Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

Z ane's phone buzzed insistently, jolting him out of his brooding thoughts. Things had been in a sort of holding pattern for several days, and he wasn't sure how to proceed, on any front. He had just been trying to get his bearings. A quick glance at the screen revealed Beth's name, and he couldn't help but chuckle. Of course, she'd be dying to get the latest installment on his romance.

"Hey, Beth," he answered, trying to keep his tone light. "What's up?"

"Oh, come on," Beth retorted, her voice brimming with barely contained curiosity. "How goes the romance?"

Zane paused for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. "It's complicated. I've just been trying to sort of clear my head to figure out what I should do."

Beth responded with a laugh. "Good luck with that. And it can't be more complicated than it already was."

"This feels like another level of complicated, but yeah, I guess you are right. I feel like I am trying to navigate a minefield or something. It is hard to know what the right move is."

"Hey, this is going to sound crazy to you, but maybe you should go get a reading. Tarot helps me, you know. You could go to Kiki's Secret," Beth suggested tentatively. "I'm sure it's not your thing, but her readings are scarily accurate. It could give you some guidance."

Zane scoffed, shaking his head. "Go see Kiki? Are you high? Have my fortune told? Come on, Beth. I must be in a sad state for you to even suggest it."

"All the more reason to get some support. And, hey, don't knock it till you've tried it," Beth huffed.

"Support? Who said I need support?"

"Relax, I just thought it could help," she quickly responded.

"Maybe something a few steps lower on the crazy meter, okay?."

She laughed. "Fine. Then maybe just ask the universe for a sign."

"Ask the what for a what? I said less crazy!" Zane shot back as he sank even deeper into his couch, though the very idea did bring a wry smile to his lips.

"Just sort of put the idea out there, like, ‘okay, universe… I need some help here… show me what I need to know…'"

"I can't believe I am having this conversation," he said morosely.

"What have you got to lose? Just put it out there and see what happens."

Zane rolled his eyes, feeling more than a little foolish. But what the hell, he figured. It couldn't hurt to try.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

"Fine. All right, universe," he muttered, feeling utterly ridiculous.

"No, I don't mean like right now, like do it in your own time. When you're meditating."

"Now you have me meditating? Look, it's now or never, okay?"

"Okay, okay, you're right, sorry. Proceed."

"Thank you." He cleared his throat. "Okay, universe. If you're listening, I could really use some guidance right about now." He stopped, not sure of what else to say.

"Just ask for a sign. That's it. Something that will help you figure out how to proceed."

"That's it? Doesn't seem like the universe could do much if I am not more specific."

She laughed. "That's not how it works. Just humor me."

"Fine. Okay, universe, if you could show me a sign that might help me figure out what to do, or if I am on the right path… Oh, hell, just give me a sign, please," he wrapped up with a little frustration creeping into his voice. "Like that?" he finally asked her.

"Perfect."

He waited for a moment, half-expecting some grand cosmic revelation. But of course, nothing happened. Figures , he thought wryly. Guess I'm on my own after all.

"Nothing is happening," he grumbled into the phone. "Thanks for nothing, universe."

Beth just laughed, undeterred by his skepticism. "Dude. Relax and just keep your eyes peeled. The universe works in mysterious ways. Give it time, Zane. "

"Yeah, yeah," he sighed, pushing himself up off the bed. "Look, I gotta go. Got some Riders business to deal with."

"Just be careful," Beth warned, her tone turning serious.

"Don't worry about me," Zane assured her, his jaw tightening with resolve. "I can handle a few bikers. This would all be a lot easier if I could just cook them all with some dragon fire."

"Somehow, I imagine that might complicate the situation."

"True. Okay, I gotta go for real. Thanks, Beth. For everything."

"Anytime, my friend. Now go save the world and get your girl."

With that, they hung up, and Zane took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. He had a lot on his plate—the Riders, the feud, his forbidden love for Alena. But he was a Livingstone, damn it. He would find a way to make it all work.

And with that thought bolstering his resolve, he strode out the door, ready to face whatever challenges the day might bring. He promptly forgot all about asking for a sign as his mind turned to dealing with the Forsaken Riders and he headed toward Misty Brews.

While it had been infuriating to learn of the Forsaken Riders' plot, Alena and he had agreed that this did provide a glimmer of hope. If they could expose the Riders' treachery, maybe, just maybe, it could be enough to shock the two clans into setting aside their differences.

Lost in thought, Zane almost didn't notice the small commotion happening right outside the diner where Alena worked. But as he drew closer, he spotted her, standing behind a little table with a big, handwritten sign propped up beside her.

MISTY VALE TRASH HIKE, the sign proclaimed in bold, colorful letters.

Zane blinked, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Well, there's a sign," he muttered under his breath. "Not exactly what I had in mind, though."

He watched, stunned, as Alena chatted animatedly with a few passersby, handing out flyers and gesturing enthusiastically. When had she thought this up?

Suddenly, a pair of high-pitched giggles caught his attention. Zane's eyes widened as he spotted Alena's niece, Abi, darting around the diner's patio, a little trash bag clutched in her hand. But she wasn't alone. Hot on her heels, laughing and waving her own bag, was none other than Zane's own niece, Nora.

"I got a plastic bag!" Abi crowed, holding up her prize.

"Oh, yeah? Well, I got a candy wrapper!" Nora countered, grinning from ear to ear.

The two little girls chased each other in circles, their laughter ringing out across the street. Zane watched, transfixed, as they played together, blissfully unaware of the animosity that had divided their families for generations.

If only it could always be this simple, he thought wistfully.

Zane approached the little girls, a smile tugging at his lips as he watched them run around. "Hey there, girls. What's all the excitement about?"

Abi and Nora exchanged excited glances before launching into a rapid-fire explanation.

"Auntie Alena gave me a ride home from school today!" Nora began, bouncing on her toes. "Mommy had something important come up, and I would've had to wait forever, but then Abi said she'd ask her Auntie, and she did, and so here I am!"

"Oh, well, that sure was nice of her!" Zane offered.

"And guess what?" Nora added. "She's doing a big trash hike!"

"And we're helping!" Abi piped up.

"A trash hike, huh?" Zane settled Nora on his hip as he grinned at Abi. "Sounds like a big deal."

Abi nodded enthusiastically, her little face serious. "It is! And my Auntie Alena organized it," she said proudly. "We're gonna clean up the trails and forest!"

"Yeah," Nora continued. "See, you go on a hike… but while you go, you pick up trash!"

Abi picked up the thread again. "And whoever cleans up the most trash wins a prize!"

"She said the top three!" Nora corrected, bouncing excitedly in Zane's arms. "So we can both win!"

"Oh, yeah!" Abi agreed, her smile bright. "We're gonna get so much trash."

"Yeah, then all the squirrels and birds will have a nice clean home." Nora finished in a more serious tone.

Zane chuckled, their enthusiasm contagious. "That's awesome, girls."

As he listened to them chatter on about the hike, Zane couldn't help but be impressed by Alena's initiative. It was such a simple yet genius idea—bringing the community together to do something good for the environment, without any of the usual bear/dragon drama.

If only more people around here had that kind of attitude, he mused silently. Hell, I wish I could be like that sometimes.

But it wasn't just the hike that touched him. The fact that Alena had given Nora a ride home was sort of lowkey amazing, too. He knew of a fair number of bears or dragons who would have made sure they were not available to do such a favor.

But that was how it was in Misty Vale.

So dumb. Up until now, anyway.

He could feel his admiration for Alena growing. Whereas before it had been his dragon going nuts, this was different. She was capturing his heart as well.

Lost in his musings, Zane finally looked up to catch Alena doing the same from behind her little table. Their eyes locked, and she gave him a smile that made his pulse quicken. It also made his dragon take notice, and he rumbled with pleasure.

Again, with the surge of blood to his manhood. But that was just the effect she had on him. It took all of his willpower not to run to her and pull her into his arms again. Acting ‘normal' had never been so hard.

"Nora! Hey, I'm here!" Amelia's voice cut through the moment, making Zane start. He turned to see her hurrying towards them, a harried look on her face.

Nora squealed, wriggling out of Zane's arms and running to her father's mate, her adoptive mother. "It's okay, Abi's Auntie Alena is super fun! And she let us help with her trash hike! Whoever gets the most trash will win prizes! Can we go, can we?"

Amelia scooped her up, laughing, her face finally relaxing a bit. "Hi, Zane," she said to him in greeting before she turned back to Nora. "That sounds amazing, baby. We'll have to see, though, okay?"

Zane noted that a little of the tension had returned at that moment as she glanced over at Alena's makeshift stand as well as the bear-run diner, the Honey Pot, behind it.

"And I'm so sorry I got held up," Amelia said as she walked over to Alena, a warm, if a little hesitant smile returning to her face. "Thanks for picking her up for me and watching her, Alena. You didn't have to offer. That was so nice of you."

Alena waved off her gratitude, grinning. "Oh, come on, it was no trouble at all. Nora's a delight."

Zane noted that neither said a word about the unspoken. Bears and dragons helping each other in Misty Vale just doesn't happen.

"And hey, cool idea with the trash hike thing," Amelia added.

"Oh, thanks!" Alena cried, obviously overjoyed at the praise. "A little bird put this idea in my head about showing our town some love, you know? And I guess this is my way of doing it. I think nature is super, I don't know, healing? It's my special place, at least, so I just thought it makes sense. I mean, when I am out for a walk, why not pick up a little trash? It makes me feel good, so I thought, maybe it would make other people feel good, too!"

"Well, it's a good idea, and it's good for the environment!" Amelia added.

"There's that, too."

"Pretty cool." Amelia nodded and looked around her table.

Zane just watched the exchange and how easily it flowed between the two women.

This is how it should be.

Even as the thought crossed his mind, he saw Nora and Abi screeching in delight as they raced across a grassy stretch, each hoping to be the one to claim a candy wrapper blowing across the ground, totally unaware that their clans were on the verge of all-out war.

Again, though, the same thought repeated. How it should be.

It gave him a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to bridge the gap after all.

There must be a way.

But then Amelia turned her knowing gaze on him, one eyebrow arched as she caught the look that had passed between him and Alena. Zane felt his cheeks heat, suddenly feeling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

But Amelia remained silent, although he was sure he saw the slightest smile play on her lips.

"Well, we should get going," Amelia said, her tone light but her eyes still assessing. "Thanks again, Alena. And Zane, always good to see you."

"You too, Amelia," he managed, hoping his voice sounded steadier than he felt.

As he watched them walk away, Nora chattering excitedly about the trash hike, Zane blew out a breath. He hoped he had played it cool enough. The last thing he needed was any wind of his situation reaching his brothers' ears.

He shook his head as if to clear it and headed across the street toward Misty Brews.

Right. The Forsaken Riders. That's what I need to focus on. If I don't sort this out, there will be no situation with Alena to worry about at all.

But even as he turned to head into Misty Brews, Zane took one last look across the street. Alena was already engaged in a conversation with a potential participant, it seemed. Zane looked again at the sign…

Trash Hike. He couldn't quite suppress the grin that tugged at his lips or the warmth that bloomed in his chest.

The universe sure has a sense of humor, he thought with some amusement. Guess I got my ‘sign' after all.

He wasn't exactly sure what it was… but he got the general point.

It's possible. There can be peace in Misty Vale.

Clever universe.

With a spring in his step and a newfound determination in his heart, Zane pushed through the door of the bar, ready to face whatever challenges the day might bring. Because now, more than ever, he knew he had something—and of course, someone—worth fighting for. He'd gotten a glimpse of how things could be.