Chapter Twelve
Birch
The app matched me with a couple. I hadn’t specified a reverse harem, prepared to be beyond grateful if I found one person to be my mate. I’d even talked myself into being willing to accept a chosen mate if a fated did not show up.
It seemed like quite a leap of faith. Dating apps could be risky.
I’d watched documentaries about them, some true crime.
But I had also done a deep dive on Mail-Order Matings specifically and found no instances of murders or robberies connected with the group.
As I reviewed the requirements for signing up, I really got the impression they cared about who they allowed in.
Filling out all the information, I tried to make it clear that I was ready to settle down.
My restaurant was doing well, so I had a steady income and wouldn’t be a drain on anyone else’s resources.
I’d seen that happen too often in relationships, and I’d wondered why those involved, especially the alphas, didn’t put a little more effort into stability before striking out and starting a family.
But my mother had pointed out, when my young and egotistical self judged everyone around me, we really didn’t know the details of other people’s lives.
And what I hadn’t taken into account, mostly because I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did, was that mates came into a person’s life not when they were “ready” for them but when Fate decided they would.
Sometimes a person who had been a friend suddenly came on the radar as a mate.
Fate’s timing.
Did that mean I would have Fate showing up now?
No, not at all.
But a wolf could dream.
The first few matches were singles, and while they were attractive and sounded interesting, I didn’t feel any spark.
Then the couple. The only name I saw was Zephyr, which I thought was beautiful, and her picture came up.
I thought…I wasn’t sure, but she was local, and she bore a strong resemblance to the lady with all the food at the farmer’s market.
Was it her? I’d had such a quick look that I couldn’t be sure, but what I did know was that my wolf was reacting again, and I had to follow up and see if he was onto something.
It seemed the female was human—I hadn’t realized they were allowed on the site—but I didn’t care. I wanted to meet her and her mate. Find out what they were looking for and see how it aligned with what I wanted.
She sure was beautiful.