Page 6 of Manifesting a Mate

“I would love to...” I agree, pausing for my mate to give me his name.

“Henry,” he says simply, and I swear my stomach swoops because neither of us have broken eye contact yet, making everything more intense. Riley isn’t wrong either, the musky scent of arousal is thick in the air. Which makes Henry's offer to take me to lunch even more adorable. The man is verging on a rut, yet he is still being a gentleman. That tells me he has morals. He isn’t going to demand I bend over and present for him.

“It’s great to finally meet you Henry, I’ve been waiting for you.” I tell him honestly.

“I hope I was worth the wait, sweetheart.” He tells me and finally steps back, putting just enough distance between us to give my brain a breath of fresh air and allow my neurons to actually connect. “How about you give me your address and I can pick you up at noon. I’ll grab us some lunch and we can take it to the park, have our own little picnic. Get to know each other.”

My face leans into his hand when he reaches up to stroke my cheek. “That sounds wonderful, you can meet me here, I don't live far, but let me make us lunch. I want to feed my Alpha.” That seemed to please him if the rumbling growl that comes from him is anything to go by.

“You are perfect, my Omega.” He tells me, dropping one last kiss to my cheek before walking backward and somewhat reluctantly leaving the cafe.

CHAPTER 6

“When I see your face.”

Henry

With the level of adrenaline coursing through my body right now, it’s an absolute miracle I managed to leave the cafe and get into my truck without accidentally ripping the door off its hinges.

Everett, my beautiful mate with his honey bread scent has been right here all along. He must have been at the singles event too. So many missed opportunities, but then that's how fate works. We were so close to each other, but it just wasn’t the right time for us to meet until now.

He looks young, early twenties, I would guess. Fresh faced and so fucking sexy. I hope he isn’t disappointed that I'm older. He didn't give me any indication that he disliked what he saw. If that kiss was anything to go by, he more than liked how I looked. I feel a shiver rush down my spine at the memory, my tongue running over my lips in an attempt to chase his taste.

My bear isn’t happy we left him behind, and he’s making it known by grumpily pushing at my control, wanting to burst out of me and claim our mate right where he stands. I can’t say I blame him. Everett’s scent was addicting, but seeing his face of freckles and the way his smile made my heart fucking double in size was intoxicating.

My human brain needs to get us the fuck out of here before he succeeds and breaks through, I don’t think my truck can hold the weight of a pissed off bear and I really don’t feel like taking a tranq dart in the ass when the cops show up.

Thankfully, the thought of that happening, and us missing our date with Everett as a consequence, has my furry side somewhat relenting, at least enough to let me drive home. Not that he makes it a comfortable ride. The further from the city we get, the more he makes his frustration known. Let me tell you, driving with paws instead of hands makes navigating a highway risky business.

By the time I skid to a stop on my driveway, I have just enough time to force the truck into park and roll out to the dirt with barely seconds to spare before my bear bursts free. This is the second time in two days I’ve almost lost control of myself behind the wheel. I haven’t been this unstable since I was a teenager. Is this what finding your mate does to you? Because nobody talks about this side of things.

Rearing up on my hind legs, I roar with both excitement and frustration. My paws hit the compacted dirt driveway with a heavy thud before lumbering into the woods that surround my cabin. A big selling point for this property, aside from the fifty some acres of forest with a creek meandering through it, is the fact that my land backs up to Austin’s.

So, naturally that is where my bear heads. A path well-worn over the years leading from my home to his. The familiar scent of rain in the air mixed with the rich, grounding aroma of the forest floor filled my lungs as I shifted back at the base of the steps leading to Austin's cabin just as the door banged open.

“What the fuck man? It’s six am, is somebody chasing you?” Austin asks, bleary-eyed and pissed off.

“I found him!”

“Found who?”

“My mate,” I tell him, well aware I'm preening a little as I ascend the wooden steps toward him.

“Is that why your dick’s half hard or are you just happy to see me?” He jokes, covering his eyes with one hand while the other snatches the blanket off the bench next to him, throwing it toward me. “No dicks before coffee, you know the rules.”

Covering my waist, I roll my eyes and follow my friend, pausing to wipe my bare feet on the welcome mat before stepping inside. Austin's cabin feels as much like home to me as my own. Dropping on to the couch, blanket over my lap, still grinning like an idiot as I watch Austin shuffle his way to the coffee machine.

“So you found your mate, huh? Why exactly are you naked at my door and not at his?” He asks around a yawn.

If I didn’t know him as well as I do, it might come across like my friend has more interest in the man on the moon than my earth shattering revelation. Austin is not a morning person. It could be to do with the fact he has worked in hotels, bars, and restaurants most of his life, meaning he has never subscribed to the nine-five life that so many of us have. He is more of a mid-day - mid-night person, so the fact he is even partially functional right now is a testament to how much he cares.

“He’s a baker, I think, works at the Rainy Day cafe. He is the most beautiful omega I have ever seen.” I can feel how wide I’m smiling just remembering how Everett jumped into my arms. His head of unruly red curls bouncing in front of his face.

“That does not explain why your bare ass is sitting on my couch at stupid o’clock in the morning, Henry,” he grumbles, eyes not leaving the stream of coffee as it fills his favorite giant wolf mug.

“Well, I could hardly pin him down and mate him at his place of work, I’m a gentleman and my omega deserves better. We are meeting for a lunch date later. He’s perfect, Aus. Small, lithe frame, mass of curly red hair and eyes the colour of the forest in spring.”

“Is that the caveat to finding your mate? You start waxing poetry about the color of their eyes?” His face screws up in disgust, but quickly settles into a blissed-out smile as he takes his first sip of liquid life.