Didn’t matter, I decided. I loosened my New Democratic Party orange tie before pushing through the door of the mayoral den to quell at least one twin.
If Callum thought springing some tourist on me as a potential—and most likely ill-fitting—mate was a good way to move the needle on our maul finding a wife, I was going to have to disabuse him of that?—
I stopped. My blood ran cold.
A familiar scent hit my nose, layered over the bacon, eggs, and pancakes wafting from the kitchen.
Is that…?No. No, it couldn’t be.
“…I promise you, he’s not mad.”
Callum’s voice floated from the kitchen, tucked around the first corner past the entry.
“He ran out. And he wasn’t there this morning,” came a familiar voice—flat and near-monotone, the way she got when she wasn’t masking. Or when she was really,reallysatisfied after our three-tiered version of sex.
“Okay, disappearing was a bearhole move. But you have no idea how hard it is to control the bond bite instinct… or keep my hands off you while you’re making these pancakes.”
There came a giggle. Lighter, happier than the small chuckles she sometimes let out during aftercare cuddles.
“Seriously, stop. Body respect. Or you’re going to make me burn these.”
“Burned pancakes are the only kind I know how to make,” Callum replied without a shred of remorse in his voice.
“Well, manycollege studentsdon’t have access to kitchens to attain the skills they’d need to make breakfast.”
“Honeybee, how many times do I have to tell you, she was flirting with me—not the other way around. But I like this jealousy I’m seeing. It kind of balances out the dom stuff.”
“Is that why Gideon left?” Her voice shifted—uncertain, anxious. A tone I knew all too well. “Because I told him about the dynamic I enjoyed in my last relationship?”
“No. Not gonna lie—we’re both jealous as hell of the guy who got to be with you for three years before shitting the bed and letting you get away. But that’s not why—oh. There he is.”
I hadn’t even realized my feet were moving until I found myself a few steps from the kitchen. From her.
She was standing atourstove, with my third maul’s arms wrapped around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder.
“Hey, Rys!” Cal said brightly, straightening up—but not releasing the woman I’d made cry on Christmas.
She just stared at me.
Bears… We have superior everything when it comes to identifying someone we know.
But humans don’t give themselves enough credit for their own animal instincts.
She recognized me. Ifelther recognize me. Even without the mask.
“Sweetiebird? What are you doing here?”
Before I could stop myself, I jumped to the worst conclusion. “How did you find me? Are you stalking me?”
I was in shock. That’s the only reason I didn’t evenconsiderthe other possibilities.
Not until she twisted out of Callum’s arms and bolted past me—out the door.
Cal moved to follow her, but I blocked him, shoving him back, rage and confusion roaring inside me.
“What the hell, Cal? How did you find out about us? And why would you bring her here, of all places?”
“Find out—what the hell are you talking about?” he snapped back. “That’s Holly Winter’s best friend! We just met and scent-matched with her last night—hold on.”
