Renner stood too. “You had to change because you’re a shifter and you wait until your body’s out of control. That’s your problem, not mine.”
Layna stood. “Okay, enough.”
“You keep your problems to yourself,” Renner hissed, ignoring her. “I have enough of my own.” He reached in his pocket, retrieving the picture of Bethy and tossing it on Magic’s desk.
“What’s this?” Magic picked it up, squinting to stare at it.
Renner glanced at Layna. Took a deep breath. And then let the words tumble from his mouth. “It’s Bethy. Bethany. Bethany is Bethy.”
Magic’s gaze jumped from the picture to Renner. “Bethy? Your mate?”
Renner nodded, rubbing his palm over his chin. His mate. It was the word he’d been running away from since he was a tiny young. The women in his family had been trapped by their matings and he never wanted to do that to anyone. He was nothing like the abusive prick that sired him, but still. To belong to another person, to have all your choices take away, for the rest of your life… no woman deserved that.
“Ren?” Layna breathed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know. I didn’t… recognize her.”
“Bullshit,” she snapped. “Didn’t you scent her?”
“I haven’t seen her since we were kids. Her scent has changed. Her everything has changed. I’m just as surprised as you are.”
Magic held the photo inches from his nose. “Are you sure it’s her, Ren? I don’t see it.”
“It’s her.”
“Let me see that.” Layna snatched the picture from Magic and examined it closely. “Mother of fucking hell, Renner. That’s definitely Bethany. Did she recognize you? Does she remember?”
He nodded.
Layna’s expression paled and her voice softened. “How could you not know? She… she’s yours, and you didn’t even notice? After all these years of pining after her?”
“I don’t know, okay?” Renner ran his hand through his hair, pulling. He needed to move so he paced the small space of Magic’s office. “I just don’t know.”
“Okay,” Magic said. His voice was calm, thoughtful. “Listen, we can sort this all out in the morning, after we’ve all had some sleep. Bethany gave me a week. You’ve got to talk to her, Renner, get her to stay.”
Renner chuckled, sadly. He wanted to cry but he never did that. The last time had been at his mother’s funeral. “I’d love to, but she won’t listen to me. She’s hurt. If I talk to her, she’ll run.”
Magic ran a thumb over his bottom lip.
“I’ll do it,” Layna said. “Let me talk to her.”
Magic nodded. “Yeah, okay.”
Renner turned to leave. He needed to change. Run. Climb. He needed to be his animal for a while. The panther could deal with these fucked up emotions. It was only fair.
“Ren,” Magic said, stopping him with his hand on the door.
“Yeah?”
“You can’t…” He stopped, but Renner knew what the rest of the sentence was. Have her.
“I know.”
He slammed the door a little too hard as he walked out. Stalking past the front doors, he barely made it to the edge of the woods before he busted through his clothes with the change, giving his worries over to his cat.
Chapter Four
Beth shuffled into an empty room at the spa, exhausted. She’d made it through her first client but she’d need a caffeine IV to get through the entire day. Sleep had been elusive last night, and her nerves were on edge, wondering when or if she’d run into Renner again.
Then there was the job. She hated leaving it. Magic paid her well, and she was still paying off student loans. And her car. And Josie’s car.
Damn it. What was she going to do?
It was the busiest shopping season of the year. Surely she could find a job in retail. Then in the spring, she’d find another resort in need of her services. She’d make it work. She had to. Staying here would only bring heartache.
Beth brought her fingers gingerly to her lips. Renner’s kiss was like a brand. It didn’t want to go away. Even now, twelve hours later, she could still feel the sensation of his lips, the scruff of his day’s beard growth, the gentle hands on her face…
A knock sounded on the door before it opened slightly, a blond capped head peeking around. “I’m doing yoga in five. On the terrace,” Christina said.
Beth nodded.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, fine.” Beth feigned a smile. “Just tired. Didn’t sleep well last night.”