part0009

T he plan began to take shape. The first thing we’d decided on was that we needed to fight intelligently. There was no way we could afford free gifts for two months for each customer. But we could show the community we supported them.

Eirlys already had that started since she sponsored the hockey team. She would work on a few things with them.

I needed to figure out what to do for my part. I was going to talk to Billy for ideas. Once he stopped avoiding me. He hadn’t responded to any of my texts today. We needed to still talk about what happened between us and now what happened with Titus.

I figured I could try to offer an olive branch between us, until we figured out this mate thing, by bringing home one of his favorite sandwiches from Bob's Diner. It would give me a chance to get a big fat rare burger with all the mushrooms piled on top of it.

I was practically salivating as I thought about the burger as I locked up. A shudder ran up my spine and my fox’s hearing detected someone behind me.

When I turned, my fingers curled as my nails lengthened. The balding man who had been bossing around the crowd of people was behind me with a nasty glint in his eyes. I hid my hands behind my back. He was human, so I needed to watch my shifting around him.

“Can I help you?” Billy would be proud. I didn’t hiss at him. My fox was ready to rip this guy to shreds and it wasn’t because he worked for Darcorp.

The guy looked me up and down before answering. “Yes, I’m Samuel and I’m the manager of the Darcorp store opening up down the way. I’m going around to each of the new neighbors to introduce myself. I’ve heard of your special cider drink that’s a rage around the area. Very impressive.”

He didn’t look impressed. On the contrary, as he pressed his lips in a tight line, he looked constipated and annoyed.

“Thanks?” I moved sideways. “Nice to meet you.” Not really. “Welcome to the rink. I’ve got to head out.”

Samuel just nodded and gave a wave. “I’m sure we’ll see more of each other.”

I sped up my walk to get to my car. That hadn’t been weird or creepy at all. My skin crawled as if bugs were running along it.

My car was right where I’d left it yesterday with a small covering of snow. As I got into it, I sent a text to Billy about picking up dinner. I didn’t get a response back right away, but I knew what he liked.

Yet, when I got home, Billy wasn’t home. He wasn’t responding to my texts or phone calls.

“Where is your pig headed brother?” I was trying not to get mad but failed miserably at it .

Maya snorted. “I told him to reply to you, but nnnooo. He had to be a man.” Her voice rose. “Stop hiding in your nephews' room and go home to talk to your mate!” There was a scuffling sound. “I’ll send him back to you in a little bit.”

I snapped. “No. It’s fine. Tell him not to come home tonight or I’ll bite his balls off for being a pansy ass.” I hung up. If I was in my fox form, my hair would be standing up.

Was it really that bad of a thing that I was his mate? Sure, I wasn’t a skinny girl, but I tried to be a good person. Granted, I was kind of a hot mess. I had good fashion sense though, right? I mean, spikes on shirts were kickin'.

I put the food in the fridge as I fumed. I wouldn’t be able to eat right now. That’s when I remembered that my favorite bra was still with Jack at the rink.

It was the perfect excuse I needed. I threw my clothes off, leaving them on the ground in the living room knowing that it would annoy Billy when he returned home.

My paws clattered on the floor before I ran out of the house, snow flying around me. Unlike the last shift, I took the time to enjoy my run. My limbs were lithe and I was quiet as I ran toward the rink, jumping over branches and bushes. I felt free.

It was all too soon when the shops came into view. By the time I scurried along the foam sidewalks that were specifically designed so people could walk along them in their skates, most of the stores were shut down. I went looking for the small maintenance building where Jack usually was. He never really left the area. I think he actually slept there.

Luck was on my side because the door was opened. Looked like Jack was cleaning up in the small building.

My fox gave an excited chitter as we wound around boxes on the ground. This would be the first time since opening Hot Cider’s that we’d actually get to see the mysteriously grumpy zamboni driver up close.

There was noise in the back of the room that I followed. Jack was bending over a box, cursing about missing parts.

A streak of mischief ran through me. Before I could think better of it, I launched myself onto the box, next to his face.

Jack jerked a little, looking up with a scowl on his face. When he saw me, his scowl faded but then he jerked like he’d been burned as I almost fell off the box.

The universe had to be playing with me.

How could I be lucky enough to have three!? The bond was there though.

That’s exactly what happened. Jack straightened, the frown back on his face.

Looking at him up close, I wanted to lick my lips. He was just scrumptious. Tall, but not as muscular as Billy, closer to Titus in shape. More on the slender side. His dark skin, the color of ebony, made my mouth water. Biting him would be fun.

“You must be Cider.” He walked over to a table against the wall and picked up a bundle of clothes. “These are yours. Try not to shift on the ice again, would you?” He placed them next to me as he continued to talk. It was like he didn’t even notice that a bond had formed. I was still staring in shock. “It shouldn’t be my job to return these to you.”

Maya was going to have a field day. I huffed, grabbed the clothes in my mouth and jumped behind a tall pile of boxes.

“So, are you just going to ignore that we’re mates?” I’d shifted and started pulling on the clothes.

“I don’t even know you. I can’t be mates with someone I don’t know.” His tone was snide and I wanted to throw something at him. Thoughts of biting him for pleasure turned to biting for another reason.

“You’re not human. You know that mate bonds don’t work like that. Mates are mates.” I buttoned up my jeans and walked out from behind the boxes with my hands on my hips.

Two mates that didn’t want me and one that did.

He looked up at me from whatever he was doing.

I finally got a straight look at his features.

His face was striking, cheeks sunken in with a sharp square jaw. His hair was cropped short and a shade darker than his ebony skin. His eyes. Oh man. He had some Asian ancestry in him somewhere with his almond shaped eyes.

My fox rolled over to give her belly to him. I had to fight not to actually do it.

His eyes were clear, just blue enough for color, but light enough that it felt like I was falling into a frozen pond. He most certainly was not human.

“That might be how the bond works, but it doesn’t mean I have to accept it. I don’t know you, and honestly?” His striking features sneered as he glanced up and down. “You’re not exactly my type, sweetheart.”

It felt like my heart shattered. The blood left my face.

“Excuse me?” I tried to clear my throat. “I’m not your type?”

“Look,” he shifted his shoulders, “I’m Jack Frost. The Winter King. Heart of ice? I’m not interested in having a mate.” His voice had hardened, cooled. “You have another mate, if I’m not mistaken. Go chase him.”

Just like that, I was dismissed as he turned his back on me.

I was too hurt to come up with anything to say so I left. I felt numb. Again.

Not only did my best friend reject me, another mate, who I didn’t know and who didn’t know me, just told me to stuff it basically. That I wasn’t his ‘type’.

If having multiple mates was going to hurt this much, I wasn’t sure I wanted them either.