Fae-ted to the Bear - Harmony Raines Page 0,63

you, Karros.”

She hesitated for a moment before holding her arms out wide to the man she would have married if Aiden hadn’t come into her life. Karros slipped into her arms and hugged her. “Thanks. When you told me you were mates with Aiden, I never understood how you could know he was the one for you. I mean really know.”

“But you feel it now.” Flora pulled away from Karros and wiped her hand across her eyes. “These are happy tears, by the way.”

“Ah, and there I was thinking that you were crying because I’ve found another woman to love.” Karros put his hand over his mouth and his eyes drifted across the room until they locked with Zara’s.

“Yes. You have found the love you deserve.” Flora blotted her cheeks. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I know you are.” Karros inhaled deeply and went to the table and pulled out a chair. He sat down awkwardly across the table from Zara. “I’m Karros.”

“Zara.” She held out her hand to Karros. “Good to meet you.”

He chuckled, her cheeks pink as he slid his hand into hers. “Good to meet you.” His eyes widened with recognition as their skin touched and Elise recalled the first moment Caleb had touched her. The intense feelings that flooded her body were like an inferno, as if something inside of her were being torn apart and made anew.

The wonder on Karros’s face was intense, as if he’d just found the most precious thing in the world. Zara mirrored that expression back at him.

“So that’s what we looked like,” Flora said to Elise.

“I guess it is.” She slipped her hand around Flora’s shoulders. “Are you okay?”

Flora wiped more tears from her cheeks. “I’m blubbering like a baby but only because I’m so happy for Karros. After he let me go... His sadness... I wanted him to heal and find the love he deserved. Real love with someone who would reciprocate his feelings. Something I could never do.”

“He knows you never loved him, but he was holding onto the hope that if you gave him a chance, you would learn to love him.” Elise loved her brother so much, she’d wanted him to find real love, too.

“Now he’s with someone who doesn’t need to learn to love him. And I know the intensity of that kind of love.” She glanced at Aiden who kept looking at Karros and then at Flora. “I couldn’t be happier.”

“Me neither.” Elise inhaled deeply and her breath shuddered through her body as she tried to contain her tears. But they came anyway, happy tears for her brother.

Although even though they were witnessing a small miracle, they could not forget the reason they were here.

Her brother’s mate was in danger.

Chapter Twenty-Two – Caleb

“So, can you tell us anything else?” Caleb needed to focus on the threat to his sister, but he was so incredibly happy for her and Karros, it was hard. They should be celebrating their good fortune, instead they were stuck in the small kitchen trying to figure out who was lurking in the shadows of Zara’s life.

“No.” Zara ran her hand through her hair, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked as if she’d been hit by a hurricane. “Even if my head was clearer, I don’t think there’s anything else I can add. That’s why I called you guys. I was planning on coming to visit but I’d feel terrible if I led anyone to Wishing Moon Bay who might cause you problems.”

“Is this possibly just connected to finding Wishing Moon Bay?” Flora asked. “You said there was that guy who stalked Helena and Penny because he wanted to get back there. Is it possible he’s the one behind this?”

“No.” Caleb shook his head. “Silas dealt with him.”

“Silas again. He sure does get caught up in a lot of shady stuff.” Flora blew the air out of her cheeks. “Okay, let’s brainstorm this.”

“I’ve gone over it from every angle and can’t figure out who it is or what they want,” Zara said. “So I’d be grateful for any input.”

“Okay. Is this possibly related to your parents?” Flora asked.

“Why now?” Zara asked. “After all this time, why come after us? And what is there to gain? Our parents are dead, he can’t exactly punish them anymore. He took their lives and they never got to see their kids grow up.”

She ducked her head and sobbed, her hands covering her face. Karros reached across the table and grasped one of her hands. Sandwiching