by Jane Wakely
He’d finally found his mate, the one thing every shifter hoped for, and he’d messed it all up. Fighting back the depression that threatened, he hoped Matt or Jenn could help. Maybe they knew who she was. If he found her again, he’d make it right and never let her go.
Chapter Three
Christina rolled off the couch when the shrilling ring of her cell-phone vibrated on the end table next to her head. Half-asleep, she reached for the phone three times before she found it and touched answer after she read Jenn’s name on the screen.
“No normal people are awake at this hour. Why are you calling me so early?” She said into the phone, settling back on the couch and closing her eyes again.
“Christina, it’s eleven o’clock, I thought for sure you’d be up by now,” Jenn laughed.
Cracking open one eye, Christina saw the sunlight shining through the curtain and glanced at the clock.
“’Why are you calling me?”
“To make sure you’re awake and to invite you to a barbeque later. Matt’s best friend is in town and I wanted to ask you something. Call me back after you have your coffee.”
“I’m awake. What did you want to ask me?”
“Well, I thought maybe because I left you without a roommate—and Matt trusts Bull with his life—that he could stay with you until he found a place of his own.”
“Bull?” Christina asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. What kind of name was Bull?
“It’s a nickname, I’m not sure of the reason. I thought we could meet him and you could decide if you wanted to extend the offer. He’s staying in a hotel right now.”
“You haven’t met him yet?”
“No, he just got into town. He got here sooner than we expected. We offered him our spare room, but he didn’t want to impose.”
Christina rolled her eyes. More than likely he didn’t want to be around the new couple. She loved Jenn and Matt, but they could be a little over the top sometimes. She definitely wouldn’t want to live with them, even if it was only for a few days.
“He can move in here.”
“Don’t you want to meet him first? I haven’t met him yet, Christina.” Christina understood her friend’s caution, but she trusted Matt and his judgment. If it didn’t work out, she’d get Matt to tell him to leave.
“I’ll meet him today, but if Matt trusts him, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“Okay, come over around four. You don’t need to bring anything. Matt’s going to cook burgers and I’m going to pick up some salad from the deli.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
Christina hung up the phone, made her way to the kitchen and started filling the coffee pot. She glanced at the newspaper sitting on the counter where she threw it the night before. If she was going to have a roommate, she didn’t need to look for an apartment anymore. At least not right now.
Her thoughts drifted to the man in the market. His dark brown gaze was imprinted in her brain. Too bad he hadn’t been as mesmerized by her as she was by him. She wondered why he asked all those questions only to dismiss her afterward. Why had he wanted to know? Was he disappointed that she wasn’t in a relationship?
The whole scenario played out in her mind again and she was more confused than ever. None of it made sense. She didn’t understand their reaction toward each other. Why had he let her go? Remembering his frown, she realized something she’d said disappointed him, but she had no idea what.
Christina knew over-thinking the encounter would only drive her crazy. More than likely she’d never see him again and would never know the reasoning behind his actions. It was best to let it go.
She pushed aside the memory and swallowed down the rest of her coffee before stepping into the warm spray of the shower. She did her best, but deep down she couldn’t fight the tiny worry that she’d never find another man that made her feel the way he did.
Chapter Four
After replaying the night before over and over until he was too tired to think anymore, Bull finally drifted into a restless sleep and slept until noon. He woke feeling tired, groggy and worst of all, cranky. Wanting to shake off his crappy mood, he showered and took a walk to the nearest fast food place for a quick lunch.
His bear itched to shift, run and hunt; angry that his mate got away. He controlled the urge, barely, because he didn’t want to be late to Matt’s and he knew he would be if he gave in.
Chestnut Rock was a beautiful town and he enjoyed exploring while on his walk. Bull was used to people moving out of his way, his size and voice was intimidating to everyone in his path, and today was no different. Normally it didn’t bother him, but today their reactions made him think of his mate and her response to him.
Growing up, he’d spent a long time coming to terms with his size and telling himself it didn’t matter. Most of the time it didn’t. He was happy with himself and he didn’t want to change anything—except his mate’s reaction toward him.
Shaking his head to clear it, Bull bought a coffee in one of the specialty shops and walked back to the hotel as he chugged it down. It had been a long time since he’d seen his friend and he was excited to meet Jenn. He didn’t want to be a downer when he got there.
In the hotel parking lot he dug out his keys, jumped into his truck and drove to Matt’s.
****
Jenn was perfect for Matt. Bull was tremendously happy for his friend. Since they’d talked last, Jenn had decided to become a wolf like Matt and they’d formed a mating bond. A shifter could find his mate and live a long and happy life without changing her, or the pair could form a mating bond. While both pairings were good, a bonded pair shared more.
A mate is changed by tasting the shifter’s blood. Once the blood is tasted, the mate will change into the same animal as the shifter and a mating bond is formed when both mates shift together for the first time. Mates already have strong, sometimes powerful reactions toward each other, but a mating bond is a deeper connection.
Love and happiness seemed to swirl around the couple making Bull even more grateful he declined the offer to stay in their spare bedroom.
After their initial meeting, Jenn left to run some errands before her friend showed up, giving the guys time to catch up.
“What’s going on, Johnson?” Matt asked once Jenn drove away.
“What do you mean?”
“Something about you is off. Is everything okay?” Bull appreciated his friend’s concern and even though he had planned to ask about the girl, he’d changed his mind. He didn’t want to talk about his misery anymore.
“Yeah, everything is fine. Jenn’s great. I’m so happy for you.” Bull responded, avoiding the subject.
“Oh. My. God. You’ve found your mate. How did it happen? When? Where is she? Does she live in Chestnut Rock?” Matt was more excited than a kid at Christmas.
Bull sighed.
“I met her and I messed it all up. I don’t know anything about her except she’s single. I have no way of finding her.”
“How do you know she’s single? What’s her name?” Matt asked, clearly confused.
“I don’t know her name. I only managed to find out she was single before I realized she was terrified of me and I let her go,” Bull said miserably.
“Wha—?” Matt started before Bull cut him off.
“Look, can we not talk about it right now? I seriously messed up and I’d rather not talk about it today, okay?” His skin was feeling itchy and he was fighting the need to run.
“Okay, I’m sure it isn’t that bad. When you’re ready to talk, I’m here.” Matt gave a sympathetic nod.
“It is, but thanks, man. I appreciate it.” Bull was happy his friend was ready to drop it. He wasn’t ready to talk about it yet and he didn’t want to ruin dinner. He was ready to change the subject. “You said something earlier about a possible place to stay?”
Matt smiled.
“Yeah, Jenn’s best friend has an empty room now that Jenn has fully moved in here. S
he said you’re welcome to stay with her until you find a place.”
“She? No way! I’m not living with any woman unless she’s my mate. Just the thought of it makes my skin crawl.” He shook his head and rolled his shoulders for emphasis.
“Okay, okay. It was just a suggestion.” Matt laughed. “How was I supposed to know you’d find your mate your first night in town?”
“Second, but yeah, who knew?” Bull laughed, too. “I appreciate the offer though, it’s really generous. I hope she won’t be offended.”
“Nah, she won’t be. Christina’s great. I think you’ll really like her. She’s the one who let me kiss her in the bar before I met Jenn. The kiss didn’t do anything for either of us, but…”
Bull stopped focusing on what Matt was saying as a familiar smell met his nose. A combination of fresh mountain air and sweet, ripe strawberries…the girl from the market! He turned toward the side of the house and watched his mate step around the corner toward them.
“Okay, bye.” She laughed and pushed a button on her phone. “Matt! Jenn said…” She stopped walking and talking when their eyes met.
All rational thought left Bull as he realized the situation. Jenn’s best friend was his mate and Matt had kissed her. Nothing else mattered.
“You kissed my mate?” He roared and advanced on his friend.
Chapter Five
Christina laughed as she hung up the phone. Jenn called to say she was running late and asked her to remind Matt to start the grill. His wife had known he’d forget as soon as she left and he and Bull really started talking. Christina was ready to give them a hard time about acting like a couple of girls when she looked up and locked eyes with the man from the market.
His intense stare sent an inferno of heat straight to her core before it turned to rage and he turned toward Matt yelling, “You kissed my mate!”
His mate? Who talked like that and who was Matt kissing? There wasn’t any more time to think about it because the guy charged up to Matt with his fist pulled back.
“Bull! Don’t!” Christina yelled without thinking. She’d remembered his name from her earlier conversation with Jenn and she hoped she got it right. The thought of that big paw of a fist, with the power of his mammoth body behind it, coming in contact with Matt’s face had her worried. They were supposed to be best friends.
When she yelled his name, Bull turned back to look at her, his face a mixture of panic and pain, before he dropped his arm and ran into the forest. Matt’s backyard wasn’t fenced where it met the forest line and several dense trees aided in Bull’s sudden disappearance.
Matt called his name a few times before giving up. He turned back toward her when Jenn arrived carrying several grocery bags.
“What’s going on?” Jenn asked.
“That’s what I’d like to know.” Christina said, looking from Jenn to Matt. “Who are you kissing?”
“You’re kissing someone?” Jenn asked quietly.
“I’m not kissing anyone,” Matt sighed. “I can explain, but I think we better go inside.”
Christina looked back toward the forest hoping to catch a glimpse of Bull before she followed the couple into the house.
****
Shifters!
Matt and Jenn, and apparently Bull, were shifters. She wouldn’t have believed it if Matt hadn’t shown her. Watching him change wasn’t the nightmare she thought it would be when he’d confessed to turning into an animal. He’d closed his eyes, took a deep breath and…changed. The process was fast and if she wasn’t looking, she might have missed it. One second Matt was standing before her as a man, the next he was a wolf. The reverse was the same.
When they stepped inside the house, Matt first focused on Jenn, talking with her in whispers. Christina watched them, longing for someone to love her with the same intensity.
Careful not to give away too much of Bull’s personal information, Matt shared with her about the lonely lives of shifters and the strong bond mates shared.
That explained her desire to answer his questions in the market, along with his rage toward Matt at the mention of their shared kiss before he’d met Jenn. What she didn’t understand was the idea that Bull thought she was afraid of him. Matt told her Bull thought she was terrified when he held her wrist the night before. If they were mates and mates shared a strong connection, why wouldn’t he understand her feelings?
Matt’s only explanation was that the feelings were strong and sometimes confusing at first. The reminder of he and Jenn’s first date, or almost date, was enough to convince her. Now she only had to convince Bull.
Matt had driven through town, stopped at the hotel and even run through the woods in wolf form while Jenn tried Bull’s cell multiple times. With no sign of him, they finally decided to end their search for the night. Matt tried to convince her of Bull’s safety, but Christina still worried. Now that she knew where to find him, she’d stopped at the hotel on her way home but the lights were off and he hadn’t answered the door.
She’d have to wait until tomorrow to see him, but she had a plan. Christina was going to prove to her mate she wasn’t afraid of him and hope he didn’t run off again when he really got to know her.
It was scary making the first step, but if it meant finding love, it’d be worth it.
Chapter Six
He was a fool. Bull took another sip of the nasty hotel room coffee he’d made and ran a hand through his hair. What had he been thinking almost hitting his friend? He didn’t know. Even though he’d known the incident had been months ago, the idea of Matt’s lips touching Christina’s drove him crazy. Before he could logically think it through, he’d gone for blood. Her voice calling his name was the only thing that stopped him from pounding his friend. His best friend.
After taking off into the woods like a lunatic, he’d run to the cave he used earlier and shifted. The unusual scents of the forest kept him from leaving and he’d fallen asleep in the safety of the cavern. When the sun rose he shifted, walked back to the hotel, showered and changed. He visited the room filled with pastries and muffins only to find the coffee pot empty.
Bear Claws always cheered him up, the name was funny for a sweet treat, but he could barely muster a smile as he scarfed down the tasty Danish.
He needed to apologize to Matt. He picked up his cell and noticed several missed calls. Two of them had gone to voice mail. The first message was from Jenn. She asked him to please come back and relayed how worried they all were. The second was from Matt assuring him all was forgiven and encouraging him to talk to Christina. He appreciated their support, but how would that go? He’d already messed up twice. How would he convince Christina to give him a chance now?
Someone knocked on the door and Bull ignored it. On the second knock he grumbled his way to the door, certain he’d put out the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign. Pulling the door open hastily, his grumpy words died in his throat when he saw who stood on the other side.
“Hi.” Christina smiled, her bright blue eyes looking up at him expectantly.
“Christina…” Several thoughts ran through his head but he couldn’t seem to voice any of them. How did she find him? Why? What was she doing here? She was so beautiful!
She cleared her throat and looked past him into the room. Bull wasn’t sure if she was checking to see if he was alone or waiting for him to invite her in. It was as if he’d never been around a woman before—he hadn’t been around this woman—but he had nothing to hide and wanted her with him. Without a word he moved out of the doorway and she walked past him into the small room.
“Wow, this place is…tiny.” Christina said as she turned in place and looked around.
“Yeah, it is.” Bull laughed. Somehow he’d started to relax. “More so because I’m not.”
“Yeah.” Christina faced him again, laughed too and took a deep breath. “I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch with me today. I’m not really a great cook, but there’s a salmon dish that I think turns out pretty good. I thoug
ht maybe we could go shopping and spend some time getting to know each other while I make it.”
“You want to cook for me?” He couldn’t believe it. After everything that had happened, she was reaching out to him. Maybe there was a chance he could make it right.
“Yes, but we can do it a different day if—”
“I’d love to spend the day with you.” Bull cut her off excitedly and hoped he didn’t sound like an idiot.
Her answering smile made it all worth it if he did.
****
Christina hated the thought of Bull in that tiny hotel room. Maybe at the end of the day she could convince him to move in. There was so much she still didn’t know about him, but even armed with the knowledge of shifters, the thought didn’t scare her like it should.
When they got to the parking lot, Christina looked at her sedan then at Bull. When did her car become so small?
“Would you like to drive?”
Bull followed her eyes to her car and smirked.
“Yeah, I’m over here.” He motioned with his hand and started walking toward the half-ton pick-up truck in the back of the lot.
Christina kept up with him easily and when he opened the passenger door, she climbed in with little effort. Bull grinned and closed her door, securing her inside.
“Where to?” He asked once he settled into his own seat and started the truck.
Christina gave directions to the health food store she shopped at sometimes and Bull found it easily.
The walk from the parking lot was short and by the time they’d pulled a basket out of the corral, several people had greeted Christina.
“You know a lot of people,” Bull commented as they wheeled their cart toward the back of the store.
“Not really. A lot of people know who I am because of my party planning business. I interact with a lot of people in the planning stages and I usually attend some part of the function to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
