Page 9 of Mated to the Mountain Bear (Bear Protector #1)

“You’re right. Sorry. Shit.” She groans. “I’ll shut up now.”

I count in my head. One. Two. Three.

“Amber’s always been the quiet one, if you’d believe that.

Could sit for hours just reading or thinking.

Me? Five minutes of silence when someone else is right there, and I’m climbing the walls.

Drives her crazy.” Her voice catches. “I keep doing that. Talking about her like... but she could be fine. She could be perfectly fine somewhere.”

I glance back. She’s hugging herself again, staring out at the mountains beyond the shed.

“Talk about her however feels right,” I tell her, turning back to the generator.

“I managed everything for her. Auditions, appearances, schedules. She’s an actress. So talented. I’ve always just kept her life running smoothly.” Her voice drops. “There’s nothing I didn’t know about. Nothing I didn’t organize for her. She wouldn’t just disappear without telling me.”

The pain in her voice is raw. I finish my inspection, wipe my hands on the rag hanging from a nail, and stand.

Everything’s running fine, as always. I never really planned to do it.

It was just a ruse to get out of the cabin and clear my head, but when she wanted to tag along… and then she started talking…

This was just busywork, something to do with my hands, while she processed out loud.

“All good?” she asks, stepping back so I can exit the shed. “No power cuts coming in the middle of the night? I don’t think I could take it.”

The sad thing is, I bet she’d handle it just fine.

“Always is. Just routine maintenance,” I assure her, and when she smiles in relief, I feel like a king.

We start the walk back to the cabin, and I’m hyper-aware of her presence at my side. The sun’s higher now, warming the air, which is filled with the normal sounds of nature that she probably doesn’t even notice over the noise in her head.

“Must be nice,” she says softly, “being up here. Knowing what each day will bring.”

There’s no accusation in it, just wistfulness. I glance at her. She’s watching the trees sway, deep in thoughts, arms wrapped around herself.

“Beau will come with any updates,” I offer awkwardly. “If there’s news, he won’t keep it from you.”

She nods, trying for a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I know.”

When we reach the back door, I hold it open for her, and she passes through, her hair now smelling of my soap, and pauses in the mudroom beside me to pull off the borrowed boots.

The cabin feels smaller with both of us in it.

I’m acutely aware of her in my space, disrupting my solitude and teasing my senses.

She hovers in the kitchen while I rinse the grease from my hands. I watch her gaze sweep the living room, looking for something.

“No TV,” I say. My tone is defensive, wanting her to like it here, despite knowing the chances of that are slim.

She startles slightly then tries to cover it. “Oh. I wasn’t... I mean...”

“It’s fine. Most people expect one.”

Damn it. My bear is unhappy with her displeasure. I had an old one before, just to watch movies on, but when Mason fell into it one fall after a few too many beers, I never bothered replacing it.

“I just thought...” She stops, jaw tightening. “I guess I’m not used to the quiet.”

She’s trying to hide her shock. No TV. No internet. And absolutely no connection to the outside world while she’s stuck in a tiny cabin with a complete stranger.

I grab my book and sink into my chair, pointing to the shelves behind her, where row after row of books sit. “Help yourself.”

She settles at the far end of the couch, but I can feel her restlessness from across the room.

“How do you stand it?” Finally, the question she’s dying to ask bursts out of her. “The silence. The... nothingness.”

I look up from my book and glance out at the beautiful clear sky, and the mountain peaks in the distance. “It’s not nothing. We’re surrounded by nature. And it’s peaceful.”

I am nature. For much of the year, when the weather’s good, I transform into my bear form and wander the hills. There’s no better feeling. But I can’t exactly tell her that.

“It’s isolated.” Her voice cracks slightly. “Completely cut off. I can’t check on anything.”

I see the panic rising within her, but I don’t know how to ease her fears. And I’ve got no idea what I can suggest for her to do to keep her mind off what’s going on.

“It’s not that bad. You’ll survive a few days without TV and internet.”

The comment comes out more dismissive than I intended, and she goes still. As the tense silence drags on, I realise this is the longest she’s gone without talking, and to my surprise, I don’t like it.

Her voice is dangerously quiet when she speaks. “You think this is about missing my shows? You think I’m upset because I can’t check Instagram?”

I set my book down. “I didn’t mean…”

Shit. This is why I don’t socialise. I’m no good at it. Whatever I say comes out wrong, so I don’t bother saying anything at all.

“My sister is missing.” She stands, hands clenched at her sides, looking like a beautiful spitfire, as she puts me in my place.

“I can’t call the police for updates. I can’t check the news to see if they’ve found.

.. anything. And I can’t even let anyone know where I am.

But sure, act like I’m some spoiled city girl who can’t survive without social media. ”

My bear approves of her spirit.

“Zara…” I go to stand, but she turns away, looking angry and defeated at the same time.

“Forget it.” She limps toward the bedroom, back rigid. “Enjoy your peace.”

The door closes with enough force to rattle the windows. Not quite a slam, but close enough. I stare at the closed door, wishing I knew what to do.

Shit. Now I remember why I keep to myself. Why I don’t even try to find a mate. And why I really didn’t want Beau to leave this woman, who I find so tempting, in my home.

Suddenly, my peace feels a lot less peaceful, and my bear is a lot less satisfied.

Mainly with me.