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“That’s not necessary. I hear that Greysden is one of the safest towns around.”

He threw some bills onto the table and nodded towards the door. “Come on.”

We walked the short distance to my car in silence.

“This is me,” I said, hitting the fob to unlock my car.

Acting on impulse, I stepped forward to hug him. Ollie didn’t move for several seconds, long enough that I thought I’d made a mistake. But then his thick arms came around me, pulling me to his chest for what was definitely the best hug of my life.

Ollie

Having my mate in my arms was the best feeling in the world. We fit together perfectly. I lowered my head, subtly sniffing her head. Her hair smelled like coconut. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the brief moment of closeness before she stepped away, giving me an awkward little wave that made my bear whine pitifully.

“Okay, well I guess I’ll see you around.”

I wanted to ask to see her again. My bear wanted me to throw her over my shoulder and drag her back to my den. But instead I stepped back, watching as she backed out of her parking spot and slowly drove away.

I was still standing there when Sage appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. I’d forgotten how she could do that. It was creepy.

“Oliver Murphy, how are you?”

“Fine Sage, thanks, how are you?”

I knew better than to think this was just a social stop.

“Fine, fine,” she said dismissively. “How are things going with your mate? I heard you had lunch together.”

Another thing I’d forgotten was how fast gossip moved here in Greysden. I nodded, confirming that she’d heard correctly.

“Nora’s going through a transitional phase of her life right now. Finishing her work as a single parent, moving across the country, embracing her magic, learning what she wants to do in life, it’s a lot.”

“I’m sure it is.”

“Give her time,” Sage advised, reaching out to pat my forearm.

I could feel the magic arcing off her when she touched me. It made my bear nervous.

“Just keep showing up for her and she’ll come around eventually. Not as quickly as you’ll want, but it’ll happen soon enough.”

I was dying to ask if her psychic husband had told her that, but instead I said, “I will, thanks.”

“We’re all rooting for you,” she added. “The town will help, don’t you worry.”

“Uh, no offense Sage, but I’d really prefer the town not interfere with my love life.”

I’d already heard multiple stories about their matchmaking shenanigans since I moved back.

“Nonsense,” she laughed. “We’re glad to do it. We’ve been quite successful in helping reluctant mates embrace their fate.”

She turned on her heel and headed into the Rosewater Emporium without another word.

Over the next few days it was apparent that Sage wasn’t kidding about the town trying to help. I received a text from an unknown number giving me Nora’s phone number, and several others alerting me when she was in town and what she was doing. I appreciated it, but I wasn’t ready to stalk her, no matter how well intentioned it was.

In the end I didn’t need help from the matchmakers to run into my mate again. I finished my work early one day and decided to go for a run in the woods. My cabin was in the middle of nowhere, which allowed me to shift into my bear form privately. Even though I knew it was safe, I still felt hesitant to shift out in the open.

Walking out of my house buck naked, I headed for the grass, inhaled deeply, and called my bear forth. There was always a moment where everything inside me stilled, as if my bear and I were both completely at peace, then the shift began. There was a jolt of pain as my bones cracked and re-formed, longer and stronger. Fur sprouted all over my body. My hands and feet turned into paws with long, lethal nails at the tips. Suddenly I could smell everything for miles around me, including someone having a barbecue somewhere nearby.

Dropping to all fours, I padded off into the trees, gradually increasing my speed. I trotted along, chuckling to myself as small animals in the area scurried away in fear. My bear wasn’t interested in them though, he wanted to check on his mate. I hadn’t intended to go look for her, but I wasn’t arguing with my bear too hard either.