Page 15 of Bear to be Wild (Moonlight Siren #5)

MARIBELLE

T ime. Space. Ha.

I was the one who told Roan we needed both, but now I regretted that decision. It had been three days since I’d broken our binding, and my feelings for him hadn’t faded.

In fact, they’d grown stronger.

That old “you don’t know what you want until it’s gone” adage didn’t just ring true, it pounded in my head like a steady gong. Now that I wasn’t forced to be close to him, I missed the bear’s steady, comforting presence.

Knowing he was on the other side of the spa wall only made the ache worse.

Even when I heard his booming, stupid voice.

Especially when I heard his booming, stupid voice.

Only now, I didn’t find it stupid. Or booming.

More like soothing. His deep, rumbling timbre did something to me.

I no longer wanted to muffle the sound since I melted each time I heard it.

His encouraging baritone intensified this unexpected desire to be with him.

Sigh. It looked like I’d screwed myself over not only with casting the spell, but with breaking it.

When I was done with my clients for the day, I remained at the spa.

I didn’t want to return to my cabin. The last two nights had been brutal after I’d returned there alone.

I thought I’d crave my bed and not having to share it with Roan.

But instead, the bed was cold, the tiny cabin empty.

Devoid. It now carried too many reminders of Roan.

I smiled at the memory of him squeezing his big, muscular body into my bed that first night, being respectful by giving me as much space as possible.

But that second night? Oooh. Decadent. Delicious.

And yet, so much more. We’d connected on a deeper level.

It had been nothing like my most recent hookup with Van.

No, it had been so much more intense. When Roan had told me I was his mate, it explained why.

But what did I do? Told him we needed space.

Ugh. Who was the big, foolish oaf now?

After playing an Amy Winehouse album, I lit scented candles and soaked in a hot bath with lavender oil and herbs swirling around me. It was an attempt at self-care, since it felt like I’d sabotaged my well-being in countless ways lately.

While I lingered in the soothing water, I couldn’t stop thinking about Roan.

I pictured his face, those gentle eyes that flashed with desire when we were alone.

All the sensible thoughts with rules I’d set to protect myself from heartache vanished, because now I was more miserable than ever.

And I was certain these feelings weren’t lingering from the spell since no trace of magic remained.

I missed him. So damn much.

After I dried off, I put on a flowing lilac dress and silver bangles. I let my curls fall loose over my shoulders. I wandered up through the decks, searching for distraction—anything to avoid returning to my tiny cabin where I’d be tormented by memories of Roan.

When I heard Luna Blue Shadows playing in the Nocturnal Lounge, an idea came to me.

Piper. She was mated to a wolf shifter. Maybe she could help give me some insight.

I searched inside the lounge for her, but she wasn’t there.

Van was, though. He briefly met my eyes and acknowledged me with a small smile.

His gaze quickly returned to his mate, Celeste, and softened.

He’d changed so much from being a womanizing jackass.

Perhaps falling in love really could change people for the better.

Resuming my search for Piper, I headed to the Mermaid’s Gallery where I found her wearing her ship uniform, with her pink-gold hair pinned up. She chatted with passengers about the framed paintings up for auction while they sipped flutes of champagne. Once they’d moved on, she greeted me.

“Hey, Maribelle. What brings you here?”

“I came to see you, if you have a minute.”

She glanced around the room. “It has to be quick as we’re going to start the auction soon.”

“Of course.” I took a deep breath, exhaled, and let it all tumble out. “So, this funny thing happened with Roan and me. I accidentally bound us together with a spell. And during that time…we grew close.”

Piper arched a brow. “ How close?”

“ Real close,” I admitted. “I was able to undo the spell. But now I’m so confused, because I can’t stop thinking about him. And he said something that’s been stuck in my head ever since.”

Her eyes flashed with intrigue. “What?”

I hesitated, then lowered my voice. “That I’m his mate.”

“Hot damn, woman!” Piper burst out, then slapped a hand over her mouth. She straightened, smoothing her spa uniform and adopting a more professional tone before leaning in again to whisper, “No way. His mate?”

“Yes.” I pushed a curl from my temple. “And I reacted like a fool. Shrugged it off by saying we might still be affected by the magic. He denied it, said he’d known since we first met. But still, I insisted we needed space.”

Piper groaned in sympathy. “Understandable. But I’m guessing something’s changed?”

I nodded and let out a breathy sigh. “Now I know what I feel is real. But I’m afraid.”

Her brows knit closer. “Why?”

“Because what if he was mistaken? And it really was the spell confusing him?” My shoulders sagged, the weight of possible rejection weighing me down. “He doesn’t want me after all.”

Piper squeezed my shoulder. “I sincerely doubt that, Maribelle. This mate business is no joke—it’s like magic on steroids.” She curled her biceps. “Trust me. I know.”

I took a deep breath. “What do you think I should do?”

“Find him,” she advised with kind eyes. “Be honest. Tell him how you feel.”

“And if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

She gave me a warm smile. “Love is always worth the risk—even when it hurts.”

I hurt all right. But was it…

Could it…

Could this be—love?

I left the gallery determined to find Roan. First stop, his cabin. Nope. Then back upstairs to the fitness studio and gym. Not there either—only memories of him etched in every space.

The more I searched, the more the anticipation grew. I had to find him.

I continued wandering the decks. Peeked into the casino. The theater. When the mermaid Naiya sang a few verses of a song in her beautiful voice, it enchanted me enough that I stopped to listen. But I couldn’t stay.

Continuing my search, I headed outdoors onto the pool deck.

Nothing. I ventured into the Celestial Lounge, where a Motown tribute was underway.

The band played The Temptations’ “Get Ready,” a great song, and I tapped my foot as I scanned the audience.

A frosted-tipped shifter with too much swagger sauntered up to me.

Oh no…

“Ma-ri-belle,” he said, dragging out the syllables of my name. “What a good surprise.”

“Jackson,” I greeted him with all the enthusiasm of scheduling a colonoscopy.

“Let’s dance,” he said, moving awkwardly in front of me with his cumbersome frame. He curled his finger at me as he sang along to the chorus, an apparent attempt to sound sensual.

I suppressed a gag. Don’t ruin this song for me.

I’d rather schedule a colonoscopy. “No, thanks.”

“Come on,” he pressed, his voice liquid ooze. “Be social. Let’s have some fun tonight.”

I pressed my lips together and resumed searching the room. “Can’t. I’m looking for someone.”

“Who?” he demanded, stepping closer, invading my space with the overpowering scent of body spray.

I stepped back, recoiling.

“Me,” a deep voice rumbled.

My heart leapt. That voice—that deep, booming voice that had once grated on me but now filled me with such relief and happiness.

“Roan.” My breath caught as I said his name.

His gaze flicked to me, warm and full of longing. I ached to be alone with him, to tell him?—

The frosted buffoon beside me snarled. “We were just about to dance.” Jackson grabbed my forearm and I snatched it back.

Roan growled, his amber eyes flashing with a fierce golden light, and his fingers sharpened with claws. On the verge of shifting, he looked devastatingly feral. I’d never seen this cinnamon roll shifter look so dangerous, a predator on the verge of tearing into the tiger.

“Maribelle said no,” Roan growled. “And I will do whatever it takes to protect her. To make her happy.” His voice echoed with such power that Jackson recoiled and backed down.

My heart pounded and breath came quick. The crowd, the music, even the swaggering tiger melted away. All I saw was my bear.

In his eyes, I found sincerity, devotion, and a sense of belonging that I’d been so afraid to believe in.

I released a low, breathless sigh as my heart opened wide. “My mate.”