Destined Bear (Windridge Den #3)

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Finn

I hefted my laptop bag over my shoulders, tightened the straps, then zipped up my coat, wondering if today was the day I finally just gave up and stayed home. The air had turned cold, the wind blowing the light dusting of snow we’d received overnight. As soon as I stepped outside, my cheeks would turn red, my nose going cold. This was why bears hibernated in the winter. Yet here I was, packing up a perfectly good laptop and portable monitor to go work at a diner where it was loud and full of people who wanted to chit-chat while I tried to work, instead of staying at my perfectly nice, warm home.

It was a small place, but it was mine, and I liked it. I had made a cozy home for myself within the Windridge Den. I had everything I could ever need, including all my favorite snacks, a heated lap blanket, and a twenty-seven-inch curved monitor that made working so much more efficient than my tiny laptop screen.

Yet, I didn’t hesitate to open the door and step outside, making the short walk to the diner. I was a glutton for punishment. After all, this was day 312 that I had gone to the diner to work or grab a bite, in hopes that the grumpy alpha behind the grill would finally look through the window and notice me.

Well, more than notice me—he noticed me. He said hello, in his gruff-nod sort of way, but that was it. He didn’t get any closer, and at this point, I was not 1,000% sure he even knew my name.

This was getting ridiculous. I was getting nowhere. Fast.

Not for the first time, I wondered if my bear was wrong. Maybe Patrick and I weren’t mates. Maybe it was one-sided. That happened, didn’t it? I couldn’t think of a time, but like childbirth, no one ever shared the horror stories. They just talked about how beautiful it was. Maybe this was as good as it got, eating the food he made because it was his job and for no other reason.

My phone rang just before I arrived at the diner. I could’ve waited to answer it when I got inside, but I recognized the ringtone. It was my brother. He wasn’t a fan of waiting.

“Hey, Griff.”

“Hi, Finn. How are you doing?”

“Fine.” I had a feeling this wasn’t a fun, chit-chat type of call. If it was, it wouldn’t be so early in the morning. “Is everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine. I just…” The hesitation in his voice was not a great omen.

I stopped, leaned against the wall of the building. I was in the alleyway between the diner and the flower shop, so I had a little bit of privacy and a block from the wind.

“Lay it on me, Griff.” My stomach was churning. My gut told me I didn’t want to hear what was next, but this was my brother and hanging up would accomplish nothing.

“Alpha Monroe is looking to take a mate.”

“Okay,” I said. “That’s... exciting.”

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe my brother was just being the den gossip.

My old den had a shortage of alphas, which was the biggest reason I had come to Windridge, since they had an abundance of alphas. It made sense for our two dens to come together to solve that particular issue. My brother was supposed to be mated to the Windridge Alpha’s younger brother—only that hadn’t worked out. After smoothing things over from a diplomatic standpoint, I decided to stay, mostly because Patrick was here. Even if Patrick didn’t look at me at all or notice I existed. He was still mine, even if it was currently from a distance.

I hadn’t really paid attention to the politics going on at home since we left. It had never really been my thing.

“He was sort of wondering if you were interested,” Griff continued.

Fuck.

“What?”

Silence.

“Me, of all people? You’re kidding, Griff.” Alpha Monroe was a nice enough guy, but I hadn’t spent more than two minutes in his company in years. I had no attraction to him and assumed he had no attraction to me. Yet somehow, he thought of me as an acceptable potential Alpha Mate? That didn’t make sense.

“I’m not a suitable Alpha Mate for him, Griff. I’m quiet and boring.” He needed someone who had leadership skills. The dynamics of our old den required it. That wasn’t me.

“Well, for one, you are not boring. But yes, you are quiet. Believe it or not, that’s why Alpha Aydan had his sights set on you.”

Ah, yes, my attempt at dating. Sort of. Aydan had shown an interest; the two of us had “dates”—kind of. We sat at the diner and talked about things until, of course, he found his fated. Then I was off the hook, which was for the best. I hadn’t wanted to be mated to Aydan. I only wanted Patrick.

I’d have felt bad about “dating” him if we both hadn’t had an unspoken understanding. Neither of us liked each other in that way. We were both there for duty. How fucked up was that.

In theory, I was a catch for the alphas of this den simply because I was helpful and kind—or so I’d been told. Great qualities for an omega, apparently. But also… great qualities in a pet. I didn’t want to be a pet.

“Do I have to make a decision right now?” The thought that I was even considering it was madness. I had a fated mate, for goodness’ sake! I couldn’t mate a totally different alpha.

“Don’t feel obligated to do anything, Finn,” Griff said. “He just tossed the idea out there. So, I’m telling you. If you want to talk to him about it, you’re more than welcome to call him, or we can set up a meeting.”

“Meeting calls. So romantic.” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, it’s not ideal,” he said, chuckling. “I know your fated is there in Windridge, Finn. Just say the word and we won’t pursue this at all.”

I sucked in a breath. As much as I had told my brother, I hadn’t yet expressed this particular thing. It was humiliating that my fated mate was rejecting me in such a way.

“It’s Patrick,” I said, voice thick. “The Beta who works at the diner.” I blinked back tears that had nothing to do with the cold.

“Has he shown an interest?”

“No,” I said, swallowing hard. “I don’t think he knows I exist.”

“I’m sorry, Finn.”

“I’ve been thinking about just giving up and coming home. I guess… maybe this is a sign.”

“Don’t make any decisions right now, Finn,” Griff replied gently. “Think about it. Sleep on it if you want. I can come visit you. We can talk it over. This is a lot right now.”

I had to give it to my brother. He didn’t always get me, but he was always supportive. If I so much as hinted that I needed him, he’d be leaving before the sentence was out of my mouth.

“Thanks, Griff, can I call you back after I get done working for the day?” He, of course, had no idea that I made the trek from my home to the diner where I worked every day, nor did he know I was standing out in the elements as we spoke.

“Of course. Take your time, okay? No matter what you choose, I’ll support you.”

As far as big brothers went, I had hit the jackpot. Me and my other two omega siblings were quite lucky. “Thanks, Griff.”

I hung up the phone, leaned against the wall, hitting my head a few times to clear my thoughts. It didn’t work. Then I went inside the diner, just like I did every other day. And just like every other day, Patrick didn’t notice a fucking thing I did.