Henry started the engine, mind racing as he pulled away from the café. Whether or not he wanted to acknowledge the mate bond, Ivy Bright had just complicated his carefully ordered existence.
Chapter
Seven
Ivy practically floatedinto her apartment, tossing her keys into the ceramic dish by the door. She grabbed her phone and collapsed onto her floral-patterned couch. Her fingers moved without conscious thought, pulling up her sister’s contact and hitting dial. The phone rang three times before Holly answered.
“Hey, Ivy. What’s up?”
“Holly, you’re never going to believe what happened today,” Ivy said, unable to contain her excitement. She launched into motion, pacing the small living room while gesturing animatedly, despite her sister being unable to see her. “I was matched with my fated mate on mate.com. And I met him today, and Holly, it was... it was...”
“Slow down,” Holly laughed. “Start from the beginning.”
Ivy took a deep breath and started again, describing how she’d woken to find the notification, the immediate physical reaction she’d experienced seeing Henry’s profile, and their hastily arranged coffee meeting.
“He’s a forest ranger, lives in a cabin miles from town. He’s tall, rugged, has these intense eyes that just... see everything,” Ivy continued, unable to stop the rush of words. “And when we shook hands, Holly, I swear I felt an actual electric current. My bear recognized him instantly.”
“That’s amazing,” Holly said, her voice warm with genuine happiness. “I know exactly what you mean. Remember how I described meeting Elias? That instant recognition even though he barely spoke?”
“Yes, that’s it exactly,” Ivy agreed eagerly. “Henry was so quiet at first. Just these short, clipped answers. He clearly doesn’t enjoy being in town or around people much.”
“Sounds familiar,” Holly said with affection in her voice. “Elias was completely dedicated to me from our first meeting, but he certainly wasn’t a social butterfly. Still isn’t, really.”
“How did you manage those early days?” Ivy asked, seeking her sister’s wisdom. “When you knew you were perfect for each other, but communication was still... developing?”
Holly chuckled. “Patience, mostly. I learned to appreciate his actions more than his words. Elias showed his feelings through thoughtful gestures long before he could comfortably express them verbally.”
A flicker of doubt disturbed Ivy’s euphoria. “I’m not sure Henry’s at the gestures stage yet. He bolted for the door after fifteen minutes.”
“That sounds… challenging.”
“Yes… But I know he’s passionate about protecting the mountain ecosystem. He cares as much as I do.”
“Well, that’s a promising sign,” Holly said. “Finding common ground is essential, especially with the strong silent types.”
Ivy sighed, remembering Henry’s expression when she’d mentioned her project. “He was horrified when he realized I was leading the construction project he’d found problems with. But I offered to investigate with him.”
“That’s good… Working together on something you both care about is exactly how you’ll build a connection.”
“I’m trying not to get ahead of myself,” Ivy said, though her excitement was difficult to contain. “But finding your fated mate isn’t something that happens every day.”
“Remember, even fated mates need to work at their relationship. The bond is there naturally, but communication doesn’t always come easy, especially with shifters who’ve spent years avoiding human interaction. Just take it one day at a time. Let him set the pace when it comes to social interaction, but don’t hesitate to take the lead on your shared interests.”
“Thanks, Holly. I appreciate the perspective.”
“That’s what sisters are for. Love you.”
After hanging up, Ivy moved through her evening routine. She watered her jungle of houseplants, prepared a simple dinner she barely tasted, and eventually settled in for the night. Yet sleep proved elusive. Her thoughts kept circling back to Henry, to the electricity of their handshake, to the intensity in his eyes when he looked at her.
Her bear remained restless beneath her skin. Every time Ivy closed her eyes, she saw Henry’s face, felt the warmth of his calloused hand against hers.
When sleep finally claimed her, Ivy dreamed of dense forests and mountain paths. A massive shadowy bear moved through the trees ahead of her, always just out of clear view. She followed, drawn by an invisible thread connecting them, but never quite catching up. She woke feeling frustrated.
Morning sunlight peeked through Ivy’s curtains when her phone jolted her awake. Ronald Vance’s name lit up the screen.
“Hello?” Ivy mumbled sleepily.
“Ivy, thank goodness,” Ronald sounded panicked. “There’s been an accident at the site. Scaffolding collapsed. Two workers hurt. You need to come now.”
