the compacted dirt driveway with a heavy thud before lumbering into the woods that surround my cabin.
A big selling point for this property, aside from the fifty some acres of forest with a creek meandering through it, is the fact that my land backs up to Austin’s.
So, naturally that is where my bear heads.
A path well-worn over the years leading from my home to his.
The familiar scent of rain in the air mixed with the rich, grounding aroma of the forest floor filled my lungs as I shifted back at the base of the steps leading to Austin's cabin just as the door banged open.
“What the fuck man? It’s six am, is somebody chasing you?” Austin asks, bleary-eyed and pissed off.
“I found him!”
“Found who?”
“My mate,” I tell him, well aware I'm preening a little as I ascend the wooden steps toward him.
“Is that why your dick’s half hard or are you just happy to see me?” He jokes, covering his eyes with one hand while the other snatches the blanket off the bench next to him, throwing it toward me. “No dicks before coffee, you know the rules.”
Covering my waist, I roll my eyes and follow my friend, pausing to wipe my bare feet on the welcome mat before stepping inside.
Austin's cabin feels as much like home to me as my own.
Dropping on to the couch, blanket over my lap, still grinning like an idiot as I watch Austin shuffle his way to the coffee machine.
“So you found your mate, huh? Why exactly are you naked at my door and not at his?” He asks around a yawn.
If I didn’t know him as well as I do, it might come across like my friend has more interest in the man on the moon than my earth shattering revelation.
Austin is not a morning person. It could be to do with the fact he has worked in hotels, bars, and restaurants most of his life, meaning he has never subscribed to the nine-five life that so many of us have.
He is more of a mid-day - mid-night person, so the fact he is even partially functional right now is a testament to how much he cares.
“He’s a baker, I think, works at the Rainy Day cafe. He is the most beautiful omega I have ever seen.” I can feel how wide I’m smiling just remembering how Everett jumped into my arms. His head of unruly red curls bouncing in front of his face.
“That does not explain why your bare ass is sitting on my couch at stupid o’clock in the morning, Henry,” he grumbles, eyes not leaving the stream of coffee as it fills his favorite giant wolf mug.
“Well, I could hardly pin him down and mate him at his place of work, I’m a gentleman and my omega deserves better. We are meeting for a lunch date later. He’s perfect, Aus. Small, lithe frame, mass of curly red hair and eyes the colour of the forest in spring.”
“Is that the caveat to finding your mate? You start waxing poetry about the color of their eyes?” His face screws up in disgust, but quickly settles into a blissed-out smile as he takes his first sip of liquid life.
I'm not remotely affected by his playful teasing. I don’t care if I sound like a lovesick fool already. I found my mate. The one soul in this world the fates have matched with mine. It’s the ultimate gift, and I fully intend to cherish it. “You know you’re jealous,” I snark back with a grin.
“Pft, absolutely not, that is a nope from me.” He scoffs, shaking his head adamantly, but I know he doesn’t truly believe that.
Every alpha wants to find their mate. It’s engrained in us, part of our DNA.
He might think he’s happy being a single alpha, sleeping with a different pretty omega every other night, but as soon as he scents his mate - assuming he isn’t as dumb as I was - everything will change and I can’t fucking wait to see it.
“Wait, you said he works at the cafe, that one you go to everyday?” Austin perks up with a sudden interest and I nod vigorously, thankful that he’s finally awake enough to comprehend the gravity of the situation “But you’ve been there like a million times since we started renovating, how come you haven’t met him before today?
” He asks with a hint of suspicion in his raised eyebrow.
“Thats the thing… Every time I went there, I always smelled the incredible honey bread, just like my grandma made.
It was never there by the time I arrived.
Case always empty of honey goodness. I tried asking the guy at the counter about it, but he insisted they don't have honey bread or anything honey related on the menu. It was driving me crazy for weeks. Then I caught the scent on our opening night.”
“That’s why you were acting so crazy, I thought you had taken something.” He shrugs like that isn’t the wildest thing he could assume about me.
“You’ve known me my whole life, when have I ever taken drugs?” I ask him, rightfully offended by that off-handed comment.
“I dunno, you have been stressed, maybe you just wanted to relax. No judgement here, man.”
“You’re an asshole, I wasn’t on drugs. I scented my mate. Not that I knew it at the time. I didn’t figure that part out until my bear almost wrecked my truck in a rage.” He's laughing now, the prick.
“Wait, so you have been scenting your mate this whole time and had no idea?”
“Yes, I know I’m an idiot. Can we move on now?
Good. The reason I am naked on your couch at six am is because I drove to the cafe at five in the morning, planning to sit there all damn day until my mate appeared.
Turns out I didn't have to wait long, he was there when I arrived. Smelling like heaven and looking like an angel.”
“And that explains why you are naked, how?” He asks, lowering himself into the large, worn-leather arm chair I usually favor. But bare balls and cold leather are not a comfortable mix.
“I already told you, he was at work, so I came home to let my bear run off his displeasure at not getting to mark our mate on the spot. Figured that while I had time to kill, so I would come tell my best friend and business partner the good news. So ungrateful.” I huff playfully, folding my arms over my chest to really emphasize my pouting, which results in the blanket slipping off.
“Okay, okay. I'm sorry, no need to flash the hammer. You want coffee? One is most definitely not going to cut it at this hour, especially if you want me to be at the bar tonight.” He says, springing to his feet and crossing the open-plan living room and kitchen to the coffee machine, pouring a second cup for himself and one for me.
A small part of me wants to leave the blanket on the floor and helicopter my dick at my friend but seeing as I have found my mate, Everett should be the only one who gets to enjoy my helicopter skills.
After coffee and leftover hor d'oeuvres from the opening last night, I’m no less jittery and nervous to meet Everett.
Taking to my fur, I follow the path back to my cabin.
The sun is high in the sky now, and the forest is alive with activity.
Rather than run through, shoulder-checking trees like I did on the way here, I ambled.
My bear took his time to appreciate the little slice of heaven we call home.
He sniffed at the flowers, listened to the birds, and stopped to snack on the overwintered berries still clinging to life in early spring.
I wonder, not for the first time, what Everett will think of this place.
Will he embrace the forest? Want to run with me through the brush?
I hope so. I probably should have asked what kind of shifter he was.
I think I was too overwhelmed by his honey scent, then the scent of his arousal, to pick up any identifying markers I should have picked up on.
At least I don’t have long now to wait until I can have my omega in my arms again. Probably just enough time to shower and agonize over my outfit. Shit. I need to bring Everett a gift. He is going to cook for me. I can't turn up empty-handed.
Shifting back to my human form, I walk the last few paces to my cabin, looking around for something I can bring to my mate.
I don’t want to just go to the store and choose something manufactured that so many other omegas could have.
No, I need to bring him something special, something from my land, my home.
My foot kicks something hard, and I wince at the sharp pain.
What the fuck was that? Scanning the area around my feet I see a huge walnut, multiple in fact.
I had no idea there were even walnut trees in this forest. How have I never come across these before?
Dropping to one knee, I gather up a handful and carry them back to my cabin close to my chest.
Yes, these are perfect.