Philip’s bear stirred uneasily beneath his skin as a sense of foreboding grew in his mind. Something is coming.
I can’t sense anything, Philip replied as he straightened up and surveyed the transformed landscape of Rose Farm. In the two months since Elsbeth had accepted him—both man and bear—as her mate, the barren fields had erupted into a riot of color that took his breath away. Row upon neat row of flowers stretched before him: bachelor’s buttons in vibrant blue, delicate purple larkspur swaying in the breeze, and his personal favorite, the deep crimson roses that honored Elsbeth’s mother.
“What do you think?” Elsbeth asked, appearing at his side with a basket of freshly cut blooms balanced on her hip. Her cheeks were flushed from the summer heat, while tendrils of hair escaped her practical braid to frame her face. Even with dirt smudged across her forehead and sweat dampening her shirt, she was the most beautiful sight he’d ever beheld.
“It’s incredible,” Philip replied honestly. “You’ve worked miracles here.”
“ We’ve worked miracles,” Elsbeth corrected. “There’s no way I couldn’t have done this alone.”
“Oh, I think you can do anything you set your mind to.” Philip slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close as he pressed a kiss on her forehead.
Elsbeth leaned into him, her free hand gesturing toward the farthest field. “The blue hydrangeas are coming along perfectly for your parents’ anniversary celebration. And the lavender field is almost ready for its first harvest.”
Philip was so darn proud of her he could burst. “Mom’s going to be overwhelmed when she sees all of this.”
“I hope so,” Elsbeth said, a hint of nervousness in her voice. “Fifty years of marriage deserves something special. Add to that, raising six sons, she deserves something extra special.”
It is going to be a party to remember, his bear rumbled contentedly.
As long as Stanley doesn’t get too carried away, Philip said. His brother owned the pet store in town and had floated many ideas for his contribution, ranging from a parrot to welcome all the guests, to goldfish bowl centerpieces, with real goldfish.
Eventually, they had settled on a live butterfly release, symbolizing new beginnings and eternal love. Philip thought it was actually perfect for his parents, who had always encouraged their sons to spread their wings while maintaining strong family bonds.
Philip tightened his hold on Elsbeth, feeling the familiar rush of gratitude that she had come into his life. Every day with her felt like a gift he’d never dared hope for—working side by side, building something together, falling asleep with her in his arms, and waking to her smile.
He looked toward the distant mountain peaks, detecting a subtle hint of ozone carried by the wind.
Something’s coming, his bear warned again. I’m sure of it.
“Philip?” Elsbeth’s voice pulled him back to the present. “You went somewhere else for a moment.”
He frowned, tilting his head to better catch the shifting wind. “There’s a storm coming.”
Elsbeth gazed up at the clear blue sky, her brow furrowing in confusion. “The weather forecast said nothing but sunshine for the next three days.”
“I can smell it,” Philip insisted, his bear growing more restless by the minute. “Something in the air doesn’t feel right.”
She set her basket down on a nearby stump and placed both hands on his chest, looking up at him with those eyes that never failed to captivate him. “Philip Thornberg, are you trying to find an excuse to cancel your trip to the wine festival? Because it’s not every day you get presented with an award for grape grower of the year!”
“No,” he protested, though the thought had crossed his mind. This would be the first time they had been apart for a night since he’d revealed his bear to her, and he didn’t want to leave her. “I just don’t like the idea of leaving you alone if there’s bad weather coming.”
We should stay , his bear insisted. Protect our mate.
“I’ll keep a close eye on the forecast,” Elsbeth assured him. “But this is important. To you and your family. It’s an honor to be given such an award.” Her mouth turned down at the corners. “I feel bad enough that I’m not coming with you…”
If we don’t go, she’s going to blame herself, his bear said. She’s going to worry about what people will say.
I don’t care what people say, Philip said.
But our mate does, his bear replied.
Philip sighed. You’re right.
And Elsbeth is right, there is no storm forecasted, his bear said, but he was not convinced that meant there was not one coming this way. Maybe it is just the thought of leaving her that is messing with our senses.
“Don’t feel bad,” Philip told his mate. “There’ll be a lot of grape talk…”
“Stop there,” she said, and cupped his face in her hands and kissed his lips.
You really need to leave the puns to Alfie, his bear said.
“I’ll be fine,” she whispered. “I have it all under control.”
“I know you’re capable,” Philip said, stroking her cheek. “That’s not what worries me.”
It’s not being here that worries us, his bear added. Not being able to protect her if something happens.
Don’t remind me, Philip said as his doubts returned.
“Then what is it?” Elsbeth asked, covering his hands with her own.
“I’ve never been away from you overnight since we found each other,” he admitted. “My bear is...anxious about it.”
That’s right, blame me, his bear grumbled.
Understanding softened her features. “Your bear is overprotective,” she said with a teasing smile. “But he needs to trust that I can handle myself for a couple of days.”
“Okay,” Philip said, torn between duty and desire. The vineyard had been his life’s work, and Elsbeth was right. It was a great honor to receive such an award.
But our mate... his bear began.
“Go,” Elsbeth urged, breaking into his thoughts. “I’ll be right here when you get back.”
With a resigned sigh, Philip nodded. “All right. But promise me you’ll call if anything happens. Anything at all.”
“I promise,” she said solemnly, then brightened. “Now help me unload the last of the compost from the truck.”
They worked together in comfortable silence, as they often did. With hard work and dedication, Rose Farm had been transformed from a neglected property into a thriving business in just a few short months. The old farmhouse gleamed with fresh paint; the weathered barn now housed Elsbeth’s flower-arranging workshop; neat gravel paths wound between carefully planned beds of blooms in every color imaginable.
And at the center of it all was Elsbeth—his mate, his heart, his future.
We’ve built something beautiful here, his bear said, momentarily distracted from his anxiety. Something worth protecting.
“I know,” Philip murmured aloud as he carried the last bag of compost from the truck to the barn.
“Know what?” Elsbeth asked, looking up as she closed the tailgate.
“I know how lucky I am,” he said, as he stacked the bag of compost next to the others and went back to her, pulling her into his arms. “To have found you. To be building this life with you.”
She melted against him, her arms wrapping around his waist. “I’m the lucky one,” she whispered. “I came here with nothing but a promise to keep, and I found everything I never knew I wanted.”
“And in you, I found everything I knew I always wanted.” Philip breathed in deeply, trying to memorize every detail of this moment. The softness of her body against his, the sweet fragrance of the flowers, the absolute certainty that this was where he belonged.
And yet, beneath it all, that nagging sense of unease persisted.
“Okay, you should go before I change my mind and keep you here,” she said, stepping away from him.
“You’ll call me?” he asked, heading for his truck, which was already packed and ready for his trip. All he needed to do was swing by the vineyard and collect Kris, who was accompanying him to the wine festival.
“Wait,” she called, hurrying toward him. “I have something for you.”
She held out a perfect bachelor’s button, its vibrant blue petals fully open. “To remind you of me while you’re gone.” She carefully tucked the bloom into his buttonhole. “And since our love is everlasting, I am expecting it to still be perfect when you return.”
Philip’s throat tightened with emotion as he covered her hand with his. “I will love you forever, Elsbeth.”
“Are you trying to make me cry?” she asked, smoothing her hands across his chest. “Just come back to me safely.”
“Always,” he promised, bending to capture her lips in a kiss that left them both breathless.
When they finally parted, Philip rested his forehead against hers. “Two days,” he murmured. “Then I’m coming straight home to you.”
“I’ll be here,” she assured him, stepping back reluctantly. “Bring me back a present.”
“I will.” With one last kiss, Philip climbed into his truck. As he turned the key in the ignition, but before he pulled away, he couldn’t resist pulling out his phone to check the weather forecast one more time. The screen showed nothing but sun icons for the next three days, just as Elsbeth had said.
Maybe we’re overreacting, he told his bear as he backed down the driveway.
His bear remained unconvinced, pacing restlessly within him.
When he finally drove away, Philip watched Elsbeth in the rearview mirror as she stood waving, her figure growing smaller as he headed for the road. The bachelor’s button in his buttonhole caught his eye, its blue as vibrant as Elsbeth’s future seemed to be.
Two days. He could manage two days away from her.
But as he rounded the bend that would take Rose Farm and his mate out of sight, that sense of foreboding returned stronger than ever, and he had to fight the urge to turn around and race back to Elsbeth.
He didn’t know what he would do if he lost her.
But he kept his foot on the gas. Perhaps all shifters felt this way the first time they left their mate.
He checked the clear sky again and told himself he was being ridiculous. But instincts ran deeper than logic, and his bear wouldn’t settle. Not while their mate was alone, and the air felt so…wrong.