Page 8 of Bear Boss’s Mate (Pleasantville Shifter #1)

AUSTIN HAD NO INTENTION of spending another Saturday night alone at home.

He’d intentionally waited until the end of the week to ask Marcy out, not wanting to pressure her.

He hoped she wouldn’t over-think it if he sprung the date on her and was glad when she said yes. Despite her hesitation on the phone.

He was pretty sure the attraction between them was mutual. He’d sensed her arousal a couple of times when they were near each other. It pleased him and his inner bear.

Needing to burn off some excess energy before tonight’s date, Austin stripped off his clothes, preparing to go for a run.

Inhaling and releasing a breath, he tensed for a moment before his muscular body expanded.

He let out a groan while he sprouted dark brown fur, and his hands were replaced with large paws tipped with black claws.

As a large grizzly bear, he stood on his hind legs and raised his nose in the air.

It had been several days since Austin allowed himself to shift and run through the vast forest across from his property. The inner turmoil he faced had been deepened by the incessant rumblings of his bear telling him he wanted their mate.

Austin did too, and was tired of waiting any longer for her. Each time he thought about Marcy or saw her, the bear side of him reminded him of this.

He ran through the forest, his body warmed by the thick fur despite the cool air. Even in bear form, Austin could still feel, hear, and see everything going on around him. It was more as if he were in the room’s corner watching rather than doing the bear’s actions.

The growing need to have sexual release was making him more impatient and short-tempered in recent months. Jacking off in the shower to thoughts of Marcy did little to help ease his growing need for her.

These moments when the bear was in control helped distract him somewhat.

As he ran, Austin thought about his plans for his date with Marcy. When he booked the dinner reservation, he’d requested they be seated away from the windows. Away from prying eyes and any danger that going out might cause.

If things went well, he planned to invite Marcy to his place. Austin wanted to get to know her outside of work.

He wasn’t sure what had happened with her ex and wanted to reassure her despite her reservations about him.

Her hesitancy to go out with him made sense once Bern revealed what he’d learned.

He wasn’t about to back down, but he didn’t want to scare her off, either.

Austin hoped he could prove to Marcy he had no intention of hurting her.

In fact, he would fight for her.

She was his mate. She just didn’t know it yet.