Options included everything from "Political activism" to "Anonymous donations." Andre selected: Safety education programs. Volunteer work with at-risk teens.
"What do you value most in a relationship?"
This one was easier. He clicked: Safety and security. Loyalty. Trust. The option for "Adventure and spontaneity" remained unchecked.
"Describe your ideal first date:"
Four options appeared: Adrenaline rush—Skydiving or bungee jumping. Cozy night in with movies and homemade dinner. Coffee and conversation in a public place. Dancing until dawn at the hottest club.
Andre clicked the coffee option without hesitation. Public. Safe. Easy exits.
"What are you looking for in a mate?"
The final question offered a range from "Someone to protect and cherish" to "An independent equal who challenges me" to "A wild spirit who keeps me guessing."
His finger hovered over the options. Back in Portland, he might have chosen differently. But his bear knew what it wanted. Someone to protect and cherish. He clicked it.
A text box appeared: "Tell us a bit about yourself!”
Andre typed quickly: "Former Portland PD, now with Fate Mountain Bear Patrol. Looking for something real. I believe in keeping the people I care about safe."
Submit.
The screen flashed with animated hearts. "Calculating your perfect match!"
Andre had heard about mate.com's reputation. Every shifter knew someone who'd found their fated mate through the site. But he'd always been too busy, too focused on the job.
"Congratulations! We've found your fated mate."
The profile loaded. Username: Honey Lion
The photo struck him like a physical blow. A woman laughing in sunlight, surrounded by beehives. Her hair caught the light, dark with golden highlights like honey itself. Eyes that sparkled with genuine joy. She looked so alive it made his chest hurt.
His bear exploded.MATE.The word came with absolute certainty. Andre gripped the table edge to keep his hands from shaking.
He read her profile with desperate attention. First name: Joy. Shifter type: Mountain Lion. Age: 30. Occupation: Artisan business owner. “I love working with my hands and creating beautiful things.” Location: Oregon mountains. His heart sank. That could mean anywhere in the state. Hundreds of small towns scattered across thousands of miles.
The green message button pulsed at the bottom of her profile. One click and he could reach out. One click and everything would change. His bear didn't hesitate. Neither did his fingers.
"Hi Joy, I'm Andre. I just moved to Fate Mountain to work with Bear Patrol. I see we matched at 100%... I'd love to meet you and learn more about your artisan business. Would you like to chat?"
He read it five times. Professional but friendly. He acknowledged the match without seeming obsessed. And he didn't mention that his bear was currently trying to claw its way out of his skin.
Send.
The message disappeared into the void. Andre stared at the screen, waiting for the read receipt. Nothing. He refreshed. Still nothing.
One minute. Five. Ten. Refresh.
Maybe her phone was off. Maybe she was working.
Andre stood, unable to sit still. His apartment was twelve paces wide. He knew because he counted. Twelve paces while refreshing the app. Twelve paces while his bear demanded action. He tried to focus on tomorrow's announcement. He then spread the map of patrol routes on his table and marked the addresses from Chief Reynold’s list. But his eyes kept drifting to his phone.
Refresh. Still no response.
He pulled up her profile again. Studied the photo like evidence. Behind her, mountains rose green and misty. The same mountains visible from his window. His breath caught. Could she be here? In Fate Mountain?
No. Oregon had countless mountain towns. The Cascades stretched for hundreds of miles. But still... his bear rumbled with hope.
