Chapter 4

FOUR

T he Whispering Willow B&B turned out to be a charming Victorian house with gingerbread trim and a sprawling garden. The proprietor, a kindly witch named Amaris, seemed to sense Sayer’s inner turmoil the moment he walked in.

“Oh, you poor dear,” she clucked, patting his arm. “You look like you could use some peace and quiet. I’ve got just the room for you – top floor with a view of the enchanted forest. The sunrise over those trees is simply magical.”

Sayer found himself smiling despite his jumbled emotions. “That sounds perfect, thank you.”

Once settled in his room, Sayer’s mind raced with the day’s events. The unexpected attraction to Fia, the realization that Vienna was thriving in Whispering Pines, the contents of Dune’s letter – it was all so much to process.

Needing to clear his head, Sayer took a walk. The streets of Whispering Pines were quiet at this hour, lit by old-fashioned lanterns that gave off a soft, magical glow. As he wandered, he found himself in front of a cheerful building with a sign proclaiming it to be “Hartley’s Brewery.”

The warm light and sounds of laughter spilling from inside drew him in. Sayer pushed open the heavy wooden door, stepping into a cozy taproom filled with the rich scent of hops and the low hum of conversation.

“Well, well, a new face!” a booming voice called out. A tall, broad-shouldered man with a neatly trimmed beard approached. “Welcome to Hartley’s. I’m Bram, the owner. What can I get for you, stranger?”

Sayer managed a small smile. “Whatever you recommend. I’m new in town and could use a good drink.”

Bram’s eyebrows rose. “New in town, eh? Well, pull up a stool and tell us all about it. We love a good story here at Hartley’s.”

Before Sayer could politely decline, he found himself being steered toward a table where four other men sat. They greeted him with friendly nods and curious glances.

“Gentlemen, we’ve got a newcomer,” Bram announced, sliding a frothy mug in front of Sayer. “This here’s our house special – Moonlit Meadow Ale. Brewed with a touch of fairy dust, it’ll lift your spirits right up.”

Sayer took a sip, pleasantly surprised by the crisp, slightly sweet flavor. “It’s excellent, thank you.” Sayer realized he was sitting with other shifters, but his nose was too filled with hops to distinguish which animals they were.

The man to his left, a rugged-looking fellow with piercing green eyes, extended a hand. “Arden Flynt, deputy sheriff. Welcome to Whispering Pines.”

Introductions went around the table. Besides Arden and Bram, there was Kade Blackwood, owner of the Lone Wolf Café, Reed Mallory, the town sheriff, and Roarke Easton, the town security expert. Sayer found himself relaxing in their company, the easy camaraderie reminding him of nights out with Dune.

“So, what brings you to our little magical corner of the world?” Roarke asked, his dark eyes sharp and assessing.

Sayer took another sip of his ale, considering how much to share. These men seemed trustworthy, and he found himself craving some male perspective on his situation.

“It’s... complicated,” he began. “My brother and his wife passed away recently, leaving behind their daughter – my niece. I came here intending to take custody of her, but...”

“But you met Fia Barlowe,” Kade finished, a knowing look in his eyes.

Sayer’s head snapped up. “You know her?”

Kade chuckled. “Small town, remember? Fia and Vienna came into the café just yesterday. Lovely woman, and that little girl of hers is a real firecracker.”

“Vienna isn’t hers, technically,” Sayer found himself saying. “She’s my niece too. Fia’s sister was my brother’s mate.”

Understanding dawned on the men’s faces. Bram let out a low whistle. “That’s quite a situation you’ve got there, friend.”

Arden leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. “So, you came here to take the child, but something changed your mind?”

“I’d say someone , changed his mind.” Roarke gave him a questioning look.

Sayer nodded, running a hand through his hair. “I thought I knew what was best for Vienna. But seeing her with Fia in the home my brother and his wife chose... I’m not so sure anymore.”

“And there’s more to it, isn’t there?” Roarke asked quietly. His gaze was penetrating, and Sayer had the distinct impression that very little got past this man.

Sayer hesitated, then decided to take the plunge. These men clearly knew the town and its inhabitants well. Maybe they could offer some insight.

“When I met Fia,” he said slowly, “something... happened. My lion – the shifter part of me – it started declaring her as my mate.”

The reactions around the table were immediate. Bram’s eyebrows shot up, Kade let out a surprised laugh, Roarke lifted his beer in salute, and Arden grinned widely. Reed, however, simply nodded as if Sayer had confirmed something he’d already suspected.

Reed leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look on his face. “Well, that certainly complicates things, doesn’t it?”

Sayer nodded, grateful for the understanding he saw in the other men’s eyes. “I’ve spent centuries searching for my mate. To find her now, in these circumstances... it’s not ideal. I don’t know what to do.”

Kade chuckled softly. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Whispering Pines, it’s that nothing happens here by accident. The magic of this place has a way of bringing people together when they need it most.”

“I’ll say. Elsie might think she’s doing the matchmaking here, but really, the town is doing it all on its own,” Roarke said taking a drink.

“Have you told Fia?” Arden asked, leaning forward with interest.

Sayer shook his head. “No, I... I didn’t think it was the right time. We were discussing Vienna’s future, and I didn’t want to complicate things further.”

Bram nodded. “Probably wise. Fia’s been through a lot recently. Finding out she’s the mate of a...” he glanced at Sayer deep in the eyes. “centuries-old, royal lion shifter might be a bit much to process on top of everything else.”

The casual way Bram referenced Sayer’s age, lineage, and nature caught him off guard. “You... you all seem very accepting of this,” he said cautiously.

Reed smiled, a hint of amusement in his amber eyes. “Sayer, you’re sitting at a table with two wolf shifters, a tiger, a bear, and a panther shifter. Trust me, we’ve seen our fair share of supernatural surprises.”

This revelation eased some of the tension in Sayer’s shoulders. These men understood the complexities of shifter life, the pull of finding one’s mate.

“Any advice on my next steps?” Sayer asked, feeling uncharacteristically confounded. As a successful businessman and older shifter, he was used to having all the answers. But this situation had him completely out of his depth.

“Well, first things first,” Kade said, his tone gentle but firm. “You need to stay in town for a while. Get to know Fia better, spend time with Vienna. See if you can find a way to honor your brother’s wishes without uprooting the life they’ve started here.”

Roarke nodded in agreement. “Kade’s right. Rushing into any decisions now would only cause more pain and confusion.”

Arden also nodded. “Give yourself time to adjust to this new reality.”

“And don’t underestimate the power of this community,” Bram added. “Whispering Pines has a way of healing wounded hearts and bringing people together. Give it a chance, and you might be surprised by what you find here.”

Sayer took another sip of his ale, letting their words sink in. The idea of staying in Whispering Pines, of truly getting to know Fia and Vienna in this magical setting, was becoming more appealing by the minute.

“Thank you,” he said sincerely, looking around at the group of men who had so quickly offered their support and advice. “I appreciate your insights more than you know.”

Reed clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s what neighbors are for. And speaking as the town sheriff, I can assure you that Whispering Pines is one of the safest places for a young witch like Vienna to grow up.”

As the night wore on, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. The men shared stories of their own experiences in Whispering Pines - magical mishaps, romantic entanglements, and the general chaos that seemed to be part and parcel of life in a supernatural town.

By the time Sayer bid goodnight to his new friends and made his way back to the B&B, his head was spinning with possibilities. The future he’d envisioned for Vienna - and for himself - was shifting.

Back in his room, Sayer found himself drawn to the window. True to Amaris’s word, it offered a stunning view of the enchanted forest. Even in the darkness, he could see the faint shimmer of magic dancing among the leaves.

His phone buzzed, startling him out of his reverie. It was his sister Posey.

“Hey, big brother,” her cheerful voice came through the speaker. “How did it go with Fia? Do you have our niece packed up and ready to come home yet?”

Sayer sighed, sinking down onto a plush seat. “No. This turned out to be... complicated.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Complicated how? Fia isn’t the kind of person to create problems. Did she refuse to let you see Vienna?”

“No, no, nothing like that,” Sayer hurried to assure her. “Fia was... she was very gracious, actually. She invited me to stay for dinner, let me spend time with Vienna.”

“That’s good, right?” Posey prompted when he fell silent. “So what’s the complication?”

Sayer paced the length of his room at the B&B, phone pressed to his ear as he filled Posey in on the day’s events. His usual confident demeanor was tinged with an unfamiliar uncertainty.

“So, let me get this straight,” Posey said, amusement clear in her voice. “Dune and Myla want you and Fia to raise Vienna together in Whispering Pines?”

“That’s the gist of it,” Sayer confirmed, his tone matter-of-fact despite the turmoil beneath the surface. “It’s... not what I expected.”

“I bet,” Posey chuckled. “And how’s our dear Fia handling all this? I swear, that woman’s got nerves of steel.”

Sayer paused, caught off guard by Posey’s familiarity with Fia. “You... you know her well?”

“Of course, I do, big brother. Some of us actually attended family gatherings while you were off globetrotting,” Posey teased. “Fia’s become a good friend. She’s got a wicked sense of humor, you know.”

Sayer cleared his throat, trying to regain his footing. “Yes, well, she seems... capable.”

“ Capable ?” Posey repeated incredulously. “Oh, Sayer. There’s so much more to her than that. Speaking of which, did anything... interesting happen when you met her?”