fine.”
“It’s nerve-racking when it’s your own shop.”
He pushed his bottle forward and folded his arms on the counter. Uh-oh. I could sense the serious talk coming.
“Mel, you know I counsel packs. It’s what I do. Not just with Packmasters, but I help people create goals and work out problems. I want to take off my uncle hat for a minute. Anytime you need to talk privately to someone, my door is open. Whatever we talk about will remain confidential, just as it is with my paid clients. Moving out of a pack is a tough transition, but it’s an important test of one’s strength. The yearning to belong never diminishes. I’ve seen young women make decisions in haste—mating with men they didn’t love in order to be part of a pack again.”
I chuckled softly. “You don’t have to worry about that. I quit dating two years ago.”
Tension filled the room, and he furrowed his brow. “Did something happen?”
“No, it’s nothing like that.” I was hesitant about laying it all out.
He sensed my reluctance and eased forward with those kind eyes of his. “I won’t judge you.”
I peered around him to make sure Hope wasn’t in the room. “I grew up with two parents who have the most explosive chemistry on the planet. What’s the point of going through the motions of relationshipping when I don’t feel a fraction of that chemistry with any of the men I date? My parents set the bar unrealistically high, and I have serious doubts that there’s anyone out there who could make me feel that loved. Anyhow, I have too much going on with the business. Or maybe I’ll put off dating until I’m a hundred.”
He pursed his lips and studied me for a moment. “You won’t be able to resist the pull toward pack life for long. There’s no reason to rush into dating, but keep in mind that it’s better for you to join a pack through mating. It gets… complicated when single Shifters enter a pack.”
My uncle was right. Sometimes it worked out, but I’d heard stories over the years about new packmates causing a stir. A woman entering without a mate would catch the eye of more than one single man in the house, disrupting the harmony within the pack, and the same might apply with gender roles reversed. The idea of an unplanned pregnancy was terrifying. Without a mate, who will keep me from humping the first available man when I go into heat? At least with Hope around, I had someone to make sure I didn’t leave my room and do something stupid during those days. What if the pack I choose doesn’t have a heat house or separate facility for me to stay in during my time of need? What if I have one of those single Packmasters who decides it’s his job to slide my panties down and give me orgasms without sex to shorten the duration? How weird would that be if I didn’t even like him? I shuddered.
“The idea of living with another pack is terrifying,” I admitted.
He laced his fingers together. “So is being a lone wolf. Eventually the need to bond with a family will become overwhelming. Keep your heart open to possibilities. There’s no need to rush into mating, but don’t close the door either. You could wind up shutting out your soul mate.” Will sat back and relaxed his shoulders. “Just remember that I’m here when you need to talk. It’s good that you and Hope have each other to lean on. But if she mates with someone first, you’ll be left alone.”
I hadn’t thought about that. My chest tightened at the idea of losing Hope to a mate. When young wolves moved out of packs, it was common for them to live in groups—especially women—until they mated or found a pack of their own. I didn’t have anyone else except my brothers, and I didn’t want to live with them.
“Thanks, Uncle Will. My parents gave me advice since they both lived alone for a long time. Probably too long. It might not seem like it, but I really love my independence. Just don’t get the wrong idea if I come home a lot for dinner. It doesn’t mean I want to move back in. I just miss it. You know?”
“Indeed.” He reached out and placed his hand on mine—a consoling touch that I needed more than I realized. “We’re proud of you, Mel. It’s not easy being an assertive