commune.
Nothing like this place.
The houses weren’t modern, but not an older style either. Everyone’s home was in good condition and through their windows, families and couples could be seen spending time together—much like my family did.
“Mom, your food was amazing. The Coeur said she would have leftovers for a week.”
Tarrow’s mom giggled and took his other elbow, which I found completely endearing. “Not with a male around. You can cook twice as much, hoping to put some away and that will be the night they decide to be extra hungry. But I’m glad I can still help.” She turned the conversation onto me. “Dahlia, did you have a good time, dear? I know the first time with a clan can be overwhelming. It was for me.”
Tarrow turned his head to her and faltered a little in his steps. “You weren’t clan?”
I felt like an outsider. It seemed like something he was supposed to know, but didn’t.
“No, son. I wasn’t clan. I was a lone bear just roaming around when your father found me. I was with a foster family—I saw him on my first day in that new high school.”
We reached their home and I stayed outside while Tarrow escorted her in. Only a few seconds later, he came out.
“What are you doing out here?”
“I—I don’t know.”
I sent a tiny prayer for knowledge up to the Creator. I had no idea how things were done, down to the tiniest detail. I’d lived with my family all my life. I was free to go anywhere I pleased and my friends were my sisters.
I was a lost cub in all this formality and set rules.
It made me itchy.
“Come on, wild girl. My house is yours and…” He mumbled something else, but I couldn’t make it out, even with my heightened hearing.
I stopped right inside of the threshold, amazed at the house that belonged to my mate. It was neat and everything had a place. Tarrow’s mother even put her keys on a little hook near the door where her coat and purse also hung.
It took me at least a half hour to find my keys every time I went somewhere.
There were no paint cans strewn around and their furniture looked like it had never been sat on.
It was like walking into Ikea for bears.
I shivered again, but this time really from the cold. “Hold on.” Tarrow bounced up the stairs, taking some of them three at a time and disappeared into the first room at the top. He came out seconds later with a hoodie in his hands.
I was warm already.
“Here. I should’ve asked you earlier. I’ll get the hang of it, I swear.”
I didn’t know who he was trying to convince—me or him.
It sounded like him.
“It’s fine, Tarrow. I should’ve gotten a sweater from home. This is great.”
I pulled the sweatshirt over my head and had to do some major rearranging of my hair. It smelled like him, like being surrounded by pine trees and my mate.
There was no way I could ever pinpoint that smell.
“We’re going, Mom. Is there anything you need? I have my cell if something happens.”
I watched the exchange with interest. I’d heard that you could tell the way a man would be by the way he treats his mother.
If so, I was one lucky bear.
“I’ll call if a murderer breaks in.” At her words, Tarrow went at least ten shades lighter and then recovered. “Not a murderer, only a robber. I don’t have time to stop murders. I’m a busy guy.”
His mother cackled from another room.
He was a smartass and had been hiding it from me all this time. He tucked me against his side as we walked to his car and again, opened my door.
“Where to?” His voice was laced with anticipation and it dripped from him and spread through my chest.
“I don’t know. When I want to go somewhere, I run.”
“You wanna run with me?”
“Can we?”
“Of course, as long as we’re alone.”
“We can run behind my house. Would that be okay?”
“That would be perfect.”
He reached over the middle of the car and slowly slid his fingers under mine. My eyes closed at the connection. Every
Nothing like this place.
The houses weren’t modern, but not an older style either. Everyone’s home was in good condition and through their windows, families and couples could be seen spending time together—much like my family did.
“Mom, your food was amazing. The Coeur said she would have leftovers for a week.”
Tarrow’s mom giggled and took his other elbow, which I found completely endearing. “Not with a male around. You can cook twice as much, hoping to put some away and that will be the night they decide to be extra hungry. But I’m glad I can still help.” She turned the conversation onto me. “Dahlia, did you have a good time, dear? I know the first time with a clan can be overwhelming. It was for me.”
Tarrow turned his head to her and faltered a little in his steps. “You weren’t clan?”
I felt like an outsider. It seemed like something he was supposed to know, but didn’t.
“No, son. I wasn’t clan. I was a lone bear just roaming around when your father found me. I was with a foster family—I saw him on my first day in that new high school.”
We reached their home and I stayed outside while Tarrow escorted her in. Only a few seconds later, he came out.
“What are you doing out here?”
“I—I don’t know.”
I sent a tiny prayer for knowledge up to the Creator. I had no idea how things were done, down to the tiniest detail. I’d lived with my family all my life. I was free to go anywhere I pleased and my friends were my sisters.
I was a lost cub in all this formality and set rules.
It made me itchy.
“Come on, wild girl. My house is yours and…” He mumbled something else, but I couldn’t make it out, even with my heightened hearing.
I stopped right inside of the threshold, amazed at the house that belonged to my mate. It was neat and everything had a place. Tarrow’s mother even put her keys on a little hook near the door where her coat and purse also hung.
It took me at least a half hour to find my keys every time I went somewhere.
There were no paint cans strewn around and their furniture looked like it had never been sat on.
It was like walking into Ikea for bears.
I shivered again, but this time really from the cold. “Hold on.” Tarrow bounced up the stairs, taking some of them three at a time and disappeared into the first room at the top. He came out seconds later with a hoodie in his hands.
I was warm already.
“Here. I should’ve asked you earlier. I’ll get the hang of it, I swear.”
I didn’t know who he was trying to convince—me or him.
It sounded like him.
“It’s fine, Tarrow. I should’ve gotten a sweater from home. This is great.”
I pulled the sweatshirt over my head and had to do some major rearranging of my hair. It smelled like him, like being surrounded by pine trees and my mate.
There was no way I could ever pinpoint that smell.
“We’re going, Mom. Is there anything you need? I have my cell if something happens.”
I watched the exchange with interest. I’d heard that you could tell the way a man would be by the way he treats his mother.
If so, I was one lucky bear.
“I’ll call if a murderer breaks in.” At her words, Tarrow went at least ten shades lighter and then recovered. “Not a murderer, only a robber. I don’t have time to stop murders. I’m a busy guy.”
His mother cackled from another room.
He was a smartass and had been hiding it from me all this time. He tucked me against his side as we walked to his car and again, opened my door.
“Where to?” His voice was laced with anticipation and it dripped from him and spread through my chest.
“I don’t know. When I want to go somewhere, I run.”
“You wanna run with me?”
“Can we?”
“Of course, as long as we’re alone.”
“We can run behind my house. Would that be okay?”
“That would be perfect.”
He reached over the middle of the car and slowly slid his fingers under mine. My eyes closed at the connection. Every
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