Page 45 of Caught Bear Handed

I sighed as I pulled on my shorts.I needed to figure out a way to reframe this, and use this time to strengthen our relationship.

You’ll never have time together like this again, my bear said.

Just before I opened the door, something told me to grab Gigi’s leash.I usually let her go free on our walks on the cabin property.Her recall was excellent, and we rarely ran into another living soul.But I knew better than to ignore my instinct.My bear could be picking up on a coyote.Gigi was more than capable of handling herself, but I wouldn’t put her in that position.

The sun had come up just a little more, painting the sky in gentle pastels.I’d come to appreciate this early morning vibe since I moved here and adopted my girl.It was peaceful and beautiful.

Would you give it all up if Kayla asked you to?my bear asked.

There was a tug in my chest.In this fantasy bubble, I could believe there was a way to make this relationship work—but was there?Kayla’s job had no flexibility, and she’d mentioned long hours many times—so I’d be on my own if I followed her.

Never stopped you before.

My bear was right, but before I was always running from something.Chaos was kind of my default.

Maybe it’s time to reset your default, the beast said with a sniff.

He was probably right, but at the moment, I had another beast to focus on.Gigi.I always let her choose which way we went on these walks, and this morning, she had definite opinions about which way we should go.I followed along as she went on her mission.

“Pulling,” I said firmly.Neither of us were used to the leash anymore.My warning worked for a moment, but then she gave another firm tug.“Hey.”

Gigi’s listening skills were excellent when she wanted them to be, and now wasn’t one of those times.I quickened my pace, knowing just because she didn’t shift to human didn’t make her instincts any less sharp.

She strained against the leash.If I wasn’t holding her back, she’d be in a full-blown run.My bear wasn’t sensing anything.She moved along the fence, sniffing, pulling me along, until she brought me to a post with a piece of paper attached to it.

Strange.It had been tacked with a giant nail, like one that could hold the fence together.I pulled it away, tearing the paper.At first, I thought it was a yard sale flyer, which wouldn’t make any sense, out in the middle of nowhere.

“Fuck,” I growled, and Gigi barked, agreeing with me.

Someone had printed out that picture fromThe Wolf’s Moonforum, the one of Amelia with Kayla in the background.They’d circled Kayla in red, and written in Sharpie,We see you, “Gina.”

Was someone in Sawtooth Forest working with those monsters?

ChapterSeventeen

Kayla

I could seriously lie in this warm bed that smelled like bear all day, but my bear wasn’t in it anymore.Beau and Gigi were out for a walk.I had almost asked if he wanted me to come with them, but it was so adorable the way he’d whispered to Gigi, telling her to be quiet and calm because I was sleeping.But after years on set and insanely early call times—sleeping in wasn’t my strong suit.

I’d been happy to play along, because it was so sweet to listen to him dog dad.Which made me wonder what he’d be like with a baby.

Wait, what?I’d never thought about babies before.

Because you never met your mate before, my wolf reminded me.

She was right about that, but it did nothing to calm my nerves.A baby.What about my job?Production tried to be parent friendly, but it was hard, especially when we were on location.I felt bad for my colleagues who pumped milk in pop-up changing tents.Of course, I could hire someone to help, but I didn’t want someone else to raise my baby, which I’d never given much thought to before a few minutes ago.

Was it even possible to deliver a half-wolf, half-bear baby?I knew it was, and in most cases, the baby wound up taking on the traits of the parent with the dominant genes.But we’d all read those nightmare stories of the hybrid shifters who turned into complete abominations.The fact that it was uncommon, but not impossible, sent a shiver down my spine.

Would Beau even want a baby?Did I?

Okay, there was no point lying here and letting my thoughts spiral.It was time to get out of bed and distract myself.I rose, stretched, and sighed.

There was still that weird emptiness, that not knowing what to do with myself.My bodyguard bear had been an excellent distraction, until I needed to be distracted from the bear.I brushed my teeth, fixed my hair, and made myself presentable.

I wanted to surprise Beau.

It wasn’t something I usually had an opportunity to do, since we were together almost twenty-four/seven.But that didn’t mean I didn’t want to do nice things for him.I couldn’t shake the feeling that my choice to make him breakfast was somehow related to the sudden onset of baby fever.