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He knew Jarrod wasn't mated and hadn't looked around too much. He had other things on his plate to handle.
"Really?" Pauley looked at him, a little surprised. "You don't have a problem with it?"
Jarrod shrugged. "Why is it any of the council's business who people sleep with? Do we have to ask them whether or not we can have children? I think it's something that should just be left up to people to make their own decisions."
He relaxed a little seeing that Jarrod understood his side. They both looked at Pauley.
Pauley was dating a shifter and had been for a while. He hadn't spoken much about it, but people knew it was serious.
"I'm not saying I disagree," he commented, waving a hand. "I think people should be able to love who they want, but I think they are only trying to be concerned about the clan. It is their job, after all."
Jarrod laughed, looking at him with a wild expression. "I'm sorry. Should I ask them if I can move? Do I have to ask them for their approval next time I decide to do something?" Jarrod asked in a sarcastic tone.
Pauley rolled his eyes. "I'm not saying that. I'm just saying I get both sides."
Jarrod looked at him. "Does this mean you have someone in mind, then?"
He froze slightly. He couldn't tell them about Lyra. He didn't want word to get out. She couldn't even tell her mother, so he needed to stay quiet about it as well.
"No. I just met someone and thought about it. I figured I would bring it up with them. I didn't expect such backlash about the idea."
He didn't like how they suspected he'd already mated. That idea made his insides twist.
They all fell quiet as they continued to walk. They were deep in the forest, and all he could hear was the sound of their feet against the ground.
He wished things were different. He wanted to tell them about Lyra. He could go on about her all day. He wanted to tell them about how gentle she was with Marigold. He wanted to explain how he was in love.
"Well, if I knew someone and I liked them, or let's say I knew they were my mate, I'd go for it."
This surprised him. He always saw the guys as rule followers like their life depended on it. Then again, he was also like that himself. Yet here he was, willing to break them.
"Love is a powerful thing," Jarrod said, holding a smile. "And sometimes I think the council forgets that."
He sighed, unsure of what to say.
"Well, I still think you should tell the council. It's just what we are supposed to do. It's the rules," Pauley said.
Jarrod rolled his eyes. "I don't stick my nose up their business, and they shouldn't stick theirs up mine."
Then, he nudged Timber’s arm playfully.
"If she's the one, mate with her," Jarrod said, giving him a look. "Forget the rules."
"You should get their blessing first. You want the bear community’s back," Pauley said, glaring at Jarrod.
He glanced at both of them. "You act as if I've found my mate, guys." He walked ahead of them. "I was just talking hypothetically. Don't get your panties in a twist."
He hated to lie, but he couldn’t tell them the truth. At least, not right now. He would later after things settled.
He would talk to the council again and try to get them to understand. Right now, he needed to focus on finding the person murdering the bears.
SIXTEEN
LYRA
Lyra waited for Timber to get back from hunting. She was nervous and still a little hurt that the council denied him. She wished it had gone better. Maybe she had put too much faith in things not being so different between bears and humans.
She paced the floor, trying to remain calm, but it was hard. He’d been gone for a while, and she felt their relationship, or whatever they were, was on thin ice. She didn’t like the feeling.
