Chapter Five: Clint

Chapter Five – Clint

Clint stepped out of the cabin, leaving his mate inside. The thought of her being so close, yet still unaware of their bond, overwhelmed him. He breathed in the crisp mountain air, feeling the ice crunch under his boots. The forest around him was covered in a light dusting of snow, glittering in the sunlight like a field of diamonds. It was as if the world was shining just for him and his mate.

The scent of pine and fresh snow filled his nose, making him feel alive. He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the forest around him. The rustling of leaves in the wind, and the distant howl of a wolf. It was as if the world was singing to him, welcoming him and his mate to this magical place.

He looked up at the mountain rising above him, majestic and powerful. It was like a metaphor for his own shifter nature, something wild and untamed. He felt a surge of pride and happiness, knowing that his mate was meant to be a part of this world, too.

He was happy with how their first proper meeting had gone. He knew he needed to be patient, to let her come to him when she was ready. But the thought of her being his mate made him feel alive in a way that nothing else ever had before.

Clint smiled as he walked back to the reception area, where his friends were waiting for him.

Clint stomped through the parking lot, his boots breaking the silence like a drumbeat on the frozen-covered ground. A chill danced across his skin, but he welcomed it...it reminded him he was still alive.

The sun shone down on him, bright and warm in the winter sky. He looked up at it, feeling its rays soak into his skin as he walked. The snow sparkled around him as if it was covered in a million tiny diamonds, each one reflecting the light of the sun.

The air was crisp and cold, and he could taste the freshness of it on his tongue. He breathed in, feeling the scent of pine and snow fill his lungs.

Ryan stiffened as he opened the door and caught sight of Clint. “Wow, look at you,” he breathed. “You look like a different person.”

Clint gave a slow, crooked smile. “I am a different person,” he said quietly.

Jody rushed forward, her arms outstretched, and pulled him into a tight embrace. “We were so worried about you,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry I gave you all a scare.” Clint ran a comforting hand down Jody’s back, trying to offer her reassurance. “But it’s all good now,” he promised, looking into her eyes with conviction.

We still have a lot of ground to cover with Martha, his bear reminded him.

I know. But I’m certain we’ll figure things out and find a way to make our lives fit together,Clint told him. Fate wouldn’t be so unkind as to make us wait so long to find our soul mate, only to take her from us again. That’s not how it was meant to be.

Could it? For a brief moment, Clint had doubts, and his face showed it, but then he quickly put the idea aside.

Jody’s voice seemed to echo through the foyer as she asked, “Shall we go through to the kitchen and get some coffee?”

Ryan breathed in deeply as he declared, “Kay has baked some cookies. They smell as if they are just out of the oven.”

Clint’s smile widened as fragrant memories invaded his senses. “I hadn’t noticed. The scent of my mate seems to have overwhelmed me.”

“I know that feeling.” Ryan glanced at Jody and smiled knowingly. “A mate sure does have a way of knocking you off your feet. It’s a special kind of thing when you find someone who is a part of you, and there’s no way to describe the feeling. Not really.”

“Thanks,” Jody replied. “I think.”

“In a good way.” Ryan nodded. “There’s no way to explain it. Unless you feel it, too.”

“I might not be a shifter,” Jody said. “But I have some sense of what you mean. I knew there was something between us from the moment we first met.”

“You’re right.” Clint raked a hand through his hair. “When I first sensed Martha, it was almost too much.” He placed his hand on his heart. “I thought I was sick.”

“I wouldn’t describe it that way to Martha,” Jody told him.

“That is going to be an interesting conversation.” Clint glanced over his shoulder at cabin number five and then followed the others out to the kitchen.

“If it makes you feel better,” Jody began, “I’m sure Martha suspects there’s something between you both. Even if she can’t explain it.”

Kay’s hands were steady as she used the spatula to maneuver the cookies from the baking sheet to the cooling rack. With her focus on her task, she picked up a delicious scent and mumbled, “Cookies.”

Jody inhaled, her chest swelling as she licked her lips. “They smell divine.” She patted her stomach. “I’m starving. All this excitement sure works up an appetite.”

Kay stepped closer to Curtis, threading her arm around his waist. “Help yourself,” she said, flashing a suggestive half-grin. “Before these bears eat them all.”

Jesse stood in the corner of the kitchen, his muscles tensed and his face unreadable. “How did it go with Martha?” he asked, his gaze drifting around the room.

He must be feeling it,Clint’s bear said. Being the only one who hasn’t found their mate yet must be tough.

But Jesse would be happy for them, even if the reality of the situation made his heart ache. Just as Clint, or any of the others, would be there to celebrate if they were the last one to find their true mate.

“Good.” Clint nodded thoughtfully. “I think it went well. I made sure she was comfortable, with a blazing fire in the hearth.”

“And did you find out anything about her and why she is in town?” Kay’s eyes narrowed with curiosity.

“I think I might have.” Clint’s expression brightened. “She plans to move to town if she finds the right property.”

“Hot damn!” Ryan exclaimed around a mouthful of the freshly baked cookie. “She’s not just passing through?”

“No,” Clint agreed, nodding slowly. “It appears she’s here for good. Looking to make a change in life—and Bear Creek is where she decided to do it. I guess fate brought her here.”

“That’s what it looks like,” Curtis said in an amused tone. “Right to Clint’s door.”

“Yeah. All I have to do is help her find the perfect place.” Clint shrugged. “How hard can it be?”

Jody took another cookie and smiled, her gaze lingering on Curtis’s face. “Your optimism is contagious.”

Jesse spoke, his voice tinged with sadness, but he managed a smile. “It’ll all be okay in the end,” he promised.

Clint quickly answered, his voice barely a whisper. “For all of us.”

“Right now we need to focus on you and Martha,” said Jesse. “This is the moment for you two to step into the future together. We’re here for you, and we’re going to get you there.”

“Jesse is right. After everything you’ve done for all of us over the years, it’s time we repaid you.” Ryan’s voice carried a tone of steel. “I’ll ask around. There’s got to be a house suitable for Martha.”

Jody looked up, curiosity creasing her forehead. “What’s she looking for?”

Clint rubbed his jaw. “She said something about a fixer-upper and starting a business. I wish I’d been paying better attention.”

“Ah, your head was filled with the sight of your mate,” Curtis told him. “It’s hard to think straight in those first few moments.”

“You’re right.” He nodded and shifted his weight to his other foot, gaze drifting to the window as he tried to remember the conversation more clearly. “It was a bit of a blur.”

Clint glanced toward the door. Was it too soon to go back to Martha and ask her for more details?

Yes, his bear told him bluntly, even though he longed to be in the presence of their mate once more.

“I’ll ask around anyway,” Ryan replied. “There aren’t too many properties for sale in town.”

“And those that do come up for sale tend to get snapped up quickly,” Jesse added.

“Between us and the others in our circle of friends, we know almost everyone in Bear Creek. We can make sure word gets out—maybe there’s a chance someone’s thinking of selling their property and we can swoop in before anyone else.” Ryan’s lips twitched as if he was trying to repress a smile. “You know how it is.”

Curtis arched an eyebrow. “It’s not what you know, but who you know, huh?” He gave a sly smile. “And lucky for us, we know a lot of people.”

Clint nodded, feeling a tingle of excitement in his veins.

“I’ll call Grant. Or I could pop in when I’m out that way. There was a break-in at one of the cabins last night. I have to go fix the door,” Ryan said.

“A break-in?” Clint asked, surprised since the crime level was so low in the area.

“Yeah, someone took some food from the pantry. And a trinket, nothing of value.” Ryan shrugged. “Probably someone passing through.”

“The mountains do tend to draw the occasional drifter who wants to live outside of society. And it’s not easy to find food in the winter,” Clint mused.

“Anyway,” Ryan continued, “Grant can ask around the more remote mountain farms. One of the ranchers might have a cabin tucked away somewhere that needs a little TLC.”

“I can spread the word at the hospital, too,” Jesse chipped in. “I know you said that Martha wants to move to Bear Creek, but Bear Bluff is only a stone’s throw away. She might be open to the idea of settling down there.”

Clint nodded. “I’ll try to talk to Martha again and get more specific details of what she’s looking for.” He smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him. “Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem,” Ryan said, clapping his hand on Clint’s shoulder. “We’re here for you, you know that. Martha’s happiness is your happiness, and your happiness is our happiness.”

“Wow, that takes some getting your head around.” Curtis chuckled and held out the plate of cookies to Clint. “You better take some of these before they’re all gone,” he said with a smirk.

Clint laughed and grabbed two cookies off the plate before stuffing them in his pocket. “Thanks again, guys. You don’t know how much it means to me.”

Jody smiled. “It’s what family does,” she said. “We’re here for each other, no matter what.”

Jesse nodded. “That’s right. We don’t have the same blood in our veins, but we’re still family.” He glanced at Clint and winked. “Let us know if you need anything else, okay?”

Clint grinned, the corners of his eyes creasing, and he nodded. A warmth flooded his chest, an awareness that he was blessed with such amazing people in his life—each of them ready to have his back, and now they were ready to help Martha, too. His heart felt as if it was twice its normal size.

“We’ll do whatever it takes to help you two build your future together,” Ryan said, clapping his hands together. “So, let’s get started!”

Clint smiled confidently. “We’ll find a house for Martha. We just have to work together.”

Clint’s bear growled in agreement. How can we not if we all work together?

You’re right, Clint replied. I’ve seen what we can do if we put our minds to it.

Ryan squared his shoulders and locked eyes with Clint, believing in the mission that lay before them. “If we can’t find the perfect place, then let’s build it,” he said with superior confidence. “Nothing is too tough for us.”

Clint felt a wave of heat flow through him and he grinned, feeling a sense of power wash over him. “We can do anything,” he declared, knowing it was true—because together, they could do anything.