Page 2 of Rehabilitated

“Pass.”

He sighs, sagging back in his chair, then says wistfully, “We could go together. We could look for our mates.”

Ansel wants his mate as badly as I do. The only difference is that he still has hope. I don’t.

Being back home can be hard. All our friends seem to have found their mates recently, and seeing them happy and in love is a double-edged sword. I’m happy for them, but so jealous and sad that I’m still alone.

My bear paws at me, whining. I don’t know what to say to him. I can’t assure him that we’re fine, that we’ll find her, because I don’t believe it.

“You haven’t been struggling with it?” I ask my brother seriously.

“With not having my mate?”

“With not having a purpose. With the cult being over. With no real job to do.”

“Yeah,” he says softly. “It’s been an adjustment. There’s still work to be done with the Midnight Haven, though. Still people who need help.”

“It’s not the same.”

“No,” he agrees.

I’ve always been a grumpy loner. I used to think that was okay, but now I wonder if having more friends or a wider social circle would have helped in moments like this.

Ansel and I are the only ones left in our family. Our parents passed years ago. Luckily for me, Ansel and I have always been super close. He’s the one I turn to when I need advice or help, and I know it’s the same for him with me.

“Every day is the same now,” I groan, scrubbing my hands down my face. “Get up, eat, do chores or run errands, do a patrol or security check, have dinner, go to bed.”

“That’s why you should take a trip or find something new to do,” Ansel says. “Nothing will change unless you make a change.”

I know he’s right, but it’s tough to find any motivation right now. “I’m not even sure where to start.”

“Let’s take a trip. Maybe getting out of town will help.”

“All right,” I agree after a beat, knowing he can hear the lack of enthusiasm in my voice.

My bear groans, curling up inside me. He’s basically been hibernating for the last month, and his boredom only compounds my own.

“I’ll send you some ideas,” Ansel says, pushing to his feet.

“You can plan it.”

He shakes his head. “We’ll plan it together. I’ll talk to you later.”

He claps me on the shoulder, and I watch as he ambles down the steps and walks toward his cabin.

The sun is setting, so I stand to carry out my nightly patrol around my property before going inside. I trudge off the porch and follow the worn groove in the grass around my property.

I think about Ansel’s suggestion, trying to decide if I should come up with an excuse to get out of the trip or just suck it up and go. Maybe it would be good for us both. Maybe⁠—

I’m so distracted, I almost miss the small figure lying in the tall grass at the edge of my land.

“Shit!” I hiss, hurrying over and crouching beside her. “Are you okay?”

No response.

My bear perks up inside me. Blood, he rumbles, scenting the air. She needs help.

As I gently roll the woman onto her back so I can see her clearly, her scent hits me. Realization slams into me.