Page 74 of Mated to the Mountain Bear

Mine. All fucking mine.

“Never. You’re perfect.” Hugging her to me, my chest tightens. “I’m just trying to get my game face on.”

She nods but watches me closely as I pull on a shirt and boots. My throat constricts as I see my mate move around my space, our space, tidying the sheets and folding my discarded clothes for me, like we’re a proper couple.

“What?” she asks shyly when she sees me staring at her.

“You look good in my home. That’s something I hope to see more of when this is all over.”

Zara grins but tilts her head to the side, studying me closely when she senses my tension. She can tell I’m hiding something from her, our fledgling bond strengthening after our intimacy. But it’s for her own good.

“Come on,” I say, waving her out to the kitchen.

I pause at the hall closet, reaching for the top shelf. The metal safe clicks open with the combination I’ve used a hundred times. Inside sits the rifle I’d hoped I’d never need for anything but hunting.

“Is that necessary?” Zara’s voice is small behind me.

“Yes.” I pull out a box of ammunition, then reach deeper for a smaller, older box. “These are regular bullets.” I load the rifle, showing her each step. “They’ll slow a shifter down, maybe buy you time, but they won’t stop one.”

I open the second box, revealing bullets that gleam differently in the dim light. “These are silver. They’re... permanent. For shifters, they’re lethal.”

I never thought I’d need these, the bullets I’d taken from my father’s safe before I left the clan, just in case he ever came to drag me back. Or punish any of my other brothers for trying to start a new life.

Her hands shake slightly as she takes the rifle. “Ben...”

“You won’t need them.” I promise, loading three silver bullets into her pocket. “But if something happens to me, if they get past me, you aim for centre mass, and you shoot. Then you run to my truck and don’t look back.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to you,” she says fiercely.

I kiss her temple, wishing I could be as certain.

Whistling for Jerry, I ruffle his furry head after he bounds into the room, loyal to the end. Any other dog would be cowering in a corner or itching to run away, sensing the dominant alpha outside, and the tension in the air. If I can feel it, so can Jerry. But this dog is brave and fierce, and I know he’ll do what he can to keep my mate safe.

“You stay with her.” I point at Zara, and he tips his head to the side, confused. “Her. Stay.”

When he gets to his feet and moves away, walking to Zara’s side and brushing up against her leg, I give him a sharp nod. “Good boy.”

Zara rolls her eyes, thinking I’m being over the top, but I wish I were. Sadly, I’m worried it’s not going to be enough.

In the kitchen, I leave the lights off. Staring out into the trees, I can’t see them, but I can feel them.

Waiting.

In the distance, so faint that Zara probably can’t hear it, comes a howl. An answer to a question I didn’t ask.

He’s coming.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Zara grips my hand, determined. Trusting. Pride swells inside me that she would even consider someone like me to be hers. My bear growls, determination hardening like steel in his veins.

She’s going to be okay. I’m going to make sure she gets to live a normal life again.

Even if it costs me everything.

29

ZARA