by Daphne Snow
Mina's family invited Frannie to camp with them in upstate New york over the summer. Everything was great until Mina had suggested they have a race in form. Fey had been a slower runner than Mina's leopard Mya. Fey was a damned bear there was no way she was gonna outpace the leopard. Still, though it had upset the bears' pride and she pinned Mya and bit her pretty hard.
Mina still had a scar on her thigh from it. Frannie had expected Mina to completely hate her and never wanna talk again. But instead, she showed up the next week at Frannie's house with a bunch of makeup for them to experiment with to cover the bite. She couldn't remember how many years Frannie had spent apologizing for it. Only for Mina to tell her over and over again that it was okay.
She sighed.“I know I'm sorry.” Mina looked at her with a warning. “But she's really gotten better. It's only when I'm super stressed out that she does anything anymore. California has been good for both of us.”
“I'm so jealous. Hopefully, by next year I'll have enough to come out with you.” Frannie remembered how mad Mina was when she told her she was moving to California. She wanted to go with her but she couldn't. She had been mad at Frannie for weeks. Right up until the day she had to leave.
Then she showed up at the airport telling her how much she was going to miss her. They were still close thankfully. Frannie didn't know what she would have done if she no longer had Mina in her life.
Suddenly they heard the front door open and close. The whispered chatter of a few men as they headed up the stairs. Zelik, Mina's brother most likely. She looked at Mina and she seemed distant and distracted as her eyes followed the steps as they walked above them.
She laughed nervously.“Alright, let's go to sleep before Ya-Ya comes down and decides to serve us up on a platter to her knitting circle.” Fran laughed awkwardly not sure what was going on and nodded her head. It was better not to question it. As they readied for bed the only real thing on her mind was if a certain handsome man was really her mate. She soon followed her bear's lead and fell into a deep sleep.
❅❅❅
When Frannie awoke that morning her head felt much clearer and Fey had calmed significantly throughout the night. Her dreams unsurprisingly consisted of Mr.Benson and how she admitted that she thought he would satisfy her. What would have happened if he didn’t stop? She sighed wishing it all hadn’t been one panty melting dream.
She saw Mina wasn't in bed with her but the strong smell of sausage and eggs from under the door called to her stomach. She threw the covers back and quickly headed to the bathroom adjacent to Mina's room.
She felt like she was glowing this morning. Something about yesterday really sparked the confident fire in her. So she took a scalding hot shower and brushed her teeth. She did dare though, to throw on some more tight fitting clothes then she would normally wear.
Frannie wasn't unattractive. Actually far from it, she had eyes that were commonly referred to as bedroom eyes. She was curvy, very curvy, her butt filling out her jeans nicely and her waist tucked in the middle of her low cut sweater. Her golden honey skin was near flawless and dewy.
The comments over the years however from her mother and ex-boyfriends had left her feeling undesirable. So she would often poke and prod at her stomach and arms. She’d make comments about how large her thighs were and even believed the number on the scale was what dicated her worth to the world. Over time she realized that wasn’t true but she was still body conscious at times.
Even though all shifters had soul mates her biggest fear was to meet hers and he would reject her on the spot for not being the same size as a model. Axl would want us. He does want us. His human is handsome and he wants you as well.
Fran furrowed her brow. “Who's Axl?” She asked her bear which garnered a chuckle from her. She didn't know who this Axl guy was but she was curious to know his thoughts. Fey was sweet but very haughty when she wanted to be. The car last night. Our mates. Frannie deliberately ignored the mate's comment earning an annoyed huff from Fey.
So the bear was named Axl. It's cute.
Alexander came off as a very cold, stuck up person so Frannie was surprised to hear he had given his bear such an endearing name. Was he a black bear like her or a grizzly? Maybe even a polar bear though uncommon but not impossible.
Benson was a big guy so she opted he was probably a big warm grizzly under those cold features. Fran snorted her mind wandering to what that man may be doing right now. Was he just waking up like her? Did he sleep shirtless? Nude even? How big was his-?
She shook her head, blushing at the thought. Fey laughed at her bashfulness. The two of them often seemed like polar opposites.
It didn't matter anyhow because she wasn't going to see him ever again. She would welcome this glowing feeling this morning but she wouldn't get her hopes up. She still had to go to her parents after all. If anyone knew how to ruin her mood it was them.
He is our mate. Believe me. Fey said again. Her words were strong and confident making Frannie halt in her thoughts. Last night Frannie had questioned a lot of what the small bear said, considering how out of sorts they were. But Fey truly believed Axl and Alexander were their mates. How could Frannie know for sure though? Maybe Fey was still just holding onto her confused feelings from yesterday. She figured if anyone would know it'd be Ya-Ya.
She had found Mina in the kitchen with her grandmother. Her darker skin ablaze with beauty as the sun hit her. Her bountiful curls were wrapped up in a silk scarf to protect them as she cooked. She was making them breakfast which smelled amazing. Frannie hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday, she was starving. Fragrant smells of sausage and eggs with toast filled her nose.
“Smelling amazing!” Frannie basically sang. Mina looked at her wide eyed. “Oooh someones in a good mood this morning.”
The older pale woman seated at the table waved Fran over, giving her a hug. “It's good to see you Ya-Ya” Fran held her gently. The almost eighty year old leopard shifter though held on tightly. Fran didn't have much in the way of family and when she and Mina became friends Ya-Ya welcomed her with open arms.
Fran sat down, the pale green and yellow retro kitchen feeling cozy and familiar.
” You look like you slept well. I dare say you're even glowing a little.” Mina said, pushing around some sausages in the pan. Fran rolled her eyes and Ya-Ya let out a little coughing laugh. Not wanting to stall as the idea of a potential mate was both exciting and terrifying, Frannie cleared her throat.
“Hey, Ya-Ya I wanted to ask you something? What do you know about mates? Like what happens?” she perked up looking surprised at the question. In truth, Frannie didn't even know if the woman's late husband had been her mate. She might not even be asking the right person.
“Well, that's a bit of a tough question.” She coughed lightly into her hand. Her slicked back grey hair and hands with light brown spots aging her. “It depends. Normally though your leopard or in your case your bear just tells you. They recognize the mate and then ya know you have a bunch of sex.” She winked at Fran grinning. Frannie looked away shyly, almost regretting asking. But she continued on. If Benson was her mate somehow then she needed as much information as she could get.
She genuinely didn’t think she was ready for a mate. It would turn her life upside down.
“Fey kinda told me he was but we were both super tired. I don’t know if that counts.” She blushed shyly hoping the old woman understood.
She just nodded and continued.“Did she tell you the bear's name? The name of the shifters animal if it has one is sacred between the human and animal. Especially men, they don’t give up the name that easily unless it's their mate asking. It would be handing over power to that person.” She said matter of factly whilst taking a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and pulling one out. You could just believe me when I tell you he is our mate. Fey muttered none to happy Frannie asked for a second opinion.
Ya-Ya glanced at Mina who was intently listening but also still cooking her back turned to them.
She lit it and inhaled for a long moment before breathing out. A plume of grey smoke left her wrinkled lips.
Mina tensed. “I swear to the gods if I turn around and you've got a cigarette hanging from your mouth I'm gonna put you in a nursing home in Alaska.” Frannie couldn't help but snort as the little old woman quickly put out the cigarette and slid it back into the box with others before returning it to her pocket. She narrowed her gaze at Minas back and said something in Yiddish that sounded a lot like a curse.
Mina turned around glaring at her with the hot pan full of sausages. She started to place them on the plates in the kitchen when Frannie decided to keep going.
“Yea actually this morning she called him Axl. She's said he's our mate to and I just dunno if I should trust that I guess.'' Mina stopped mid-movement the sausage sliding out of the pan and onto Frans plate with a clattering thunk. She blinked and a smile as wide as the house grew on her face.
Mina nearly threw the pan on the stove and clapped her hands over her mouth “Oh my gods' girl, that piece of sexy man meat is your mate! I gotta admit he’s a little too bear like for my taste but still super jealous.”
Ya-Ya laughed but then coughed into a napkin. “He looks like he could go all night.” She said narrowing her eyes and looking at nothing in particular probably imagining things Frannie would rather not think of.
“I don't know, I don't know maybe.” Fran smiled her heart skipping a few beats. Our mate, we must find him. He belongs with us. Fey urged in the back of her head. Elation and terror were coming and going like an exaggerated tide within her. Was she ready for something this big in her life? She honestly didn’t know. But the idea of that sexy mysterious man being her mate wasn’t such a terrible thought.
Heavy footsteps echoed down the stairs, stopping at the mouth of the kitchen. The joy and banter was quickly sucked out of the room.
“What's all this mate talk. I can hear you from upstairs. I don't wanna hear that shit in my house.” They all just stared at him silently, an unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth. Ya-Ya spoke up.
“Last time I checked you little bastard I’m not dead yet it's still my house." She grumbled at him and he just rolled his eyes. Taking up the seat next to Frannie, Mina quickly laid out a plate for him.
Zelik, Mina's brother, was handsome, Fran had to begrudgingly admit. She even had a crush on him when she was a teen. He was fair haired unlike Mina and tall. Nearly bumping his head on the doorway as he walked in. Though she never met their parents, Zelik was said to get his looks from his mom.
One would typically look at the trio and think there is no way in hell Ya-Ya and Zelik were related to Mina. Both Ya-Ya and Zelik were white and Mina was melanin enriched. Where their hair was smooth and silky hers was curly and bouncy. Their proud noses were nothing like the smaller button nose on Mina. Their eyes were big and round where Minas were smaller and slanted slightly. Even when Frannie had first met them she didn’t know what to make of it. Was she adopted, or a friend's kid they watched?
Frannie of course had learned now not to judge a complicated book by its unassuming cover. In truth Mina was Zeliks sister, his half sister. Apparently Mina’s mother was their fathers true mate. When it all came to light he left his wife, Zeliks mother, and married Minas.
Supposedly all was well until they passed. Mina didn’t like to talk about it and Zelik was tight lipped about any and everything that occured in his life. She tried in the beginning to befriend him and thought a few times the crush she developed was going to go places. Boy was Frannie wrong.
Over the years Frans' crush turned to a great distaste for him. He was the reason Mina was still trapped in Brooklyn. He froze her inheritance account until she turned twenty-five of which she still had three years left. He’s refused to let her even work. Keeping her cooped up in her room like a hen to slaughter.
She had no idea why he did it. A few times Frannie believed he was trying to protect her. In reality it was probably because he was afraid she’d have a better life than he ever could. She had all the potential in the world and he was just getting in the way.
The rest of breakfast had been silent. The large sleek man's overbearing presence hushed any further chatter. She noticed a few times he had glanced over at her sneering as he ate. Frannie just ignored him though having been used to his glares.
Thankfully Zelik agreed to let Mina use the shared family car to take Frannie to her parents' house in Bensonhurst a few neighborhoods away. She wasn't exactly excited at the idea of having to take the subway alone. So she was thankful somewhere in that cold body Zelik still had a heart.
The ride over was nice. They had talked about Fran's work in the wildlife reserves and living out in California. Fran was constantly seeing new overpriced housing developments and commercial buildings being built closer and closer to the few places animals had left. She was happy she was able to do something to save those that didn't have a voice for themselves.
Frannie felt content just hanging out with her best friend and talking like old times.
They reminisced over the antics when they were in school. How they planned to live such exciting lives and travel together. An awkward silence fell over them though. Even with all the plans they made, none of them had happened.
At least not in the way they hoped. Sure Fran finally escaped Brooklyn but she did so without her best friend. The look on Minas face when she left her at the airport, was something that still choked at her heart. Mina hadn't looked like she slept in days and the desperate hug at the end had tempted Frannie into staying. They were more than best friends, they were sisters, twin flames even.
“What are you gonna do today?” Mina suddenly asked. “I mean after you drop in to say hi. I figured we could go shopping.” She chirped gleefully.
Frannie sighed. “I have to actually see them. Not just for a few minutes you know they begged me to come. I can't visit and not spend time with them.” Though she intended to stay for at least the next week she was sure she could spend a lot of that time shopping with Mina instead of fighting with her Mom and rat faced Ray.
Frannie had thought Mina had picked up the hint when she packed in her suitcase into the trunk of the hybrid car.
“They left you there Frannie what the hell, this is bullshit. All they are gonna do is ask you for money and then spend it all on booze.” Mina was angry and Frannie understood, she was just as upset but she couldn’t just walk away from them.
Fran glanced out the window, buildings, and crowds, shifter and humans alike, passing by. Everyone bundled up due to the cold and the ground was starting to get that dirty snow look rather than a winter wonderland. It truly was a concrete jungle, something she hadn't missed.
She pleaded hoping Mina would understand. “They're my family Mina. I have to at least try.”
Frannie eyed her best friend. The only person in the world Fran felt like she could really trust. Her face was set in an expression of frustration.“Sure but for them, whiskey is thicker than blood Frannie.” She sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. “I swear if I don't like what I see I'm forcing you to spend the rest of the week with me and Ya-Ya.”
“I mean you have my hands tied.” Frannie joked as they parked in front of a white run down house. It was in the middle of a row of other multi-colored homes with perfect stained glass doors and trimmed little front lawns. Snow covered them looking like fluffy blankets.
Her parents' home stuck out like a sore thumb. An ugly bruised sore thumb.
The little windows were covered in dust and dirt and the chain-link fence and gate had rust set in. The numbers reading seventy-three on the door were broken and hanging. The steps leading up were cracked and grass overgrowing them. Just like the other snow covered the lawn but it was more like a moth eaten blanket with pockets of holes were tall thin grass stuck through it.
Thankfully it wasn't snowing now and the wind had quieted from last night. It was just cold and stale. Fey hadn't said much since this morning still shunn
ing Francesca over their supposed mate. But when she and Mina exited the car she growled slowly. Leave this place. We don't want to be here. We must leave and look for our mate.
She did her best to ignore the bear holding her resolve. She wouldn't let Fey get the best of her. Frannie was in control. Mina looked at her and her nose wriggled slightly, the smile fading as she cocked her head towards the run down house. Frannie scented the air as well her eyes wide with concern.
Blood and the nose wrinkling scent of high proof alcohol.
She wanted to run in and find out what was going on but she remained cautious. They approached the house slowly. Opening the little metal gate it made a fierce sound. The overgrown grass and snow on the path muffled their footsteps.
Frannie found the front door wide open. The screen door portion was tattered from misuse.
Mina was hot on her trail watching her back as the two women investigated. Walking over a broken whiskey glass with tiny drops of blood they entered the house. The crimson dots continued on the floor leading up the hallway to the living room where they suddenly stopped. The walls paint was cracked and peeling. The floorboards nearly creaked with every step and the house smelled of rotten food.
