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Somehow I found myself sitting outside the Dragon’s Breath, sharing a brisket sandwich with Maxwell. We’d drifted from the coffee shop a block over to the smokehouse food truck where the alpha and omega pair served us with smiles and delicious food.

“Where else have you been?” Maxwell asked.

“One morning, I got up in San Diego and decided to walk the Pacific Coast Highway. It ignited something…” I let my voice hush. I hadn’t spoken this openly to anyone in a long time—maybe ever. I had told Maxwell about some of my travels, trying to skim the details, leaving some things tucked away in my heart. But even then, I had revealed more than I wanted to.

A part of living the life that I chose was taking the bad with the good. There were honest and dishonest people all over the world. Honorable and dishonorable. Trustworthy and liars. Sometimes, a person could tell one from the other right away, and sometimes, even seasoned travelers like me could not.

I’d learned to give out snippets of myself, tiny truths that only skimmed the surface of who I was. There had been no one to share more with—until Maxwell.

“Ignited what?” He reached over and touched my hand again. My bobcat sensed nothing despicable about the bear sitting across from me, but my human side remained wary.

I shrugged. “Not wanting to work a regular job, I guess.” We both laughed. “I felt there was something else calling to me.”

Gods, was that something else the man, the bear in this town. Was Maxwell what my soul had searched for all this time? Had Fate sent me on a long journey to end up here, with my mate? My alpha?

Still, even if Maxwell was mine, trust didn’t come easy for me.

“Where were you before Oliver Creek?” he asked, polishing off his sandwich and moving on to the sweet potato fries. He didn’t alternate between them. Interesting.

“In Jones, doing some gardening and other work for a woman named Angelle. She has a grandson here in Oliver Creek. Aster?”

Maxwell nodded. “Of course. He’s a healer. He and Quinn are expecting baby number two? Perhaps three? I don’t know them well, but the healer is well thought of in town. Very patient and kind.”

“That’s good to know,” I answered. Heat crept up my neck and ears as Maxwell searched me for more, but I wasn’t ready to give him more.

My animal, on the other hand, was ready to give this alpha everything. And I meant everything.

Maxwell’s phone vibrated. It had several times while we talked but he ignored all of them. This time, after a dramatic groan, he answered the call. I distracted myself with the sights and sounds around me. There was plenty more of Oliver Creek to explore. Even a bird sanctuary and a vineyard—both of which offered tours.

The truth was, I needed some space from Maxwell. A chance to breathe since being around him made it hard to take a deep inhale. A chance to think clearly, when for the last few hours, all I’d done was hang on his every word and forgot my plan never to make ties, never to stay in one place.

“I have to get back to the coffee shop. Turns out, they need the boss around sometimes.”

I let out a laugh. “Imagine that. I’m going to explore the town a bit more. But I’ll come around in the evening? What time does the coffee shop close?”

“Six. I…are you sure? I could ask the others to close up for me.” Maxwell stood as I did. He gathered up the trash and tossed it into the trash can. My bobcat trembled with the nervousness coming from the alpha.

“Maxwell, look at me, alpha.” The last word slipped from my mouth. I hadn’t meant to say it, but it didn’t upset my cat either. “I’ll roam around. It’s what I do best. At six, I’ll be at your shop, accepting your offer to stay at your place, okay?”

I hoped my words soothed him as his presence did to me.

My soul felt like it had been in turmoil for ages and now, I’d found the balm.

Still, I needed some time to myself to get my head straight. Maxwell deserved that.

“Okay, Pike. Have a good time.”

I went to the bird sanctuary and took the long tour. The number of birds there blew my mind. There were species I had never heard of before. They took such good care of it that I was moved to make a small donation at the office. The vineyard didn’t have any tours since they were between seasons, but there was plenty to be seen in Oliver Creek. Diners and a new art museum. Even a new place next to the town hall with a history of the town.

My feet were tired, and the day turned into dusk. I checked my watch and grinned. It was finally almost six. The tour of Oliver Creek I’d given myself was a great way to spend the day, but I found my thoughts meandering back to Maxwell.

My bobcat called him his mate—our mate.

I walked into the coffee shop to find most of the lights turned off and Maxwell wiping down a counter.

He said, “Can I…” He smiled and my heart and energy were instantly renewed. “Pike. Did you have a good day?”

“I did.”

“Ready to go home?” he asked. “I mean, to my house?”