1. Lucy

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah. You know that I've loved Leo for practically my entire life. I've always dreamed of our mating ceremony. Then, I write my books and become a famous author while taking care of our bear cubs," Lucy said, excitedly.

A look of pain flashed across her face. Lucy thought that it was because she had similar goals but had never managed to find the right man for her.

"You'll find the right man for you," Lucy promised.

"Maybe," she muttered. Then, she brightened. "This is about you. A toast, to my best friend."

They left the club soon after. Lucy wasn't able to sleep at all that night. She was so excited. Finally, the sun came up, and the warm rays radiated through the windows.

Ashley and Lucy's mother, Sophia, helped her get ready for the ceremony. Ashely curled Lucy's dark brown hair and piled it high on her head. She would arrange the coronet of flowers after Lucy had slipped on the traditional tunic worn at every mating ceremony.

Lucy put on some eyeliner, eye shadow, and lip gloss. She never was a person who used a lot of make-up. Sophia gave Lucy a manicure.

The day passed so slowly. It seemed like an eternity before it was time to put on the tunic and go to the ceremonial hall. She noticed that Ashley seemed to get increasingly depressed as the day passed.

"Hey, girl. Are you okay?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah, I'm good. I think I'm just really tired. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night," Ashley replied. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to rain on your parade."

Lucy hugged her. "You are great. I'm glad you're with me, sleepy or not. You have been my best friend since we were in diapers, and you are more like my sister than anything."

Ashley smiled at her and nodded. "I love you, too."

Finally, it was time for the mating ceremony to start.

"Are you ready?" Lucy's father, Matthew, asked.

"You know I am, Daddy. I've only loved Leo forever." Lucy grinned.

The music started. Most of the members of their Thunder Claw Bear Shifter Clan were there. They stood as she walked by them. Her eyes were focused on the tall dark-haired man waiting for her at the altar.

Elder James began the ceremony.

"Friends and family. We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Leo Kahn and Lucy Sawyers in this mating ceremony."

Lucy heard Ashly swallow a sob behind her and smiled. She always got emotional at mating ceremonies, too. Leo glanced behind Lucy at Ashly and grimaced.

"Leo Kahn, do you take Lucy Sawyers to be your mate, to live together as one, to love and comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sadness and joy, to have and to hold, forsaking all others from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"

Ashley let out another sob. Everyone was silent, waiting for Leo's response. He stood very still for a long minute and said, "I can't."

Everyone in the room gasped, and Lucy felt as though she was going to pass out.

"I'm sorry?" the elder said.

"I can't. Lucy, I'm so sorry. I didn't know how to tell you this, so I didn't. Ashley and I have been seeing each other for a couple of months, and we fell in love. I'm so very sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I would be destroying three lives if I went through this mating ceremony with you."

Lucy's heart and soul shattered into a million pieces. Leo kissed Lucy on the cheek and held his hand out to Ashley.

"I'm so sorry," Ashley whispered, and the two of them walked out of the ceremonial hall.

Lucy wanted to melt into the floor. Her mother and father rushed up to her and held her close to them.

"Let's go home," Sophia said.

"No. We have all this food, and people came for a party. Let's party," she said.

"Are you sure?" her father asked.

"Very sure. Let them have their party."

Lucy faced all of the people who stared at her with their jaws hanging down and their eyes wide open. They were as shocked as Lucy was.

"Leo is right. If he loves Ashley, then no good could come of mating with me. This is a blessing. There is a lot of food and a red velvet wedding cake that isn't going to eat itself," Lucy said. "I hope you guys saved your receipts. Hopefully, you can get your money back for the gifts, or you can save them for Leo's and Ashley's mating ceremony. I'm sure they would appreciate them."

Turning to her mother, she said, "I'm glad I decided to bring a change of clothes with me since we were going to leave from here to go on our honeymoon."

Lucy changed clothes, took down her hair, and plastered a big smile on her face. She was extremely happy that no one gave their condolences or said anything about Leo or Ashley. Most of them asked how her book was going and told her that they knew she was a great writer and she would make it big someday.

If the day had been long, this evening was even longer. However, her pride would not let anyone see that she was nursing a broken heart. She stayed behind after most people left to clean up. Her parents, brothers, and sister, as well as a few friends, stayed behind.

"You were very brave. I don't think that I could have done that," Lucy's sister, Odessa, said. "I probably would have throat punched Leo and beat the crap out of Ashley. Then, I would have thrown a world-class temper tantrum."

"Nah, you wouldn't have. You have just as much pride as I do. You would have done the same thing. Only, you might have kept the presents," Lucy joked.

"Presents are my favorite." Odessa laughed.

"Do you want me to kick his ass?" Allan asked.

"Nope. I wish them all the happiness they deserve," Lucy replied.

She was so exhausted that she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. When her eyes fluttered open the next morning the full effect of last night's events slammed into her like a train.

Lucy sobbed. Her body shook. Lucy's heart thundered in her chest and she gasped for breath as her heart broke. She honestly didn't know which betrayal hurt worse.

Finally, she was exhausted. Every single tear had poured out, soaking her pillow.

"Now what?" she asked herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her mother knocked on her bedroom door.

"I know you probably aren't hungry, but you need to eat."

Odessa followed Sophia into the room and sat on Lucy's bed. Sophia sat on the other side.

"I'm not even going to ask how you are," Odessa said. "Except I might wonder if you are more angry or sad."

"To be honest, I don't know. Right now, I just feel drained."

"That's understandable," Sophia said. "What's next on your agenda?"

"I was thinking of going to the human world for a while," Lucy said. "It will give me a chance to get away for a while. Eventually, this will be old news and there will be someone else that people can stare at, sympathetically."

"That's not a bad idea," Sophia said.

"I'll find a cheap hotel room that rents by the week and a part-time job and work on my book," Lucy said. "I won't know anyone there, so I won't be distracted."

"I almost wish that I could come with you," Odessa said. "Unfortunately, I can't get the time off from work."

"You would be a distraction, and I wouldn't get a whole lot of writing done." Lucy laughed.

"True enough. When are you leaving?"

"No time like the present," Lucy said. "I'm going to pack a few things and go."

"I hate to see you leave," Sophia said. "But I understand."

Lucy went through the portal a couple of hours later. She slowly walked up some stone steps and came face to face with a tall red-haired man with striking green eyes.

"Who are you?"

"Lucy Sawyers from the Thunder Claw Bear Shifter Clan."

"Why are you here, Lucy Sawyers?"

"I need a break," she said. "I need a place to stay. Can you recommend a good place?"

He stared at her and Lucy had the feeling that the man could stare right through her soul.

"Benny owns Angel's Creek Hotel. Let me call an Uber for you."

"Thank you," Lucy said.

Benny was an older guy, who gave her the same searching look.

"I have a room for you," he said.

She got settled and then decided she was starving. Howlers' Bar and Grill, where the portal was located, was a few blocks away.

"Not going to waste my money on a car ride when I can walk," she told herself. "I need to save my money until I get a job."

Lucy sat at the counter and looked over the menu. A beautiful woman introduced herself as Jade.

"I'm Lucy."

"You're the woman who Sean mentioned. He said you came through the portal earlier. He owns this joint."

"Yeah. I need a vacation," Lucy said. "I've always wanted to explore the human world. So, here I am."

"From what I understand, there's not a whole lot of differences between the human world and the shifter world, except that people tend to be naked more often in the shifter world. I'm glad to see you brought clothes," Jade said.

Lucy laughed. "It is easier to shift when you don't have to undress all the time. It's also a lot cheaper when you don't have to buy a huge wardrobe. However, I've heard that people in the human world always have clothes on and that they can actually be arrested and go to jail for running around naked."

"That is the truth. There are a couple exceptions to that rule, but not too many," Jade said.

Lucy ordered a hamburger, fries, and a glass of water because it was the cheapest thing on the menu.

"You wouldn't happen to know of any jobs available, would you? I have a little bit of money, but it will go quickly."

"There are always jobs. The convenience store across the street is hiring. Benny, who owns the hotel you're staying at, is looking for cleaning staff." Then, Jade looked at Lucy intently and said, "There might be another option if you're up for it."

"What is that?" Lucy asked.

"A friend of mine owns a fertility clinic for shifters. Recently, there has been a need for surrogates. I guess there are a lot of women who can't get pregnant or who can't sustain a pregnancy. Prospective parents hire a woman who can carry the baby for them. They usually get paid quite a bit. On top of that, their medical bills, food, medicine, and other needs are usually paid for."

Lucy thought about that option. She knew that some people used surrogates but had only thought about it in passing.

"The only problem is that you carry the baby for six months and then they have to hand it over to the parents. You wouldn't have contact with the baby after that."

"That could be hard," Lucy said. "I know that women form a bond with the baby while she carries it. Really, how could you not?"

"I guess there is comfort in knowing that the baby is going to parents who will love and cherish the baby," Jade said.

She wrote a name and phone number on a card and passed it to Lucy. "In case you want to think about it."

"Thanks," Lucy said. "I appreciate it."

Other customers needed Jade's attention. Lucy finished her meal quickly and slowly walked back to the hotel room.

"Could I really carry a baby and just give it away after it's born, never to see it again?" she asked herself.