One
Cole Major
“Hey Cole, how was it out there today?” My sister Ruby asks, greeting me as I walk into Major Construction, our family-owned company. I rub the top of her head but keep on walking until I get to the bathroom. I face myself in the mirror, and I look exactly as I imagined I would, like a fucking train wreck. No wonder Ruby walks around looking worried, and my brothers keep asking me to hang out or go for runs in the Black Hills National Forest. I grab a clean washcloth and hold it under the hot water until it’s soaked through then wash my face clean from today’s job, but it doesn’t help much. I brace my hands on the sink and hang my head. Fuck, I’m tired.
For the past few months, I’ve slept like shit, never able to get more than three to four hours a night. I usually toss and turn until I eventually get out of bed and putz around my cabin until it’s time for me to go into work. My days off are spent making improvements to my father’s cabin that I have claimed as my own. Since his attack almost a year ago, I moved out of my smaller house and into his. It made sense since I am now the alpha of our clan.
The benefit of not sleeping or wanting to be around anyone is that my house has never been cleaner and all the projects I’ve been thinking about doing are starting to get accomplished. With all this time on my hands and little to no sleep, it doesn’t take much for something to set me off. Don’t get me started on my bear, he’s another fucking story. He’s been riding me hard lately to find a mate, but after years of not finding her, I doubt I ever will. At thirty, I’ve given up on ever finding my one true mate, the one soul meant to be mine in every way.
My father found my mother when they were young. Growing up in neighboring towns, he scented her immediately the day she turned eighteen, he was only twenty-two. I know it’s not the same for everyone, but most shifters find their mates when they are young, or they never do. I guess I’m in the or category. Slate has been determined to find his in other bear clans in surrounding states. Every time he comes home from visiting a clan he’s even more grumpy than he was before he left. I’m not going to put my bear and me through all of that. I’d be ecstatic if I found her, but I’m not counting on it.
Opening the door of the bathroom, I’m not paying attention when I walk right into Ruby. “Jesus Christ!” I grab her by the shoulders before she falls to the ground. She’s strong in her own right, but let's face it, I’m six foot three and two hundred and fifty pounds of muscle, out of the two of us she’s the one who is going down. I inhale trying to calm myself before I yell at my sister for something that isn’t her fault. I wasn’t paying attention. “Sorry Ruby, you caught me off guard there.”
“I know a way you can make it up to me.” She says smiling in a way that tells me I’m about to hate whatever comes out of her mouth.
“I know that look Ru, what do you have cooking in that head of yours?”
“Can we talk in your office Cole?”
I nod and lead the way to the back of the building where my office is situated. All four of us kids own equal shares of the company, but I run the company. Ruby went to school for business management and accounting. She handles all the bids and invoicing as well as payroll for the few guys we employ. She sits at the front desk and runs the office side of our business. Gabe and Slate both work the jobs we are on and lead the crew in side jobs when needed. They both have their own specialties they went to school for, and together we make a well-rounded construction crew.
She sits in one of the two seats I have placed in front of my desk. “Promise you won’t be mad.”
I eye her suspiciously, “What did you do?”
“Promise me first.” She folds her arms across her chest and squares off with me until I roll my eyes and nod in surrender.
“Fine, I won’t be mad.” I grind out already pissed in advance for whatever she has done.
“You have a date tonight. A blind date.”
I thought she was going to tell me she set the copier on fire or backed her car into my truck again. “Excuse me?”
“You promised Cole, you said you wouldn’t be mad.” She says wringing her hands together.
“Explain.”
“Her name is Aubree. We met a couple months ago, and I think you two would really hit it off. She’s new to town, and even if she isn’t your mate at least, you’ll have someone to keep you company.”
“What kind of company do you expect me to keep with her if she isn’t my fucking mate, Ruby?” I bark and regret it immediately. I love my sister and would do anything for her, but this is pushing it. Ruby is the baby of the family and the only girl meaning she usually gets away with everything. I take a deep breath. “Call and cancel the date Ruby, I’m not going.”
She glares at me. “No. It took me a week to get her to agree to a date with you. I’m not canceling now.”
I quirk my eyebrow at my sister. “She didn’t want to do this either. Just perfect, two people who don’t want to be on a date are stuck together because you get a wild hair up your ass. This is going to go great.” I muse sarcastically.
My sister beams. “So, you’ll go?” She asks excitedly.
“No. The only dates I’ll ever go on will be with my mate. Is she even a shifter?”
Ruby looks down at her hands and doesn’t answer. “Ruby?”
“No, she’s not okay. Is that such a crime? She’s just a nice person, and I thought you needed someone nice in your life right now, even if it’s only a friend. I’m worried about you Cole. You’ve been walking around here for months like all the life has been sucked out of you. You rarely ever smile or laugh, and you’re always in a pissy mood.”
I know she’s right. Ruby just said everything my brothers haven’t had the balls to bring to my attention. As their alpha, I need to be good, so I can take care of them. If I’m off, and my bear is off, I can’t be any good for them. I rest my elbows on my knees and hold my head in my hands. Jesus, how did we even get here? “Where am I supposed to meet her?”
“At Remy’s.” When I look up, she’s got a twinkle in her eye and is holding back a smile.
“Remy’s? Why the hell would you have me meet her there? The place is crawling with horny men who- Fuck. What time am I supposed to be there?” I growl. I know exactly why my sister had me meet her Remy’s, it’s the town bar, the only one we have. Ruby knew I wouldn’t stand up her friend in a place teeming with guys looking for their next score.
She looks at her watch and bites her lip. “A half hour.” She says shrugging her shoulders.
I stand immediately, I don’t even have enough time to go home and grab a shower. “You owe me for this little sister.” Ruby follows me out as make my way to the door that leads to the parking lot. “How will I know it’s her? What does she look like?”
“She’s short, long brown hair has a pretty smile. She has this really nice bear necklace she always wears too, I told her to make sure and wear it.”
I’m about to walk out when Ruby grabs my arm. “Be nice Cole. She doesn’t know many people in town, and she could use a friend too.”
“Ruby, I’m going to save her from the place you sent her and send her on her way. This isn’t a date.” I say, emphasizing the word date.
“It could be.” She calls after me as I make it to my truck and get in. “It won’t be,” I mutter and gun it to Remy’s. I might not want to date her, but I can’t in good conscience leave her hanging in a place like that.