Page 4 of Lonely Alpha

I showered and put my pajama pants on and put the invitation on the dresser. I would have to think about this and if possible, consult with my animal, if he would even answer.

At the very least, I’d have to sleep on it.

All this time, yearning and wishing for William and out of nowhere, I had been presented with an opportunity to move on and heal those parts of me that had been wounded.

The contents of that envelope with the bear wax seal had the potential to change the trajectory of my life.

Chapter Four

William

After being home for a while, I was ready to accept that I’d never bump into my mate or former mate—could a person be a former mate? I wasn’t sure, but one day at the home of my friends Rick and Sam, the subject came up.

“You’ve been back for a long time now. Have you been on a single date?” Rick, a raccoon shifter, never held back, always spoke his mind. “Because people are starting to talk.”

“People? What kind of people?” I had been gone for years. Who even gave a damn what my life was like besides a few good friends and my dads? “Anyone I know?”

“Pack, mostly,” Sam put in. “Can I get anyone some more lasagna or salad or anything, or are we ready for dessert?” Smooth change of subject. Sam never wanted anyone to feel uncomfortable.

“What’s for dessert?” I asked. “I need to know how much room to save before I decide if I want to eat more lasagna.”

“Tiramisu.” Rick rubbed his belly. “And I’m saving lots of room because my mate makes the best pastries in the valley.”

“And I’ll give you a doggy bag so you can snack on lasagna later.” Sam kissed his omega on the forehead. “Dessert time.”

“I’ll load the dishwasher,” I volunteered. “Should I make some coffee?”

“That would be great, but decaf?” Sam winked at his mate. “We’re not doing caffeine right now.”

“Does that mean what I think it does?”

Rick rubbed his belly again, and I picked up on what he’d probably been hinting at before. “If you think it means we’re having a baby?”

I nodded.

“Then you’re right.”

“I’m so happy for you two!” They’d been trying for a while. “Am I the last to know?”

“No, you’re the first outside of our families.” Sam hugged his mate from behind. “So, you make the coffee, I’ll get the dessert, and then we can talk about setting you up on a blind date with a guy we know.”

I waited until we were sitting again with the creamy mocha decadence in front of us before addressing their comments. “I’m not going on any blind date, well, actually I kind of am, but it’s, well…”

“It’s what?” Rick scooped up and bite and sighed. “Isn’t my mate the best?”

I’d known the two of them for a long time; we’d grown up in the same pack as friends, but it wasn’t until after I went into the service that they learned they were mates. “Your mate is the best.”

“Now tell about the date thing,” Sam urged. “You’re deliberately keeping us in suspense.”

“I’m not. Well, kind of. You know I did meet my mate, but we grew apart while I was in the military.” I swallowed hard and reached into my pocket. “And I got this letter.” Holding it out, I let the others take it from me. “And I thought it might be a good idea.”

“What is it?” Rick pulled the letter out of the envelope. “Bearclaw Inn? You got an invite from Franklin?” He grinned at me. “I wonder how you got on his radar?”

“No idea, but I think it’s time I stopped wallowing in grief for something that can never be and look to the future. I made a tart when I came home from the service, and I’m calling this invitation a sign.”

“Makes sense.” Rick shook his head. “I never thought I’d see an invitation to the Bearclaw.”

“Have you ever met anyone who had a second chance at a mate?” I hadn’t, and that was the one thing that had me just a bit hesitant.

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