Fae-ted to the Bear: A Wishing Moon Bay Shifter Romance (The Bond of Brothers Book 4)

by Harmony Raines

  “You’re making me feel guilty.” Ivan had come out to help load the furniture onto the back of Caleb’s truck. He’d been friendly enough to Elise, as if he’d accepted her as his brother’s mate, but he made no mention of her working in the kitchen with him.

  She suspected Ivan could compartmentalize his work life and private life. It would make sense since he worked with his family. If there was trouble in the kitchen or restaurant and he fell out with his brothers or Valerie, it would be tough if those arguments continued outside of work.

  Elise studied Caleb’s family for a long moment. Valerie was loved and respected by all her sons, it was obvious by the way they spoke to her. Perhaps Valerie had taught them how to keep things separate, raising six boys would be hard if they were constantly fighting.

  “Are you daydreaming?” A small child looked up at her.

  “Where did you come from?” Elise looked around.

  “I came with Logan. We’re here to help move furniture.” He squinted at her. “You’re a fairy, like Flora, aren’t you?”

  A small smile hovered on her lips. “Yes, I am.”

  “I like Flora, even though she doesn’t have a wand. She’s going to take me into the wildwood and teach me all about the plants and animals there. Then we’re going to make some new candies for the store.” He twisted his lips as he surveyed her. “You’re Caleb’s mate?”

  “I am.”

  “Do you want to help me make candies, too?” Milo had the cutest smile as he looked up at her hopefully.

  “I’d really like that.”

  “I would, too.” He paused for a moment. “You’re going to be my aunt, too, aren’t you?” The same hope shone in his eyes. “I like having lots of aunts.”

  “I suppose one day I will be your aunt, but I’ve only just met Caleb,” she explained.

  “My mom didn’t know Logan very long and they got married really quick.” He leaned closer and whispered, “They’re having a baby. I’m going to have a brother or sister.”

  “That’s my brother over there. He’s also my best friend.” She pointed to Karros. “So, I think you’re very lucky that your mom is having a baby.”

  “Logan is my dad.” Milo pointed to the man who was approaching. “He’s a white wolf.”

  “Wow, that’s not something you see very often.”

  “He’s the best.” Milo left her side and ran over to Logan, flinging his arms around the man’s neck as he leaned down and scooped him into his arms.

  A lump caught in her throat as she watched the boy with his new father. There, right in front of her, was all the proof she needed that shifters were loyal and loving. Logan’s expression and the adoration mirrored back at him from Milo was enough to melt even the hardest fae heart.

  Not that Elise’s heart was hard. It was soft and gooey and open to love.

  “Okay, we’ve got the first load of furniture on my truck.” Caleb came over to her and checked the time on his watch. “We should get going or we might be late for Wilf.”

  “Okay.” She nodded. “I can’t thank your family enough.”

  “They like helping. And my mom likes seeing the furniture go to a good home. She hates parting with stuff. Particularly pieces of furniture that have sentimental value.”

  “I’ll take good care of it all,” Elise assured him.

  “I know you will.” He slipped his hand into hers. “Come on, Karros is going to follow us back to the house. He’s managed to cram a couple of lamps and some other smaller items into his car.”

  She closed her fingers around his and held on to him. Like a couple of teenagers, they ran toward the truck and got inside. Laughter bubbled up inside of her along with a sense of freedom as if she were the master of her own destiny.

  Although, she wasn’t. The man sitting next to her who called her mate had been chosen for her by some mystical power. Fate.

  “This is all too good to be true.” Elise watched through the window as they drove through the new town that was her home.

  “No, it’s not. It is true,” Caleb assured her.

  “I guess I’m just not that good at believing that things just fall into place. I’ve been struggling for so long to get to where I want to be that it’s hard to believe it’s true.” She clasped her hands together in her lap. “I keep thinking something is going to come along and upset this perfect life that’s unfolding before me.”

  “Why not just accept each day, each moment, for what it is?” Caleb asked. “You don’t have to worry about tomorrow. Enjoy this moment with the smell of the ocean and the sound of the gulls, and the rattle of your furniture in the back of the truck. That’s what’s real, what’s tangible.”

  “I’ve never lived in the moment. I’ve always worried about the future. Whether it was looking for the perfect man or trying to find the next stepping stone in my career.” She tapped the side of her head. “I live in here. Not out there.” She waved her hand at the view.

  “Well, for now, for today, live in the now.” He grinned at her.

  “Okay.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “I can smell the ocean.” She stuck her tongue out. “I can taste the salt on my tongue.”

  “Go on.”

  “I feel the warmth of the sun on my face.” She cupped her cheek in her palm. “And I can sense you beside me.”

  “Right where I’ll always be.”

  “Are you thinking about the future instead of living in the now?” she accused.

  “You got me.” Caleb steered the truck onto the trail that led to the house. Her house, her home.

  At least until she and Caleb figured out what they were going to do. Milo’s words came back to her. She would marry Caleb. She was ready to accept that.

  Live in the now, she reminded herself as her head filled with a hundred and one questions that needed answering. Her future was fluid, she couldn’t know the answers to those questions now. Not yet, so she let them go.

  “Wilf should be here anytime now.” Caleb backed the truck up to the house and switched off the engine.

  “It would be presumptuous to unload the furniture before we sign the lease, wouldn’t it?” She itched to pull down the tailgate of the truck and carry the furniture into the house.

  “It would.” He nodded as Karros parked his car next to the truck.

  “Now I’m nervous he isn’t going to come, and we won’t be able to move in.” She chewed the inside of her cheek. “Or what if he’s had a better offer and has decided to lease the house to someone else? He was worried about us being fae.”

  She clamped her mouth shut and looked at him sheepishly, but he just grinned, opened the truck door, and got out. Elise inhaled deeply and then climbed out of the truck. A light breeze ruffled her hair, it carried a sweet scent of pine resin and her eyes were drawn to the mountains in the distance.

  “Here he is.” Caleb turned around and watched as a new car drove toward the house. The guy behind the wheel was in his late sixties, with a warm smile and eyes that assessed people on the spot.

  It seemed they’d passed his test since he got out of the car and stretched before he leaned down and grabbed a briefcase from the front seat. “Hi there.”

  “Wilf, this is Elise and Karros.”

  He held out his hand. “It’s good to meet you.” He glanced at Caleb. “I can see why you were willing to vouch for them. Mates.” He chuckled.

  “Mates,” Caleb repeated.

  Elise sniffed the air, the guy was a shifter, she was certain of it. The more time she spent around shifters, the easier it was to tell one at first sight. Or first sniff.

  “I’m a wolf, in case you were wondering.” Wilf ducked his head at Elise. “I can shift if you want.”

  “No, it’s okay.” She held up her hands. “Everything in Wishing Mon Bay is new to me. I didn’t mean to stare.”

  “You weren’t staring.” He pointed to his nose. “It was more a flaring of the nostrils.”

  “Oh.” She covered her nose with her
hand, but Wilf just laughed.

  “I’m not offended. It takes more than flared nostrils to offend me.” He nodded toward the house. “Right, let’s get on with this. I only have half an hour to spare, I have a date tonight.”

  “A date?” Karros asked then clamped his mouth shut. “Not that there’s anything wrong with dating.”

  “You’re never too old to date.” Wilf chuckled as he took a keyring out of his pocket and opened the front door leading into the small hallway. “Here’s a set of keys. Caleb showed you where the spare key is hidden.”

  “He did,” Elise answered since Karros had gone unusually quiet.

  “Do you have any questions before we get the paperwork signed?” Wilf went to the kitchen and put his briefcase down on the counter.

  “Karros?” Elise urged. “The yard work?”

  “Oh, yes. I’d like to do the yard work if that’s all right with you. It’s a passion of mine that I’ve never had time for. But until I find a job here, time is the one thing I am not going to be short of.” Karros ran his hand through his hair. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to be short of money.”

  “As long as you don’t expect me to cut the rent and you run all your plans past me first, then you can do the landscaping.” Wilf nodded as he assessed, or reassessed, Karros. “I might like having fae as tenants.”

  “Shall we sign the lease?” Elise asked eagerly.

  “Sure.” Wilf opened the briefcase and took out the forms.

  “We want to get the furniture moved in before dark so Elise and Karros can enjoy their first night here,” Caleb explained.

  “Ah, I saw the furniture piled into the truck.” Wilf set the contracts down on the countertop. “Did you bring all that from the fae realm?”

  “No, Valerie was kind enough to let us have it.” Elise accepted a contract from Wilf and scanned it.

  “How is your mom?” Wilf leaned back against the counter.

  “She’s good, her operation was a success and she’s slowly gaining her strength.” Caleb looked up at the sound of a truck approaching. “That’ll be Logan with the rest of the furniture.”

  “You’ve landed on your feet,” Wilf told Elise and Karros. “You’re part of a good family.” His eyes narrowed again. “What does your family think of you moving here?”

  “They’re okay with it,” Elise said quickly and signed the lease before handing the pen and paper to Karros. “I am working at the restaurant, it’s always been my dream.”

  “I don’t expect it’s your fae folks’ dream.” Wilf tilted his head to one side. “I would think they’d prefer it if you two were settled down and married in your own world. Or do you have brothers and sisters?”

  “No, no other brothers and sisters.” Elise shuffled her feet uncomfortably, Wilf was reminding them of all the reasons why they shouldn’t be here when Caleb reminded her of all the reasons they should.

  “Well, it’s none of my business.” Wilf watched while Caleb signed the lease, too. “Just pay the rent, keep the place clean and tidy and let me know what you plan to do with the yard, and we’ll get along just fine.”

  Wilf checked his watch and quickly countersigned the lease before handing a copy to Caleb.

  “Thanks, have a good date.” Caleb winked at Elise and escorted Wilf out of the house.

  “It’s ours,” she hissed to Karros, unsure if Wilf and his shifter hearing could hear her.

  “It is.” Karros slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Although, I don’t know how long you’ll be living here before that mate of yours tempts you away.”

  “Hey.” She dug him in the ribs. “I’m not leaving.”

  “And I am not living with the two of you here,” Karros replied firmly.

  Elise cupped her face in her hands as heat flared across her cheeks. “I’m not thinking about the future. I want to enjoy us moving in here together.”

  “You’re right. We’ll figure everything out as we go.” He hooked his thumbs into his belt. “After losing Flora, I have decided it’s less heartache and worry if you just take things as they come.”

  “Says the man who’s been planning his wedding to Flora for how many years now?” She arched an eyebrow and instantly regretted it. “I didn’t mean to be so flippant. I know how cut up you are about the whole thing.”

  “Do you know what’s worse?” Karros asked.

  “No.”

  “This afternoon, spending time with Caleb’s family, I realized Flora is much better off being part of that family than ours. They’re kind, supportive, and loyal to each other. And Valerie... She just wants the best for them all.”

  “Our parents want the best for us. It’s just unfortunate they’ve never really listened to us enough to know what we want.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Maybe one day they’ll see.”

  “Will they?” Karros asked. “The longer we stay in Wishing Moon Bay, the less I feel inclined to go back home. Not to live. Not with the pressure on us to marry well.”

  “Maybe one day you’ll feel different.” She took hold of his hand and pulled him toward the front door. “You have only been in this town for less than a day. I’m sure you’ll get homesick once the excitement has worn off. This is all shiny and new, remember.”

  But as she watched Caleb lifting a chair down from the truck, her heart rate quickened, and she knew she’d never grow tired of the town and her mate.

  If only there was a way to make their parents see that all that really mattered was that their children were happy.

  Perhaps things might change once they had their first grandchild.

  Elise froze on the spot. She wanted a career, not children. But Caleb would make a wonderful father.

  Was she selfish to want everything? Was it possible that in Wishing Moon Bay she could find love and have a family and a career?

  Or would she have to make sacrifices?

  Chapter Ten – Caleb

  “That’s all the furniture unloaded.” He brushed his hands down his thighs and straightened up. He’d gone back to the hotel for one more truckload after they had signed the lease. Valerie had sorted out a stack of linens for Elise and Karros, and Ivan had given him some kitchen utensils to pass on to Elise as a moving-in gift.

  The house was starting to look like a home.

  It’s a pity it’s not our home, his bear complained.

  Caleb agreed. He sorely wished he was moving in here with Elise instead of Karros.

  But at least they are settled and happy, his bear sighed.

  Caleb smiled as he watched Elise’s face, her eyes bright with excitement as she held onto the corners of a sheet and flapped it in the air. “I’ll help.”

  He caught the other corners of the sheet and helped her smooth it over the bed. If only this was their bed. He shook his head, those kinds of thoughts weren’t helpful when there was so much to do.

  “Thanks.” She smoothed the sheet down and tucked it under the mattress. “Your family has been amazing.” She held up her hand. “I know, I know, they’re my family too now.”

  “You’re finally getting the idea,” Caleb replied. “But I’m hoping I get the chance to meet your parents and the rest of your family and win them around.”

  “I’d like you to meet them. And I’m sure they’ll come around to the idea of me being with a shifter. Sooner or later. Maybe if we give them a grandchild, they’ll get over it sooner.” She put her hands to her cheeks and stared at him, her mouth open. “That just slipped out.”

  Caleb chuckled. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You know I want children. But they take a while to arrive, even if we did start practicing now.” His eyes rested on the newly made bed. “And,” he continued, “I’d rather not wait nine months to meet them.”

  “Can we just get to know each other first? With no pressure.” She smoothed her hand over the bed and then headed for the door. “Are you going to help me make Karros’s bed, too?”

  “I guess, although he’s old enoug
h to make it himself.” Caleb followed her out of the room.

  “He’s unpacking everything we brought with us from home.” Her eyes lingered on the staircase as they walked past. “It’s not a lot.”

  “Well, we could make a trip back to your world to pick up the rest of your stuff. I could drive my truck, and while we are there, I could say hello to your family.” He couldn’t help it. Even though Elise wanted to put off introducing him to her family, he didn’t.

  Elise is unhappy about her family situation, his bear said.

  I know. I thought that if they met us, though, if I could win them over, it would be one less thing on her mind. Caleb’s only desire was to help his mate.

  Give Elise some time and space. We could also talk to Karros about it. He might be able to give us some more insight into our mate. His bear liked Karros and Caleb had to admit, for a fae, he was okay.

  “Let me think about it.” Elise handed him a sheet. “What happened to focus on the present and don’t dwell on the future?”

  “Ah, but this is a future we could change. If you agreed, we could go meet them in the next couple of days.” Caleb threw the sheet toward her while hanging onto the corners.

  “I need to focus on Ivan.” She spread the sheet over the bed.

  “Under normal circumstances, I’d be concerned that you want to focus on one of my brothers. But since it’s Ivan, I’ll let it go.” He tucked the sheet under the mattress. “Honestly, he’s a good guy. He loves his cooking pans a little too much. But aside from that, he’s always patient and courteous with those he works with.”

  “So, avoid touching his pans?” She blew a strand of hair out of her face as she grabbed the bedspread and threw it over the bed. “Could you grab those pillows, please?”

  “Yes. Don’t touch his pots and pans. You’ll know which ones I mean since he guards them like a dragon guards his treasure.” Caleb’s eyes opened wide. “So that’s why he’s so attached to them. He doesn’t have any real dragon treasure and so he has to make do with his pots and pans.”

  “He doesn’t have any treasure?” Elise plumped up the pillow he passed her and placed it down on the bed.