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Soft hair moves like an auburn wave when she shakes her head. “No, it wasn’t Ro on the phone. It was my mom.”
It’s as if a rock dropped into my stomach. I know she’s close with both parents, even though they don’t live near each other anymore. “Is everything okay?”
“With them, yes. They’re healthy and happy, loving their RV life.”
“Then why are your beautiful lips curved down instead of up?” I ask, tracing the line of her mouth.
“Apparently, when I told them I was coming out to British Columbia for Ro’s wedding, they decided to change course and head in this direction so we could have a visit. A fun surprise because they miss me. Under normal circumstances, I’d be thrilled to get extra time with my parents. They’ve developed a serious aversion to city settings since they became full-time RVers—” A small, genuine smile tugs at her lips, disappearing just as quickly. “Now, I only see them a few times a year. But they don’t know about non-human species and magically protected towns. They won’t be able to find Fate’s Falls. So, I won’t get to see them and I’ll have to lie to them. I hate both those things. I don’t even know what lie I can tell that won’t have them calling the police because they think I’m under duress.”
“Did you call Rosetta to get her opinion?”
Again, Natalie shakes her head. “Her wedding is this weekend and she just started having morning sickness. I’m not going to add my parent troubles to her plate, especially when hers have dickishly disowned her. Talk about twisting the knife.”
“Then we’ll solve it together.” I cup her face in my hands and look into her eyes. “We’ll find a way to make it work.”
“I don’t know how that’s possible. They’re near Kalispell, Montana now. They never take the most direct route, but even so, they’ll be in Kelowna tomorrow.”
Not a lot of time, and honestly, we have limited options. But we do have options. “Come on,” I say, standing and drawing her up with me. “Let’s go for a walk and talk.”
The mid-morning sunshine wraps around us when we exit The Brew. Taking her hand, I lead her toward Amazra’s bakery up the street. Sugary baked goods won’t fix the problem, but a treat might coax a temporary smile to Natalie’s face.
“Have you considered telling your parents the truth about Fate’s Falls?” It’s the question I’ve wanted to ask every day of the past week. I know fear of estrangement from her parents is the primary reason she’s hesitant to commit to our bond. Unfortunate as the current situation is, it has provided the perfect opportunity. “You told me they’re both free-spirited, open-minded people. There’s a chance they may accept everything that exists, like you did.”
“And if they don’t, then what?”
“You meet them in a nearby town to have your visit, then return to Fate’s Falls for your cousin’s wedding.”
“And then what, Constantine?” Though she’s never voiced it specifically, I know it’s fear of losing the close relationship with her parents that’s holding her back from staying here.
Stopping on the sidewalk, I wrap my arms around her, nuzzling her hair, kissing her head. Delaying the conversation because I’m afraid where it’ll end—with the end.
“We should talk about this.” Her soft voice is muffled against my chest, but I feel the hitch in her breath. She sighs as I rub her back, then tips her head back to meet my eyes. “We need to talk about what happens after the wedding.”
“Have you made your decision?”
“No,” she says quietly.
“Then anything I want to say will sound like I’m pressuring you. And I’m trying very hard not to do that, even though it’s killing me not to do everything in my power to convince you to stay.”
She buries her face against me, squeezing me as tight as her petite arms around my bulky frame can. Then her muscles relax and her breathing levels out, and I feel her warmth inside me as well as out.
I don’t want to lose you.
“You won’t,” I say, answering the words she spoke through our bond. “We’ll find a way. I promise you.”
Her eyes hold unshed tears when she eases backward and looks up at me. “You shouldn’t promise something that’s beyond your control.”
“I don’t need to be in control of this. Fate is. And I’m sure fate didn’t send you to me just to tear you out of my life after I’ve fallen in love with you.”
She blinks slowly, her lips parting and closing, parting and closing. “You’re in love with me?”
“Completely.”
“Because of the mate bond?”
I shake my head. “Being mated brought us together, but I fell in love with you because you’re you.”
She jumps into my arms, wrapping herself around me, right there in the middle of town. A pair of vulpine folk make their species’ equivalent of a wolf whistle as they walk by, one of them issuing a good-natured “Get a room” loud enough for any monster in the vicinity to hear.
