"Well, that complicates things." Renee leaned against the doorframe.
"At least shifters don't have mating seasons." Harper's eyes widened as a shiver ran through her. "Could you imagine? We'd need to lock ourselves indoors every winter while our animals went crazy with hormones." She shuddered at the mental image of dozens of shapeshifters prowling the streets in a hormone-fueled frenzy.
Rich laughter burst from Renee. "Oh my. That would be... unfortunate." She wiped tears from her eyes. "That would be absolute chaos."
Renee threw up her hands as another clash of pots rang out, accompanied by muffled shouts from the kitchen. The noise echoed through the dining room like cymbals in an overeager orchestra.
Renee's dark eyes flashed with equal parts exasperation and amusement. "THAT'S ENOUGH, YOU TWO!"
She turned back to Harper, smoothing down her flour-dusted apron. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go prevent World War Three in there before they redecorate my kitchen with my sourdough starter. Again." The emphasis on the lastword carried the weight of previous kitchen disasters resulting in such culinary chaos.
Harper chuckled as she left the lounge, the sounds of kitchen warfare fading behind her. The old wooden floorboards creaked beneath her feet as she crossed to the front desk where Angus stood reviewing paperwork.
"Heading up?" He glanced up with a warm smile.
"Yes, yesterday's traveling did me in early, and Monday's my first day at work, so I want to be rested."
"You'll do fine." Angus's voice carried quiet confidence. "Ethan's a good man. While I haven't met Lydia, the manager, she's well known in the shifter community, and has a good reputation."
Somewhat reassured, Harper flashed him a grin. "That helps to hear. Good night, Angus."
"Good night to you."
The narrow staircase curved up before her, its polished banister gleaming in the soft light. Harper traced her fingers along the smooth wood as she climbed, admiring how generations of hands had worn it to a silken finish. Her footsteps echoed in the stillness, accompanied by the gentle ticking of the clock in the foyer below.
Her room waited at the top, snug in its turret corner. The door swung open with a soft whisper, revealing the cozy space she already thought of as home. Moonlight spilled through the bay windows, painting silver patterns across her bed.
Harper changed into her pajamas and settled onto the window seat, drawing her knees up to her chest. The thought of tomorrow brought a flutter of excitement rather than anxiety. For the first time since the video from Yosemite went viral, she felt steady, grounded. Safe.
Reyna stirred contentedly in her mind, still basking in the memory of meeting Nathan. Harper smiled, running herfingers through her newly-darkened hair. Change was scary, but sometimes it led to unexpected gifts. Like finding her mate on her very first day in town.
Harper gazed out at the moonlit grounds, her thoughts drifting to the brownies downstairs. A sudden urge to leave them an offering swept through her.
The wooden stairs barely creaked as she padded down to the lounge in her fuzzy socks. Angus wasn't in the lobby, perhaps he was in the back office. The lounge stood empty and quiet. From the kitchen, muffled voices and the occasional clang suggested Renee was still mediating between the warring brownies.
The sideboard beckoned, its surface laden with the inn's round-the-clock refreshments. Harper selected a china saucer from the stack, carefully pouring fresh milk from the container in the small fridge beneath the table. Her fingers hovered over the cookie tray before choosing two chocolate chip cookies, still soft from that afternoon's baking.
Back in her room, Harper knelt before the small fireplace, and arranged the saucer and cookies on the colorful hook rug. The offering complete, she moved to the bed, oddly satisfied with this small gesture of welcome to her new home's invisible residents.
Harper had just returned to the window seat when her phone chirped. The sound made her jump - she'd been lost in thoughts of Nathan, replaying their afternoon together.
The screen lit up with a message from her mother: «Ahem! ??»
Harper winced. In all the excitement of meeting Nathan and discovering the brownies, she'd completely forgotten to check in with her parents.
The phone pinged again. «Young lady, your father and I have been waiting VERY patiently... ??»
Tell den-mother about mate!Reyna perked up immediately.
"Oh hush, you." Harper flopped onto the bed, her damp hair spreading across the pillow. "We are not leading with that."
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. How exactly did one explain everything that had happened today? 'Hi Mom, sorry I didn't call earlier, but I met my mate and there are brownies having a territory war in the inn's kitchen' probably wouldn't go over well.
Her phone chirped again: «Harper Marie O'Neill, if you don't respond in the next 30 seconds, I'm calling 911 to do a wellness check.»
That got her moving. The last thing she needed was her mother calling the police in a panic.
Harper took a deep breath and hit the call button. The phone barely rang once before her mother's voice filled the line.
