Page 11 of Ignited By My Mate

“Where are they now?” I ask softly.

“They passed away a few years ago. Heart attacks each, a few months apart.”

“Shit, Harris. I’m so sorry,” I whisper.

He nods as he checks the temperature of the chicken and bustles around the kitchen. “S’okay. I have a new family here with the guys at the station.”

He sounds nonchalant about it, but I hear the tinge of pain in his voice. He misses his parents. I’m sure he wishes things had been different.

“My parents were workaholics. High achieving.”

He quirks a brow as he looks at me. “They must be proud of you.”

I shake my head. “They’re not.”

He blinks. “What? Why not?”

“I’m inmarketing.” I repeat what they always say with disgust. They look down their noses at me and my job. No matter how hard I work or how many promotions I get. I’m still not what they want. I’m still not good enough.

“That’s bullshit. They should be proud of you. You’re so young, and you’re an executive. You must be amazing at your job,” Harris says as he arranges two place settings on the bar.

“Can I help?” I ask as he carves the chicken.

“I’ve got it. You relax.” He sets a glass of water in front of me.

I smile as I take a sip. “This is great. Do you roll out the welcome wagon like this for everyone who comes to town?”

“No, just you.”

“I feel so special.”

“You are,” he says, smiling at me. His golden eyes twinkle and then turn serious. “Lark, there’s something I have to tell you.”

I set down my glass. “Okay…”

“I—”

The beep of the oven timer cuts him off. Cursing, he hurries to turn it off. What was he going to say? My question is quickly forgotten as he sets my food in front of me.

“Wow! This looks like it should be on the cover of one of those food magazines.”

“Thanks,” he says with a bashful smile. “I have a lot of free time at the station. Not usually many fires around here.”

“Usually?” I grab my fork and pop a potato into my mouth.

“We’ve had a few lately,” he says as he sits next to me. “We’re having trouble with the neighboring pack.”

I chuckle. “Pack? You mean like a gang? I can’t imagine one around here. There’s nothing but forests.”

“No, I—” He pauses and takes a deep breath. “Listen, Lark. I wanted to ease you into this, but we’re on a time crunch, and I know you’ll need a few days to wrap your head around things, so I’m just going to say it.”

“Um, okay. What’s going on?”

He leans forward slightly, his eyes glowing faintly in the low light. My stomach tightens.

“Okay…” He exhales like he’s been holding this in for years. “I’m a shifter. A bear shifter.”

I blink at him. “A… what?”

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