Benjamin arrived at Thorian and Cici’s wedding with gift in hand and a smile on his face. He wanted to be there for his friend on his special day. Benjamin had just met Thorian a few weeks ago, but the man had become an important part of the Shifter Community Association. Benjamin knew how important it was for the shifters of Fate Valley to stick together.

He added his gift to a pile on a table near the front door and took his place in the pew of Fate Rock Chapel. So many shifters had been married in the chapel that it brought back memories of the weddings he had attended. A fire had charred the back walls of the historic chapel just before Christmas, but it had quickly been repaired, and his friends continued to have their special days there.

He looked out the front window of the chapel at a view of the Lake of the Fates and smoothed his gray suit jacket with the palms of his hands. The day before Valentine’s Day was a nice time for a wedding.

Tomorrow, everyone would be at the town square for the installation of the new statue of Ambrose Morgan. Ben looked around the church and found many of his friends and associates from the community association. He saw Baker Bear near the back, preparing to walk with Thorian as a groomsman. Ben himself had not been invited to participate in the wedding, but he didn’t know Thorian as well as the others. And it was just as well. He was feeling a little sad that he hadn’t found his mate for yet another Valentine’s Day, and didn’t want to bring down the groom on his special day.

The wedding march began, and Benjamin watched the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk past. The bridesmaids wore rose-pink dresses and held bouquets dripping with flowers. Thorian stood at his place on the rise in front of the minister, looking nervous and happy in his tuxedo.

The groomsmen all wore tailored black tuxedos and big smiles on their faces as they escorted the bridesmaids down the aisle and took their places behind Thorian. Cici emerged from the hall at the back of the chapel on her father’s arm, wearing a lacy, flowing wedding dress over her curvy petite form. Her cropped black hair was brushed back under her flowing veil and her bright red lipstick accentuated the happy grin she wore on her lips.

Cici’s father handed her off to the groom as she stepped up onto the rise in front of the minister. Thorian and Cici held hands, gazing into each other’s eyes as the maid of honor took the bride’s bouquet. The minister began the ceremony and everyone watched in awe as the loving, fated couple said their vows.

Benjamin felt a little choked up as Thorian and Cici said their I do’s. Thorian swept Cici up in a kiss that would have melted the iciest heart. The wedding guests threw rose petals over the happy couple as they departed the chapel and made their way to the wine cellar across the yard for the reception.

Ben threw his share of rose petals before moving on with the rest of the guests to the reception hall. The big wine cellar had polished wood floors, a curved ceiling, and windows that looked out over the lake.

The caterers served champagne, and Ben took a sip as he watched Thorian and Cici dancing to the slow song that the band played just for them. The couple swept out onto the dance floor, Thorian gazing into petite Cici’s eyes as he stood a foot above her, cradling her little hands in his larger one and cupping the small of her back. Thorian’s grin was infectious as he watched his bride and danced with her over the polished floor that reflected the couple’s black and white clothing.

Benjamin got a refill of champagne as the first dance came to a close and the couple retreated to the bridal table at the front of the hall. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked Mate.com once more. He still hadn’t been matched with his fated one. He clenched his teeth and growled, biting so hard that his jaw hurt. He hated the idea of going through another Valentine’s Day alone, especially after spending the day at Thorian and Cici’s wedding.

The noise in the town square, and the pressure of all the other shifters he knew finding love, was starting to get to him. He went to the bar and had his third glass of champagne as he gazed out the window at the late winter afternoon and the frosty waters of the Lake of the Fates.

It made him think about the founder and how the lake had been created in 1930 as a reservoir for hydroelectric power. Today, that hydroelectric plant still produced electricity for half of the state.

Benjamin ceased his musing as Stephanie Page from the Shifter Association walked up beside him and ordered a glass of champagne from the bar. The lioness shifter was also a native to Fate Valley. They’d even gone to school together. She still hadn’t found a mate either: they were in the same boat. It was rare for a lady shifter to wait so long, but Stephanie hadn’t had any more luck than him on Mate.com.

“Are you enjoying the wedding?” he asked her.

“You know what they say,” she sighed. “Always a bridesmaid never bride.”

“I’m sure Cici thought the same thing a few weeks ago. Hasn’t she been a bridesmaid in several weddings lately?”

Benjamin was sure he’d seen her as a bridesmaid at both Harrison Cole and the new lioness Melody’s weddings.

“That’s true,” Stephanie said. “How are you doing on the mate front?”

“No better than you are,” he said with a sigh. “I just can’t imagine spending another Valentine’s Day alone. I’ve been home from the military for seven years now. I signed up for Mate.com right when I finished my tour. I’ve been working at my family’s candy shop since I returned home. I’ve been ready to settle down for a long time, but I still haven’t found anyone.”

“Maybe if we never find our fated mates, we should just marry each other,” she said. “Just settle, like humans.” Stephanie chuckled and sipped her champagne.

“No offense to you, old friend, but I’m afraid we would both be miserable,” he said with a sigh.

“You’re probably right. But we are friends, so at least we’d have someone to talk to and go to weddings with.”

“That’s true. I guess having a friend as a partner is better than nothing, huh?” he said with a chuckle.

Benjamin knew she was joking. No shifter he had ever heard of had settled for someone who wasn’t his mate. That was something that only perverts and weirdos did. Stephanie had a point though. It was hard to be alone for so long. Shifters could only imagine being with their fated mates, so it meant that you ended up not dating and not having romantic relationships with anyone for years at a time.

It was a very lonely existence if you didn’t get matched up as soon as you were ready to find someone. For him, it had been seven years of waiting. He’d finished his tour as a Navy SEAL at twenty-four, had come home to Fate Valley, started working at the confectionery, and signed up for Mate.com. Every day, for years, he’d expected to be matched. And every day, he was disappointed. He was beginning to lose faith that he would ever find anyone, and was starting to think he would die miserable and alone.

“If I don’t find someone next year, maybe we should be roommates,” he said, feeling tipsy from his third glass of champagne.

“It’s a deal,” she said, reaching out her delicate chocolate-colored hand for him to shake.

“You got it, sister,” he said.

She giggled and excused herself to go back to the bridal table. Stephanie looked lovely in the rose-pink dress Cici had picked out for the bridesmaids. It really was a shame—she was a beautiful and intelligent woman who any man would be lucky to have as a mate. He would be lucky to have her as a mate too. But she just wasn’t the one. He felt sorry for them both, and made his way to his table where his steak was ready and waiting for him. He dug into his meal, feeling better with a little food in his stomach.

Later, he watched the bride and groom as they cut the cake, baked by Grayson Baxter, Fate Valley’s resident shifter baker. He owned the Fate Valley Café and Bakery. Benjamin enjoyed going there for a cup of coffee in the morning and one of Grayson’s famous blueberry scones. Grayson hadn’t found a mate either and Benjamin had to console himself with that fact. Not that he felt better because his friend was also lonely, but it did make it easier to continue to hold on and wait for that special someone.

He ate his piece of cake and savored the flavor of the lemon zest with buttercream frosting. As a confectioner, he had a sweet tooth through and through, and treats like a wedding cake really gave him a buzz. He was feeling better after the cake, champagne, and steak, and when Thorian and Cici began to open their presents, he cheered, and laughed, and clapped along with the rest of the guests.

When they opened his gifts, (a box of his finest chocolate-covered strawberries, fine crystal champagne flutes and a CD of love songs), everyone oo’ed and awed at the romantic offering.

As the wedding came to a close, Benjamin felt warmth in his heart for the happiness of Thorian and Cici. He wished them all the happiness in the world as they made their way to the Fate Rock Cabin for their honeymoon. They would be tucked away in the cabin on Valentine’s Day while everyone was at the founder’s statue installation in the town square.

He wondered if they would be too busy to make it or if they would come. But from what he knew about most shifters on their honeymoons, they tended to get a little distracted by each other. He didn’t blame them, and he hoped that when he finally found his special someone, it would be the same for him.