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They all nodded, clearly agreeing it was my only way forward.

“What should I say?” I wasn’t interesting. I was mostly quiet and happy about it. Talking about myself each night sounded dreadful.

“Talk about your hobbies,” Jamie said.

“About your bear,” Nym supplied.

“What foods you enjoy,” Casey suggested.

“What your ideal date with him would be,” Damon added, making the others ahhh and oooh over his suggestion.

Hans, Myve’s mate, spoke next, “It doesn’t really matter what you tell him. He just needs to get to know you and he can’t do that unless you offer him little pieces of yourself.”

I’d bathed and put on my pajamas, this time intent on staying up until my mate came in. Perhaps I could catch him as he got inside our room. I really wanted to see him, but I also had to admit it felt icky doing this, like he owed me something. He truly didn’t. I wanted to see him, but not if it wasn’t something he wanted. With a sigh, I slid under the covers, then turned off the bedside lamp.

To my surprise, the door opened shortly after, like he was waiting outside for me to go to bed. I saw his silhouette as he got into the room. My heart pounded. This was more than I’d gotten before. He was shorter than me, his hair seemed to reach his ears, and he was the most beautiful silhouette I’d ever seen. I blinked and he was gone.

Feeling determined, I sat up. “Hello,” I said, sounding lame even to my ears. “My name is Nazuss.”

No reply, not that I’d been expecting it.

“I guess I’m your fated mate,” I continued. “I have no idea how we’ve avoided each other all year, but I can’t wait to get to know you better.”

Still nothing.

“I’m a bear shifter, and honestly, I’m more of a loner normally. I love my family, but I spend most of my free time here alone in my bear form, just wandering through the forest. There’re these berries, they’re red and so damn delicious.” As I continued talking, it became easier and soon the words just flowed. I felt like I was truly talking to him and not just an empty room. I imagined the silhouette of him and would conjure up a smile whenever I said something funny and it would spur me on.

“I hope you like berries, they’re the easiest thing for me to sniff out in the forest and I’ve found many different sorts already. I can’t wait to show you someday.”

I was on my back now, eyes closed. “I want to learn how to bake an apple pie. Your scent reminds me of those and I’m suddenly starving for them. I wonder what I smell like to you.”

I fell asleep sometime after that, I couldn't remember when exactly, but when I opened my eyes, it was morning and my mate was already gone.

“And that was how Myve became known as Ball Crusher Myve,” I said, ending my fantastic tale. I’d spoken to my mate each night for a month straight. I had no idea if he even listened, but if I bothered him, he could just shift back and ask me to shut up. He never did. I knew by now that he was under the bed. I’d found my favorite berries and hidden them under there one night and come morning I’d found half of them gone. The sight had filled me with immense pleasure, knowing I’d provided for my mate.

“I wonder how long it will take before you tell me stories of your life. About yourself.” Like many nights before this, fear took hold. Maybe he never would show himself. Perhaps, I wasn’t wanted.

“If,” I said, swallowing. “You ever want to tell me, that is.”

I didn’t feel like talking after that, choosing sleep for tonight. And like usual, he was gone when I woke in the morning.

Chapter Four

One month later.

“You need to kick his ass!” Myve declared, banking her breakfast plate on the table, startling a snoring Ryn to full awareness. “It’s been two months, Nazuss!”

“I know,” I grumbled, spearing into a strawberry.

“I don’t care what his deal is, he either shows himself, or you need to tell him off!”

I blinked at my sister’s ferocity. Shocked by just how worked up she was.

“I see your defeat each morning,” she continued, sounding pained. “I hear how much this is affecting you. If he doesn’t plan on ever showing himself, then you might as well know now.”

“I hate to agree with Myve on this, since mate business should remain between mates, in my opinion,” Damon said. “But you’ve already spent over sixty nights talking to him. If he’s still unsure of you, then it’s on him, and you deserve to know.”

I swallowed hard, eyeing my plate. They were right, I knew they were. But what if he still wouldn’t show himself to me after all these nights? What if I would end tonight with the biggest heartache?