Page 4 of Fire Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #1)
Chapter
Four
It was still hot outside in the early evening, though the angle of the sun promised it would cool down soon. Typically, after finishing up, Ash would drive home, fix a quick meal, and settle into a solitary routine. But tonight, he felt restless.
Lifting his phone from his uniform pants pocket, he powered it on. As it booted up, the device vibrated. He glanced at the screen, expecting a meme text from Reed. Instead, it was a notification from mate.com. Ash froze for an instant, then tapped the notification. It opened.
Congratulations! We’ve found your fated mate.
His heart thudded, like the echo of a drumline. He swiped open the match’s details. A profile picture slid into view, a woman with soft, warm eyes, standing by an orchard row. Her profile name was Orchard Lady. The camera had caught her in partial sunlight, her hair tinted with golden highlights. She wore a gentle smile that tugged at his chest.
Name: Eliana Hampton. Age: 29. Occupation: Orchard Owner. Her short bio spoke of preserving heirloom apple varieties and a love for the mountain. By the time he scrolled to the bottom, he realized he was holding his breath.
A blinking icon indicated she had sent him a message. He tapped it, hands no longer steady. The text read:
Hi Fire Bear, I’m Eliana Hampton. My orchard is hosting our annual Heirloom Apple Festival this weekend. I would love for you to come by since we’re both from Fate Mountain. I admire the Fire Patrol’s work around here. If you’re free, drop in. Maybe we can share some fresh cider and chat.
He stared, rereading each line. Fire Bear had been the silly username he chose last night, not anticipating the site would ever find him a perfect match. Now, his fated mate was inviting him to her orchard on Fate Mountain.
Ash’s heart hammered as he stepped away from the station entrance, swallowing dryness in his throat. A 100% match. Her last name was Hampton. She must own the orchard near the brushfire he had extinguished yesterday. Fate was definitely at play here.
A surge of energy coursed through him, wiping away the day’s fatigue. He grinned, practically trembling with excitement. The door behind him swung open with a squeak, and Jake, his human crew member, stepped out. Ash quickly composed himself, pocketing the phone.
Jake cocked his head. “Leaving for tonight, Chief?”
“Yeah,” Ash managed, clearing his throat. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He forced a casual nod. Without waiting for a response, he headed to the side lot where his personal truck was parked.
He unlocked the door of his pickup. Flopping down onto the driver’s seat, he pulled the door shut, letting out a shaky breath. Eliana Hampton. Something about her made his inner bear rumble with excitement. He found his thumb tapping the phone screen again, rereading her message.
He wanted to respond. He desperately wanted to. But a knot of caution coiled in his gut. He tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, burying his face in his hands for a moment. There it was, that tension he knew so well. If she truly was his fated mate, everything would change. Accepting a mate, especially a human, meant new responsibilities and new emotional territory.
He thought about all the times he had seen cross-species couples flourish around Fate Mountain. It could be beautiful, like his parents, but it also sometimes brought complexities, particularly when someone from outside the shifter world stepped into it. The orchard might keep her busy day and night, and his Fire Patrol duties demanded so much of him. Would they even have time for each other?
He recalled the fleeting disappointment last night, how he had felt oddly deflated when no 100% matches appeared. Now the opposite sensation flooded him: hope, adrenaline, and an edge of fear. Fated mates were serious. Shifters rarely took it lightly. A 100% match from mate.com almost always meant a fated mate match.
He gingerly picked the phone up again, unlocking the screen to see her message. The orchard festival was scheduled for the weekend. She wanted him to drop by. Zoe had mentioned she and Rollo were going to the festival too. Maybe he would see them there.
He tapped out a few words, then erased them, cursing under his breath. He had no idea how to phrase this. Finally, he typed:
Hi Eliana, thanks for reaching out. I’m Ash Bright. I’d love to see your orchard. Been hearing great things about the festival. Count me in. Let me know the best time. Looking forward to meeting you.
He reread it, noticing how stiff it sounded. Was it too short? Should he mention the brushfire near the orchard? Should he crack a joke? After a moment’s indecision, he added, “PS: The orchard must be as remarkable as you are.” He blushed at how corny that looked, then hurriedly deleted that postscript. Better to keep it simple.
He hovered over the “Send” button, heart thudding. Realizing he had stared at the phone too long, he inhaled and tapped. The message vanished, replaced by a small confirmation note that it had been delivered.
In the hush of his truck, he felt every beat of his heart as if it echoed off the windows. He started the engine, pulled away from the station, and headed along a forest road that curved through dense pines. The evening sun painted the treetops shades of brilliant orange.
Moments later, Ash pulled onto a small gravel turnoff where he often stopped to clear his head. Turning off the engine, he listened as the truck’s metal ticked softly in the hush, the day’s heat dissipating into the cool mountain air. From here, the distant foothills of Fate Mountain unfurled in dark silhouettes.
The sunset blazed on the horizon, highlighting the ridges and valleys. It reminded him of why he loved this land. It was quiet, steadfast, and full of mysteries he felt compelled to protect.
He pulled his phone from his pocket. As soon as he unlocked the screen, it chimed. One new message. Heart thudding, he tapped the notification. Eliana had texted him back.
Eliana: Hey Fire Bear, I hope I’m not texting too late. Just wanted to say, I’m excited you’ll come to the festival! How does four o’clock sound?
Ash’s lips curved into a grin. His thumbs hovered over the digital keyboard as he considered how to respond, something warm but not too forward, something fun but not corny. He typed, deleted, then typed again.
Ash: Never too late. I’m off duty now, enjoying the night sky. Hard to focus with a 100% match on my mind. Four sounds perfect. Your orchard must be something special if it’s half as intriguing as your profile.
He hesitated. Did that sound too eager? Then he shrugged. Maybe honesty was best. After a quick breath, he sent the text. A minute later, the phone lit up again.
Eliana: Wonderful! The orchard is definitely special, at least to me. Sometimes it feels like it’s my entire world.
Ash inhaled slowly. Her orchard was her life, just as firefighting was his. The parallel struck a chord in him.
Ash: Sounds like we both have big responsibilities. I’ve seen Hampton Orchard from a distance. It’s gorgeous.
He paused, recalling the brushfire near her property line.
Eliana: It is! I’m usually up at dawn, fretting over each leaf and root. Not complaining, though. I love every minute. Maybe it’s like you and the Fire Patrol?
Warmth spread through him.
Ash: Yes, exactly. It can be exhausting, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Protecting Fate Mountain is in my blood. Guess we share that “unstoppable caretaker” vibe.
A short pause.
Eliana: Ha, unstoppable caretaker vibe. I love that. I’ll have to put it on my website bio.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
Ash: I like the idea of being unstoppable caretakers. I’d love to share a cider or two when you show me around your orchard festival.
He was careful not to come off too strong. He wanted to see her orchard, yes, but mostly, he wanted to meet her. Right now. The desire was startling. A moment passed.
Eliana: I promise you cider, the hard kind.
Ash barked a short laugh.
Ash: I’m definitely looking forward to it.
He tapped send, waiting, heart thrumming. Her next reply came quickly.
Eliana: See you at four. ;)
There was something intangible in that winking emoticon. His chest grew lighter, imagining the orchard festival brimming with visitors—Eliana at the center, waiting with a welcoming grin.
Ash: I’ll be there. I’m excited. Can’t remember the last time I felt this amped up about meeting someone.
Then he paused. Too honest? Maybe.
Eliana: Me too. This orchard festival’s already big, but my 100% mate.com match being there feels like a whole new level.
Ash inhaled, savoring the admission. He typed a final message for the night.
Ash: It is for me too. See you soon, Eliana.
Eliana: Goodnight, and sweet dreams…
Ash shook his head, lips curving into a half-smile as he read her sign-off. Sweet dreams indeed.