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“I had to growing up. My mom wasn’t in the picture, and my dad didn’t know how to cook.”
“Hmm,” he grunts.
“What about you? Do you like to cook?” I ask him as I take my own seat and grab my fork.
“No. I usually just microwave something or open a can and warm it up.”
He takes a bite of the chicken alfredo, and I smile as he quickly goes in for another bite.
“How was work?” I ask.
“Slow. The roads and stuff are covered in ice from last night, so everyone seems to be staying indoors today.”
We eat and I tell him about my day. He listens, and I smile as he goes back for seconds of the alfredo.
“I can pack the rest of this for your lunch tomorrow if you want,” I offer as we clean up.
“That would be good. Thanks.”
“It’s the least that I can do.”
He heads to the sink to start on the dishes, and I pause. I want to talk to him and get to know him better, but I know that will only make my crush grow. I need to keep my head straight because nothing can happen between us.
Besides, if my father or his friends find me, I’ll have to leave. It’s best not to get too attached.
TWO
Gunner
Claim her now,my bear snaps at me as I nod goodnight to Frankie and watch her walk into the spare bedroom.
Not now. She’s going through a lot. I can’t throw shifters, fated mates, and being with us at her right now, too,I snap back at him.
He growls, pawing at me as he starts to pace. He’s been impatient with me ever since Frankie came to Aspen Ridge. As soon as she set foot off the plane, I knew she was meant to be mine. My bear and I smelled her right away, and he wanted me to claim her as my mate right then and there. She had looked so freaked out when she got here, though, and I knew that I needed to give her time to get settled in before I threw that we were fated to be together at her.
It’s been a week, though, and I’m not sure how much longer my bear and I can resist her. She’s so perfect. She fits in here just right.
I never gave much thought to finding my fated mate. In fact, I thought that it would never happen. I’ve always been a loner.My family wasn’t super tight, so when I graduated high school, I enlisted in the Army, hoping to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Instead, I ended up finding my own makeshift family.
When Niko told us that he was getting out of the military, the rest of us decided to get out and come with him to Aspen Ridge. We joined the pack here and then all started working at the Mountain Rescue.
I like my job and my life here. I thought that I had everything I needed, but then I met Frankie and realized that she was going to make my life complete.
Now, I just need to find the perfect time to tell Frankie that.
I was hoping that we would have neutralized the threat that’s after her by now. There hasn’t been any sign of the men after her, though. We’ve all been keeping an eye on anyone new in town, keeping an eye out for anyone asking about her or Cameron, her best friend.
My phone rings, and I glance at it as I head to my room next to Frankie’s. Davis’ name is on the screen and my bear and I are instantly on high alert.
“Hello? Has there been a sighting?” I ask as soon as the call connects.
“Hello to you too, Gunner. No, I haven’t heard or seen anything. I just wanted to check in and see how the two of you were doing.”
“We’re fine.”
“Right, well, Cameron wanted me to tell you that Frankie can stay with us if you want your space back.”
“I don’t,” I tell him flatly.
