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He whips his head to me. “You’re a fucking asshole, Rick. Plain and simple. After everything you did, your brightest idea was todemandthat she give in to it?”

“Look, I know I fucked up.”

Nix snorts from where he is cleaning the glasses. I cut my eyes to him and narrow them. He just shrugs his shoulders and keeps working.

Xavior lets out a deep breath. “In order for this to really work, you are going to have to show her you are serious about being what she needs in a mate. Didn’t you listen when the elders would teach us about the mating process? You know, the courting phase? The one where you are supposed to show your mate what you can provide them?”

He looks at me as I just stare at him. Honestly, I never took those classes seriously. I went because our parents and elders forced us to. I didn’t know other people actually listened.

“Oh, fuck me. You didn’t pay attention during them, did you? I can see it written all across your face. Well, that is the exact reason why your mate hates you and whyyouare out here floundering like a fish out of water. Step one, show up for her. Not for your benefit, but for hers. You also have your matinggifts to purchase. You know, something to show she will never go without food, so her favorite food. There is something for her home, showing you want to build a home with her. Some kind of jewelry or expensive gift to show off your wealth and what you will provide. The final item is a comfy item, to show that she will always find comfort in her mate.” He looks at me expectantly.

“Yeah, I don’t remember any of that from the classes. Got any suggestions on what to buy her?”

Xavior throws his hands up.

“I’m kidding. Well, kind of, but I will figure those out on my own. I mean, I have something in mind, but I don’t know how she will feel about it.”

He slams back the last of his pint before he slides the glass across the bar to Nix. “He’s paying for that pint.” Standing up from his bar stool, he grabs his jacket from the back of the chair. He shakes his head as he says, “Listen, you got this, but for once think with the head on your shoulders and not the one dangling between your thighs. You know the goddess has her reasons. But I am out. See you around, Rick.”

I watch as he exits out of Pour Me Another just as two blondes come spilling into the bar. One of them sees me looking that way and she gives me this cute little wave. I turn back to the bar to see Nix looking at me withthatlook. You know the one that says,you’ve got to be kidding me right now.

I shake my head once as I pick up my drink. I have to stay away from other women. No matter how enticing the offer is, I can’t give in to these women, especially since this town is small enough that it will get back to Aspen.

Rapping my knuckles on the bar top, Nix looks up to me as I give him a nod. Not long after, he’s dropping my tab in front ofme, and I quickly sign off on it. The bar stool squeaks as I push it back. My navy peacoat is just warm enough in these colder temperatures, especially since it’s not a far walk to my cabin from here. My hand grazes the door when a small hand grabs the crook of my elbow.

“Hey, handsome, where are you off to? Care to have some company?”

I follow the arm up to the woman staring at me with lust and hope swirling in her eyes. I give a gentle shake of my head as I pick her hand up from my arm. “Not tonight. Have a good time.”

Her mouth drops open. I know she is shocked. I have a reputation, after all. It’s not like people, especially women, don’t know that you can come here about an hour or two after me and I will want to take someone home. Without looking back, I step out into the cold, crisp air.

The bar is on the opposite side of town from the pack lands, which is fine tonight, because I need the time to think. There is a small dusting of snow on the sidewalk. I know there is a storm rolling in. You can always tell because we have a light dusting of snow that quickly melts a couple of days before the downpour of snow. My hands tighten in the pockets of my coat. I hate winter. I don’t want to be trapped inside my empty home with nothing but my poor decisions to keep me company.

A soft giggle floats across the wind as a couple walk down the sidewalk on the other side of the street. Her face is tilted toward his as she laughs at something he said. It’s clear even from over here just how much they love each other. I can’t help but be envious of that. I mean, even Aspen has someone to spend time with.

My chest tightens as I come closer to Scoop, There It Is. Aspen must be close. The window illuminates the sidewalk in front of me. Maybe fate is giving me another chance tonight. I shouldn’t, given how much alcohol I’ve consumed, but maybe I can fix what I messed up yesterday. Just as the thought is fully blooming in my mind, I look into the window, only for the bubble to burst right there. Aspen is close, but she is also on a date with Chase. I watch as he touches her arm, and she smiles warmly at him. Watching how she allows him to get so close to her and seeing the adoration shining in her eyes kills me. I want that look. I want to touch her arm and not have her recoil.

I don’t know yet what will show her I am serious, but I will start with showing up each day. That has to be something, right?

Chapter 5

Aspen

Between running the bookstore and Chase’s Sentinel responsibilities, we haven’t had any time to spend together. Chase’s role in his pack is similar to what we call our pack Beta. Second in command to his Prime aka Alpha, as well as being the deputy of our town, he is generally either working for the Sheriff’s department or for his leader. Outside of the texts we send to each other throughout the day, we have otherwise been doing our own thing. I love he showed up today at the exact time that Warrick was doing… whatever it was he was doing. I really can’t wrap my head around that one. It’s been four years, almostfive at this rate, that we have known that we were mates. He has never once shown an interest in me or in completing our mating, so why now?

The dating situationship between Chase and I isn't typical since we don't do all the usual date things like him picking me up, paying the tab, or romantic gestures that lead to more. We really are more like friends who spend time together to give each other the attention, compassion, caring, and devotion that you would seek in a relationship. It works rather well for both of us. He knows about Warrick and everything that he has done up to this point. Just like I know, Chase hasn’t found his mates yet, even though mating in the mountain lion pack is a bit different from ours. We haven’t really gone in depth with it, he always seems so secretive about the whole thing. Almost as if outsiders aren’t supposed to know. All he told me is that it’s similar to ours in the sense that we have fated mates, but instead of only one person being fated to him, he has two. He also just casually mentioned that it will be two females, as if that is completely normal. Maybe one day I will pull more information from him about it, especially if I’m going to try to help him find these said females.

When Chase came by earlier, it was to ask if I would be available for a date tonight, but since I had new stock that came in, I told him I could do a dessert date. So, here we are going to Scoop, There It Is, our very own version of Cold Stone Creamery. I love you can design your own types of ice cream by blending together different flavors.

The bell above the door chimes as I walk into the 80s retro style ice cream parlor. Sally, the owner, really went all out with the bold colors, geometric shapes on the walls, and the checkerboard floors. You would think it would hurt your eyesto look at, but she successfully achieved a cohesive look without overwhelming the customers. There are round tables littered throughout with metal and black chairs around them. It’s such a fun place, especially with the throwback jams coming from the jukebox in the corner.

Sally’s head pops up when the door closes behind me. “Aspen! How lovely to see you! Where is that cute mountain lion that always seems to be one step behind you?”

It’s not often that people will mention our shifter sides, but Sally is a bighorn sheep shifter. Having a shop down here is great for her. It’s rare that we see their species, as they dwell in the caves in the mountains. Literal cave dwellers. I’ve heard stories that they have their own town deep in the mountains and each family has their own house inside.

“Uh, he should be here any minute. I just finished up at the bookstore, so it didn’t take me long to walk over here.”

My fingers run across the table tops as I make my way to the ice cream display. She has all the base flavors you could dream of and some funky flavors like “nacho cheese” and “beef.” I don’t want to ever know what the beef one tastes like, but she said that the lion shifters like it, so who am I to judge?