Chapter 3

Han

Our search for our mate is over. Tate is hesitant to agree but I sensed it the moment I saw her. He doesn’t want to get his hopes up that our search could possibly be this easy, but I do not want to go searching the country to find a mate when she is right here. Now to convince Ash that she’s the one. He comes back and throws back the rest of his drink while Willow washes Tate and my glass.

“Thank you for the drink, Willow.” I say to her giving my best smile.

“Of course! I hope you guys find a nice place to stay.” I push back my seat and give her a small bow. “I hope to see you again Willow.”

“We’ll see.” She says with a wave.

“Nice to meet you, Willow.” Tate says before leaving a few twenty-dollar bills on the bar.

“See you, Willow!” Ash says giving her a wave.

We walk out and head for Tate’s truck. Ash is oddly quiet, and I know he’s thinking about Willow too. I can’t be the only one feeling it. Once we’re inside the truck Tate starts it without a word. I’m not sure how long I should wait to address what I’m thinking, but I don’t have to because Ash does it for me.

“I’m not the only one who felt that right?” He asks and I feel a sense of relief.

“No, you’re not.” I say happily. “I felt it too. She’s the one.”

“We don’t know that!” Tate snaps. “We need to keep looking and if we don’t feel anything for anyone else, we can come back. I’m not choosing the first girl we meet.”

“Come on Tate-“

“No Ash, we went through the same thing with you before and look how that turned out.” I cringe inside at the reminder.

“Yeah, I got it! I made a mistake, but this is different.”

“It’s not. You guys are deciding too soon. We need more options.”

Ash and I don’t bother talking more on the subject. Tate isn’t ready to admit what he’s feeling, and we can’t force him. We’ll keep looking and meet more women. When he realizes Ash and I are right we’ll come back to see Willow again.

We drive for about thirty minutes before we pass the truck stop Willow had mentioned, and we keep going past it. The place looks like it should have been shut down years ago. Another half hour and we find ourselves on a small street with shops lining both sides. It reminds me a lot of those small towns in those movies Tate’s mom watches all the time. I think they’re called Hallmark movies, but I can’t be sure. It looks deserted, but we keep driving and find a sign for a bed and breakfast.

It's called: Rose Cottage.

“Not my first choice but I’m too tired to care.” Tate says turning into the barking lot.

“I swear if there are creepy dolls on the beds I’m sleeping in the car.” Ash says before the three of us climb out of the truck.

We grab our bags from the back and head toward the front door. It looks like only one light is on inside which could mean we’re out of luck and no one will be awake to give us rooms. Tate pulls the door open and it’s unlocked, but the counter set up by the stairs is empty. Or so I think until a woman pops up from behind it with a wide smile on her face.

“Well, I did not expect guests this late in the night! You boys must be from out of town!” She seems far too awake for the hour.

“That’s right. We’re hoping you would have some rooms available.” Tate says.

She gives us an apologetic look. “I’m afraid our place caters to couples, and this is a big season for honeymoons and anniversaries. I have one room left if you boys are okay sharing though!”

The three of us shrug. We’ve slept in cramped places together before. All males in our pack go through a combat training and wilderness preparedness program. It’s for when we can’t shift and rely on our animal to survive due to the proximity of humans. We had to share a two-person sized tent then, so we can survive this.

“That will be fine thank you.” I tell her.

“Oh, my what an interesting accent, are you from China?” She asks.

I smile and shake my head. It’s not the first time someone has asked the same question.

“No, Korean.”

She looks at me confused. “Oh, my I was never very good at geography. Is that not in China?”

I hear Ash make a snorting sound, but he covers it by clearing his throat.

“No, it’s not. We are our own country, and we speak a different language as well.” I explain as politely as I can.

“I see. Well, I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve met a Korean. You are a very good-looking man! I’m sure all the girls go crazy for you.” She laughs and I follow with one of my own.

“Let me get you the key.” She fumbles with something and then holds up a key that looks like it’s too old for this century. “The daisy room is all yours. Our rooms are flowered themed.”

“You don’t say!” Ash says far too excitedly and clearly sarcastically.

“I do say!” the woman says with another laugh.

Tate takes the key and heads for the stairs.

“Sleep tight boys. I hope to see you all at breakfast! It’s ready at eight sharp!” She calls after us but we don’t bother responding.

I’m too tired to fake pleasantries anymore. When we reach the next floor there is a long hallway going both ways and each door has a small wooden sign above it with a painting of a flower. There is flower wallpaper and baskets with flowers all down the hallway. Even the lamps on the wall are flower shaped.

“I’m scared to see what the rooms look like.” Ash grumbles.

“This way.” Tate strarts down the left side of the hallway and I see the daisy sign about four doors down.

He slips the key into the lock and when he opens the door, I hear Ash curse. Tate walks in and I follow. The number of frills and flowers on everything is enough to make you dizzy.

“I think I’d rather sleep in the truck.” Ash says and I have to agree.

“It’s just for one night and then we can continue north.” Tate drops his bag next to the bed and pulls off his jacket. “Do what you want but I’m exhausted.”

He kicks off his shoes and lays fully clothed on top of the bed. He doesn’t bother climbing under the covers.

“This bed smells like roses.” He says.

“How can you smell just roses. This whole building smells like a flower shop and I think it’s burning my nose hairs off.” Ash gets rid of all his clothes except his underwear in rapid time.

He climbs onto the bed next to Tate and playfully snuggles up next to him.

“I swear Ash if you poke me with Little Ash in the morning, I will hurt you.” Tate says making Ash laugh.

“Its biology brother, I might love you but I’m a one-woman kind of guy. Emphasis on woman, but you know I like to cuddle at night.”

Tate sighs but doesn’t push Ash away. We’re wolves and it isn’t uncommon for us to sleep close to each other in our animal form, so doing it in human form too isn’t weird either. Tate just likes to pretend that he doesn’t like it, but I’ve woken up before him and he’s cuddling Ash right back every time. Being the enforcer though I tend to be too on guard to join them. Once Ash was close to me and I elbowed him hard when I was woken up by a breech alert. I accidentally broke his nose and he never cuddled up to me again.

It doesn’t take long for them to pass out. Me? I fine staying awake up since I slept on the trip here I’ll keep watch. I don’t think we have much to worry about in this flower hell, but you never know. If there is a pack hunt going on in this area, we might face some unhappy males and I’m not letting them catch us unprepared. I settle into one of the chairs and pull out my phone. My curiosity over Willow hasn’t gone away and I want to find out more about her.

We tend to keep our distance from humans including not having social media, but I quickly create an account and look up the name Willow. There can’t be that many Willows, right?

I’m wrong. There are hundreds and none of them are the girl we saw today.