She glances at the bath again. “Okay, fine. I’ll take a bath. There aren’t any hidden cameras set up in the bathroom are there?”
I laugh. “Not that I know of.”
“Okay.”
She drops her fists and heads into the bathroom.
“How does a chicken sandwich sound?”
“It sounds like heaven,” she says with a sigh.
I grin at her. “Coming right up.”
She steps in and hesitates before she closes the door. “Easton?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. I thought I was going to die up there. It was really scary.”
I smile at her. “You can always count on me to save you, Ivy. We’re mates.”
She gives me a funny skeptical look as she closes the door. I hear the click of the lock.
I rush down the stairs, taking three at a time, and bolt into the empty kitchen. Moose joins me as I start pulling ingredients out of the fridge, hoping to get a snack.
“Moose, buddy,” I say as I peel a slice of chicken from the pack of cold cuts. “I found her. I’m in love.”
All he cares about is the chicken. He’s staring at it with unblinking eyes while he licks his chops.
I toss it to him and he snatches it out of the air.
I can’t stop thinking about Ivy in my bathroom, sliding out of her clothes and sinking into the hot tub, completely naked.
A groan rumbles out of my throat as my cock hardens like a rock. She’s up there now, naked. It takes everything I have to keep myself down here and not charge up the stairs and kick the door down. Every possessive instinct in my body is screaming at me to do just that, but I fight it down, keeping myself rooted to the spot.
“Chicken,” I whisper to myself. “Focus on the chicken.”
I’m trying hard to focus on the task at hand, but that’s deemed impossible when I realize I put ketchup on the bread.
“Who the hell was that?” Roman asks as he opens the sliding door and charges in.
“That girl is my—”
Cameron bursts in next, interrupting me. “Who is that girl!?”
“She’s my—”
Jacob follows them in with Mary and Bailey. “We’re finding girls in the forest now?” Mary asks, staring in disbelief.
I take a deep breath as I wait for them all to shut up. “It’s her,” I say with a big smile on my face. I still can’t believe I found her. I feel like jumping on the counter and doing a jig. I feel like I can float up to the ceiling. I feel like everything has finally fallen into place.
“Who?” Bailey asks.
“My mate. I found her.”
Jacob’s face drops. The poor guy. He’s the last one of us to find a mate and his heart must be breaking all over again. He’s the oldest of us and has been waiting the longest.
He took it pretty hard when Cameron and Roman found theirs, and now here I am, pilling on his pain. I know he’s happy for us, but it’s hard for him.
“You found your mate?” Cameron says as they all try to comprehend what happened. “In the forest?”
I nod. “Yeah!”
“Where was she?” Bailey asks with a chuckle. “Hanging in a tree?”
“Yes!” I say
Her laughter fades. “Really?”
No one says a word as I tell them the story.
“She was there all night?” Roman asks. “The poor girl.”
“Yeah, she was caught in the rain and hasn’t eaten.” I feel terrible for her, but it doesn’t diminish my happiness or take away the permanent smile on my face. I know she’s safe now.
“And that’s what you’re making for her?” Mary says with disgust. “Move aside. Let me do this.”
She elbows her way in and I’m thankful as she starts making a proper sandwich. Bailey joins in and makes her a salad as Roman gets some bubbly water from the fridge.
“I’m happy for you, bro,” Jacob says with a tight smile. It’s the first thing he’s said since he stepped into the kitchen. We all look at him, hoping he’s going to be okay. He excuses himself and heads outside.
I watch him through the window as he tears his clothes off and explodes into his bear. His Kodiak sprints into the forest looking furious.
I don’t take it personally. We all have to face our own demons when we’re without our mate. I’m just so relieved and thankful that part of my life is over now.
“When do we get to meet her?” Mary asks when the meal is complete.
“Soon enough,” I say as I grab the tray and head for the stairs. I have to meet her properly first.
I can feel my heartbeat in my chest as I step into the room and place the tray on the dresser. I immediately head over to the ensuite bathroom, stopping at the closed door to listen.
I knock softly. “Ivy?”
She doesn’t answer.
Panic starts to take over. I get tight all over as I picture her falling asleep, sinking under the water, and drowning.