Page 6

I t doesn’t take long to get into the heart of Padston.

Arriving last night, the quaint little town took my breath away.

Strings of lights hung between light posts not only parallel to the main thoroughfare but also across it.

The gazebo at the entrance to town hosts a large tree, decorated with lights, large ornaments, bows, and garland.

Extra lights and decorations are strung along the railing, making it look like something that should be on a postcard.

To top the scene off, there was a light snowfall.

Driving in snow will take some getting used to, having lived in Southern California all my life.

Deciding to start at the Whiskey Genie, I easily find it and get a parking spot right out front.

After locking the car, I step inside. Everything looks new, which is a little confusing, but I press on.

Weaving between tables, I slowly reach the bar at the opposite end of the room from the front door.

A woman with long, dark hair serving drinks calls out when she sees me.

“I’ll be with you in a second.”

Looking around the place, a soft smile graces my lips. In the corner, shooting pool, is a familiar face. Foregoing the bartender for a minute, I head in that direction to say hello.

“Holy shit!” Declan exclaims, tossing his pool stick down, rushing toward me. A huge smile spreads across my face as he picks me up, spinning us in a circle.

“Put me down, you oaf!” I laugh.

“You are a sight for sore eyes,” he exclaims, looking around the room. “Where’s Kali?”

“She stayed at the house with Dayton. I am running some errands for her and needed to stop and talk to Gypsy,” I exclaim as several other guys step up to join us.

“Darby, this is my brother, Daegyn,” Declan explains, indicating the guy to his right. “These two are my cousins, Gunnar and Hayder Palmer.” He points to the two guys to his left.

Damn, they grow them big here. I make a mental note to text Fiora.

She has got to come up here. Daegyn and Declan look identical, so they are obviously twins.

The other two are definitely related, as their features are similar.

We all shake hands and complete introductions before the brunette steps out from behind the bar.

“What did you need, hun?”

“Darby Matthews,” I reply, holding my hand out to shake. “Dayton is my sister. Are you Gypsy?”

“Fuck, no,” she says, laughing. “Gypsy is in her office.” The woman tosses a thumb over her shoulder. “I’m Raven, by the way, sorry,” she adds, but I wave her off.

“Is it possible for me to speak to her? Dayton said that she has an apartment that I might be able to rent,” I explain, hoping to move this along.

“Wait,” Declan yells, “are you moving here?”

“Yeah,” I answer with a chuckle. “I want to open a tattoo shop as well, if you happen to know of any space I can rent.” All four men cheer loudly, attracting quite a bit of attention.

“I have been dying to get some ink,” Gunnar states, pausing briefly to step closer. His voice is almost a whisper, just loud enough that our small group can hear. “You can tattoo paranormals, right?”

“Oh, yeah,” I sing-song as a smile takes over my face once more. “My mentor was a shifter. I can do it all.” I wink.

“I’ll go get Gypsy,” Raven says as the guys start hooping a hollering. “Wait right here.”

Daegyn, I think, leans over the bar, grabbing several pens and what looks to be an order pad. Each of the guys scramble, scratching out tattoo ideas on the paper. Shaking my head and laughing at their antics, I move back to the bar, waiting for Gypsy.

Arek

My chest rumbles, my bear is angry, and he’s letting the world know about it.

Grabbing Declan by the arm, I drag him into my office, slamming the door closed behind us. Unable to help myself, I lean in and smell him. His chest, arms, and almost his entire body are covered in a scent that is nearly too delicious to resist.

“Dude, personal space please,” Declan gripes, trying to back away from me.

“You smell like her,” I growl. “Where is she?”

“What the fuck are you talking about? You’ve lost your damn mind,” Declan yells as he scrambles away from me.

“Her!” I yell in outrage as my bear fights to take over.

“Her who?” Declan yells back just as the door to my office bursts open. I don’t turn to look who it is, keeping my prey in front of me.

“What the hell is going on here?” Daegyn asks before closing the door again. “We can hear you screaming at each other in the dining room.”

Good, maybe then I will get some answers.

“Arek has lost his fucking mind is what’s going on,” Declan gripes to his twin.

“He smells of her, and I want to know why. I also want to know where she is,” I grumble as dark, brown curly hair starts sprouting on my forearms.

“Her, who, Arek?” Daegyn asks in a calm voice.

“My mate!” I yell.

Silence fills the air as I continue to fight my bear for control.

“Wait a minute,” Daegyn says right as Declan starts to laugh. He laughs so hard that he is bent over at the waist, holding onto my desk for support. “Is he talking about…” Daegyn’s voice trails off as Declan nods furiously.

“You have met her too?” I grind out, whirling around on Daegyn. His focus is on his twin, not his angry alpha, only adding to my bear’s anger.

“Yeah, he has,” Declan says, causing me to spin around again to face him instead of Daegyn. He’s moved behind the desk, putting as much space between us as possible.

“Who. Is. She?” I grumble, biting off each word.

“Darby Matthews.” Daegyn earns a glare from Declan.

My brow furrows as my bear starts to calm down now that we have a name. Why is that name so familiar, though?

“Dayton Morris’s sister,” Declan informs me, filling in the blanks. “Kyle’s sister-in-law.”

As the information settles in, my eyes widen in surprise.

“What’s with all of that?” Daegyn says, indicating the large stack of material in the corner behind my desk.

“My friends are assholes,” I say flatly.

For the past three days, one of them has left or mailed boxes of fabrics representing the plaids used to make kilts.

“Do I want to know?” he asks, causing me to pinch the bridge of my nose.

“Aunt Mitzi,” I answer.

“Got it,” he says dismissively. Declan is well-versed in our aunt’s antics, so no further explanation is needed.

“Tell me,” I start, changing the subject. “What is Darby like?”

Declan and Daegyn share a look, neither of them saying a word.