with depths that were more formidable than any in the ocean. I knew, if I had the courage to dive, I would find great treasures there.
But I didn’t know if I would ever have that courage. The beauty of the face was marred by the glowering scowl, a clear warning sign to drive people away. As we looked at each other, his expression didn’t change in the slightest.
“Oh, I see you met Daire.” Zavier crossed his arms as he came into the room. The easy grin on his face was a sharp contrast to Daire’s frown.
I just nodded, not knowing the correct greeting for barging into someone’s house in the dark, even when you had been invited. I just smiled at Daire and even though he didn’t smile, his frown seemed to ease off just a little.
Maybe it was just wishful thinking. I longed to know what that face would look like if it were smiling and happy.
I gave myself a stern mental talking to. Aleksy was enough of a problem by himself. Then we added Zavier… leaving me so confused that this potential entanglement on top of the day I’d had literally left me without rational thought.
Now a third man, smoldering in his silent, brooding beauty. His lack of speech—or reaction to me—made him twice as fascinating as the other two.
There’s only so much a girl could take.
I wanted to ask where the best place to get naked was so I could get hot, then I realized that was not the correct way to ask if I could take a shower.
8
I had seen her coming.
When I heard my cousin on his way back, there had been too much noise that I didn’t recognize, so I went to the front window to look.
Strange enough, to see my cousin being accosted by tiny rugrats.
Then I saw her.
It only took seconds for her to traverse the front of the cabin, but time seemed to slip away from me. The light all around was dying and against that gathering darkness she glowed, white hot and flaring like a phoenix.
I tried to hold myself back. Physically, it was easy enough done. I pressed my fingers to the windowpane and let my body become completely still, as if I were catching salmon in an icy stream.
My heart. My soul. It reached for her. I saw her as she truly was, a tired, bedraggled woman almost at the end of her rope, physically and emotionally. Her jeans clung damply to her, and her sweater hung down with moisture. Her hair was a wreck of dripping curls.
None of that mattered. I knew this was a woman unlike any I had ever met. She turned to look toward the cabin, and it was as if her eyes were seeking me. As if she was as drawn to me as I was to her.
A sigh crested through my chest, but by the time it reached my lips, it was a growl. My teeth felt sharper, just a little, as I tried to make sense of this connection.
The power of it was crossing the distance between us and tethering me somehow. I was utterly helpless in this. I never knew what it meant, I never considered how it would feel…
To find my mate.
I staggered back from the window violently. I hurried into the next room and threw myself into a chair. I would not be torn about my strange emotions. I had enough shit to deal with and it was my decision if I wanted to take on anymore.
My heart thumped in my chest like a fucking traitor. It fluttered with warmth. Give me. It whispered. Give me to her.
I clenched my hands together, closing my eyes.
I had just gone through a nasty breakup. I had to look at this objectively and think clearly. My bear side might be rumbling to life and telling me this was our mate, our perfect, fated, genetic match, but the human side of me wasn’t buying it.
Surely, I would have some say in all of this?
I had only been broken up with Judy for a few months. I had given up on finding a mate a long time ago. My bear just refused to imprint on anyone. Around Judy I felt comfortable, happy and accepted. I knew she couldn’t share in all that I was, and that hurt. I had dealt with that disappointment a long time ago, and I didn’t blame her for it.
I really adored her in many ways. We were close.