Page 2 of Fire Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #1)
Chapter
Two
Corey Bright’s house was a picturesque log mansion perched on a gentle slope overlooking Fate Lake. Pulling into the driveway, Ash parked beside a couple of familiar vehicles, Holly’s compact SUV, Ivy’s hybrid, and Reed’s battered truck. Off to the side was Zoe’s sleek sedan. They were all here, just as expected.
Ash recalled playing on the expansive back lawn with his siblings, practicing shapeshifting back when they were still learning to control their forms. He made his way up the wide steps to the front door, noticing fresh planters bursting with flowers. He tapped lightly on the door, but before he could wait even two seconds, it swung open.
Reed grinned; guitar pick in hand. “Finally decided to show up, big brother?”
Ash pursed his lips and crossed his arms. “I only come late so you get your moment to shine.” He chuckled.
Reed snorted, stepping back to let him in. “Your sense of humility is astounding.”
Inside, the house hummed with energy. The aroma of braised pork roast and fresh bread wafted from the kitchen, while the living room glowed with soft lamplight. Laughter tinkled through the air.
Holly was standing on a step stool, adjusting Corey’s birthday banner. Elias Frost, her polar bear mate, was beneath her, arms outstretched in case she lost her balance. Over by the couch, Ivy tapped on her phone, likely finalizing a research note even during a family event, while Zoe and Rolo were methodically filling balloons from a small helium tank. A wave of nostalgia washed over Ash as he stepped into the living room.
“Look who made it,” Holly teased from the step stool. She hopped down gracefully. “We were beginning to think you got stuck up in a pine tree rescuing a cat.”
Ash gave a mock salute. “That was last Tuesday.”
They exchanged a brief hug, and Elias nodded in greeting.
“Pork roast is nearly done,” Holly said. “Hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” Ash replied, a corner of his mouth lifting.
In the kitchen doorway, Corey Bright appeared, wearing a checkered apron that read “Fate Mountain’s Master Chef.” He might be sixty-five now, but with the stamina and charm he possessed, he seemed younger. Ash’s father was all smiles, and the lines at the corners of his eyes deepened as he noticed Ash.
“Thought I’d have to send Reed out to fetch you,” Corey teased. “I’m too old to chase grown kids, you know.”
Ash chuckled. “You’re not that old, Dad. And you’d outrun me, anyway.” He lifted his birthday gift. “Happy birthday.”
Corey grinned. “Thank you, son. We’ll do gifts after dinner. Good to have you here.”
The rich smell of gravy and potatoes beckoned from the kitchen. Zoe bustled past, holding a mass of floating balloons. She paused to pat Ash’s shoulder. “Good to see you, nephew. Your cousin Ezekiel sends his regards. He’s busy as ever with his work overseas. But he’ll be returning to Fate Mountain to continue his work at the Bright Institute next fall.”
“I’m glad to hear.”
Ash’s cousin Ezekiel was a jaguar shifter like his mother. He and Ash were close in age and had been close friends growing up. But Ezekiel had been working overseas with an international initiative to develop sustainable energy solutions.
Holly and Elias brought plates to the massive dining table, while Ivy set silverware. Moments later, the long dining table was laden with steaming dishes including braised pork roast ringed by carrots and onions, bowls of roasted potatoes, a basket of still-warm bread, and a fresh apple-cranberry salad.
The family settled in. Holly slid into a seat beside Elias, Zoe next to Rolo, Reed took an end seat, and Ivy sat next to him. Corey commanded the table’s head, and Ash found himself on the opposite end from Corey.
“Before we dig in,” Corey said, clearing his throat. “Thank you all for coming. I know we see each other often, but birthdays are special. I’m not exactly ancient,” he added wryly, “but it’s a milestone. Sixty-five’s a respectable number for a father of four grown kids.”
Laughter and murmurs of agreement passed around. They all raised their glasses to toast him, and then the meal began, a lively flow of passing dishes and cross-table banter.
They conversed about everyone’s current news—Holly’s new ornament designs, Reed’s part-time musician gig, and Ivy’s ongoing research at the Bright Institute. Midway through the meal, the conversation slowed, and Corey turned the talk more nostalgic. “I recall a certain fiasco from hmm, fifteen years ago? Fireworks and a scorched yard ring a bell?”
Heads turned toward Ash. He grimaced, though he couldn’t resist a grin. “Aw, Dad, you just had to bring that up.”
Reed snickered. “I remember. You insisted you could handle Roman candles by yourself.”
Ash coughed in mock embarrassment. “I was young and had an overabundance of confidence. The yard got an unplanned fireworks display, and the compost pile nearly went up in flames.”
Ivy smirked. “Mom freaked out. I remember you grabbed the garden hose and tried to stomp out the smoldering grass.”
Corey chuckled. “You took fire safety so seriously after that. That was when your mother and I realized you’d found your calling in firefighting.”
Ash felt a wash of warmth and a hint of sadness. His mother’s absence always made these recollections bittersweet. He thought about how he’d grown from a reckless teen to a responsible Fire Patrol Chief.
After dinner, Holly stood up and disappeared into the kitchen. She reappeared carrying a decadent chocolate cake brimming with candles. “Time for the big moment,” she announced, setting it in front of Corey.
Corey groaned about the candle count, but a playful grin curved on his lips. Everyone sang a rowdy version of “Happy Birthday,” and Corey blew out the candles to a round of applause.
After he sliced the cake, Holly distributed slices. The rich chocolate melted on Ash’s tongue. Family nights like these reminded him what life beyond the station could be.
Zoe waited until they’d all had a few bites of cake before she said, “I heard that mate.com has had an uptick in popularity lately. Are all of you young Brights signed up?”
Rolo grinned. “It worked for me and Zoe.”
Holly winked. “And Elias and I.” She smiled at her mate. “Not to mention Mom and Dad.”
“I’m signed up,” Reed said.
Ivy sighed, “So am I.”
Everyone turned to look at Ash.
He tried to maintain composure, but he felt warmth creeping up his neck. He glanced at his dad. “Your mother believed in fate,” Corey said, a wistful look on his face.
A hush settled for a moment as they recalled Willow. Holly broke it with a soft laugh. “She used to tease that a big old grizzly needed a partner to share his honey.”
The table chuckled. Ash took a swig of water to mask his slight discomfort. “I still haven’t signed up if that’s what this is about. My job’s plenty fulfilling.”
Ivy adjusted her glasses. “Sure, but a job isn’t exactly going to keep you warm at night, big brother.” Her tone was playful but carried genuine concern.
Holly nodded. “There’s more to life than firefighting.”
Ash exhaled slowly. “I appreciate your concern, truly. But if it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen.”
Corey patted Ash’s hand. “If you ever change your mind about giving mate.com a shot, it’s there. But tonight’s about me being old.”
That earned a round of good-natured laughter. The conversation shifted to Zoe and Rollo’s latest travel escapade and their new antique hunting obsession. Ash listened, content to let the chatter swirl around him.
When they finished eating birthday cake, Corey opened his stacks of presents, to rounds of appreciation and laughter. As the clock ticked toward bedtime for the older members of the family, they began their farewells.
Zoe and Rolo invited the family to join them at the orchard festival next weekend. Holly and Elias took a portion of leftover cake home. Reed teased that he’d come crash at Ash’s cabin sometime soon for a bachelor brother jam session.
Ash stepped into the night, arms laden with leftover pork roast and a small container of cake. Crickets chirped, and the waters of Fate Lake shimmered. On the drive home, the full moon hovered above the mountain peaks, painting everything in silver. A fleeting thought crossed his mind. Wouldn’t it be nice to share nights like this with a mate?
After a ten-minute drive through the mountain, he parked in front of his one-bedroom, rustic cabin. He took the leftovers inside and placed them in the fridge. The cabin felt extra still after the lively chaos of the family dinner. Ash switched on the lamp by the couch and sank down with a groan. A wave of restlessness coursed through him.
Impulsively, he fetched his laptop from a side table. He flipped it open and typed in the address for mate.com. The front page loaded, splashed with playful branding and a bear paw motif from Corey’s original brand aesthetic. He hesitated, but the echo of his family’s voices prodded him on.
The sign-up form popped open, asking for basic details such as name, age, and shifter type. He typed “grizzly.” Then it wanted a photo. He rummaged through his laptop for a picture from last fall, standing by the brush truck.
Next came the personality questionnaire. Some questions were simple, like favorite color or dream vacation. Others were odd. If you were a vegetable, what would you be? He nearly snorted, selecting corn out of sheer randomness. The final page asked for a short introduction.
“Hi, I’m Ash. I run the Fire Patrol on Fate Mountain. I like the outdoors…” He felt silly typing it. Once done, he stared at the Submit button. Did he really want to do this?
An inexplicable current of curiosity guided his hand and he clicked. The screen flashed, telling him the system was cross-referencing profiles. The little loading bar inched forward. Ash leaned back in his chair, a mix of amusement and embarrassment swirling in his gut.
After a minute, the results page popped up. It listed potential matches with percentages. The highest he saw was a 94% match for a woman who lived three states away. Then an 87% match for a local teacher, and a 79% match for someone in a neighboring town. But no 100% match.
Ash felt deflated, more than he cared to admit. “Ridiculous,” he murmured, closing the laptop.