Five

Wes’ head pounded as if he had spent the night in the bottom of a bottle of his best scotch, and as he stretched, the bottle he forgot he drank fell from the bed, landing on the floor with a loud crack. He rolled over, his body groaning as he did, and stared down at the dark brown bottle. Or rather, at the pile of dark brown bottles. It took a lot of alcohol to get a shifter drunk, and from what he saw on the floor, he drank a lot of alcohol last night.

He moaned as he rolled back over, allowing his head to fall into his pillow. His eyes closed as the reasoning behind his night making love to the bottle—bottles—came flooding back to him.

Noel.

He blew out a breath, trying to release his frustration and pain, but all that just aggravated his head. How could she not have told him she was already destined for another? How could he not have sensed that? Wes felt so stupid. For months, she lived in Bull Creek, even worked at Everglades, and not once had she even hinted that she had ran from a relationship. Damn Bull Creek, and its stupid-ass rules about people’s secrets. He sighed again, feeling the constriction in his chest as the pain of what he faced last night gripped him, suffocating him with the anguish of her betrayal. His breathing kept coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to get his emotions under control. Noel Hastings was already claimed as another’s mate.

However, that made little sense to him as his bear had scented her as his mate as well. Mates were destined to be together, the two of them, forever. Mates who lost each other, through death or whatever, usually went crazy or died themselves. So, how did two animals scent the same mate?

Wes sighed, lifting his arm and draping it over his eyes. That question didn’t matter. It came in second place behind the question of why Noel had kept this from him, why she lied to him. Lies of omission were still lies, and Noel had kept a doozy from him.

With another groan, he forced himself into a sitting position, swinging his legs still covered in his jeans, over the side of the bed, his elbows on his knees, forehead in his hands. Somehow, he knew today would be a long day.

Shoving himself off the bed, he made his way to the kitchen to make coffee. Lots of coffee. Hot coffee. Strong, black coffee. And aspirin. Maybe a bottle of aspirin.

He grabbed the carafe, taking it to the sink to fill it with water. He yawned as he stood there, allowing the water to pour into the glass pot, thinking he needed to call in a replacement for Noel. There was no way he could handle her working beside him today knowing what he now knew. He turned off the water, turning back to the counter to finish making coffee, trying to decide who he wanted to take Noel’s shift when a knock came at the door. He glanced at the clock on the coffeepot, thinking it still too early for visitors. Nine-fifty-two. Crap! It was later than he thought. He needed to be at the bar in just over half an hour.

The knock came again. He blew out another exasperated breath, knowing he didn’t have time for visitors.

Clicking the brew button on the coffeemaker, he turned to the door and whoever waited on the other side. He slowed his movements when the pain of his head became excruciating. He paused at the door, taking another deep breath, bracing against the self-inflicted agony, and then opened the door to his cabin.

“Took you long enough,” Ezra said as he shoved his way inside, a cardboard tray holding two cups of coffee in his hands. “I brought coffee, figuring you would need it.”

Wes turned his head, following Ezra’s path into the house, his brows pinched in confusion. “What are you doing here?”

Ezra, his giant frame walking through Wes’ living room toward the kitchen, said, “Noel called me this morning, worried about you. So, I figured you would need some strong coffee.” After setting the coffee on the counter, he turned, running his gaze up and down Wes, who still stood by the open front door. “By the look of you, I would say she was right. Want to tell me what happened?”

Not really. Wes shut the door, turning back to the interior of his cabin. “What did she tell you?”

Ezra set the carrier on the counter and pulled his coffee out, pulling the top off before turning around and leaning back on the island as he held the cup in front of him. Shrugging, he said, “She didn’t really tell me anything, just that you might need an ear this morning. She sounded worried. I didn’t ask her what happened, and all she’d say was that you’d tell me if you wanted me to know. I didn’t ask anything after that, mainly because I was afraid of what she’d say.” He shrugged. “So, I grabbed some coffee and took a chance. Now,” he continued as he lifted his cup to his lips. “What’s going on?” He then took a sip of his coffee, and Wes envied him the caffeine.

Crossing the cabin, Wes reached for the offered coffee and then turned to one of the recliners in his living room. “Answers to confusing questions. I’ve always wondered why Noel wouldn’t allow me to mark her as my mate. Last night, I found out why.” He turned his gaze to Ezra’s, the man’s dark gold eyes watching him under his dark bangs. “She already has a mate. He showed up last night after closing looking for her.”

Ezra’s eyebrows popped up. “Oh. Wow. Now, that’s… um… Well.” He shook his head. “How did that go?” Ezra pushed himself off the counter and took a spot on the couch across from Wes.

“About as well as a fart in church,” Wes answered. He then gave Ezra the details of how Jake Goodman just walked into Everglades while Wes danced with Noel. Wes felt the tightening of his chest as he relived the night again, and suddenly, he wanted something stronger than coffee. He could sense the frustration of his bear, struggling with the knowledge that another had already claimed Noel. He didn’t know what his bear would do once Noel left with Jake. Of course, he assumed that she would take off with the man now that Jake was there to make her his. But then again, she left the man, so maybe she wouldn’t go after all. The struggle between choices kept a constant tug-of-war in Wes’ mind as he took another sip of his coffee.

“Well, she called me to check on you, so something does exist between you two,” Ezra said, his thick arm draped over the back of Wes’ couch, ankle resting on his knee as he held his coffee in his other hand. “Maybe give her some time to figure out what to do with this Jake guy. Hell, she made it to Bull Creek, and has seen shifters in plenty of action, both good and bad. I’d say she’s past her fear of shifters at this point, and still, she never left, so that tells me she wants you.”

The coffeemaker on the counter sounded its chirping alarm, letting Wes know the coffee he made was ready for consumption. The sound also reminded Wes he needed to get to Everglades. He sighed, thinking over what Ezra said. While his friend’s words made sense, the fact that she never told Wes about Jake to begin with said she still felt something for the man, and she feared facing those feelings. “So, why did she send you instead of coming here herself?” Wes asked, his morning voice still holding the deepness of his night of whiskey. “What is she doing that she couldn’t come check on me if she were so worried? And to further complicate things, what about the mating call this Jake guy is feeling? We all know what happens when that call goes unanswered.”

Ezra shrugged his broad shoulders. “Maybe she has to get Jake on his way home first. I’m sure seeing him was just as big of a shock to her as it was to you. As far as the mating call, I have no answers for you. Seems like someone will be hurting at the end of this either way.” He shifted on the couch, placing both feet on the floor as he swung his arms in front of him, holding his coffee with both hands, staring at Wes with a sympathetic look. “Give her some time to figure it out. See what she does. I think she’ll surprise you. Hell, I’ve watched the two of you these past few months, and that won’t disappear overnight. Suck it up, Buttercup, and give your girl a chance to find her answers.”

“Buttercup?” Wes chuckled as he shook his head. “I need to get ready for work,” he said, shoving himself out of his recliner. “Thanks for the coffee and the chat.”

“Anytime.” Ezra rose as well, heading for the door. Just before he opened it, he turned, his hand still on the doorknob. “I know it hurts but give her a chance. I don’t think she’s going anywhere.”

Wes just nodded, not sure if he agreed with his friend or not.

Once Ezra left, Wes poured himself some more coffee, this time in a ceramic mug as he tossed the convenience store cardboard cup away. After all, coffee required a real mug. He took a long swallow, the steam wrapping around his nose as he walked back to his room. He changed into fresh jeans and pulled out a dark blue button-down shirt, which he slipped into and buttoned up quickly, his mind still churning over what to do with Noel. He ran a comb through his shaggy hair and reached for his sneakers, dreading having to put them on and get to work. He would have much preferred sitting on his porch drinking coffee all day. He wasn’t in the mood to play bartender today, listening to other people’s problems when he couldn’t even figure out his own heartache. He needed a bartender of his own with whom he could share his troubles.

Give her a chance, Ezra had suggested. However, how would Wes get past the fact that Noel kept this from him? Get past the fact that there was another man in her life who yearned for her as much as he did, who felt the same mate call? Wes left his bedroom, refilling his coffee mug as he passed the kitchen. On his way to the door, he scooped his keys off the small table by the front door he used as his catchall table. As he stepped out into the already humid Florida morning, he wondered how he would handle seeing Noel today and whether or not he should stay home. The woods around his cabin beckoned to him, and his bear desired to break free and just roam. The urge to give in tempted him, but instead, he forced himself into his car and to work, whatever the day brought.