Page 33 of Darrin: The Wolves

Audrey’s Gouda Time Burger.

Luke liked gouda cheese.

And he always liked Sigh’s burgers.

He shook his head as they walked toward The Howl. The closer they got to the tavern, the more restless his bear grew.

He wasn’t sure what was up with his bear, but it wasn’t a new feeling.

All May, that restless ache had been an albatross around his neck, watching the wolves find their truemates. He was happy for them, but he was damn lonely.

Sometimes being faced with others’ happiness made him feel like a crotchety gremlin.

“You okay?” Riggs asked.

“Yeah. My bear’s unsettled.”

“Maybe you need to shift? It’s been a few weeks.”

Luke hummed. “Maybe.”

But Luke didn’t think it was about shifting. His bear was restless, but not agitated or irritated. Just alert. Interested.

Waiting.

Which was weird as hell.

Riggs elbowed Luke. “Burger magic.”

“Don’t start,” Colt said.

“Come on, you have to admit something is going on at The Howl. Either the burgers are magic or Sigh is a witch,” Riggs said.

Luke snorted. “Sigh is not a witch, that’s not even a thing.”

“Then they’re magic. And we definitely need to get in on that mate-magic he’s cooking up in the kitchen. Maybe he could start a shifter match-making service,” Riggs said.

“I don’t think the burgers are magic,” Luke said.

“But?” Riggs asked.

“Something’s going on at The Howl, that’s for damn sure.”

Colt nodded. “We’re all thinking about finding our mates. It’s fun to think about a burger being touched by fate and bringing mates together, but it doesn’t seem realistic. Plus, we’re all the way across the lake and building things, not running a tavern and serving food. We’ll find our mates when the time is right, burgers or not.”

Luke knew that was true, but it didn’t stop him from hoping that his mate would show up soon.

By the time they reached the employee entrance at the back, Luke’s bear was going positively nuts. The back door opened and Dare and Audrey greeted them. “Everything looks amazing,” the human female – now the alpha female of the pack – said with a smile. “You guys did amazing work.”

Dare shook their hands. “Thanks for coming tonight. Everything’s on the house, the table has a reserved sign on it and Sigh said he’ll send over burgers of the week right away if you’d like.”

“It depends,” Riggs said. “Are they still magic?”

Audrey beamed at them. “It sure seems like it.”

They walked into the bar, stopping at the kitchen to greet Sigh and his mate Juliette, then waved at Trick by the door, and then his mate Cassidy, who was at the bar rolling silverware.

As they walked onto the deck, a scent tickled Luke’s nose.