I’d done a pretty thorough job of ripping the door frame apart. The door that I’d fallen on top of was in pieces as well. The door was the easy part; we had several in storage. The frame, however, would have to be rebuilt.Sigh.
Though even seeing the damage and knowing the work ahead of me, I would break down a hundred doors to get to Bowen if he needed me. He’dneededme. I hated that he was in danger or scared, but hearing him say that was the best thing I’d ever heard. Sure, the others needed me to maintain the inn, but itwasn’t the same. Bowen neededme, like I was the only one who could help him. In a strange way, it made me feel special. But it wasn’t one-sided because I needed him, too.
Waking up with him, knowing he had stayed by my side as I changed from werewolf to man, and feeling his presence with me, had meant the world to me. Changing back didn’t feel like a chore; it felt nearly seamless, but then I’d been present the entire time I was shifted, which was an unusual experience. It felt like the real me, though. Like I was no longer two broken pieces that didn’t fit together, but that the edges had been smoothed and the pieces mended.
Maybe it wasn’t solid yet—the cracks were still there—but with a little more work, it might hold. Looking at the doorframe, a little work, some wood glue, and some nails. Nothing broken was ever truly unfixable; sometimes things just need a little extra help. And for me? That was Bowen, seeing me as something worth saving. He was the glue holding my broken pieces together, and letting me imagine what I could look like whole.
After retrieving all the needed lumber and tools, I began reframing the door. The easy task was made much more difficult by being in Bowen’s room. It was so full of his scent that it was hard to concentrate. I kept to shallow breaths, trying not to get carried away by breathing him in, even if a big part of me wanted to bury my nose in the clothes that had been left behind.
My eyes drifted toward the bed. I wanted to crawl under the covers and roll around, rubbing myself over every inch, to absorb whatever trace he’d left behind. I brought the hammer down and yipped when it landed on my thumb.
“Fuck!” Shaking my hand, I chastised myself.Come on, man, concentrate.
“Rudy.” My eyes darted around at the sound of my name. Bowen? I should have smelled him if he was near, except his smell was all around me, so I might not have been able to pick it up. The hallway was completely empty, though.
What the hell? It was clear as day. I could swear it sounded like he was standing right next to me, saying my name in my ear. Maybe it was all in my head. Could someone overdose on a scent? Was that a thing? With the throbbing in my thumb and now my mind playing tricks on me, maybe.
Kieran had been doing research, so he might know what was going on. I pulled out my phone and clicked on his name. It was rare that the two of us chatted without the group, but I didn’t really want to bring anyone else into this, in case I was losing it. I could just hear Zee’s endless teasing.
Me: Hey Kieran… I have a question if you’re available.
Kieran: You caught me just in time. I was about to sit down and go over some numbers. I thinkI might know what your question is (winky face emoji), but go ahead.
I scruffed a hand through my hair, second-guessing myself, and nearly calling the whole thing off.
Me: In your research… did it say anything about… uh, overdosing?
Kieran didn’t respond; instead, my phone started ringing, and I dropped my head, letting it thud against the newly repaired doorframe. With my head still lowered and my cheeks blazing hot, I answered. “Hey.”
Kieran’s voice on the other end came through with a laugh. “Okay, you surprised me. That wasn’t at all what I was anticipating. What do you think you’re overdosing on? Do you feel ill?”
“No. Not really. I just… okay, here’s the thing. I’m working on the door in Bowen’s room.”
“Uh-huh. The door you broke to get to him. Okay, I’m with you.” I could hear a hint of amusement in his words, adding to the mortification I already felt.
“Yeah, well… his scent. Gods, it’s everywhere, and I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
Kieran chuckled. “I see. Indirectly, thisisthe question I was expecting. You just don’t know what to ask.”
This conversation didn’t make any sense, given my already over-loaded senses. “WhatshouldI be asking?”
“Why do you think you react so strongly to Bowen?” I rubbed my temple. If the faerie was going to play twenty questions, I really wasn’t up for it at the moment.
A huffof exasperation left me. “Because I like him. Because my wolf likes him.” I had a million more reasons, too big to say or to speak of over the phone.
“Did you know you liked him the first time you caught his scent?”
I started to shake my head, but stopped. I didn’tknow, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him from that first moment. It was like it imprinted on me, changed something in me. Letting out a slow breath, I muttered, “I knew I had to have him.”
“Uh-huh. That’s not like you, is it?”
“No.” It wasn’t like me to feel something with my whole self.Wholeself. It wasn’t like me to pursue someone,anyone. Once I had Bowen in my sights, I couldn’t let him go. Sure, I felt like I was spinning out of control, but in reality, it was the desires and needs ofbothsides coming together.
“What do you see with Bowen?”
I sighed heavily. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk about Bowen, but it wasn’t the time. “Listen, Kieran, can you just get to the point? I can’t think right now, my head is too clouded.”
“Okay. Okay,” he snickered. “This is the last question. Are you familiar with fated mates?”
