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  “Well, this I have to see.”

  “They’re so sad, Tarrow. Look.” I followed the Alpha into the kitchen and bared my neck to the Coeur. Because when you insult a bear, you insult his mate as well. “There’s nothing to forgive, Tarrow. Hawke would’ve defended me the same way. Now, I’m starving—again. I have to pick out the most un-deformed one of this pan.”

  She was right. How could someone screw up the shape of a pan of biscuits cut with a round cutter?

  One was square.

  Not even kidding.

  “The middle one looks okay.”

  “You’re right. Grab it for me. I’m like a T-Rex with this belly. My arms don’t reach anything.”

  The Alpha made her a plate and lovingly put it in front of her. I made one for myself, and despite their shape, the biscuits weren’t all that bad.

  “Tell me what’s happening with your mate.”

  “She’s okay. They’re packing up what they need and making the move soon.”

  “We can get some guys over there to move their stuff.”

  “They are taking their time, Hawke. It’s their family home. I imagine they want to stay in it as long as they possibly can.”

  “I can’t blame them.” Echo stopped chewing to make her comment, but just barely. She was beautiful. Females, I’d heard, became worried about getting fat or not looking as attractive. But Dahlia would be beautiful carrying our cubs. I just knew it.

  “You’re staring at my female, Tarrow.”

  Echo giggled as I righted myself. “Calm down, Hawke. Didn’t you see those glassed-over eyes? That boy was thinking about his mate and nothing more.”

  “Better be.” The Alpha grunted before digging into his own meal.

  “I’ve invited Dahlia to run with the clan tonight.”

  “Are you sure? Without her being marked?” Echo said.

  The Alpha stared her down while I attempted to eat my way out of a blush.

  “Oh? Oh. Oh! Shit! I miss everything just because there’s a baby in my belly. I like gossip too! Dang it! Martha is not doing her job very well.”

  Everyone knew that Martha and the Coeur, while the most loyal and responsible of the clan’s females, were also the chattiest. Clan gossip was their favorite.

  “It will be good for her to run with us as a group, observe the dynamic. According to Vidalia, Dahlia and her sisters have been given a skewed version of clan life—then again, Clint was clan under my father, so I don’t blame him. We have to show them that it’s not like that anymore.”

  “I’m trying my best, Alpha. But there is a chance that despite our trying, she won’t accept the life.”

  “Then we’ll have to let you go.”

  That’s when the Coeur started crying.

  And crying some more.

  “I’m sorry. I just cry because of nothing lately. Though, it would be a detriment to our clan if you were to leave. You are an important part of this clan and to us as the Alpha pair. It wouldn’t be the same without you. I hope she can see how we’ve changed.”

  “Me too.”

  I excused myself and left the Alpha to console his mate.

  Dahlia

  It’s unbelievable the amount of sheer shit you can store and pile up after over twenty years of living in a house.

  After throwing away five garbage bags at a time of it, I believed it.

  My mom saved everything. She had my lunch box from when, on a whim, she decided to send me to formal pre-school. I only attended one day and she decided they were squashing my artistic potential by pointing out where I colored out of the lines.

  I’d thrown some things away while she wasn’t looking.

  Seriously, ten bags of feather is plenty for the amateur crafter.

  Plus, I had a lot of extra energy to work off, since in the back of my mind was running with the clan.

  I didn’t even know if I was completely comfortable running with other bears. The only other bears I’d run with were my sisters and Tarrow.

  But the whole fracking clan?

  “Can I just ask some logistical questions?” Acacia hadn’t stopped teasing me since I let her know what I was doing that night.

  “Sure. Go ahead.”

  “You’re just going to drop your skirt right there in front of the clan? What is that shit?”

  “I think Tarrow and I will shift in private and then join the rest of the clan. At least, I hope.”

  “And what’s going to happen, a big game of capture the flag, shifter style?”

  “Shut up. I don’t know. It’s supposed to be some kind of community builder.”

  “No. Community building is cleaning up an abandoned lot and turning it into a garden, not taking off your clothes and showing everyone your bear—parts.”

  It was pretty fun to make my sister uncomfortable by proxy.

  “Tarrow wouldn’t let me show all my—parts to anyone.”

  “Nope, he wants them all to himself.”

  “Ugh. Can we talk about something else? Please?”

  She sat down beside me and pouted. “At least you have him. I have no one until my mate shows up.”

  I put my arm around her shoulder. “I know. He’ll come and he’ll be great. Trust me. In the meantime, we have nine days to get all of this crap packed up.”

  She flailed her arms and then flung herself back on the floor. “What’s the point in storing all this furniture anyway? We’re going to be there for a long time. We’ll be paying to store it forever.”

  I shrugged. “Maybe I can put some of it in my new house.”

  “Ugh. Just you watch. My mate is going to be some lame, irresponsible boy who doesn’t know the first thing about being a good male. Mark. My. Words.”

  “I’ll kick his ass.”

  “Yeah, you do that. You’ve got to leave soon. Or is Tarrow picking you up?”

  I checked my phone. “No, I’m driving. I’m—I’m not sure if I’ll be home tonight.”

  “No problem. You’ll be gone all the time soon anyway. Might as well get used to it.”

  “Stop. I’m doing the best I can here.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  I got to Tarrow’s house early, mostly to grill him about everything my sister’s accusations.

  “Oh, there’s my girl. You made it! Tarrow is still in the shower. He had security duty this morning and then work. He’ll be out soon. Come in!”

  Tarrow’s mother was inviting, just like her home—soon to be our home.

  “Thank you. My mom sent this salmon for you. She’s having to clean out the freezer and wanted to share since you’re being so kind.”

  My mom insisted I bring Tarrow’s mom the pinkish brick from our freezer. She’d traded it for some venison.

  “Sounds good, pretty girl. Let me put this in the freezer. You sit.”

  It sounded like a ‘sit, we have something to talk about’ rather than a ‘sit down and be bored while waiting for him’.

  “I wanted to tell you some things before your family moves in. I wanted to thank you and your mother for letting me help you.”

  “You won’t be thanking us after we’ve moved in, trust me.”

  “You know, Tarrow’s father and I planned for a big family. I came from eleven brothers and sisters. Did he tell you that?”

  He hadn’t told me that, mostly because our conversations and interactions revolved around me.

  I sucked again.

  “He didn’t.”

  “Well, the Creator didn’t have that plan for me or us, but this will maybe give me that shot of having a house full. I remember when I was a girl praying for a house full of loving people. My fault for not being specific enough, I guess. Either way, selfishly, I’m happy this house will finally get the family it deserves and I won’t be so lonely. See? You’re actually doing me the favor.”

  She handed me a tissue and hugged me until Tarrow came out of his bedroom.

  “I’d just gotten soap in my hair and you start crying. I c
ouldn’t get out of the shower fast enough. Come here.”

  I left the embrace of my future mother-in-law and practically sprinted into his arms.

  “Mom, you’re not supposed to make her cry.”

  His sarcastic tone didn’t fool her for a minute.

  “She sprung a leak. Girls do that. Get over it.”

  He chuckled and then turned his attention back to me as she mumbled something about more cleaning to do.

  “What happened? Anything I can fix?”

  “No. Your mom is really nice, that’s all.”

  “She is. She’s also more excited than I’ve seen her in a while. I think this will be good for everyone, despite the circumstances.”

  I pulled away and got my act together. “There’s so much crap in our house. I knew it was a little messy, but the clutter. I swear, every time I get one corner clean, there’s another with twice as much stuff.”

  He shrugged and I knew it was merely to get away with not agreeing.

  “You’re early.”

  “I am. It’s a madhouse at home—more than usual.”

  “We have about two hours before the run. It’s not time enough to go out, but we can watch a movie here.”

  “That’s fine.”

  I needed time with him to get un-nervous anyway.

  “What do you want to watch?” His flat-screen was like a computer. He clicked on Netflix and began scrolling.

  “Let’s see what’s in your list.”

  “Technically it’s my mom’s and mine. She puts her favorites on my profile.”

  “So you don’t watch those super sweet romances? Bummer.”

  “I’ll watch them for you.”

  “Gross. I hate those.”

  He chuckled and I could feel it inside my chest. “Name your poison.”

  “Anything true. Biographies, documentaries, you name it.”

  “Doesn’t seem—artistic enough.”

  “”You mean weird enough?”

  “You said it, not me.”

  “Did you make your apologies?” Without a care, I crossed my left leg over his right. I didn’t even notice what I was doing until it was done—and my blush was blaring.

  He didn’t flinch.

  “I did. Went over there first thing this morning. I probably owe one more, but I’m not ready to. Did you ever have that happen? Where you know you should apologize and show some remorse, but you’re just not ready yet?”

  I nodded. “I’d rather give and receive a heartfelt apology late than an insincere one early.”

  “That’s exactly what I mean.”

  He flipped through the documentaries until he found one about a woman trekking through the desert alone, with only a couple of camels.

  “We’ve got about a half hour.”

  I sighed heavily. “Can I get a quick run-through? I don’t want to make an idiot of myself.”

  “You won’t make an idiot of yourself, but sure. It’s not really a big deal. Those who are able will shift near their own homes and collect behind the Alpha’s home. The Alpha will still be human when he speaks to us. He’ll give some talk about community and taking care of each other and then we will all run out together. Sooner or later, couples and families branch out on their own path, but there’s something about the group effort that connects us all. It’s weird. The Alpha will probably not run with us tonight because Echo is unable to shift this far in her pregnancy.”

  “My sister had these theories about group nakedness. It scared the crap out of me.”

  He grew serious. “You think I would allow other males to see you like that?”

  There were storms in his eyes again.

  “No.”

  “Plus, I mean, imagine the uproar when other females saw me naked. The insanity would ruin everything.”

  Sass. He was feeding me sass.

  I shrugged. Showed him right.

  The jealousy spring from just that statement was eating me alive.

  Bastard.

  Handsome bastard.

  He didn’t budge.

  “Okay, okay. First of all, that was mean. Second, if you’re planning on getting undressed in front of the masses, then I’m out—and you’re out too.”

  “I’m sorry. It was cute though.”

  He thought it was cute when my bear tried to claw me from inside. Nice.

  “It wasn’t cute.”

  “It totally was. But at least now I know.”

  My poor mate, had to trick me into showing my feelings.

  “How about we go meet my sister? She’s been asking Mom about meeting you.”

  “Is she here?”

  “Of course she is. Let’s walk over there.”

  Hands together, we walked around some houses where children played and came to a log cabin-style house. It was surrounded by a rustic fence.

  “She’s got toddler twins, so don’t expect clean. Don’t even expect dirty. Expect complete and total chaos.”

  “Chaos and I are related.”

  “I am finding that out. I kind of like chaos.”

  “You’d better.”

  He didn’t even knock on the door. He just went in and called out for Angel. I didn’t know if that was her name or what he called her.

  “Is that her name?”

  “Yep.”

  Then I heard the shrill of two young ones. “Uncle Tarrow!”

  A girl and a boy who looked a lot like my mate shot out from the hallway, stark naked and wet.

  “Tarrow! I swear you know exactly when I’m trying to bathe these monsters and you come on purpose to ruin my life!”

  The yelling woman came out of the hallway, wetter than the children, holding two towels.

  “Oh and you brought company to see my hell. Thanks for that, bro.”

  Tarrow picked up the wet children, one like a football and the other like a sack of potatoes, and carried them to her. She took the girl and wrapped her up and he took the boy who was having nothing to do with being covered up.

  “There’s no point in getting clothes on him. He just takes them off in his sleep.”

  She instructed the boy to at least put some underwear on.

  But he refused to budge without his uncle.

  Which couldn’t be cuter.

  Or sweeter.

  “I’m Angel, by the way, Tarrow’s much older, much wise, much more responsible older sister.”

  She stuck out her hand and then realized it was still covered in soap or shampoo.

  “My advice to you? Don’t have twins. Ever.”

  That answered the question about whether or not she knew who I was.

  “We’ll try not to. Can I help?”

  “Help? Sure. Take this brat down the hall, first room on the left. She’ll pick out some monstrosity to wear.”

  “Got it.”

  Angel went to clean up the bathroom while I managed to find a matching top and bottom pajamas.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Brink.”

  “Brink? Like the brink of dawn?”

  “Yup.” She enunciated the P.

  “Should we brush your hair after we get your jammies on?”

  “Yes. We have to. I have to look my best.”

  I suppressed a giggle. Toddlers rarely had to do anything, much less look their best—at least in my house.

  “Why do you have to look your best?”

  “Because if I’m not pretty, I won’t find a mate.”

  They started them early around here.

  “That’s not true. You’ll find your mate either way.”

  “Even if I have green teeth?”

  “Even if you have green teeth.”

  “Even if I smell like waffles?”

  I had to laugh at that one. “Especially if you smell like waffles.”

  “Even if I’ve got a moustache?”

  “Even if you have a moustache. And the best part is, he’ll think you’re the prettiest female on the planet.”

  Her eyes
grew large. “On the planet?”

  “On the entire planet. Pretty cool, right?”

  She turned around just as I raised the brush to begin.

  “Then I don’t need to brush my hair.”

  “Yes, you have to. Know why?”

  “So birds don’t use it for their nests.”

  “Well…that…plus, don’t you feel happy when you look nice?”

  “I’m really cute when I wear a dress.”

  Creator bless this tiny female’s mate. He’d better be one hell of a male.

  “I can imagine.”

  “Let’s go. Mommy will paint my nails now to make me even happier!” She screamed the word happier, though I was sure Angel didn’t have nail painting on her agenda.

  When we got back into the living room, Tarrow was at the door. I’d made him late.

  “Are we late now?”

  “It’s no big deal, but we should go.”

  I told Angel it was nice to meet her, but I doubted she even heard me.

  “Mommy! You have to paint my nails.”

  That was the last thing I heard as we walked out the door.

  “That was some good advice in there.”

  Rolling my eyes, I questioned him. “You think so? That girl is going to be a handful.”

  He wrapped his arm around my waist and tucked me into his side. “Those are the best kind.”

  We walked to the back of his home which was secluded from view of the rest of the houses. They seemed to stagger their houses so that each had their own semi-private yard.

  “Don’t be nervous. It’s going to be a good thing. I promise.”

  He wouldn’t ask me to do anything that I would be uncomfortable with. I tried to repeat it over and over to myself.

  “No, I wouldn’t.”

  “Did I say that out loud?”

  “Yeah. But you’re right. I’d never ask you to do anything like that. It might be out of the ordinary for you, but there’s nothing about this that warrants all that stress.” Tarrow had a face for when he was about to say something sexy. His eyes darkened. “You’re not upset about taking off your clothes in front of me, are you? I’ve seen most of you already. And eventually…”

  “Eventually is not tonight and it’s not feet away from people I don’t know.”

  He stepped forward. His scent took over my good sense. I was completely worthless and caught in his snare.

  “Dahlia, eventually will be sooner than you think. Besides, I’ve watched you shift before and then the other night…”