“He’s here.” Elise turned her back to the ocean as she sensed Caleb.
“How did you know?” Karros spun around and stared at the cars parked next to the beach. “You can sense him?”
She smothered a smile. “I can. It’s as if we’re connected.”
“I know shifters experience the connection, but I always figured that was because of their unique senses. But you’re saying you have them, too?” Karros looked at her with disbelief.
“I don’t think I’ve got shifter senses.” She looked from side to side and then kept her head still as she focused on her hearing. “Nope, my vision and my hearing are just the same.”
“So, the only thing that’s changed is that you can sense Caleb.”
“Yes. I’m a little disappointed. I’d really like to have super speed.” Her eyes widened. “I wonder if that’s how come Ivan is so good in the kitchen. He uses his shifter speed to cook super-fast.” Then her mouth turned down at the corners. “Wow. What if those same senses are the reason he’s so good at cooking.”
“You think his enhanced sense of smell and taste help him?” Karros slid his arm around Elise’s shoulders and guided her toward Caleb. The bear shifter was waiting for them at the top of the steps leading down to the beach. Karros didn’t need his shifter senses to tell him that.
“Yes. It’s possible.” Her shoulders sagged. “If that’s the case then I have no chance of ever being as good as him.”
“If that was his secret then the world would be filled with shifter chefs. And it’s not. I think Ivan’s talent in the kitchen is something else. Something he can teach.” Karros, always the voice of reason.
“Hi there.” Caleb raised his hand as they approached. “When you said you were at the beach, I wondered if you were checking out the caves in case you didn’t find a place to stay tonight.”
“I didn’t know the man who wants to be my sister’s mate was so funny.” Karros shot Caleb a slightly hostile look.
“Now, now. We’re on the same team.” A shiver of excitement rushed through Elise as she climbed the steps to Caleb.
“We are.” Caleb bowed his head to Karros. “I know you’re upset about Flora and my brother, but I hope you don’t take it out on us.”
“Us.” Karros arched an eyebrow at Elise.
“Stop it,” she warned her brother. “You are trying to pick a fight.”
Karros sighed. “Sorry. This has been a strange few days. My world and my future have been turned upside down.”
“Karros expected to be sitting on a throne one day beside the next Lady of the Starlight Realm. Instead, he’s here on a beach outside of our world with me.” She held out her hands. “Not exactly a fair trade.”
“None of that is my fault,” Caleb reminded them.
“No, it’s not,” Karros agreed. “So let’s start again.” He held out his hand to Caleb. “Friends.”
“Friends.” Without hesitation, Caleb thrust his hand into Karros’s and the two men shook and made up.
“Thank you. I’m nervous enough about tomorrow without worrying about you two.” She gnawed on her bottom lip. “Is Ivan all right about me working in his kitchen? He was put on the spot and I know he wouldn’t have accepted me if it wasn’t for you.”
“Ivan might have agreed for you to work in his kitchen because of me,” Caleb began. “But whether you keep that position is up to you. He won’t let you stay if he thinks you can’t cook or can’t learn to cook. That would be wasting your time and his.”
“Oh, Elise can cook,” Karros said with the enthusiasm of a loving brother. “She just needs to refine her talent and learn to explore new dishes.”
“She also needs somewhere to sleep tonight.” Elise blushed at her brother’s compliments. He’d always been supportive but maybe he was blinded by love.
She mentally berated herself for not believing in herself. She’d had plenty of jobs in restaurants, working hard to get better until she’d hit a roadblock in her career. No one would take a chance on her running her own kitchen even though she knew she could do it. If she was ever going to realize her dream, she needed to have faith in her talents.
“We visited the two realtors in town.” Karros pulled a small selection of brochures out of his jacket. While they were waiting for Caleb to arrive, they’d sat on the beach, reading through the brochures and deciding if any of the apartments were worth viewing.
They had a shortlist of two.
“Great. I also have a couple of places we can look at.” He handed Elise the piece of paper Jeremy had printed. “This is a brand-new development.”
“Oh, this looks wonderful.” She glanced sideways at Karros. “It’s more than we budgeted.”
“We could go see it. I will need to get a job in town if we’re staying here long-term.”
Caleb jerked his head up at the word if. “Aren’t your plans long-term?”
“That depends,” Elise said. “But let’s not focus on what will happen if things go wrong. Instead, let’s try to make sure things go right.”
“Okay. Well, I also have a house for you to look at. I worked on it a few months ago. I spoke to the owner and he’s happy for you to go check it out. However, the front and back yards still need landscaping and there might be a few small jobs that need doing inside.”
Karros tucked the brochures from the real estate agents into his jacket. “Why don’t we see your properties? Hopefully one of them will be suitable. If not, we’ll arrange to view these apartments.”
Caleb looked at his watch. “We don’t have time to view the house before our appointment at the apartments. Shall we drive to the apartments now? We can check out the area before we go in.”
“Sure.” Elise glanced at her brother who seemed okay with the situation. Maybe things would work out. If they could find a great place to live and she could show Ivan she was a good chef who could become a great chef, then they could settle here and be happy.
Then she could take her time and get to know Caleb, who seemed like a real sweetheart. Although he might just be trying to win them over, so she’d accept being his mate.
“Shall we leave your car here and go in my truck?” Caleb asked.
“There seems little point taking two vehicles and since you know the way to both properties...” Karros raised a questioning eyebrow at his sister. “Unless you’d rather go separately?”
“No, I think it’s a good idea.” She’s expected to be the one convincing Karros it was a good idea. Her brother truly was trying to start over with Caleb.
“Okay.” Caleb turned around and headed for a blue truck, twirling his keys in his hand as he walked.
Elise took one last look at the ocean before she followed. “Is it true the town is called Wishing Moon Bay because wishes come true if you throw a stone into the ocean?”
“Sort of. I’ll help you find a wishing stone to throw in.” He put his hand on the tailgate of his truck and turned to face her. “As long as you promise not to wish me out of your life.”
“Why would I do that?” She tilted her head to one side. “I’m willing to give us a chance.”
Caleb’s warm smile spread across his face. “I’m happy to hear it. This is a shock for me, too. We can just take things slow.”
“I like slow.” Color covered her cheeks, and she ducked her head and went around to the passenger side of the truck.
Caleb opened the driver’s door and climbed in. Elise took one last look at the ocean, inhaling the tangy air before she clambered onto the front passenger seat. Karros slid in next to her and closed the door, before casting a cursory glance around the truck.
“I use it for work.” Caleb glanced down at the collection of invoices stuffed into a folder on the dashboard and the empty coffee cup on the floor.
“I wasn’t criticizing,” Karros replied.
“Your expression was.” Caleb wagged his finger at Karros. “It’s not all about looks. My truck is reliable and able to stand up to the worst o
f the weather.”
“How bad does the weather get?” Elise shivered. “Do you get a lot of snow?”
“Over the mountains. We do get some in town. And some winters the river freezes over, and we ice skate on it.” He chuckled. “You’ll love it here, honestly.”
“I don’t really like the cold.” She hugged herself as he drove away from the beach.
“The thing about the cold is when it’s freezing outside, or raining, then you stay inside in front of a fire, drinking hot chocolate and eating brownies.” His eyes lit up. “Then you get to snuggle up in bed. There’s nothing like feeling safe and snug while the wind whistles outside the window.”
“Does that mean you don’t like the cold either?” Elise asked.
“The cold never bothers me. I’m hot-blooded.” He side-eyed her, his expression telling her he would be good to keep her warm on a cold winter’s night. “My bear loves rolling in the snow. He likes playing in it, too.”
“Your bear.” She rocked back and forth as if trying to warm herself from the cold even though it was summer, and the weather was sunny. “What’s he like?”
“He’s a bear,” Karros said drily. “I guess he’s like any other bear.”
“Are you being tetchy again?” she asked.
“No, I’m just saying. A bear is a bear. Nothing special.”
“My bear is a part of me. I’d argue he isn’t just any bear.”
“Will you show me? Tonight. If we’re still on for our date?” Elise asked excitedly.
“Sure,” Caleb replied. “Once we’ve figured out where you’re going to live.”
“We don’t have a lot of stuff to unpack,” Elise replied. “And if we don’t find anywhere, we might have to book a room at the hotel.”
“I think they’re fully booked,” Caleb replied. “You can stay at my apartment if you’re really stuck.”
“Oh, no,” Karros replied.
“Why not?” Elise swung around to gaze at her brother.
“I thought you lived with Aiden?” Karros asked bluntly. “I’m sure Flora told her father that Aiden lived with his twin.”
“Oh. Okay. Cancel that idea. Sorry,” she told Karros.
“Aiden and Flora are looking for a place of their own. Until they find somewhere, they’re planning on staying in Logan’s cabin in the mountains,” Caleb quickly explained. “Our apartment isn’t very big. But if you’re stuck, you can stay there for a couple of nights and I can move back into the hotel. My mom has a spare room in her apartment.”
“Okay, we have a backup plan.” She nudged Karros in the ribs. “That’s a really kind offer, isn’t it?”
“It is. Thanks, Caleb.” Although Karros looked mutinous over the idea of staying in his love rival’s apartment, even for a night.
Caleb drove out of town and their conversation faltered as Elise and Karros admired the view. While the bay was a haven from the ocean, as they rounded the headland, huge rocks jutted up and the waves crashed upon them, sending white plumes of water into the air.
“The story is that long ago, when the town was first settled, the witches who cast the spell to protect themselves and their supernatural secrets, also made rock monsters who would sleep until they were called upon to protect the town. These rocks are those sleeping rock monsters. If ever there’s a threat from land or sea, they would rise up and fight.”
“Children’s stories,” Karros replied. “Like the ones the people in the world beyond tell about the fae folk.”
“Oh, fairies with magic wands!” Elise chuckled. “I love those stories.”
“Those stories make people believe we are benevolent creatures who leave money beneath a child’s pillow in exchange for their teeth.” Karros rolled his eyes. “What do they think we do with all of those teeth?”
“You are such a sourpuss,” Elise complained.
“Do you always fight like this?” Caleb drove the truck along the meandering road with the sun shining through the windshield.
“No, we fight much worse,” Elise replied lightly. “But we also get along really well. We’ve learned to stick together. We might fight but no one comes between us.”
“Ah, but now that you have a mate that might change.” Karros was good at identifying her troubled thoughts and magnifying them. “You will soon pick Caleb over me. Over your brother who has known you all your life.”
“Just like you would have chosen Flora over me if you had married her.” Elise arched an eyebrow at her brother. She had learned his ways and was more than capable of pushing back.
“True,” Karros agreed.
“So what about you and your brother?” Elise asked.
“You mean Aiden? Because I have four other brothers. He just happens to be the only one related by blood,” Caleb reminded her.
“Let’s start with Aiden. We can work our way through the rest of them.” Elise would like to glean as much knowledge as possible about his family. Not only would it help her make an informed decision about Caleb but also help her learn how to handle Ivan. Hopefully.
“Aiden and I have a strong bond. We lost our parents and ended up in foster care before we were taken by a man who planned to sell us.”
“What?” Elise hadn’t expected this story. “Taken? You mean kidnapped?”
“Yes. Sort of. We were stolen from our foster parents and ended up in a small apartment. Luckily, the authorities found us, and we ended up here in Wishing Moon Bay. Valerie adopted us along with my other brothers.”
“That’s quite a story.” Elise shook her head. “I might not get along with my parents all the time, but I don’t know what I’d do without them.” She put her hand over Karros’s. “Do you?”
“No. Our parents have their faults, like most parents. But we owe them so much.”
“They’ve obviously raised you both to be free thinkers. I spent some time with Flora since she met Aiden and I have to say she was a little more...reserved.”
“Flora was raised to take over from her father and has always tried to please him even when that’s next to impossible. Our parents were more liberal. I didn’t plan to marry Flora for her wealth or her status, I genuinely love her. When she told me her parents were pushing her into an arranged marriage, I stepped forward because I knew I could make her happy.”
“Even though she didn’t love you in return?” Caleb asked.
“She did love me. Just not in the same way as I love her.” He ran his hand over his chin and stared out of the window.
“My brother wanted to do the right thing. He always does.” Elise’s heart ached for Karros. He’d been so sure he could find a way to make Flora love him. Once they were married, he would have spent the rest of his life trying to find a way. “Flora would have been lucky to have him as a husband.”
“I respect what you tried to do,” Caleb said.
“But she is better off with her mate.” Karros nodded. “Elise has told me she has feelings for you...”
“Karros!” She elbowed him in the ribs.
“You need to be honest with Caleb and yourself, Elise,” Karros replied.
“So you have feelings for me?” Caleb raised an eyebrow as he looked at her.
“Not feelings, as such. But I can sense you. When we were on the beach, I knew you were there.” She shrugged. “It’s kind of like a sixth sense. Something that’s just there. It’s not as if I’ve fallen in love at first sight,” she warned him.
“It’s a start.” Caleb grinned.
“It certainly is,” Elise replied.
Chapter Six – Caleb
Caleb pointed to a small collection of houses to their right. “This is it. The houses have been transformed into luxury apartments.”
“Wow, what a view.” Elise leaned forward and looked past Karros to the view of the ocean.
“It is stunning,” Karros agreed.
“My only issue so far is that we’re a little farther out of town than I’d have liked. I’ll be driving along this road in the da
rk when the winter comes. If I keep my job with Ivan.” She pressed her lips together. “Which reminds me, I’m going to need a car.”
“Yes, one car between the two of us is not going to cut it this far out of town,” Karros agreed.
“Shall we go have a look around?” Caleb parked the truck in a spot in front of the apartments.
“Yes. I don’t want to rule it out just because of the distance from town. I’d get up fifteen minutes earlier each day if the accommodation was worth it.” Elise shuffled across the seat as Karros got out of the truck.
“Wow, it’s stunning here.” She walked to the edge of the small parking area and looked out at the ocean below. “Your rock monsters will guard us against the rough ocean in a storm.” She half-turned to Caleb who joined her to look at the view.
“There’s nothing like the smell of the fresh ocean.” He inhaled deeply, catching his mate’s scent along with the smell of the ocean. “What’s the ocean like in your realm?”
“Calmer. The weather is altogether more temperate, we don’t have such noticeable seasons. Everything about being a fae seems to be smooth.” She sliced her hand horizontally through the air.
“We’ve mastered our emotions,” Karros explained. “At least most of us have.”
“Karros once described me as an excited puppy.” Elise turned on her heel and stared up at the apartments. “I’m certainly excited now.”
“See,” Karros began. “She is just like an excitable puppy.”
Caleb’s bear bristled. He’s teasing our mate.
I think Elise can handle Karros, Caleb replied. And she might take offense if we stepped in.
True, she certainly doesn’t seem offended, his bear replied, but he still wanted to swat Karros with his massive paw.
You’re just being defensive because you see him as a potential threat to Aiden’s relationship with Flora. Caleb could understand why.
When he talks about being in love with Flora...of still being in love with her, it’s not right. Flora belongs to Aiden and nothing is going to change that.
It’s a pity we can’t find a mate for Karros. Caleb led Elise and Karros across to the front entrance leading into the apartments. The doors were freshly painted, the smell still lingering in the air.
Fae-ted to the Bear: A Wishing Moon Bay Shifter Romance (The Bond of Brothers Book 4) Page 4
