Page 2 of Bear to be Wild (Moonlight Siren #5)
ROAN
“ K eep your core tight—good. Hold it for three. Two. One.”
The small group was moving through the morning circuit in the fitness studio—a wide, open space lined with mirrors on one wall and floor-to-ceiling windows that peered out to the endless blue sea. Sunlight streamed in, glinting off the racks of free weights, kettlebells, and neatly stacked mats.
The heavier machines were all in the adjacent gym, where I’d train clients, but I’d run the group classes in here.
I was adjusting a wolf shifter’s form on kettlebell swings when the glass door opened.
A woman walked in wearing a blue blazer and skirt with the Moonlight Siren ship’s logo.
She strode forward as if preparing for a cage match.
Her silvery curls with a lilac hue bounced as they caught the sunlight.
Her pale blue eyes locked on me with lethal precision.
She walked up to me, barely reaching my chest, yet radiating a do not mess with me vibe .
Uh-oh, what did I do wrong?
“Bear, can I have a moment?” she snapped, tilting her head toward the hallway.
My bear jolted inside. And then it hit me.
Her scent.
It wrapped around me—bergamot, vanilla, femininity. Unfamiliar magic thrummed through me, lighting my skin with sudden, heated awareness.
Mate.
The instant certainty rammed into me with such force that I almost lost my balance. Or was it the ship lurching?
She took long strides back toward the hall and then turned back to face me. “You coming?” she demanded.
I nodded before my brain caught up. “Yeah, sure.” Glancing around at the class, all of whom were watching me with interest, I tried to shove coherent instruction out of my mouth. “Take a water break,” I managed.
I followed her out into the hall and closed the glass door behind me. She stared up at me, hands on her hips. Looking like an angel, save for the venomous expression on her face.
Her fragrance was more noticeable out here without the scent of boot camp sweat overpowering it. My bear pushed closer, ready to burst through the surface of my skin to get closer.
Hold steady, I warned.
“I run the spa on the other side of that wall,” she declared, each syllable clipped. “Clients come to me to de-stress. Relax. Not feel like they’re being pummeled by a drill sergeant.”
I blinked. “Drill sergeant?”
“Yes, that’s what it sounds like.” Her eyes flicked toward the mirrored wall, where the music still thumped faintly from the studio. “All the yelling, that loud motivation—it’s disruptive.”
“I was just…encouraging the class.”
She snorted. “Sounds more like leading them into combat.”
“Right, right. I see. Sorry. I’ll…be more quiet.” Wait, was that right? “I mean quieter.” My tongue tripped over every word. Smooth, Roan. Real smooth. I zipped my mouth as if carrying out my promise right away.
She studied me, as if trying to figure out whether I was serious or just placating her. Her scent wrapped around me again, thick and warm, and my bear rumbled so hard in my chest I had to swallow before I could speak.
“Good.” She nodded as if satisfied with the outcome. “Any questions?”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t keep from smiling. Her directness had knocked me off-guard at first, but now I wanted to know more about this fiery little thing. “What’s your name?” My voice came out lower and growlier than I’d intended, roughened by my bear pacing just beneath the surface.
“Can’t you read, bear?” She narrowed her eyes at me, pointing to a spot on her upper torso. Dangerously close to the curves beneath her uniform, and I struggled not to stare. “Never mind, I don’t have my name tag on yet.” She huffed. “Maribelle. Maribelle Keene.”
“Maribelle,” I repeated, the sound musical in my mind. “Nice to meet you. I’m Roan Mathers.”
She quirked a brow. “Yes, that’s clear for the world to see.” She pointed at my name tag.
Feisty. She surprised me, but I liked it. “Thanks for the warm welcome, neighbor.”
Her expression turned sheepish. She pushed a curl back, and I traced the movement, eager to reach out and feel how the silky strands sprang through my fingertips. Despite the urge, I kept my hands planted by my sides.
“You’re right. Maybe I should have introduced myself first.” She forced a smile. “Welcome aboard the Moonlight Siren, Roan.”
“Thank you, Maribelle,” I replied earnestly, despite her faux friendliness. “I’m looking forward to us working together on the ship.”
“ Next to each other,” she corrected. “If I don’t murder you for being a loud, overbearing oaf first,” she added, her lips twitching into a near-smile.
That’s what I wanted—more of that smile. More of having her look at me with the sly twinkle in her eye.
“Fair enough.” I bent forward in a half-bow. “I’ll keep it down.”
She gave me one last lingering look before she turned and walked away. Her curvy hips swayed just enough to tease me, leaving my mouth parched. My bear, now thoroughly restless, nudged me to go after her. As she disappeared into the spa, I gaped at the spot where Maribelle had just been.
I leaned back against the wall, my breath coming hard. What the hell had just happened? My brain pulsed with images—vivid, colorful, vibrant. My palms were hot and my heartbeat raced, but it had nothing to do with the workout I should still be leading.
I’d met my mate.
I’d heard about the bonds between fated mates my entire life but never thought it would happen to me. Why would it? I’d never felt a strong connection to anyone before. As a lone bear, I wandered from place to place, gig to gig. Always wandering. Always searching for where I belonged.
But now that a little witch stormed up to me, my muted world flashed with sudden, vibrant color. How could that be just from a scent? How could that change everything? A buzz thrummed in my veins, waking me like nothing before.
I’d found my mate, and she not only worked on this ship, but right beside me. Perfect, right?
Nope.
The way she looked at me, the way she seethed at me, confirmed one thing.
Maribelle couldn’t stand me.
Wonderful.