ONE
Mason
A loud bang from outside my workshop reverberated through me, pulling me back to another time and place, but I shook off the memories that threatened to swarm me. I couldn’t afford to be stuck in the past with the threat that hung over my family’s ranch. Still, a cold sweat broke out on my forehead as a second bang sounded.
My brother Ethan was chopping wood and tossing it into the woodshed at the back of my shop. But knowing what it was didn’t stop the reaction that was now instinctive. A need to duck and cover and escape harm. As a bear shifter, my reflexes were fast, and it took everything in me to keep from throwing myself under the table.
It hadn’t always been this bad. When I first returned from the military, I’d struggled, but I survived. For years, I thought I’d buried the past. But with Vince stirring up trouble, everything had come rushing back.
The door swung open, and I tensed before forcing myself to relax. It was only Declan, my older brother. I was one of six boys; all but Declan were adopted. Together we ran our family ranch, which we’d turned into a dude ranch following the deaths of ourparents. Losing our private sanctuary had been hard, but it was the only way to save it from financial ruin.
“A new batch of guests arrive this afternoon.” Declan strode over to my desk, where I was studying the video feeds from our property. He studied the screens over my shoulder. “You can’t watch all the time. Are you getting any sleep?”
“Enough.” I could get by on only a little rest, though I was pushing it. The Vince situation had dragged on so long, it was impossible to remember my last full night of real sleep.
“I don’t believe you.” Declan’s voice didn’t waver as he leaned back against the worktable and crossed his arms.
I gritted my teeth. I’d been expecting him to confront me, but I had hoped everything would resolve before he got around to it. Apparently my luck—what little I had—was gone.
Our ranch had been the target of sabotage since before we transformed it into a dude ranch. Perhaps even further back than we were aware. Plenty of minor problems had happened over the years that alone raised no suspicion but in hindsight painted a grim picture. It wasn’t until our brother Austin’s mate, Emily, overheard her brother Vince talking that we realized he was responsible.
Ultimately, though, it was my fault. What ruined our friendship was a tragedy that could have been avoided. If only I’d been faster. Or stronger. Or… something more. Instead, I’d failed Aaron. And now, my family was paying the price.
My hand automatically rubbed my thigh, feeling the scar tissue through my pants. A reminder that not even my shifter healing had erased.
“I’m not here to ask about Vince.” Declan gave a wry smile at my look of surprise. “You’re my brother. I trust you to tell us when needed. But you can’t continue this way.”
“He’ll be back.” It was the one thing I kept telling them. Vince would never give up. He had decided I needed to pay, and he would see it through. “If I get the security right?—”
“You’ll never get it perfect. We have too much land. Too many people coming and going between the dude ranch and the art gallery.” Declan dropped a hand on my shoulder. “I’m more worried about you. You look rough. Go take a shower. Shave that scruff off and trim your hair. If your mate were to show up today, you might just scare her off.”
“No mate is showing up for me.” My response was automatic, and my stomach hollowed.
He narrowed his eyes. “You can’t know that. Fate will put your mate in your path eventually.”
I stayed silent. There was no point arguing with him. From where he stood, his words made sense. All my brothers had found theirs, leaving only me for fate to work on.
But fate had already worked its magic. Our paths had, if not crossed, veered close enough for me to catch her scent. Wild roses and rain. Her long reddish-brown hair had been pulled back in a bun, and her face, though streaked with tears, was beautiful, with rosy lips and high cheekbones. She was tall and willowy, but strong. Despite the pain of the day, she’d stood firm, with shoulders squared.
I couldn’t see her eyes from my position, but it wasn’t necessary. I’d seen them before—in a folded photograph. She was laughing then, her bright-green eyes somehow seeing inside of me even from the creased print. Familiar eyes. Eyes I saw on every deployment.
Until they were gone.
And those green eyes were eyes I never deserved to see again.
“Mason?” Declan shook my shoulder, his own eyes displaying his concern. “Where’d you go?”
“Nowhere.” The words rasped out of my tight throat. “Just thinking about moving the cameras in the east pasture.”
He didn’t believe me. His jaw tightened, as if he wanted to call me out on my lie but fought it. He shook his head. “Enough about the security for now. You need to rest and clean up before the guests arrive.”
“But I?—”
“I wasn’t asking.” His voice was firm; he sounded a lot like Dad when he was done talking. Looked like him too. Since meeting his mate Chloe, he’d turned from a rigid grump into the wise mentor of the family, taking on Dad’s role.
I rubbed at my chest, as if it were possible to soothe the ache I still felt at the loss of the parents who’d adopted me at five. An ache only magnified at knowing that finding his mate had precipitated the change and made him into the best version of himself.
Something I would never be, never have.
