Page 16 of Home With Holden

And of course, my family wasn’t making it any easier. Why couldn’t they understand that I was trying to protect him? Protect us both, really.

Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit.

Other people had mated humans, and it had turned out just fine.

Yeah, well, I wasn’t most people. And I’m not risking my mate.

Our mate.

Ugh! I can’t believe I’m arguing with my bear. What does the beast know?

More than you, apparently.

The second Mylo stepped into the stables, I knew he was there. His scent hit me like a wave—fresh, warm, and unmistakable. My bear rumbled in my chest, a low sound of contentment I had to fight to suppress. Bears weren’t exactly subtle when they were happy, and mine was downright giddy to be in the same space as our mate.

I glanced over to see Mylo standing near the entrance, looking nervous as hell. His eyes were wide, like he wasn’t sure whether to be excited or terrified about what came next.He’s never ridden before. This is a huge mistake,I thought, but I couldn’t exactly back out now. Not with Sarah’s threat to take him herself if I didn’t.

That thought alone nearly sent my bear into a frenzy. The mountains weren’t safe for someone like him. Humans didn’t have the situational awareness that shifters did, and all I could think about was the dozen ways this could go wrong.

But I wasn’t about to let Sarah put him on a horse without me.

Yeah, that’s the reason!

It was. It really was...

Great. So now I’m babysitting my mate,I grumbled inwardly, but deep down, I knew the truth: keeping him safe was my priority. Always would be.

Yeah, and getting to spend time with him without it being your idea is awfully convenient. Coward.

Another word I’d gotten used to hearing from my bear... which, let’s face it, just meant myself since Mylo arrived.

I led him over to a gentle white mare named Snowdrop, one of the calmest horses we had on the ranch. If anyone could handle my mates’ nervous energy, it would be her. I could feelhis eyes on me as I stroked Snowdrop’s nose, introducing him to her slowly.

“This is Snowdrop,” I said, keeping my voice low and steady. “She’s good for first-timers. Just be calm around her, and she’ll take care of you.”

My mom would be so ashamed. Apparently, I’d also forgotten how to be a decent human... no‘hi,’no‘hello.’Way to be an ass, Holden.

Mylo blinked up at me, clearly trying to hide his nerves. “I’ll do my best,” he muttered, but his hand was shaking slightly as he reached out to touch the horse.

“Easy,” I said, stepping closer to him. His scent filled my lungs, and it took everything I had not to react. Being this close to him was...damn it,it was harder than I thought.Too close.

But also not close enough...

I placed a hand on Mylo’s shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles. He was nervous, no doubt, but he trusted me. Even if he didn’t realize it, he was relying on me to guide him through this.

And I would rather die than let any harm come to him.

“Here,” I murmured, sliding my hands under his arms to lift him onto the saddle. My fingers brushed his sides as I helped him up, and the simple contact sent a jolt through me. I gritted my teeth and focused on the task at hand.

And I cursed my brain for the flood of unhelpful images it decided were appropriate to send me right now.

Breathe in... Shit! No—hold your breath.Drawing more of his intoxicating scent in was the last thing I needed.

Once he was seated, I adjusted the stirrups and checked the reins. Snowdrop stood still as a statue, patient as ever, but my bear was not. He was practically bouncing, thrilled to have Mylo this close.

I stepped back, running a hand through my hair, trying to get some distance between us before I did something stupid—like pull him off that horse and wrap my arms around him and kiss him within an inch of his life.

I snorted at the thought.Yeah, and get a punch for my trouble, most likely. Just because I knew he was my mate didn’t mean anything to him... I was practically a stranger.