by DJ Bryce
“Nope, help yourself.”
I eased into the chair, stretching my legs out before me as I took in the party around us, smiling at the laughter being shared between the pack, then took a tug on my beer, before letting out a sigh.
“Nice night,” I stated, watching Brick from the corner of my eye.
His attention had diverted from the sky and had caught on Mateo, who was currently manning the grill with a huge grin on his face.
“Yup,” Brick replied distractedly.
“So, how long have you been in love with Mateo?” I asked casually, causing his head to whip so fast in my direction that I worried he’d get whiplash.
“Wha?” he muttered, his mouth hanging open. “How did you…?”
I settled back and looked out over the yard.
“Being the Chief is a funny thing. I’ve been able to spot all of the mates of my people, sometimes before they even knew it. Just one of those things… The chemistry between the two of you is a tangible thing, which makes it all the more surprising that no one else has noticed. But, after the conversation we had earlier, about the fact that to date there have only been mates of the opposite sex in your pack, I think it’s due to the fact that your people are wearing blinders. They’ve only known one way, so they only see one way. You and Mateo are going to have to make them see.”
Brick scoffed and said bitterly, “Yeah, right. Mateo won’t even admit it to himself, there’s no way he’d going to come out to his precious pack.”
I turned my face toward Brick, could see the hope and longing there, and said, “Then, first, you’re going to have to make him see. Mates are undeniable, and as hard as it may be for Mateo to accept, not only for himself, but as the leader of your pack, he won’t be able to ignore the fact that you’re his mate for long. Not only would he have to live out the rest of his days alone, but you would as well, and no shifter… Bear, wolf, cheetah, or whatever… would wish a sad and lonely existence on their mate.”
Chapter 4
Natasha
I was in a full-blown panic.
The bar had never been so clean, and I couldn’t stop. Wiping down tables, cleaning the floors until they sparkled, hell, I’d even organized the supply closet.
I was freaking out.
One look, one touch, and, shit, my system had gone haywire.
I’d never felt anything like it before in my life and it scared the beejesus out of me.
I wiped the bar furiously as I tried to block the image of Logan. God, he was big. Bigger than Mateo, who was huge. Maple brown hair that was just a little too long, strong, striking features, and the most intense eyes I’d ever seen.
He was… magnetic.
My body tingled with awareness at the memory of his face, of his hand brushing against my skin, of the way he’d looked at me, like I was the answer to life’s questions.
Was it any wonder that I’d run out of Mateo’s like my ass was on fire? Something had been on fire, but it wasn’t my ass…
I was so caught up in my thoughts and feelings, that I didn’t realise someone had entered the bar, which was closed, until a hand touched my shoulder.
I screamed and whirled, my rag flying into Brick’s face.
“Jesus,” my brother cried, pulling the rag off with one hand, while clutching his chest with the other. “Are you trying to kill me?”
The breath rushed back into my lungs and I looked at my brother dryly.
“With a rag?” I asked with a chuff. “You’re such a drama queen.”
“No shit,” was Brick’s response as he watched me with wide eyes. “I called your name three times when I walked in, so there was no reason for you to attack me with cleaning supplies.”
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” I said, my voice evening out along with my heart rate.
We stood there staring at each other for a couple beats, then started laughing.
“You should’ve seen your face,” Brick managed through his laughter.
We laughed until the nerves were gone, then I put my arms around my brother and squeezed.
“Thanks, I needed that,” I told him.
“The shit scared out of you, or the laugh?”
“Both,” I admitted, feeling decidedly better in the comfort of his arms.
Brick held me close for a minute, then pulled back and looked down at me.
“What’s up, Tash? Why’d you run out of the party like that? Logan?” he asked. Brick had always been a perceptive bastard.
I let out a deep sigh and let my head fall forward onto his chest.
“Yes,” I whispered, and just the sound of his name made me tremble. Brick let the silence fall around us until I was ready to say more. My brother was good like that. Patient, kind, intuitive. I tilted my head back to look up at him and admitted, “He’s the one.”
Brick dipped his chin, to let me know he understood, but to go on.
“I had no idea it would be that way… I mean, we grew up hearing the stories and all, but nothing prepared me for the jolt. The absolute certainty,” I took a deep breath. “The second my eyes landed on his face, I knew. I didn’t know what I knew, not yet, just that he was someone very special… Then he touched me, and it was unlike anything I’d ever felt. An electric current, and at the same time, a sense of calm. Of rightness. I didn’t know what to do, or how to handle it, so I ran.”
I stepped back and ran my hands over my biceps, watching my brother warily to try and decipher his thoughts.
When a look of total understanding crossed his face and he nodded and said, “I know…” my wariness turned to suspicion.
“How, do you know?” I asked, watching him closely.
“I know what you felt, what Gilly feels with Maximus, because I’ve felt it too. The stories are all true… maybe not in the way mom and dad made us believe, and probably believed themselves, but true all the same.”
“What? When? Who?” I stuttered.
Brick’s face turned sad as he shook his head slightly.
“Let’s just focus on you tonight, huh? Save mine for another day.”
His eyes were pleading as he spoke, so I nodded, agreeing to put a pin in it for now, but vowing to get to the bottom of it sooner or later.
“Thanks, Tash, how about a beer?”
“Sounds perfect,” I said, turning to grab two cold ones out of the refrigerator.
I walked around the bar and sat across from Brick at the table he’d chosen, popping the cap before setting the beer in front of him.
“I actually talked to Logan for a while tonight,” Brick said carefully, eyes on me.
“Oh, yeah?” I asked, hoping I sounded nonchalant when inside I was dying to beg for every minute detail.
“Yeah,” Brick replied with a grin, not fooled in the least.
I sat down with a thud, took a long drink of my beer then let out a long sigh before saying, “Fine, tell me.”
“Well, you already know he’s F-I-N-E fine, but he’s also a really good dude. Yes, he’s hugemongous, and carries himself in that self-assured cocky way that Alpha’s are known to do, but let’s face it, we totally dig that…” When he paused, I nodded my agreement. “But underneath all that surface shit, he seems kind, smart and funny. He obviously cares for his pack, or clan, or whatever they call it in the bear world, and he’s very open-minded. I have to say, even after just talking to him for a little while, I really like him. And, Tash, I think I really like him for you.”
“Really?” I asked, wondering if Logan could really be as great as all that, even as I felt panic bubbling within me.
“Yeah, and damn, I would have had to be blind not to see the sparks flying between you two. I can’t wait to see what happens next time you’re together.”
I nodded noncommittally and took a swig, but my heart was pounding at the thought of being in the same room as Logan again.
Chapter 5
Logan
“So, how are you doing with everything… really?”
&n
bsp; Everyone else had left Mateo’s and the place had been cleaned up. Now it was just Mateo and I, kicked back on his sofa drinking a couple beers. We hadn’t gotten to talk much, with everyone around, but now that we were alone, I wanted to make sure my friend was really okay.
“What do you mean? Max and Gilly?” Mateo asked.
I watched his face, read his expression and body language, and realized that he really was unaffected by the fact that the woman he’d claimed as his mate for years, had actually been meant for his Bravo. Plus, there was the conversation I’d had earlier with Brick… I knew Brick was in love with Mateo, but had no idea if Mateo felt the same. If Brick was his mate, and he knew it but was fighting it, I didn’t think it was my place to intervene.
At least, not until I knew more about the situation.
I nodded, even though I’d already guessed his answer, and peeled the label off of my bottle as I waited.
Mateo sighed, then leaned back against the cushions and stretched his legs out in front of him. After a few moments, he turned his head and grinned wryly.
“I’m happy for them, truly, I am, but…” Mateo began, then paused, his lips turning down.
“But?” I prompted.
“Well, it’s just that Gilly and I have been together for so long, it almost feels like losing a member of the family. Yes, we were only pretending to be mates, and of course, I’m ecstatic that two of my best friends in the world have found love and happiness with each other. But… I don’t know what to do without her.”
“Well, it’s not like she’s going anywhere, and you’re right, it’s great that Max and Gilly have claimed each other. I understand what you’re saying about having that companion, that person who is there for you no matter what, and I believe you’ll get that back, tenfold, when you find your mate.”
Mateo shook his head, his expression shuttered.
“I don’t think that’s in the cards for me.”
Before I could broach the subject of Brick, Mateo’s cell phone rang and he answered.
The tone on the other side had my bear itching to get out and when Mateo sprung to his feet, I did the same.
“What? When? Can you tell how bad? I’m on my way.”
Mateo had hung up and was crossing to the door before I registered the fact that he’s already disconnected the call.
“What’s going on?” I asked, grabbing my keys off the table as I followed him out the door.
“That was Gregory, the combine is missing, there’s damage to the silo and the crops are on fire.”
“Fuck,” I muttered as I headed toward my tuck, figuring it would be better to drive separately just in case we had to split up. “I’ll follow you.”
By the time we pulled into the field, the rest of the council was already there, and had already begun to shift. I jumped down and headed over, nodding to Maximus who was still in human form, before surveying the scene with my human eyes. Once I was satisfied that I’d seen all I could, I shifted.
Being a bear my scent of smell was heightened and I picked up the stale scent of the assholes who’d been here before us. I could smell their excitement, rage, and a little underlying fear. They were also shifters, which pissed me off and had me tearing off after Mateo and his pack.
I noticed the pack was giving me a wide berth, which was smart. I knew them and could distinguish who was who because I knew their scent from the party earlier, but when I was tracking like I was now, it was best to stay out of my bear’s way.
After about five miles, the rumble of vehicles made me pause. I watched as they approached, then roared when I saw a man in the back of a big truck pull a gun and shoot into the middle of the pack, who were all currently trying to shield their alpha.
As the pack reacted, I rushed to where I’d seen a wolf fall and shifted as I fell to the ground to see the wolf shifting into human form. It was Kevin, the youngest of the council. I watched his black fur turn to cocoa skin, then lifted him into my arms, careful not to touch his wound.
Knowing the gunshot wound needed to be seen to as soon as possible, I took off and ran back toward where we’d parked. It was five miles, and would have been faster in bear form, but in human form I was faster than any normal person could be. After about two miles, Mateo’s wolf caught up to me and when we got back to the vehicles, he shifted and we put Kevin gently in the back of his truck, then headed to the pack doctor.
Thirty minutes later, we were at Docs, dressed and pacing the waiting room.
“Any idea who did this?” I asked, taking Mateo’s dirty, exhausted face.
“No, I can’t imagine anyone knowingly doing such damage, and Kevin…” Mateo ran his hand over his head in obvious frustration.
“Looks like you have an enemy.”
“Yes, we do,” Mateo said, his face hardening as he looked at the door where Kevin was being treated.
“I’m going to tell Max and the guys to head back to the office and put coffee on. Once we know Kevin is in the clear, we’ll head that way and discuss the plan. I can’t thank you enough for your help, Logan, you’ve gone above and beyond for my pack. You should go back to my place, get some rest.”
I gave a sharp nod, then said, “I’ll make sure he’s good first,” I tipped my chin to the door. “Then I’ll head out, but Mateo, I’m just a phone call away if anything comes up and you need my help. I’ll let you and your pack handle business, but I’ll be happy to help you pay back the fuckers who did this.”
“Thanks, brother, I know you will, and I appreciate it,” Mateo said, looking worriedly at the door.
Then we both continued pacing as we waited.
Chapter 6
Natasha
“’Lo,” I managed as I put my cell to my ear. My head was pounding and I was trying to pull myself fully out of sleep. It felt like I’d just left Brick to come home and get some rest.
“Hey, Natasha, I’m here at Howlers.”
It took a moment for me to register that it was my friend, Heidi, on the line, but I had no idea what she was talking about.
I pulled the phone away, noticed that it was barely seven am and asked, “Why?”
“Everyone’s bringing by their dishes… for the Threehorn Pack. Remember, we’re supposed to take them over this morning, to welcome them to the area,” Heidi replied patiently, her happy tone never wavering.
Heidi was the happiest, most organized person I knew, and the one thing she wanted more than anything, was to find her mate. She was always the first to volunteer whenever the pack needed anything, and I felt like a jerk for totally forgetting that I’d agreed to help her deliver this morning.
“Let me jump in the shower will quick, then I’ll be there. Fifteen minutes, tops,” I promised, then hung up when she said she’d wait.
I made it there in fourteen minutes, apologizing to Heidi as I jumped out and ran to unlock the door.
“Don’t worry about it, I had the ladies load their dishes right into the back of my Corolla,” Heidi said, waving off my apology.
“I have some stuff inside, too.”
“Great,” Heidi said, following behind me as I opened the door and crossed to the refrigerator where I’d kept the dishes that had been dropped off previously.
“Maybe we could put some foil on top?” Heidi suggested, and rather than argue that the dishes would be fine as they were, I nodded and went to the storeroom to grab some foil.
We were covering the last of the dishes when I turned at the sound of the door opening to see Gilly come walking in.
“Hey,” my sister said in greeting. “What are you guys up to so early?”
“Hey,” I replied, shooting her a smile.
“Good Morning, Gilly,” Heidi greeted her happily. “We had everyone bring their dishes here so we could consolidate and take them all to the Threehorn Pack together this morning. You’re free to join us, if you’d like.”
Gilly raised an eyebrow at me, causing me to bite back a grin at Heidi’s exuberance.
&n
bsp; “Have you heard from Brick?” Gilly asked, and I nodded.
“Yeah, he came by last night and helped me close, then we had a beer before I left him snoring happily in your apartment. I’m sure that’s where he still is, and plans to stay until at least noon.”
“Cool,” Gilly replied, then looked at us and said, “You guys go ahead, I’m gonna stay here and make sure everything’s ready for lunch.”
The three of us loaded the rest of the items into Heidi’s car, then we got in and left Gilly to open Howlers and headed toward Threehorn land.
“So, um, Tash, now that Gilly is with Max and she and Mateo are no longer an item, do you think he’ll be looking… for his actual mate?” Heidi asked, her tone hesitant.
I shrugged, my gaze out the window as we drove.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” I admitted. “Everything’s been happening so fast…”
“Yeah,” she murmured, then took a deep breath and asked, “Do you think… that is, have you, um, wondered if maybe you are his mate? I mean, you are a Matthews after all.”
I swung my head toward her and practically shouted, “No, jeez… gross, Mateo is like a brother to me, and, he’s been with my sister for practically ever. We do not belong together.”
The little voice in my head screamed, that’s because you’ve already met your mate… just last night, but I ignored her. I couldn’t worry about my reaction to Logan right now, didn’t know how to deal with it, so I’d decided to take things one step at a time, and that meant, all I was concerned with, was delivering these meals.
“Oh, okay, I just wondered,” Heidi said softly, and although I didn’t want to hurt her, I also didn’t want her to get her hopes up.
“But, Heidi, if you and Mateo were mates, you’d already know… You’d have felt it. I’m not sure if he’s met his mate already or not, and if so, why he and Gilly would have kept up their act for so long, but, I’m sorry, honey, you’d already know,” I repeated gently, and watched Heidi nod, even as her shoulders fell.