Destined Bear (Windridge Den #3)

3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Finn

It took me an embarrassingly long time to get a hold of myself, which made me late for work—not that it really mattered. My boss knew I’d get my work done. If I wasn’t there for office hours, so be it.

I worked as a web developer for various dens that needed websites for their businesses. It worked well to have shifters hiring other shifters. Then they didn’t have to worry about spilling any secrets. I’d even done some work for this den. I’d even offered to make a website complete with online ordering for the diner, but Patrick had declined.

Coming in the back door, I hustled through the kitchen quickly, wishing I’d just used the front door like a normal person for once. Weeks ago, I’d thought using the back door would make it harder for Patrick to ignore me. Maybe if he got more of my scent more often, he’d be unable to resist. So far, it hadn’t worked. He ignored me all the same.

The booth I occupied each day was empty, so I sat down, pulled out my laptop, and got to work. It was funny how the den had an unspoken acceptance that the booth was my space.

I wouldn’t have been upset if someone else was sitting there or anything like that. It was more habit, paired with a great view of the kitchen. When I wasn’t working, I opted for the counter, wanting an even better look.

Stacy, the waitress, delivered my coffee, as she always did, and I put in my regular order, even though the idea of food sounded terrible today. She didn’t even ask me what I wanted anymore. I’d become that regular. I didn’t want or need to eat, but I couldn’t exactly just stay here for free. So I smiled and thanked here, ready to nibble and watch it go cold.

Within a few minutes of my food arriving, Corey and Jayce came in, each with a child on their hip. I stopped for a moment to just watch them. Everyone in the den admired them both. They were the Alpha’s mate and one of the Betas’ mates, integral parts of the den. They had lots of friends, and people loved them.

Me, on the other hand, I was a bit of a loner, even within my own den. Corey and Jayce were friendly, though, which was why, when they got to my table, they sat right down. I could lead and had done so successfully when needed, but I’d rather hide in the corner and watch.

For a brief moment, I was so incredibly tempted to blurt out everything I was thinking—about leaving here, going back to my own den, about Patrick and my failed attempt to get my fated mate’s attention. The call with my brother had me so completely off balance. Thankfully I managed to bite it back. Making a scene would accomplish nothing good, that was for sure.

Getting my mate’s attention should’ve been easy, a given. He was my mate. You’re not supposed to be able to resist that. Aydan hadn’t been able to, and he was more anti-mate than anyone I knew. Yet he was mated to Jayce—his exact opposite in personality. And I remained single, as my fated ignored me.

“Hi, Finn, how are you?” Corey greeted me with a smile. Could he see that I was on the struggle bus? Probably. One of the reasons he was so good at his position within the pack was his ability to truly see people.

“I’m good.” I was such a fucking liar. “How are you two? And the children, of course.”

Corey’s child was older now, able to walk and run, but Corey wasn’t about to set him down here where he could get into all sorts of trouble. The number of safety hazards in this place outnumbered the trees in our territory. It was far from cub-proof.

Jayce’s young child was still in that baby stage—too cute for words, smiling, trusting, looking up at his father like he was the be-all, end-all of the world. He stole the hearts of anyone he met.

“We’re doing good. Any luck with anything you’ve got going on?”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

Jayce elbowed Corey, hard. “He means, has a certain alpha pulled his head out of his ass and acknowledged you yet?”

I shook my head. I should pretend not to know what they were talking about, but it would be no use. They had two eyes and were here often enough that had they not noticed it, I’d have been shocked. That didn’t mean I wanted to discuss it, or worse than that, be the object of pity in the den.

“Does everyone know?” I asked.

Corey shook his head and lowered his voice. “It’s nobody’s business. We’re just… observant.”

“We’re nosy,” Jayce corrected. “I convinced myself it’s sort of my job as Alpha Mate to worry about these things, but really, I’m just nosy. You can tell us to butt out.”

I was pretty sure that wasn’t the route to go. They were still the Alpha and Beta Mates. But also… they wouldn’t go to their mates and get them to put me in my place for speaking to them like that, as was the case in a great many dens.

I forced a smile.

“You’re fine. I just… I think it’s time to give up. My brother called me…” I hesitated, not quite sure I wanted to spill all the details, but I could confide in them a little. “I think it’s time for me to go home.”

“You’re welcome here always,” Corey said. “No matter what. You know that, right?”

“I do, and I appreciate everything. Really, I do. Getting away from my den—as great as they are—was nice. I’ve learned a lot, been able to focus on my career. I thought things would have ended a little differently, but that’s okay.” I rolled my shoulders back and sat up straight. “That’s totally okay.”

Why did I keep lying to them? Because I was lying to myself, too. That’s why.

Something through the window caught Corey’s attention. “Shoot, we have to go. There’s some pack stuff to attend to, but Finn, talk to us, please, before you make any decisions. We’re here for you. We’re your friends.”

I smiled, biting back the tears. “Thank you,” I said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

I didn’t promise I would talk with them. After all, I didn’t even know what I was going to say. I needed to clear my head, to shift into my bear and just run. But I didn’t.

After Corey and Jayce left, I managed to get some work done. Not all of it, but enough to keep my boss from getting pissy about it.

The diner was nearly empty during the lull between breakfast and lunch, giving me a nice quiet moment to focus and regroup. That was, until a shadow fell across my laptop. I looked up to find Patrick standing there, watching me with a look that seemed to say he expected me to speak first.

I didn’t.

“Did something happen this morning?” he asked, his tone calm but his gaze intense.

I sucked in a breath. “What do you mean?”

“You came in… sad. I scented it on you.”

It hit me then just how much hope I’d been harboring—that maybe, somehow, Patrick couldn’t tell I was his mate. That there was something wrong, some reason he hadn’t yet claimed me. But if he could scent my emotions, then he had to know I was his.

“Not really.” I was afraid to meet his eyes, afraid he would see my bear looking back at him. “Just… had a conversation with my brother.”

“You should go to the Alpha if there’s something he can help with.”

I laughed, a sound tinged with bitterness. “I don’t think I’ll be doing that, but thank you, Patrick. Truly, I’m fine. I promise.”

I needed him to just walk away, to stop caring out of some sense of duty because he was a Beta. I didn’t want his concern as a pack Beta. Fuck that. I wasn’t some random den member or guest. I was his fated. And now there was no mistaking that he knew it and simply did not care.

What I needed was for him to care as my alpha . But that wasn’t why he was here. This was his responsibility, nothing more.

He set a warm cinnamon roll in front of me. “These are fresh from the oven.” Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.