Chapter Eight: Henry

"Are you sure you have everything you need?" Samantha asked Henry as he stood on the porch with a backpack slung over his shoulder.

Nope, his bear said. We do not have everything we need, because we don't have you.

"Yes," Henry said, ignoring his bear as he patted the strap of the backpack. "At least for now. I might have to come by and pick up some more clothes. But for now, I have what I need."

Good thinking, his bear said. Give us an excuse to come visit.

"Anytime," Samantha said.

"Well, I'll get going. You have my number. If there is anything you need, call me," Henry said, but lingered on the porch, unable and unwilling to walk away from his mate.

"I will." Samantha looked as if she was in no hurry to go inside and walk away from him, either.

"Okay then." He took a step backward.

"Maybe we will see you tomorrow," Samantha murmured, her hand on the door frame.

"Yes," Henry said. "At least, I hope so…"

"I thought you could show me where Ezra put the rest of our stuff…" She arched an eyebrow at him.

Henry put his hand to his head. "I did not include that on the tour, did I?"

"You did not." She cracked a smile. "But it was a wonderful tour. The kids loved it. I just hope they aren't too excited to sleep tonight."

"If they don't, I hope you don't hold that against me," Henry replied.

"Well, you were the one who mentioned a treehouse," Samantha said with a wag of her finger.

"I did not know they would come home and start designing the treehouse." Henry glanced over her shoulder toward the living room where Tilly had forgotten about reading The Secret Garden . Instead, she was busily sketching out plans for the treehouse, her brow furrowed in concentration. Lewis was right beside her, suggesting ideas enthusiastically, his small hands gesturing animatedly.

Samantha turned back to Henry, a soft smile playing on her lips. "They're just so excited."

"It's certainly taken their minds off the wrecked house." Henry ran his fingers along the strap of the backpack.

"Taken their minds off it?" Samantha said. "I think for Tilly and Lewis, that tree falling on the house was the best thing that could have happened."

"I might share that view." Henry's smile faded. "I mean… How lucky we are to have you… In Bear Creek. The people…"

"I get what you mean," Samantha replied.

Although he sensed she did not believe he was just talking about the community.

Because we are not, his bear replied.

"So, tomorrow," Henry said with a nod.

"Tomorrow." She took a step away from him and he wanted nothing more than to reach out, pull her toward him and hold her in his arms.

Forever.

"Have a good evening." Henry took one last lingering look at her and then turned away, walking across the porch…his porch…and down the steps, forcing himself to keep on walking when part of him wanted to turn around and run back to his mate.

But as the distance between them lengthened, the need eased, until it was an incessant tug rather than an excruciating ache.

As the ranch house came into view, he switched his focus from his mate to what lay ahead. In a few moments, he would break the news to his mom that he'd found his mate.

A smile spread across his face. He had seen how happy she'd been when Ezra and Levi announced the news that they had met their fated mates.

She is going to be blown away, his bear said.

Henry chuckled. You don't think she's going to wish the sudden avalanche of mates turns into a steady stream rather than a deluge?

His bear huffed. Nope. She'll be thrilled if they keep on coming this fast. All her sons mated, married, and having babies is like all her wishes come true.

Henry's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his brother's voice. "Hey there, lover boy!" Klein called out with a teasing grin as he came out of the stables and joined his older brother.

Henry glared at him half-heartedly. "News travels fast, huh?"

"Faster than you can run," Levi replied as they reached the ranch house. "So, how'd it go with Samantha?"

"Did Ezra tell you?" Henry asked as he reached for the doorknob.

"Did you expect to keep it a secret?" Klein countered.

"No," Henry answered. "Well, yes. I wanted to tell Mom and Dad first."

"Why do you think I am lurking in the stalls, instead of going inside?" Klein nodded toward the door. "Listen, Ezra only told me because I asked him what he was doing stacking boxes in the barn. I was worried he and Camille had words and she'd kicked him out."

"What?" Henry asked incredulously.

"I know. It sounds crazy. But he was acting all suspicious," Klein explained.

"So the obvious explanation was that they had broken up?" Henry asked in disbelief. "Do you honestly think Ezra would leave his pregnant mate?"

"Well, in my defense, Ezra can be annoying, and since I don't have a mate, I have no idea how Camille puts up with him sometimes." Klein punched Henry lightly on the shoulder. "Come on, you grew up with him, too. You know how he can be."

Klein is right, Henry's bear said. Ezra can be annoying.

We can all be annoying, Henry said diplomatically. But does Klein truly not understand the strength of the mating bond?

"What are you boys whispering about so secretively?" their mom called from inside the house.

"How does she do that?" Klein asked.

Henry's bear chuckled. Mom might not be a shifter, but she sure has her own kind of sixth sense.

"I don't know," Henry admitted and then sucked in a breath before opening the door and stepping inside.

"Oh, so you decided to come in?" Mary asked from across the hallway.

"We did," Henry replied. "I wondered if it would be okay if I stayed here for a while."

"Is everything okay?" Mary asked as her gaze rested on the backpack as he dropped it on the well-polished floor.

"Everything is fine." His voice wavered as the enormity of everything that had happened hit him.

"Henry." His dad came out of the kitchen and stood next to Mary. "Are you okay? We heard there was a tree down in town. Fell on a house."

"It did," Henry said. "It was the house Samantha… She's the new fundraiser the wildlife sanctuary hired…"

"She must have had a shock," Mary said.

"Not as much of a shock as Henry," Klein murmured almost inaudibly.

Ezra is not the only one who is annoying, Henry's bear said.

"She did. The house is uninhabitable," Henry explained.

"So you invited her to stay at your cabin." Mary's shoulders slumped in relief. "That's why you want to stay here for a while."

"Yes," Henry said.

"Of course, stay as long as they need," Mary said, taking a step toward the kitchen. "Come eat first and then we'll get you settled."

"There's something else," Henry began.

All eyes turned toward Henry, a heavy silence descending over the room. Even Klein's usual lightheartedness seemed to dim as he sensed the gravity of his brother's words.

"What is it, son?" their father asked, his voice steady as it always was, giving Henry the courage to continue.

Henry took a deep breath, his bear urging him on. "Samantha...she's my mate," he said, voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, no one moved or spoke. Then his mom rushed forward, arms wide. "Oh, Henry!" She wrapped her arms around him, her embrace warm and solid. "That's wonderful news!"

Klein's face broke into a grin. "Which means you won't be needing the spare room for long."

"I don't know about that," Henry said. "I have to figure out a way to tell her. And since she has two children, I don't want to move too fast."

Henry's father stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Henry's shoulder. "It'll work out. But just remember, finding your mate…that's something truly special."

"Truly." Mary let go of her son and slipped her hand into Waylan's.

Henry nodded. "I knew before I even saw her. We were working on cutting the tree down when I felt her. It was like nothing I have ever experienced before."

"It is a unique feeling," Waylan agreed.

"One I hope to experience for myself," Klein said wistfully.

Mary's eyes softened as she looked at Klein. "Your time will come, sweetheart. Just you wait and see."

Klein nodded but couldn't help the flicker of envy that crossed his face. It vanished quickly, replaced by his usual bright smile. "Well, until then, I'll just have to live vicariously through you, Henry."

Henry chuckled. "You know that you'll be on this journey with me and Ezra and Levi. The kids are going to love their Uncle Klein."

"Because of my fun and infectious personality," Klein said, puffing out his chest in mock pride.

"Or because you're still like a child," their father murmured.

"Exactly," Henry replied, enjoying the playful banter. "But seriously, I'm going to need all the help I can get. Samantha and her kids will need time to adjust, and I want to make sure they feel welcome. Because, and I didn't want to share this with Samantha, but the house in town is going to take some time to repair. The roof is going to need to come off…"

"That bad?" Mary asked.

"Yeah, and not to mention there are other homes damaged, too." Henry shrugged. "They might be living here for a while."

"If you got around to telling her about you being her mate, and she falls in love with you, then she might never move out of that cabin of yours," Klein said.

Now that is a scenario I like, his bear said.

Me, too, Henry replied.

So, when do we tell her? his bear asked eagerly.

A little patience, Henry told his bear.

"Just remember, we'll all be here for you," Mary said firmly. "Whatever you need."

Waylan nodded in agreement, his eyes crinkling at the corners with a proud smile. "You've got a good heart, son. And Samantha will see that, too."

Henry took a deep breath and glanced around at his family. They were always there for him, for each other. And now they would be there for Samantha and her children, too. "Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate it."

Mary motioned toward the kitchen again, herding them all with motherly efficiency. "Now, let's eat before the food gets cold. We can talk more over dinner."

"I am starving," Klein admitted.

"When aren't you?" Mary asked as they filed into the cozy kitchen, where the scent of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread filled the air.

Klein chuckled. "You've got me there, but working the ranch always gives me an appetite. All that fresh mountain air."

"Is there anything you need a hand with?" Henry asked.

"No, it's all prepared. Sit down and dig in." Mary fetched three Bear Creek Honey Beers from the fridge and handed them to her husband and sons. "How about you invite Samantha and her children over to dinner one day soon?"

"I will," Henry said as he took a swig of beer.

As Mary sat down, she looked around the table at the empty chairs, where the rest of her sons once used to sit at every mealtime. "I never thought I would say this, but I think I need a bigger table."

"And Henry's going to need a bigger house," Waylan said.

"I hope so," Henry said wistfully.

"Here's to expanding families." Waylan raised his beer, and his sons did the same, with Mary reaching for her wineglass. As they all touched, Henry took a moment to look at all their happy faces.

His future had never looked brighter.

A new part of his life was about to begin. And he truly wished one day Klein would feel this way, too. As if he were perched on a precipice about to jump off into the unknown.