Chapter Sixteen
Birch
There was a mess to be cleaned up, and Cypress did so quickly. He spoke about it. Knocked over a latte when he saw me. And more. A cupcake? Hell, I was only half listening.
He had introduced the most beautiful woman in the world to me as his mate. His wife. The woman from the farmer’s market. And my wolf was even more interested.
I had to focus.
“Do you want a coffee? Something to eat? Zephyr bakes everything herself.”
“She does?” I asked.
“Yeah. She owns this place.”
I looked around. There was a line at the counter even though it was late morning. The smell of roasted beans, sugar, and cinnamon along with all kinds of fall fruits and vegetables filled the air. Everyone who bought a coffee also left with a bag, so she must’ve been a fantastic baker.
I couldn’t help but think how well that paired with me being a chef. If something happened between us, we would all be well fed, that was certain.
“Trees?” I laughed, shaking my head.
Cypress beamed with a smile that I realized I’d missed. My memories of him had faded over the years but some things came back instantly. “She tried to name it after me but I wouldn’t let her. Scratch that. My woman does whatever she wants, when she wants, but I begged pretty hard.”
That made me laugh. He was happy. All this time, I’d wondered what happened to him. I thought he’d moved to another pack. Found a harem to be in. Living the life we always wanted even though we’d made a pact to create a pack together one day, to share a mate.
He’d changed. Of course he had. We weren’t kids anymore.
“She’s lovely,” I said, avoiding the words gorgeous or stunning. Yes, we’d reconnected via an app for shifters dating, and they were listed as seeking a poly relationship, but I didn’t assume anything. Felt safer that way.
Cypress turned his head and even though it had been years, my wolf picked up on his pride, his love for her. A deep devotion that I’d longed to give a female.
This was harder than I thought.
“She is lovely. Smart and talented. I couldn’t be happier.” I couldn’t help but wonder about the last statement. If they were completely happy, then why were they registered on an app to find another mate for her?
“How did you two meet?” He told me the story, and I hung on every word. They were clearly in love and had a life that was what I dreamed of. Still, there was something in his tone, the way he spoke that made me think something was missing.
Me?
I didn’t dare jump to conclusions, but we’d made that pact. Even deeper than that, our wolves had made that pact and to them, it was like a blood oath.
But we’d grown up now. Things changed. Our lives were different.
Then again, somehow we’d ended up living in the same city and gotten on the same app, looking for someone or someones.
We spoke a bit about our pack and the things we missed about it, but it was clear Cypress didn’t really understand why his family had moved away and went no contact with those left behind.
I knew why, though. Everyone left behind did.
One of his fathers had gotten them into a serious financial situation, which involved pack funds, and then died in a tragic car accident, and it was just too much for the family.
The remaining parents moved for a fresh start and were never heard from again.
The pack mourned the loss of him and his family.
They should’ve stayed and worked things out together.
That was what a pack was for, and no one was perfect.
We all made mistakes. Some more dire than others, but it could’ve been fixed.
Cypress didn’t know any of that but today, the first time I’d seen him in so long, wasn’t the time to rehash old troubles.
“So what do you do?” he asked, leaning forward. “Tell me about your life. And you live in the city?”
“I do. I own a restaurant in town. The new one over on Eighth St.”
His eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? You own it?”
I shrugged, chuckling. “And I’m the head chef.”
Cypress scrubbed his hands over his face, and I thought about him asking me if I wanted coffee earlier.
I didn’t answer then, too nervous to think about caffeine, but now I would love a cup, especially made by our, his female.
“Zephyr and I went there the other day. They said the chef usually came out to greet the diners but was out that night.”
“You’re kidding me. The one night. I…Fate was toying with us.”
He reached across the table and patted my shoulder. “Not anymore. She brought us together now.”
“You’re right. Maybe she did. Hey, can I get that coffee now? I’m not as nervous, and I didn’t have any this morning because I was all wired up to meet you two.”
“Absolutely. What do you want?”
“Whatever you are having is fine. You make good choices.”
That comment was pointed. I didn’t mean it to be but it was. While he got up and ordered a coffee at the register and paid for it, like his wife didn’t own the place, I couldn’t help but stare at the female flitting around behind the counter. I’d caught her gaze a couple of times.
Her smile was contagious, and I longed to see it more.
My wolf begged me to pursue this. Not because of some pact but because of her. Of him. Because this all felt planned and right and timed so perfectly that I didn’t dare deny that it meant something in the bigger scheme of my life.
But she was human. Her profile said so. This would have to be handled delicately. I had all kinds of questions and talks I wanted to have with Cypress, but a coffeehouse, no matter who owned it, didn’t seem like the right place or time.
“Mocha latte and a scone because Zephyr just took them out of the oven. And…we wanted to know if you’d like to come over for dinner. At our house.”
“When?” I asked, not a second thought about it.
I’d have to change my schedule, do a lot of things ahead as soon as I left here, but I would make it happen.
Cypress had struck out and found the mate for both of us.
My wolf was sure of it. Me too… I’d had an inkling when I saw her at the farmer’s market.
But what did she think? If she was not all in, it was all off.
“Tonight?”