Tessa ignored the stares from the patrons of the diner as she entered with Drake and Rex behind her. She really didn't want them to follow her to work, but she wasn't going to argue with Drake because Bradley was in the area. Her hands began to shake and she worried them by twisting her palms against each other when she entered the backroom to grab her apron. A gasp burst from her chest when she turned around and Drake was right behind her. He immediately took her shaking hands into his and frowned. "Don't be scared."

"It's kind of hard not to be." Tessa bowed her head and sighed. "I still vividly remember the last time I saw him."

"I'm sorry this happened to you," he sympathized. "Come here."

Tessa gladly fell into his hold. The touch sent that odd sensation through her body. The idea of a species knowing who they were destined to be with for eternity made Tessa question everything she'd ever known about being a human. "I wish I was a bear so I could protect myself when he comes for me."

Drake's body froze, but his hold did not waver. Tessa didn't know if she'd said anything wrong. Maybe telling him she wanted to be a bear was frowned upon in his shifter world? She still didn't know everything about them, and she sure as hell wasn't going to ask any more questions. She'd already been too inquisitive with him when she'd found out.

Oh, but she wanted to ask questions.

"Your former mate will never touch you," he vowed, kissing the top of her head. "I'm going to grab a table in a corner so I'm out of your way. Will you bring me some coffee?" The question was posed with a sexy smirk, and she wanted so bad to rub her thumb over his bottom lip. Instead, she gave him a wink and left the backroom with him following.

Rex was waiting down the hallway and stepped aside as she passed. Tessa found it odd and had noticed that little quirk recently with his brothers. They never touched her, or even got close to her in any way.

Drake and Rex took their seats and Tessa got to work. The diner was already open, and Gaia was taking an order out to a table. When she returned, the older woman had a smile on her face. Her wrinkles pulled at the corners as her eyes brightened. "I see you have a male suitor."

"He's just a friend," she shrugged.

"Don't lie to me, Tessa," Gaia scolded. "Tulley called me."

"Great," Tessa sighed.

"If the Morgan men want to watch over you for a while," she began, inclining her head toward Drake, "then you let them."

"You know them?" Tessa asked, wide-eyed. She thought they hated humans.

"I knew their mother," Gaia said in a rush, ducking her head. She wouldn't look Tessa in the eye. "I have a table to serve. Get Drake and Rex some coffee, please."

"Yes, ma'am," she replied. That was weird. Tessa wondered how Gaia knew Drake's mother, and if she knew that they were shifters.

Tessa filled two coffee cups and grabbed the sweetener and cream to take to the table where the two men were sitting. Drake watched her as she crossed the diner. His eyes heated, and there was a very faint, golden glow to them. She wondered what his bear was thinking, and if it was okay with being in this environment.

"Excuse me," Rex said with a smile as she set the cups down. She stepped out of the way as he pushed the chair far away and stood up.

Rex looked like Drake, but his hair was lighter. The patrons in the diner were not oblivious to their presence.

Both men were huge in comparison to the average human. Drake was well over six feet tall, and Rex matched him in height. Gunner was only slightly shorter, but by no means was he smaller.

"Why do Rex and Gunner stay so far away from me?" she asked as she set the creamer in the middle of the table.

Drake grunted and looked around the diner to see if there was anyone within hearing distance before he answered, "Because once we mate, if a male touches you, it will hurt you."

"Hurt me?" she pressed.

"A male's touch will be painful." He shook his head sadly. "It's said to feel like you've been burned."

"Oh, no," she shook her head, "I don't want that, Drake."

"In my world, males don't touch mated females," he promised. "It's bred into us that we only touch a female who is mated if she is in trouble."

"Then how long does it last? This burning sensation?" Tessa continued. She'd told herself not to keep asking questions, but she'd make an exception to this rule. This sounded important.

"Until her mate touches her to ease the pain," he replied, taking a sip of coffee. "Can we not talk about this here? The diner is filling up."

"Are you okay with being here?" she asked, lowering her voice. "Is he okay being around this many people?" She indicted her meaning by pointing to Drake's chest. The last thing she wanted to do was mention anything about him being a shifter in public.

"I'm going to be just fine, little one," he drawled.

"I'll have more questions later," she warned with a smile and turned to leave, but not before she saw a sexy smirk on his lips.