Chapter Four
Dax inspected the plumbingand took samples of the black stuff from above the window. He made a point to stay out of Allie’s way while he worked. That woman did something to him, and her refusal to go out with him only made it worse. What guy didn’t want a challenge? Her voice had had a cautious undertone when she’d turned him down, as if she were rejecting him on autopilot instead of giving it any real thought.
If she really wasn’t interested, fine. He wouldn’t bring it up again. But if she was trying to tiptoe into a maybe-yes, he’d push a little. There was a fine line between pursuit and being a creep and he’d never want to make her uncomfortable. But damn, the way she looked at him when she didn’t think he was paying attention made it easy to think she was, at least a little bit, interested. Not that it should matter. He never had a lack of women vying for his attention. Lately, his father and brothers have been digging up women left and right, trying to pressure him into picking one.
The problem was, not a single woman he’d been with or met had been The One. He’d been attracted to his ex’s, of course. They’d had fun in and out of bed. But to commit a lifetime to any of them? No way. Some had been more interested in his family money than him. Others just weren’t mother and wife material.
He hadn’t felt thatspark, thatneedand want for more with any of them. But Allie did something different to him—gave him an antsy electricity that he couldn’t control. Whatever it was, he wanted to explore it further. If only his clock wasn’t winding down. But it was, and he didn’t have time to explore anything.
In a handful of days, he’d be forced take a mate or lose his manhood.
He slipped out the back door and walked around front where he’d parked his truck. A group of people were gathered in front of Sticky Sweet, arms crossed as they chatted in disappointed tones about the bakery being closed. Those must be some maple sticky buns if Allie could attract a crowd like this, plus enamor his father with her baking.
His cell phone rang just as he pulled up to the health department to drop off the samples.
“Hey dad,” he said as he jumped out of the truck.
“Yeah, you going to come help chop wood tonight for the Pairing Festival?”
His dad wasn’t really asking a question. He was telling Dax to show up tonight. Dax waited for traffic and jogged across the street. “Yes, sir. I’ll be there.”
“Good. Half a cord yet to split. Hopefully, it’ll be enough.”
The Pairing happened every three years on the brightest full moon of summer. Shifter packs from all over Colorado and surrounding states came to find a mate. His family was hosting the festival this time around on one-hundred acres of land. His father had the perfect spot which offered a mixture of woods and a four-acre spot of grassland where the bonfires would be.
Each six-foot-wide fire circle offered a place for mingling, conversation and hopefully, pairing up.
“We’ll cut extra, just in case.”
Rowan Mitchell cleared his throat and Dax took a deep breath. He knew what was coming next.
“You’re the oldest of my sons. You have an example to set for your brothers. How’s it going to look if you’re mating age passes and what? You’ll never produce a cub from your loins.”
“Dad,” Dax interjected. “Come on. My loins? Really?”
“I mean it.”
Dax stood outside the Health Department door, wishing this conversation were over. But he knew better than to hurry his father. Rowan had built a construction business from the ground up and was one of the most successful corporate contractors in the tri-state area. Among shifters, his very name brought respect. He’d helped govern the Estes Park pack for sixty years and was a respected Alpha leader among the bear shifters. He’d passed his Alpha genes to his sons and now, Dax was obligated to do the same.
“Yes, sir.” Dax knew nothing he said would satisfy his dad. “I’m — “
“I was going to wait to tell you this, but there’s no point in waiting anymore. You take a mate at the Pairing, or you’re out of the business. It’s come to this, Dax. Your playboying around has done nothing but bring you within days of losing your ability to mate. Family is everything and you’re not going to have one because of your dicking around.”
Dax clenched his eyes and rubbed his temple. “You’re cutting me out?”
“I will.”
