My cat was pacing under my skin, pushing me to take our mate. To claim him. To make him ours. I pushed my idiot cat back forcibly. My human half was anxious as well, but I appreciated the need to take it at my mate's pace.

I pulled out a chair for him at the table for two that Liam pointed out. It was tucked into the corner of the bottom floor, right in the rounded corner of the turret. I took my own seat with a smile as I took in the cozy yet luxurious little nook. It didn't miss my notice that just last night I'd been wistfully wishing for a mate to join in the sitting area of the nook that was located right above our heads in my room.

Floor to ceiling red velvet curtains ran around the circumference of the area. Our table overlooked the sloping lawn and the bordering woods. No houses or cars were there to obstruct our view. The table was round, with a white linen table cloth that just brushed over our knees once we were seated. A low, round bouquet of gerbera daisies made a charming centerpiece beneath the low hanging crystal chandelier.

Drew smiled at the ornate cutlery and bone china place setting. He held the crystal water goblet up to the light streaming in through the multi-paned window. Little rainbows shot out over the table and his fascinated face as Drew peered at its finely etched design.

I sat back and quietly observed my newly discovered mate. It was obvious that he was distracting himself while he calmed his mind. I took the opportunity to do the same. It had stunned me when I'd come down the stairs after a powerful blast of his scent floated down the hall to my room. I'd come out to investigate the scent, and maybe find food.

Seeing him on the stairs, it had occurred to me that if I'd been just a little faster, we could have gone back to my room. Instead, I'd had to deal with Diego and his support system. I was glad it was done and over with, but I would have preferred to have the luxury of acknowledging my mate privately. For his sake more than my own, since this was his territory. This was better though. We could talk instead of letting our hormones dictate our actions.

By the goddess, Drew was lovely. He was young yet, but obviously in the first flush of adulthood. He looked to be just about twenty, give or take. I was nearing thirty, which was why my father had been pushing me to take a mate. Ten years difference in our ages was meaningless to me, especially given the extra life length we would share once we'd shared the claim bite.

I liked that he was tall and lean. Standing on the low riser at the foot of the stairs, we'd been eye to eye. Once he stepped down, the top of his head was just a little over shoulder level with me. His slender, reedy form was just the type that always appealed to me. Given that I wasn't a bulky muscle head, I didn't seek that in a mate. It was as if Drew had been designed to my taste. The long line of his legs was capped off with a tiny bubble butt that begged to be cupped in my palms. Soon.

For now, I contented myself with admiring his shiny iced turquoise eyes. They were framed with a fan of long, golden lashes. His skin had a nice golden tan to it, as if he spent time outdoors. The shock of tousled blonde hair was just a tad too long, like my own. I idly wondered if he hadn't had a chance to have it cut recently, or if he was just forgetful as I tended to be.

Questions swirled through my head as I watched him slowly relax and acclimate to my presence. Drew took a sip of water, and the sight of that slender throat working had my cock waking up. A drop of moisture clung to his plump bottom lip, nearly making me groan aloud when his pink tongue darted out to lap it away.

He looked up at me as he carefully set his glass down. Tilting his head to the side, Drew regarded me curiously. "Are you always this quiet, Hector? Or are you just giving me time to not freak out? Because I'm fine, honestly."

"I know. I can tell that you are at ease. I apologize for the scene in the lobby just now. This is not how I would have wished for us to meet." I tapped my index finger against the edge of the table, nervous energy building within now that we were talking.

Drew glanced down at my finger with a smile. "Maybe I should have asked if you were quietly freaking out. Are you?"

"Sweetie, I'm a grown ass alpha. I don't freak out, quietly or otherwise." I stopped, and closed my mouth with a grimace as I realized that I was acting like an asshole.

Starting over, I smiled ruefully. "Okay. You're right. I'm a little more tense than I would like to be, now that we are alone and able to speak to each other."

Drew nodded, his pretty eyes lit up with pleasure from my honesty. "Alright. Let's just chat. I noticed that you were admiring the little alcove we're in. What do you like about it? The curved walls or the privacy?"

"I didn't realize that you were watching me before. I thought that you were focused on the dishes and the view." He grinned and motioned with his hand for me to continue. "Okay. This part of the building is a turret. It runs all the way up the roof, and is crowned with a pointed cap. Typically, turrets aren't always level with the ground floor, they often jut out partway up the building. The unique design of this one, and the way that it’s used and incorporated into usable space is just perfection."

Drew was smiling broadly now, a dimple flashing at the base of his left cheek. "I take it that you like architecture then? Or just buildings of this time period?"

"No, I am a financial adviser. Architecture is a hobby of mine, but I lacked the skills to make it my career. Instead, I spend my time enjoying the different styles I see on my travels around the globe."

Drew sat up with excitement. "You travel a lot? Why? For your work?"

"You would not mind if we travel? Many of my clients are busy men who have homes and businesses around the globe. I find myself traveling to them more often than not. Which is fine, they pay a hefty surcharge for the convenience."

"I've dreamed of traveling, all my life." He spoke in rush, nearly vibrating with excitement as he opened up to me. "I thought that I was doomed to spend my life here in this little mountain town, when there is a whole world out there to explore! I'd planned to get a job soon, so that I could save money and travel."

I lifted my brow. "And your family would allow this? Are omegas not as treasured and protected as they are in my country?"

Drew shrugged, his eyes clouding slightly as he spoke in a matter of fact way. "We bears aren't as overprotective as other shifters. Our alphas know that omegas are equally strong, albeit in other ways. But, regardless of that, who would stop me? My parents were killed in an attack by the rogues a few months ago. My only relative is an alpha sister. But she's a little self absorbed. Not to mention that she recently mated with my best friend. I'm alone in the world now. Liam and Frankie were kind enough to take me in as their guest."

I reached out possessively for the long hand with its almost delicate fingers. Threading his fingers through mine, I spoke softly. "If you will accept me as your mate, you will never be alone again. And yes, I will show you the world. But I don't want that to be the reason that you accept me as your mate. I should also let you know that we will need to make our home base in my country. But I will bring you to visit as often as you wish."

Drew squeezed my hand with a wistful smile. "That sounds lovely. But the traveling wouldn't be the same without a mate at my side and a cub on my hip. Those are my true desires, besides, who turns away from a fated-mate? I don't mind moving to your homeland, but perhaps you should tell me where exactly I'm agreeing to settle down?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "My apologies. I forget already that we've only just met. Being here with you feels like a piece that I didn't know was missing has been returned to my heart. Forgive me. I am from Belize. My father is the chieftain of a small village in the outskirts of the jungle."

A beta girl came up just then, with two menus tucked under her arm and a notepad in hand. "I apologize for interrupting. The chef would like to know if you would like him to prepare you a special brunch feast, or if you would like to see the menu."

At Drew's nod, I spoke for us both. "I would rather be surprised by your chef. Let's do that. Although, I would not say no to cup of coffee. And you, lindo?"

Drew smiled at the server. "I would like a cup of Earl Grey now, and cranberry juice with my meal. Thanks, Brenda."

She smiled and turned to leave us in privacy. Toying with Drew's fingers, I looked up at him and spoke again. "I cannot promise that the alphas in my country are as open minded as the bears, but I can give you my vow that I will never see you as less than my equal if we mate. I will most likely be possessive and jealous, it's a cat thing. We don't share our treasure well."

"You mean when we mate, not if. And I have no problem being adored, as long as it doesn't mean that our cubs will be ignored."

I pulled my head back in surprise and gaped at him. "That would be impossible! Our children are everything in my culture. Why would you think otherwise?"

He shrugged lightly. "It's not that way with most traditional bear couples. Their cubs are an afterthought after their mate. Most of us are just something to tend to until we are old enough to strike out on our own and leave our parents in peace to enjoy their life again."

All at once, I saw a clear picture of the loneliness that I felt in the young man. My heart nearly broke as I realized that he'd been an ignored cub, only to have his parents die brutally before any adult relationship could be forged. I lifted his hand and bent to brush a kiss across his knuckles.

"I promise that it will not be like that in our home, lindo. You will come first, yes. But our cubs will be equally loved and adored by us and my extended family as well. I hope that you will be able to adjust to having a large family of cats constantly trying to hug you, rub your back in passing, or even kiss your rosy cheek. We are affectionate people, with a deep love of family. Trust me, you will miss your solitude when my family gets ahold of you, Drew."

Brenda reappeared just then, and I released his hand so that she could set down our tea and coffee. She smiled brightly as she set down a caddy with various packets of sugars, honey, and little pods of cream.

"Liam will have your first course out soon, so don't get too comfortable!" She smiled again and bustled off.

I looked at Drew. "Liam is the chef here?"

He nodded. "He mostly manages the B&B and lets the kitchen staff run things since their twins were born, but he is a chef by nature. We're lucky that he's cooking for us. You'll see."

When Brenda came up a few minutes later with a basket of fresh Marionberry scones and bowl piled high with whipped honey butter, I did indeed begin to see. The rest of our brunch flowed smoothly, with each dish only being surpassed by the next. It was only after Drew pushed his plate to the side, with half of a cheese blintz smothered in a strawberry sauce left uneaten, that I realized how very much we had just consumed.

With a wry grin, I dabbed at my mouth with the linen napkin before pushing my own plate to the side. After drinking the rest of my coffee, I leaned back in my chair and groaned with satisfaction. Drew's eyes were dancing with merriment.

"You know what we need to do now, alpha?"

With a slow grin, I answered. "To go upstairs and take a nap?"

"No. We need to go for a run and burn off all this rich food. I mean, the eggs benedict alone were almost too much. Add in the scones, the waffles, the blintzes, the ham, the biscuits with that sausa—"

I held up a hand with a chuckle and interrupted. "Enough. You're going to make me feel like a glutton if you catalog every sin that was committed at this table."

Drew nodded knowingly. "Exactly. That's why we need to run. I haven't been able to enjoy a good run in a long time, thanks to the rogues. It isn't safe, you know? But I think that being out of the den's territory and in the company of an apex predator ought to make me safe enough."

"Have you been able to shift at all? That's just not good for your bear, lindo. He needs to shift and be one with nature." I was concerned now, thinking about my mate not being able to assume his bear form.

Drew reassured me. "Oh, no. We are able to shift and laze around in the sun in the protected area of the Alpha's estate. And I'm sure that Liam or even Jules would have escorted me if I'd asked. I've only been here for a month though. Things have been hectic with the newborn twins, you know? I arrived the night that they were born and never left. Frankie kind of adopted me. I just didn't want to put anyone out. But my bear is kind of climbing the walls now."

I winked. "I'm certain that your bear is also a little more forceful at the moment due to my proximity. My cat is being just as insufferable. Are you certain that it is safe? I can protect you from any man or beast. But the human weapons might be a challenge since my cat isn't familiar with what sounds belong around here yet."

"Well, why don't we ask Liam or Frankie? We should probably thank them for breakfast anyway."

"No thanks needed, doll." Liam spoke in a slow drawl as he walked into our little cubby. "I'm sorry to interrupt I couldn't help but hear that last part as I approached. I just wanted to see how you liked your meal."