I’d laugh at him if it wasn’t so damn pathetic.
He really thinks he’s going to find his mate here? I definitely wouldn’t want any girl who would be celebrating here tonight.
“Hey!” someone shouts as I push through the crowd. “Watch it!”
I don’t even turn around. I just march over to the unlit tree, making my plan.
A large man in a flannel shirt catches my eye in the distance and it makes me stop in my tracks. He’s a grizzly shifter. Like me. I can smell it on him.
I grit my teeth and scowl when I see the big smile on his face. What the hell is he so happy about? Look at what they did to our mountains?
But then I notice what’s got him smiling. A young boy, probably about four or five, comes running over with felt antlers on his head and a half-eaten candy cane in his hand. He’s laughing—practically bursting with joy—as the man scoops him up in his big arms and puts him on his broad shoulders.
For a moment—just one small, heart-stopping second—something in my chest goes warm.
His mate comes over, hooks her arm around his bicep, kisses him on the cheek and cuddles in close.
My heart thumps strangely.
Like it forgot to do its job for a second and had to reboot.
I swallow, frozen in place as I watch them smiling at each other.
I can’t help but wonder… What would that even be like?
A woman who looks at me like that…
A kid on my shoulders…
A life that isn’t just… silence.
And emptiness.
My grizzly senses the shift in my mood and perks up hopefully. He’s been wanting that for years.
“Nope,” I mutter, yanking my head away and shaking out of whatever that was. I push the strange uncomfortable thought down into the deepest darkest parts of me where it belongs. “Not happening.Ever.”
I force a scowl back onto my face and stomp deeper into the crowd, heading for the tree.
Thisis what I need. Right here.Thisis going to be great.Thisis what will make me happy.
My happiness will come from seeing every last one of these people screaming as they sprint back to their overpriced hotels, packing their cars, and leaving for good. Freedom from all this holiday insanity is what will bring me joy.
I grin as I figure out the logistics.
Microphone feedback fills the air, grabbing everyone’s attention. “Tree lighting in five minutes!” the mayor says excitedly.
The crowd cheers. I can feel the excitement building as everyone gathers around.
It’s time.
My bear is urging me to wander through the crowd. I know what he wants. I know who he’s trying to find. Why can’t he just get with the damn program?
I head in the opposite direction, heading to the dark alley between the barber shop and the new candle store. A whole store. For candles. Candles of all scents and colors. My heart starts thumping with rage just thinking about it. Candles are forutility. For light. Who needs anything but a white candle? It’s ridiculous.
“Focus,” I remind myself, trying to stay steady. I have a job to do.
I slip into the dark alley and hide behind the dumpster. No one notices me here. They’re all looking up at the tree, excited to see the lights come on like they’re caveman who’ve never seen electricity before. Idiots.
