Page 3 of Bearly Ever After (Bear Creek Forever #5)

Klein parked his truck beside Uncle Gavin’s cabin, next to the recent addition known as “The Lodge.” The added section seamlessly matched the original log structure. It wasn’t quite finished, but this was the place Dougray and Tammy now called home.

And Finlay, his bear reminded him.

How could I forget? Klein asked as he turned off the engine. The sound of it faded away, and he glanced at Dougray, who was eagerly climbing out of his own truck.

Time to get to work, his bear said.

No rest for the wicked . Klein stepped out of the truck and strode over to Dougray, who was already lowering the tailgate.

“Ready?” Dougray asked, nodding toward the dresser.

“Where’s it going?” Klein asked.

“In the living room for now,” Dougray replied, then looked around sheepishly. “Who knows where Tammy is going to want it tomorrow?”

Klein shot his brother a questioning frown.

“The Lodge is a work in progress,” Dougray explained. “One I do not fully understand. But I’m more than happy to oblige.”

I’d be more than happy to move furniture every day for our mate if she asked me to, his bear said.

Me, too, Klein chuckled. Damn, he’d move heaven and earth if she asked him to.

We just need to find her, his bear said.

“Okay, let’s get it moved.” Klein grabbed one end of the dresser while Dougray reached for the other. Together, they hefted the weighty piece of furniture from the truck bed, their muscles straining as they worked in sync. After so much time working and playing together over the years, the brothers had developed an intuitive, unspoken way of communicating.

But as they cleared the truck, it was as if the weight of the dresser suddenly doubled. Klein adjusted his grip, but a sudden wave of weakness washed over him. His knees wobbled, and for a moment, he feared he might lose his hold and send the dresser crashing to the ground. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he clenched his jaw as he fought for control.

Dougray’s eyes flicked to him immediately, concern etched on his face. “You okay, Klein?”

Klein sucked in a deep breath, straightening up and pushing through the sensation. “Yeah,” he said, forcing a grin. “I’m fine.”

His bear wasn’t convinced. Are you?

Klein ignored the question, focusing instead on the task at hand. He shifted his grip on the dresser, feeling the rough wood bite into his palms, and nodded to Dougray. Together, they began the slow walk toward the Lodge.

However, as they approached the front of the extended cabin, Klein was overcome by that same inexplicable feeling. A tingling sensation ran down his spine, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. His knees threatened to give way again, but he gritted his teeth, unwilling to let his brother down or risk dropping the dresser.

They were almost at the front door when Tammy stepped outside, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail, her eyes lighting up when she saw them. “Hey, you two, good job!”

“Thanks,” Dougray replied, his eyes fixed on his mate.

I think she must mean Dougray, Klein’s bear said dryly.

I’m doing my best, Klein ground out. But right now, his best did not feel good enough.

Maybe you are coming down with something, his bear replied.

Great, Klein huffed.

“Are you going out on a call?” Dougray asked as they continued toward the Lodge.

“No,” Tammy replied. “A client’s on their way over. New arrivals in town found a puppy in the yard, and it’s got an injury that needs attention.”

Dougray lowered his end of the dresser to the ground, his expression shifting, a teasing glint in his eyes as he looked over at Klein. “Did you hear that?”

Klein arched an eyebrow, grateful for the chance to catch his breath. “Hear what?”

Dougray chuckled. “A new arrival in town. You going weak at the knees, feeling strange? Yeah? I think I know why.”

Klein frowned, shrugging as he set his end of the dresser down. “What are you talking about?”

Tammy tilted her head, her gaze moving between the two brothers. She studied Dougray for a moment, then her eyes widened, her mouth falling open slightly. “You mean…” She turned to Klein. “You think the new arrival is Klein’s mate?”

Dougray nodded, his expression serious now. “I don’t think it. I’m sure of it. Can’t you feel it, Klein?”

Klein ran a hand through his hair, a wave of uncertainty washing over him as the tingling sensation intensified. “I feel something.”

Oh my goodness, his bear said excitedly. Of course, our mate. Why didn’t we figure that out for ourselves?

Klein sucked in a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. He pushed his senses outward, trying to make sense of the strange energy that had been buzzing through him. Was that it? Was that what made him feel so off-balance? Could it be…his mate? As if in answer, his senses sharpened, honing in on something unseen in the distance.

Yes! his bear said, excitement thrumming through his voice. She’s here.

Klein swallowed hard, his mouth dry as his heart thumped in his chest fit to burst. Our mate, he repeated, although he was not ready to believe it.

Why not? his bear asked. Why not us?

Because I’m afraid to hope, Klein finally admitted. Because if Dougray is wrong, I don’t think I could stand the disappointment.

We will not be disappointed, his bear insisted, his excitement almost too much to contain. She’s close. I can feel it. I can feel her.

Klein took another breath, nodding slowly. It was true—the tingling sensation, the strange energy coursing through him…it all pointed to one thing.

She’s coming, his bear said, practically vibrating with anticipation.

Dougray clapped Klein on the shoulder, his grin widening. “Okay, it’s going to look weird if we’re all just standing here staring.” He bent down, grabbing hold of the dresser once more. “Let’s get this inside.”

Klein blinked, shaking himself from his thoughts. He moved to grab his end of the dresser, his focus shifting back to the task at hand. But even as they lifted it again, he couldn’t shake the growing awareness of her—his mate. The sense of her presence seemed to grow stronger with each passing second, and with it, a surge of strength filled him, banishing the weakness that had threatened him earlier.

Together, they carried the dresser into the newly built section of the cabin, their boots thudding softly on the wooden floor. Tammy followed close behind, her eyes still on Klein, as if she were ready to step in and help him if he needed it. But he didn’t need it. Not anymore. Now that he knew she was close, a surge of power flowed through him. He felt as if he could conquer anything.

Our mate will conquer our world, his bear said, a note of wonder in its voice.

Klein cracked a grin. Maybe she already has.

They set the dresser down in the corner of the new living room, and Klein stood, wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked at Dougray, who was watching him with an expression of knowing satisfaction.

“She’s coming, Klein,” Dougray said quietly.

Klein nodded. “Yeah,” he whispered, the word barely audible. “I think she is.”

We know she is, his bear corrected.

Tammy clapped her hands together. “This is so exciting,” she hissed, as if afraid his mate might hear.

“I think I’m going to puke.” Klein put his hand over his mouth as his bear rolled his eyes.

“That would be a great first impression.” Dougray chuckled.

“Behave,” Tammy told him with a glare.

“What if she’s already married?” Klein’s palms were damp with sweat as he waited. The tingling sensation from earlier had intensified, a sure sign his mate was getting closer. “What if she reacts badly when she finds out I’m a bear shifter?”

“It’ll be fine,” Dougray assured him.

He’s right. For once, Klein’s bear huffed, full of confidence. Fate doesn’t make mistakes. If she is our mate, then we are meant to be together.

And yet, despite his bear’s reassurances, Klein harbored a deep-seated fear of rejection. He didn’t know where it came from, but it had always been there.

A deep-seated fear that the person meant for him might not want him back. He clenched his jaw, trying to shake off the uncertainty as he moved to the window to get a look at the road. Fate might have a hand in this, but life did not always turn out the way you hoped.

Jay was living proof of that.

But he had to believe in himself and the mating bond. Leaning forward, he strained to get a glimpse of his mate. Soon she would round the corner, and he would set eyes on her for the first time.

It’ll be fine, his bear said, excitement growing with each passing moment.

His bear’s enthusiasm was almost infectious, and Klein couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips. His bear was right. It would be fine. He would be fine. The knot in his stomach slowly loosened its grip.

“What’s the plan?” Tammy’s voice shook him out of his reverie. She had stepped up beside him, her gaze focused on the road as well.

“The plan?” Klein asked, blinking at her.

“Yes,” Tammy replied, turning to look at him. “The plan. Do you want to go and meet her?”

Klein shook his head, his uncertainty still too strong. “She’s coming to see a veterinarian,” he said, his voice hesitant. “That’s you, not me.”

Tammy chuckled, a knowing smile on her face. “I don’t think she’ll be disappointed if you’re the one who greets her. Her gaze flickered toward the doorway as though any second the new arrival would appear.

“She might,” Klein muttered, shrugging. The thought of meeting her was exhilarating, but it was also terrifying.

Dougray stepped up and placed a reassuring hand on Klein’s shoulder. “We all experience the same uncertainty when we meet our mates.”

“Really?” Klein asked, looking at his brother.

“Oh yeah,” Dougray replied, his eyes filled with understanding. “We all have doubts. It’s normal.”

Tammy nodded reassuringly. “Just remember that fate is in control here.”

Maybe that’s the problem, his bear said quietly. You like being in control.

Klein knew his bear was right. Although, life on the ranch was always more about adapting to the unknown, the unpredictable. He had no command over the weather or the mountain terrain. Yet, he thrived in that environment, where hard work and persistence brought results. But this was different. This was fate, something he couldn’t control or force into place, and that terrified him.

But as the unmistakable pull grew stronger, as finally her car came into view, the urge to go to her, to see her, to hold her in his arms was overwhelming.

“Go,” Tammy encouraged. “Go and say hello and then meet me in the examination room next to the barn.” She nodded once, giving him a reassuring smile, before turning and walking away. “Come on.” She grabbed Dougray’s hand and led him away, leaving Klein alone.

He pushed the door open and went back outside, his eyes scanning the driveway as a car approached, dust kicking up from the gravel road.

The car came to a stop, and for a moment, Klein just watched, his pulse pounding in his ears. The driver’s side door opened, and a woman stepped out, silver strands of hair catching the sunlight. She was beautiful, more beautiful than he could ever imagine, and the sight of her made his breath catch. She was strong and confident, but there was a softness to her expression that made his throat constrict with longing.

She looked around, her gaze taking in the cabin and the surrounding mountains before landing on him. Their eyes met, and Klein felt a jolt run through him, a shock of recognition that went straight to his core.

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes widening slightly, as if she, too, felt the connection. Klein swallowed hard, his throat dry, and took a step forward. He could feel his bear urging him on, pushing him to close the distance between them.

“Hi,” he called, his voice rough with emotion. He cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. “You must be here to see Tammy?”

The woman nodded, her eyes still on him, curiosity and something else—something deeper—reflected in her gaze. “Yes,” she said, her voice wavering. “We…found a puppy. He’s hurt.”

Klein smiled, the warmth of it reaching his eyes. “You’re in the right place,” he said, taking another step forward, feeling the pull between them grow stronger. “I’m Klein. Tammy’s just inside. She asked me to greet you.”

Just being near her seemed to give him strength and banished his earlier weakness for good.

The woman smiled, a tentative curve of her lips that made Klein’s heart swell. “I’m Nicole,” she replied. “And this is Mila.” She gestured toward the passenger side of the car, where a young girl was climbing out, holding a small, scruffy pup in her arms.

Klein’s gaze moved to the girl, and his heart softened at the sight of her, her face filled with concern for the animal she held. He felt the connection to both of them, a sense of rightness settling over him, and he knew, deep down, that his bear was right. That Tammy was right.

Fate had brought them here. And who was he to argue with fate?