Page 6 of Bear to be Wild (Moonlight Siren #5)

ROAN

T he clang of metal and the rhythmic thump of music echoed around the fitness studio as I guided individual clients or partners through PT sessions. Since Maribelle’s sound-muffling spell had worked, just with the side effect of an accidental bonding, I didn’t have to worry about being too loud.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t aware of her. Every cell in my body thrummed with awareness of her on the other side of that wall.

After the last client left the studio, I went next door to find her. The spa was a different world from my workspace. Soft music, fragrant oils, potted orchids, and tropical plants. The sound of water trickled from beyond the reception area.

A fae with light pink hair greeted me at the desk. She wore the same spa uniform as Maribelle, but her nametag read Charlotte. “Welcome to the Serenity Spa. Can I help you?”

“Yes. Hi, I’m Roan Mathers, the new fitness trainer. I work next door.” I vaguely pointed toward the studio.

“Ah, Roan,” she drew my name out as she nodded in recognition. What had Maribelle said about me?

After a brief introduction, I got to the reason why I’d stopped by. “Is Maribelle available?”

“She’ll be done with her client in about five minutes.” She motioned to a chair. “Feel free to have a seat.”

“Thanks.” I sank into a comfortable chair and flipped through a magazine while I waited, not taking in any of the content. How could I focus when I’d see Maribelle soon?

And then I sensed her. The scent of bergamot, vanilla, and a wild ocean breeze. My pulse quickened.

Mate , my bear crooned, turning pathetically moony.

“Roan.” Her voice sounded breathy, as if I’d taken her off-guard. The sound rolled through me with a velvet shimmer. I loved hearing my name from her lips. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m starving,” I said, unable to keep my gaze from roving over her body. Snapping my eyes back up to her face before she called me out, I added, “Are you hungry?”

“Ravenous.” She appraised me and then nudged up her chin.

“Guess you two should eat together,” Charlotte said in a singsong voice. When Maribelle turned to her, lips parted as if about to protest, Charlotte shooed her with a wave. “Go ahead. I’ll close up here.” Her lips slid closer to her cheekbones, and amusement reached her eyes.

Oh yeah, she definitely knew something.

Maribelle and I strolled down to the lower deck where staff ate.

The area buzzed with chatter, the clatter of trays, and the ever-present hum of the ship’s engines.

We filled our trays and sat at a small table for two, our plates loaded with food—hers with a creamy pasta and roasted vegetables, mine with lean protein and a massive salad.

“So,” she said, twirling her fork around pasta, “what’s your story, bear?”

I leaned back in my chair. “Former park ranger in Colorado.” I speared a piece of chicken and ate it.

“And now PT—physical torturer, right?” she asked with arched brows.

I laughed. “Trainer,” I corrected. “But yes. I moved into physical fitness and found I enjoyed training others. When I needed a change, I found this opp.” After eating some salad, I turned the focus to her. “You?”

She shrugged. “I’m from New England. Magic has been part of my life for as long as I remember, and I’ve used it to help others. When I had the chance to do so while sailing on this floating city, I took it.”

“And what do you think?”

She ate a forkful of mushrooms and peppers before she responded. “I like it. Some days the hours are looong,” she drew out the vowel. “But I get to see different places. Meet different people.”

I nodded. “Any downsides?”

She grunted. “Having your heart crushed sucks wherever you are.”

A pang of empathy struck, but before I could ask more, two women approached, both sporting mischievous grins.

“Hey, Maribelle,” a witch with pink-and-blonde hair said, all sweetness. After initial greetings, she glanced at me and asked, “New friend?”

Maribelle sighed. “This is Roan Mathers, our new…physical trainer.” She gestured toward me. “Roan, meet Piper and Kylie. Art auctioneer and bartender. Both incredibly nosy,” she added with a wry grin.

“Pleasure,” I said.

We spoke briefly, then they exchanged sly looks before drifting off, whispering like conspirators.

They met up at a table with two men with longish hair. A pale one, who I guessed was a vampire, tipped his chin in acknowledgment.

“That’s Damien and Rex. They’re in the ship’s rock band, Luna Blue Shadows.

” She drank some iced tea and put down her cup with a thud.

“I made a mistake with their singer, Van.” Her jaw tightened.

“He ghosted me. So I pranked him,” she said matter-of-factly, as if talking about the meal options in the buffet.

A spark of instant jealousy jolted me, followed quickly by surprise. Why would anyone give up the chance to be with this beautiful witch? And what exactly did she mean by a prank? My eyes widened. “What did you do?”

Maribelle explained her hex to get back at him, describing it as more playful than malicious.

“He apologized and I’m over it. We actually had a good laugh over it with the band and their mates.

Van and I get along fine now.” She stabbed her pasta, twisted it around her fork with more force than necessary, and then ate it while appearing to consider something.

“It looks like I’ve sabotaged myself with magic this time.

I’m done messing with magic that way now. Learned my lesson.”

“I see,” I acknowledged.

“Also done with dating anyone on this ship.” She grunted. “Especially cocky shifters.”

My chest tightened as if my ribs were caving in. My bear pushed hard against them. She’s ours. We’ll make her see that.

I tapped my thigh. Things are already complicated with her spell and the mate bond. Wait.

“Because of the singer?” I asked, the sense of desperation rising to change her mind about dating a shifter on this ship. Namely, one in particular. Yours truly.

“He was my latest mistake, yes. There was also a dragon shifter when I first joined the Moonlight Siren.” Her expression twisted with distaste. “Thought it was getting serious. Then I learned that flyboy was flying from cabin to cabin.”

“Well, they both sound like dumbasses,” I declared.

She glanced at me over her fork. “You don’t know either of them.”

I rolled one shoulder. “I know you.” When she cast a skeptical look my way, I added, “Okay, just briefly.” Then I added, “But I would like to get to know you better.”

She blinked twice and exhaled in exasperation. “Shifter, are you spiking your protein drinks? We’re in this awkward predicament because of my mess. I accidentally made your life more difficult. Why would you even want to talk to me?”

“Because I—” I began. “Because you—” No, I definitely couldn’t tell her. It would sound ludicrous. And maybe it was considering how fascinated I was about a witch I’d just met.

A thought that had come up earlier returned, gnawing at me. Was the mating bond another side effect of the spell gone wrong? “When did you cast the sound-muffling spell?” I asked carefully.

She glanced at me, narrowing her eyes. “This morning. Right before I told you. Why?”

“Just wondering,” I said lightly. My bear had recognized her as our mate yesterday morning, a full day before her spell. So that meant her spell had nothing to do with this deeper, profound, permanent bond connecting us.

Which meant we might be doubly screwed.

We finished dinner and cleared our plates. Once we left the dining area, I stretched my arms. “I could use a shower.”

“Same,” she agreed with a nod.

Our eyes met, and hers widened. The realization struck us at once.

We were connected.

Which meant showers had to be considered.

Wait, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I pictured us sharing a shower, hot water sluicing down her soft curves. I’d wash her back, drag the sponge down?—

Maribelle squashed my enthusiasm with her frustrated groan. Pressing her fingertips between her brows, she said, “Definitely learned my lesson.” She dropped her hands and huffed. “Come on, bear. Let’s get this over with.”