Page 27 of Fearless as an Eagle

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. What are you doing here?”

“Can’t a guy just come check on his best friends and sister who have been trapped by a killer blizzard for almost a week?”

She rolls her eyes, and I have to hide my smile. I’ve known Alex a long time, so I’m used to his antics. It’s nice to see we’re not the only ones he acts this way with.

“How’d you even know we were here?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest and raising one brow.

“Well, the storm’s blown over. I figured you’d wanna get out of that stuffy cabin. Plus, I called the sheriff to see if the service roads had been cleared yet. I hadn’t heard from any of you and it was fifty-fifty you’d be here. So I stopped in to check, and I was right.”

“Alex! Good to see ya! Bet you’re glad you got called into work and missed this trip, huh?” Riley says when he enters the room.

“Not as glad as you are.” He chuckles. “Would have been really awkward for you, meeting your mate with her brother there. How’s that going, by the way?”

“It’s going great,” Bennett growls, wrapping his arms around Mia and pulling her back to his chest.

“Really?” he asks, sounding impressed. “Thought you didn’t want a mate. Come on, I expected you to hold out longer than that.” He sighs and shakes his head.

“Shut up!” Mia laughs as she smacks him on the arm.

“I’m really happy for you, Mia. Mike was a tool. But fate more than made up for it by giving you these three. They’re the best men I know. I’m sure between the three of them, they’ll be able to keep you happy.”

“Thanks, Alex.” Mia smiles and leans her head against Bennett, sinking into his embrace.

Ringing interrupts the sweet family moment and everyone checks their pockets for their phones. Bennett grumbles under his breath as he accepts the call and puts his phone to his ear. We all stand around and listen in on his conversation like the nosey eavesdroppers we are.

“Hey, Mom… Yes, I know there was a blizzard… I’m fine, Mom… Will you calm down, please?”

We silently chuckle as Bennett gets an earful from his mother.

“I’ve been a little busy with my mate. I’m sorry I haven’t called… Yes, I saidmate… Well, itjusthappened… No not right this second…MOM!Be quiet and listen for a second, okay? Thank you. The guys and I went camping on Friday. We were rescued Saturday before the storm got too bad. Our rescuer turned out to be our mate… Yes, I’m serious… Mason and Riley… Do you want to meet her?” Bennett sighs and looks at Mia like she might save him from whatever hell he’s found himself in.

She bites her lips together to hide her smile and nods her head, silently agreeing to meet his mother so she’ll get off his back. The poor girl has no idea what she’s just signed up for.

Chapter 21

Bennett

AfteragreeingtobringMia to family dinner, which has apparently been rescheduled for today, my mother finally lets me off the phone. Hanging my head, I stuff my phone back in my pocket and the room erupts into laughter.

“Yeah, yeah. Yuck it up. Just wait until your moms find out. I may have the most overbearing mother, but I bet Riley’s makes a bigger deal over him finding his mate than mine will,” I grumble.

“That’s probably true,” Mason agrees. “Though thanks for taking one for the team. I’m gonna call my mom before she gets the chance to call me. Think it would be better that way.”

“Can I wait another month?” Riley cringes.

"What's wrong? You don't wanna show my sister off? I thought you'd be excited to show everyone you found your mate," Alex taunts Riley.

“What?! I am! I do! Wait, what’s going on?” Riley stammers, his eyes twitching back and forth between Alex and Mia like he’s not sure which of them is the bigger threat.

“Don’t listen to him. Why do you wanna wait to tell your mom?” Mia asks sweetly, showing him she’s not a threat.

“Because Bennett is a thousand percent correct. My mother will have a fit of epic proportions when she finds out about you and the way we met. She’s a hopeless romantic that never gave up finding her mate.”

“Your parents aren’t mates?” she asks with her head cocked to the side and her brows furrowed.

“Nope. Just one of many she thought could be until they fucked and instead of a mate bond, all she got was me.”

“Wow… I don’t know what to say to that.” Mia bites her lips together and widens her eyes.

---