“I got it, Bas and Timber are loading your studio up now and heading over to the new place,” he slides in the car and sets off,
“Follow me, it’s not far,” I say, taking us around the pack house. They ask what type of pack it is, and I explain a little about my past as they click on that I may be the Alpha’s niece, but I didn’t grow up here.
I point out the trail that leads up to where the school will be and explain that the fridge is stocked and Alma put on a beef stew in the slow cooker, but if they want to come to the main house, they are welcome. They give thanks but say they want to get settled and to thank Alma for the stew.
The next morning, I am about to head to the new place, but see Bas shift and start barrelling around the lake. I spot the direction he’s going in and sprint around the other side towards Oriana and stand in front of her, holding out my hands, deciding it's best to talk to the bear than the man.
“BOU STOP!!!” I yell, and thankfully he does hitting the brakes and doing what I can only describe as a bear cub roll ‘you know when baby bears do rolly pollys but end up flopped on their back well imagine that with a 9ft bear,’ after rolling back onto his paws he starts yelling at me, but he’s still in bear form so it’s just whines, yowls and growls,
“Bro, I have no idea what you’re saying, but I can guess. Miss Flowers is your mate? Then think about what you were doing! You're huge, and you were charging full speed at her. She’s a lot smaller than even me when she shifts, now go home, cool off and then introduce yourself properly, or do I need to get Alma and Lily to have words?” I stand, giving him a stern look with my hands on my hips. He shakes his head and then lollops off, after a cub eye look at Oriana.
I turn, placing my hands on my knees and letting out a huge breath,
“Fuck I didn’t know I could run that fast! Those cookies did not enjoy it,” I pant out, then stand back up straight,
“I’m sorry about my brother, he’s the last of my siblings to find his mate, and I think he got excited, I know he’s big and scary, but he is a big gooey bear, he gives the best hugs” she chuckles, waving me off, but I do see the relief in her eyes, my theory was right he had scared her a little, we walk around for a bit avoiding talking directly about Bas, when we get back to her cabin there is a basket on the porch, and a note sticking out I chuckle,
“Do you have a photo?” Her voice is quiet. I scroll through my photos and send her one of the four of us. I then pause,
“Do you have more than one mark?” She nods, so I send her two photos. One is of Timber, Bas, Kodi and Trunk, and I let her know who is who I also sent a photo of Bas and Timber in their shifted form, pushing trees out of the way at my place, and I’m sitting on Bas’ back when she shows me her marks I quickly take a photo, turning so she can see what I’m doing I text Kodi
ME: What's your brother's mate mark?
Bas is Oriana Flowers' mate,
But she has two marks, and I have a hunch x
KODI: *PHOTO*
Love you x
The photo shows Bas and Timber holding their shirts up to show their marks. They are younger, so I’m guessing it’s when they first got them. I forwarded the photo toOriana,
“Please tell them both, but ask them to give me time.” I nod, then she quickly snips some of her hair, and using some gold cord, twines them together and hands me two bracelets. She sends me a photo of herself dressed up for her graduation; she’s in a pretty sundress with flowers woven into her long brown hair.
When I get back to the pack house, I find Bas and Timber on the deck, the former sulking, and Tim is agitated as he doesn’t know why.
“She asked for a little time, as she has a bad past, and that’s how she came to be with Ms Flowers, but she’s safe now and has been for a while.” Bas nods,
“She has two marks. I messaged Kodi on a hunch, and I was right, you both share a mate. She asked me to give you both these.” I slip the bracelets on their wrists and then send her number and the photo of her and her marks to them,
“Start small. She liked the basket, and you didn’t scare her; she was just shocked. She grew up around grizzly bears, and you’re a lot bigger.” Bas nods but looks less sorry for himself,
“Thank you, baby sister.” I nod and head off.
I’ve done my part; it’s now down to them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
REN
“Baby. J and I just wanted a quiet meal, not a blindfold and surprises.” I know I’m pouting like a child, as Ember takes my hand and shadowscover my skin.
JENSON
Quinny holds my hand, and I trust her; she would never do something we were totally against. As the shadows leave my skin, I speak up,
“Bro, relax. Do you really think Quinny would do something we hate?” I get a grunt in response. I get it, Ren doesn’t like surprises, as the few we’ve had in our lives have been shit. Quinny's hand runs up my spine, and then I feel a tug as she pulls free the knot holding the blindfoldin place.
