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D aire stepped into Savannah’s apothecary and looked around. It had been quite some time since he’d last been there, and he’d forgotten how amazing it smelled. Sandalwood with a hint of rose.

“Hello, Daire.”

He turned and saw Savannah. “Hi.”

She cocked her head. “What can I do for you?”

“I ... well, I’m looking for something that can sever emotional memories.”

“I see,” Savannah said with a gentle smile. “May I?”

She held up her hand and he nodded. Stepping close she ran her finger across his forehead, and immediately, pressure he didn’t realize he had eased.

“Wow,” he said. “What did you do?”

“I needed to feel how deep the tendril of your ex-mate,” she replied. “I have just the thing.”

She walked behind the counter and took some glass jars down. Each one had some type of herb, mixing several together in a mortar with a pestle. Then she poured the crushed herbs into a satchel.

“Stay here,” she ordered. “I’m going to grab a cup of hot water so you can drink this right away.”

“I have a date tonight,” he said, eyeing the dark brew. “This won’t mess that up, will it?”

“Don’t worry. It won’t upset your night.”

“Oh. Okay.”

She nodded and left, hurrying up the stairs in the back. A few minutes later, she returned, holding a coffee mug with a tea bag floating in the hot water, turning it an amber color.

“Drink up.”

He took the mug and grimaced at the earthy smell. “Is this going to help me get over Nicola?”

“It will sever all ties of the festering bond and leave you free.”

That was exactly what he wanted. Fortifying himself, he drank the whole cup down in one long gulp. It was horrible. “Holy hell, that was foul.”

“Yes, but now the shackles of the past are gone and you can choose a new mate.”

He held up his hand. “Since I’ve given up on relationships, I’m not looking for a new mate.”

She smiled. “Regardless. There’s not an albatross around your neck anymore. With each hour that passes, the unbearable weight that had been on your chest will get lighter and lighter.”

“Thank you, Savannah,” he said. “How much do I owe you?”

She held up a hand. “Please. It’s my pleasure to help you.”

“Well, if you need any work done, let me know. I’ll be happy to help out.”

“Deal.” She held out her hand, and he shook it. “Have a good night with Kinleigh.”

He frowned. “How did you know about Kinleigh?”

“You weren’t the only who needed to sever a tie.”

She winked and went to help a new customer. Intrigued, Daire left Savannah’s, wondering how the evening would turn out.

****

“W elcome to The Unicorn ,” Daire said, smiling as he held open the door.

The warm lighting inside the bar cast a cozy glow. Industrial modern touches were interspersed with rich wooden textures. The long linear counter was lined with people as they sat, drinking with friends and family to unwind. The shelves behind the bar were meticulously organized, with two bartenders moving in a careful dance around each other as they served customers. The low hum of voices only added to the ambiance.

“Why is it called The Unicorn?” she asked.

“No one knows for sure, but my personal opinion is that it was meant to draw curious people in, and it worked. It has the right mix of sophistication and casual style.”

“Daire, you old dog, I see you finally managed to bring a pretty lady in here.”

They both turned. A tall, good-looking man stood there with a mischievous glint in his almost translucent blue eyes. She’d never seen such a color before.

“Hey,” Daire greeted. “Kinleigh, this is The Unicorn’s owner, Asher Reidman. Ash, this is my friend, Kinleigh Shire.”

Reaching out, Asher took Kinleigh's hand and brought her knuckles to his lips, giving them a theatrical kiss that made her giggle. Daire rolled his eyes, but a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

“Don't mind him, Kinleigh, he likes to think he's some kind of Casanova,” Daire said, a touch of mock exasperation lacing his voice.

Asher winked, patting Daire on the shoulder. “Just trying to show this lovely lady how a real gentleman acts," he teased, before finally backing off. “All right, you two lovebirds, I'll let you be. Enjoy your date, and I’ll send one of the servers to get your order.”

Daire led her to a secluded booth. It allowed them a sliver of privacy despite the place being crowded. As soon as they sat down, a server came by to take their order.

“I could get used to this,” she said.

“Yeah?”

“We don’t really have anything like this in my pack.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope,” she said. “My dad is the type of alpha who likes tradition.”

“Ah,” Daire said. “Like the ones in Northern Canada?”

“Not quite that strict, but progress takes time.” She shrugged. “I think if my mother was still alive, she would’ve encouraged him to move a little more quickly into the twenty-first century.”

“Sorry about your mom.”

“It’s okay. I barely remember her anymore.”

The server returned with their drinks before taking off again.

“Cheers,” he said, holding out the amber-glass bottle of beer. She softly clinked it and they both took a drink. “Your dad never took another mate?”

“No,” she said. “I wish he had. I don’t like seeing him so alone.”

“What about you?”

“Me?” she asked, pointing to herself. “No mate.”

“The Luna mentioned a rejection earlier. When we were in the office.”

“Oh. Right.”

“I only asked because apparently I went to Savannah for the same reason you did.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “You?”

“Yep. Long story.”

Something dark flashed across his face, and her wolf recognized the aching loss which mirrored her own soul.

“I, ah, had to reject my moon-fated mate,” she shared. “I caught him in an embrace with a friend of mine.”

“Ouch,” he said with a wince.

“He only wanted to mate me so he could be my father’s heir.” She took a deep breath. “He was going to send me away and make his girlfriend the pack Luna.”

Silence fell as she thought about the betrayal. It would probably always sting, even though she now felt nothing for Vaughn.

“I would think moon-fated mates were a lie if I didn’t have friends who had found theirs and are completely devoted to one another.” She shook her head. “I can’t help but wonder what was wrong with me that he couldn’t love me.”

He lifted her chin. “His decision was his own treachery. Sometimes we aren’t enough for those who are truly broken.”

She studied his face. “You too?”

“Yes,” he admitted. “My mate ... she was an alcoholic. Weird for a wolf, but her drink of choice was moonshine, and not the kind you find in stores. Her mother struggled with her own addictions. The men her mother brought home led to Nicola being sexually abused. This happened before she got her wolf who could’ve protected her. I did everything I could to help her, but it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t enough. She, um, took her own life.”

His pain made her heart ache. She laid her hand on top of his and he ended up linking their fingers together. It was extremely unusual for a shifter to commit suicide, but there’d been cases. Their dual personas were of nurture as well as nature, a symbiotic relationship where the animal inside would regenerate the body. It’s why shifters rarely developed diseases. For a shifter to kill himself or herself is telling that somewhere down the line, a disconnect between human and wolf had occurred. Mental health wasn’t just reserved for humans.

“I’m so sorry about your mate,” she murmured.

“No need to be sorry,” he said with a shrug. “You had nothing to do with the choice she made.”

“I know, but I empathize. We both lost something that was supposed to be sacred, and it robbed us of a beautiful future.”

He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand as he searched her face. For a moment, she lost herself in his dark gaze. Attraction flared to life, causing her heart to thump rapidly in her chest.

“You’re gorgeous,” he murmured.

“So are you.”

He grinned. “We can be gorgeous together, if you’d like.”

“We could.” She bit her bottom lip as she figured out what to say. “I’m not looking for anything long term.”

“Me too. Fucking and having a good time is all I’m capable of.”

“Then I guess that makes this a non-date date.” She tilted her head. “I’m only planning to stay for a couple of weeks.”

“Okay.”

Now, she felt a little shy. “I’ve never done this before.”

“What? Fucking?”

She let out a nervous little giggle. “Blunt. I like it, but no, not that. I’ve never propositioned anyone.”

“Is that what you’ve done? Propositioned me?”

“I think so,” she replied. “I’m not sure because, you know, I’ve never done this before.”

“Touché. I’d ask your place or mine, but I’m pretty sure you’re staying with the alpha and there’s no way I’m having sex under his roof.”

“Yeah,” she said. “Might be slightly embarrassing at breakfast.”

“So, Miss Shire. Would you like to come home with me?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”