Page 20 of Mated to the Mountain Bear

She doesn’t turn. “It’s fine.”

It’s clearly not fine. She shivers but doesn’t move.

“What are you doing, Zara?”

She looks so tiny, so vulnerable, it makes me want to pick her up and carry her inside.

“Waiting for Beau.”

Something twists in my gut. I move closer, boots heavy on the wood. “Why?”

“You saidone night.” She glances up at me. “Last night when I arrived. You saidone night. ONE. NIGHT.”

When she imitates my deep voice, the memory of my angry words hits hard. I did say that, but we all know I didn’t mean it.

I already told her she was staying here until it’s done. “You’re not leaving while he’s still out there.”

Just the idea of her returning home without knowing this guy is off the streets makes my blood pressure rise. It’s not going to happen.

Zara’s gaze flicks to me, annoyed by my bossy tone. “You said Beau will come if he has news.”

The urge to just carry her inside gets stronger, but I force myself to be patient, not a quality that bear shifters are known for.

“I said that.” I take a deep breath and sit on the step beside her, stretching my legs out and staring at the pretty orange sky. “But sitting out here freezing to death won’t make him appear any sooner.”

Beau will work twenty-four hours a day until this case is done.

“But it might take him some time.”

She looks back at the empty road, processing this new reality. Clearly, she was hoping he’d be able to work miracles. Setting her mug aside, she wraps her arms around her knees.

“Come inside,” I say. “I’ll get a fire going.”

As I climb to my feet, those big green eyes look up at me again, and my chest cracks wide open. I want to make everything better for her. I can tell she’s a good person who doesn’t deserve any of this.

“Okay.” Her tiny voice nearly brings me to my knees.

Extending a hand, I force my expression to stay neutral as she slips hers into mine and allows me to pull her to her feet. My bear practically purrs, loving the sensation of her skin against mine, and the sparks that light up inside me at her touch.

With a small smile, she follows me in, moving like someone in a dream. I busy myself tending to the fire while she curls into the corner of the couch, still wearing my flannel from this morning, and now watching the fire catch and grow.

I’m relieved we’ve patched things up, which is a new feeling for me. Normally, I couldn't care less about what someone thinks of me.

“Dinner’s on the stove,” I tell her. “If you’re hungry.”

She shakes her head, looking pale and tired. It’s not just last night that’s taken its toll on her. It’s been a long few weeks. “Maybe later.”

My bear doesn’t like that response, wanting me to force-feed her until some colour comes back into her cheeks, and some light in her eyes. Instead, I watch her as she stares blankly at the dancing flames; the shadows flickering on her beautiful face, my flannel slipping off one shoulder to give me a glimpse of tanned skin.

The cabin fills with the crackle of burning wood. Neither of us speaks, but the silence feels different now. It’s cosy,and it feels like we’re both finally adjusting to this new living arrangement.

Time passes. The sun sets completely, leaving us in the warm glow of firelight. I notice her eyelids drooping, and her body relaxing into the cushions.

“I keep thinking I’ll wake up,” she murmurs, half asleep. “And this will all be some weird dream. Amber will call, laughing about some audition disaster. My biggest worry will be which coffee shop to meet her at. Not police or stalkers.”

Her voice trails off. Within minutes, her breathing deepens into sleep, the effects of the last two days finally catching up with her.

I watch her for a moment, my bear rumbling quietly, loving that she trusts us enough to be so vulnerable in our presence.