Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Imogen

My hands trembled as I buttoned up the borrowed blouse, and it wasn't just because I'd spent my morning patting actual bears. Like really big, really furry bears. It wasn't even that they were my… Fated mates, I kept rolling that term around and around in my head, and like a good meal, it got better with every taste. I'd spent my days and nights dreaming, fantasising about just such a thing, settling, I now realised, for someone like Mike; because if there was no magic in the world, I may as well be with someone like him. No, what had me brushing my hair in sharp strokes, making sure every hair was in place, was the fact that I was about to meet my in-laws.

I swallowed hard, but my throat stuck mid way, only cleared by a cough. Asher had explained it. That women rarely knew about the existence of bear shifters before being introduced to their mates. The older members of the community clustered around prospective mates, making sure the woman knew her rights, that she had multiple options available to her and didn't have to accept the bond. I'd just stared at him, seeing that severe face, that intense expression as something else entirely.

Mine.

Not just intimidating and impressive and beautiful, but he was… mine. My fingers twitched, wanting to reach for him, but then he'd continued. I'd be taken to the meeting house where the other women often met, and they'd teach me about my new situation which was what had me taking extra care with my appearance. I plaited my hair back from my face, but then I looked too pale, the lines of my face too harsh, so I undid it again and brushed it smooth.

"Ready?" Lucas asked, walking in through the open door, but one breath in had him frowning. "Hey, you're worried about something."

"I'm going to meet your mother today, right?" My voice came out way shakier than I intended. "And your aunties and cousins. Sisters?" I turned to face him. "Do you have sisters as well?"

"Just a pair of twin brothers," he replied with a smile, edging closer, that smile widening when I didn't pull away.

God, no, instead I moved into the circle of his arms, and it all made sense then. Why I slept better when he or Kyle were asleep beside me. Why I was so drawn to them straight away. I thought it was just me being a weak little bitch, wanting another big, strong man to protect me from the first, but now. Now I could release the breath I'd been holding and nestle into his arms. He cradled me with care, like I was the most precious thing in the world, and that was true, right? That's what the books said. That I was the only one for him, period.

"They're idiots," he informed me, his rumbly voice echoing in my ears. "So do not be intimidated by them for a second. If it's not a hammer or a power tool, they have absolutely no idea how to deal with it, but…" He rubbed his hand up and down my arm. "Today is about you, about helping you adjust, though you seem to be doing a really good job of that."

I looked up and smiled at him.

"Blame the books I read," I replied. "While it was definitely a shock, I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for this moment."

Somehow that was the perfect thing to say. His gaze grew hotter and hotter as he stared down at me.

"Yeah?" His voice was low and husky. "Me too, my mate. Me too."

This was a perfect moment. My heart swelled at the sound of those two words, never realising how much I needed to hear them. While the journey here sucked, I couldn't be sad at where I'd ended up. I turned then, ready to kiss him, needing to feel his lips back on mine, when Kyle came walking in.

"Ready?"

"In a second."

Lucas leaned down then and brushed his mouth against mine, but that would never be enough. Seeing those bears, hearing their words, it opened something inside me. A hunger that was always tamped down, trodden on, shamed and rejected by Mike, but not now. Lucas was my fated mate, and that meant he wanted my hand in his hair, tugging him back down. He wanted kisses, open mouthed and hungry kisses, just as much as I did.

And so did Kyle.

He looked way too pale when we finally pulled apart, blinking as if just waking up from a dream.

"I'm gonna be really happy when I've earned the right to kiss you like that," he ground out.

"Who says you need to earn it?" I gestured for him to come forward.

The way his smile faded and something desperate rose to replace it was everything I needed. At first it was a little awkward, our noses bumping against each other.

"Just take a breath."

I wasn't sure if Kyle was saying that to himself or me, but we both did just that and then moved as one.

Would it always feel like this? Not the wet smack of lips on lips, but something magical. Desire pooled like molten lava in my belly as my hand went to his neck. I couldn't help but feel the corded muscle there, then the feather softness of his hair, still damp from the shower. One kiss led to another because I couldn't seem to get enough. Kyle let out a little sound of pleasure, right as another voice broke in.

"You're all ready? Good."

We jerked apart at Asher's clipped tones, but that was a weird thing too, because if the others were mine, that meant… I looked him over more closely now, taking in the fresh t-shirt and worn jeans, those cool blue eyes watching me watch him. That meant he was mine too.

"Not quite ready." Kyle swung me around to face Asher. "You haven't kissed our mate good morning yet."

I wanted to protest at that and so did Asher, his breath sucked in to deny me this, but before he could say anything, he nodded. One step, another, somehow this was more terrifying than seeing a fully grown polar bear standing before me. The bear seemed all too keen for me to scratch his ears, but the man found it much harder.

Maybe Asher remembered that dream, the first one. Maybe he knew exactly how my lips would feel on his, because that's what I thought right now. That intimidating stare took on a whole other cast, the blue of his eyes becoming molten fire, right before one finger slid along my jawline. My lips were tilted upwards and he pressed a kiss to my mouth, just a chaste one, before making a small sound of surrender.

Teeth, tongue, my mouth forced open to admit him, I was wrenched from Kyle's arms and into his. At first, my hand landed on his chest, trying to maintain some space, but not for long. I needed this too. I needed to be cared for, wanted, desired, lo… My brain stalled on that last part, forcing me to suck breaths in when we pulled apart.

"OK, I am well and truly kissed now," I rasped out, my head spinning.

"We should go before this devolves into something else," Asher replied.

Into what? I wanted to ask, but I got a little preview as we drove over to the meeting house.

No one rode shotgun, leaving Asher to roll his eyes as he slid behind the steering wheel. Instead, I was wedged between two very large men in the backseat.

My men.

I found my hands moving, settling on their thighs, and Kyle covered my hand with his while Lucas picked my injured one up carefully, cradling it for the ride. That small act of affection was soaked up thirstily by my soul. It helped dispel any worries I might have about meeting the women of the bear community, right up until we pulled up out the front of the building.

It was an impressive looking community centre, complete with perfectly manicured gardens and shiny reflective windows, and I felt like anything but. Lucas slid out, then offered me his hand.

"You'll be fine," he assured me.

"You can smell me worrying?" I asked, remembering the different lore from my books.

"All of your strong feelings." He shot me a sheepish smile. "I'm not trying to snoop. It just allows us to be responsive."

"And what does it smell like?" I asked as I raked a hand through my hair, then smoothed down my clothes, making sure I was presentable.

"Like burned feathers," Kyle answered as he joined us. His wrinkled nose indicating what he thought of that.

"Oh."

"It's an evolutionary feature," Asher replied, pocketing the car keys. "It forces us to take notice of how you're feeling at all times. Negative emotions provoke an instinctual response in us to make sure you experience that as little as possible. Positive ones…" His eyes slid down my body, but he jerked them back up to meet my gaze. "They ensure we keep doing what pleases you."

Like he had in my dream. I flushed when I realised each time I'd re-experienced that fantasy and he'd been in the room, he'd known what I was feeling, thinking. The blush grew fiery as I remembered every time I'd thought about it.

"That scent." He nodded slowly. "Yes, we will do almost anything to inspire that one over and over, but…" His focus shifted to the building. "Our customs dictate you must go into this situation with open eyes. You'll talk to the elders?—"

"I will?" I asked, glancing at them. "By myself?"

"It's to make sure we're not seen to be influencing your decision," Lucas explained as he took my hand. "It's really important that women consent freely to the mate bond."

That put some steel in my spine. Reject the bond? Those books always broke my heart, but now it was my turn, I knew I wouldn't. I could jump through some hoops if that's what it took to formalise things. I nodded and then started towards the door.

"Hi!" A beautiful woman with bright red hair waved as she rushed forward. "I'm Natalie. Nat, really, that's what my friends call me." Her hands took mine. "And you must be Imogen?"

"Um, yeah." I glanced over to a gorgeous woman standing by her side. "You've been given the heads up already?"

"Ellie," she said, placing a hand on her chest. "And yeah. News travels fast in this community, something you'll get used to. So, your guys are going to visit with the male elders right now, tell their story. The older men will listen and make sure everything they've done is on the up and up."

"I know this must be completely nerve wracking," Nat said. "I didn't have to come before the elders when I met my mates. They're a little less formal about things than Asher."

"Asher, formal?" I replied dryly. "I'm not sure I believe you."

"You've worked that out already, huh?" Ellie asked, then nodded to the sliding doors. "Well, come through. The ladies are lovely, really. They're here for you. If you want to reject?—"

"Nope," I replied firmly.

"A woman that knows her mind? That makes things easier," Nat said.

"Well, if you know what you want, this will just be a formality," Ellie told me. "But the ladies can be an amazing resource. So much knowledge about the process of becoming a sleuth's mate."

"Great babysitters," Natalie added. "The only people that can talk you through having two freaking bear cubs for sons." She flushed then. "If you want kids."

"We're probably jumping the gun a bit here," Ellie said, shooting her a meaningful look. "Let's get you inside to meet everyone."

It looked like a really well resourced library, and the stacks of books drew me with their siren's song, but I kept my feet moving, following the two women into the space. Rather than a formal meeting room with a big table and uncomfortable chairs, ladies of all ages, shapes, and sizes sat around in a loose circle created with a series of comfy looking couches.

"This is her?" The sharp feminine voice had my head whipping around, and a pretty middle-aged woman stared at me. Her eyes widened and she came rushing over. "Oh my goodness…" Her hands took mine and she gave them a squeeze. "Oh, you're just beautiful. Isn't she beautiful?" she asked the collective.

"Very," a woman with bright blue eyes said. "She also has no idea why you're clasping her hands so tightly." Her gaze shifted. "Especially her injured one."

"Oh!" The first woman's hands shook as she saw the bruises, and I barely suppressed the need to shove it behind my back. "That fucking bastard…"

"Gail said fuck," the blue-eyed woman drawled. "This will be a good meeting." She rose to her feet, a picture of elegance. "I'm Ingrid and I say fuck a lot too. You must be Imogen."

"So people keep saying," I squeaked out.

"And this is Fern," Gail said, ushering a quieter woman over with familiar blonde hair and freckles. "She's–"

"Lucas' mother," I finished for her. One hand rose and I gave her a little wave, and that had her smiling.

"I am, and please, by all the bear gods, tell me my son has been behaving." She looked down at my wrist. "And that he made short work of whoever hurt you."

"Well–"

"Sit, sit," a much older woman said. "You're making the place look untidy. I'm Flo, proud mother of two bear shifter sons, grandmother to four grandsons, two shifters, two who are not. This." She pointed to the woman who'd gripped my hand. "Is Gail, Kyle and Asher's mother."

"Kyle and Asher are brothers?" I asked.

"They are both my sons," Gail replied, "but I only gave birth to Kyle. Asher came to us when he was still a boy."

"A boy shifter," one of the older women muttered.

"Is that the way it works?" I looked back at Nat. "You said you had bear cubs. You gave birth?—"

"To babies," she replied hastily. "That's how it works. Boys are the only ones that become bears, but not all do."

"Your twins will. Strong boys from good bloodlines," Ingrid asserted, but that got the other women twittering. Apparently, this was a hotly contested topic. Gail steered me away from that with a hand on my back.

"Has Asher told you about Ursula?" she asked.

"Maybe we shouldn't be bringing that up right now."

Fern's obvious apprehension had my own spiking.

"Why? What's the deal with Ursula? She's his sister."

"And when Asher caught their foster father… brutalising her, he shifted far too young," Gail told me. "He shifted for the first time at ten years old and killed the bastard."