Page 8 of Wrong Turn, Right Bear (Beartastic Summer of Love)

EIGHT

ASH

I slumped to the corridor floor, determined to stay and speak to Theo as he left the hotel at first light. I ran a number of scenarios in my head.

I’d offer to drive him to the airport. He’d refuse.

Sending him an email after he left was an option. But there was no guarantee he’d read it.

If I lay on the road so the hotel van couldn’t pass, I might get arrested. Not that I’d be thrown in jail because my uncle was the head of police in town. And most of the townspeople were shifters.

What if I stood in the road with a huge sign? Hmmm but other humans might see.

But footsteps padded over the carpet and I leaped up, brushing hair from my brow. I’d gotten dressed so quickly, my shirt was lopsided, having matched buttons with the wrong button hole .

Forget that ! My bear was intent on mating and didn’t understand humans' obsession with clothing.

“Hi.” The word was out of my mouth when Theo cracked the door, allowing me to see one eye.

“You have a lot of explaining to do and not much time to do it.”

Shit, I was on the clock.

“Can I come in or would you prefer we go down to the lobby?” It was late and most of the staff had left for the night so there’d be few people to listen in, unless there were guests chatting and planning their day tomorrow.

He hesitated before asking, “Will the bear be making an appearance?”

“No. He’s tucked safely away.”

“Where?” He stuck his head into the hallway.

I patted my chest. “He’s in here.”

Theo stared at me, his mouth gaping and his white-knuckled hand gripping the door.

I had a vision of an old sci-fi movie where the guy had an alien attached to his chest and wondered if he was thinking the same thing.

Of course he was freaked and I reassured him my bear only shifted with my permission.

Not exactly true .

He had pushed through a few times when I’d been injured.

We’re not telling him that now .

“Fine.” He left the door slightly ajar. It might be so he could make a run for it or for yelling and waking up the people in the next room if he needed help.

I stood as far away from him as I could. This was a make or break moment. I should have talking points and slides and a laser pointer. I had one shot to set him at ease.

After launching into shifters’ history and bringing us up to present day, I explained that most humans didn’t know we existed and that was for our safety.

“So I can’t share what I know?”

“Correct.”

“Will you be punished for showing me your animal?” He nibbled his thumbnail.

I swallowed, debating whether to tell the truth or fudge it a little. “No.”

“Why?” I’d already learned that once he got his teeth into a subject, he wouldn’t let it go until he had an answer that satisfied him.

“Well… this is a special situation.”

“To do with the wolf?” He moved toward the window. “The small one who might have done something wrong.”

“You picked up on that?” Clever.

“Yeah but let’s not get into that now. Backtrack.”

I admired how he wasn’t prepared to skate over details but I wished he had because now I had to give him an answer.

“Why did you show me your other side?”

“I didn’t. You happened to see me.”

“First time, yes but not the second. You said it was special.”

Ahhh. I thought I’d gotten out of his trap but he cornered me.

He tapped his foot but it made little sound on the soft carpet. If I explained about mates, he’d be out the door before I reached the period at the end of the sentence.

“Would you like to sit?”

Theo kept his feet on the floor but the upper part of his body reared back. “Out with it.” He grabbed a pillow and hugged it.

“It is special but to a human it’s… ummm different perhaps scary.”

He jerked his chin at me and I continued. “In the shifter world, there’s something called fated mates. That’s when an alpha and an omega are fated to be together.”

His brow creased. “What’s that got to do with me?” He gasped and blood drained from his cheeks. “Me. The hu… human.” That was probably the first time he’d referred to himself as human. “I’m the omega. The fated mate.” He stepped back until he hit the bed .

I couldn’t determine what was in Theo’s eyes other than confusion. He hadn’t fallen into my arms and declared his undying love which was to be expected. But also he hadn’t taken off, yelling, “Don’t call me.”

“Is this similar to an arranged marriage? I don’t get a choice.”

He toppled onto the bed, both hands pressed against his eyes.

“Absolutely not. You do whatever is right for you. If you leave now, you’ll never see me again.”

He opened one eye. “Never? No stalking or emails?”

“No.” My heart was so heavy, I almost toppled over. My mate had rejected me and I’d grieve his absence the rest of my life.

“So I can go on with my life and marry whomever I choose?”

I nodded. I had no words for him.

He sat up. “And you?”

Theo, my Theo, always wanted all the details but I couldn’t admit how broken I’d be if he left.

“I will continue on with my life too.”

He gazed at me as if he could see into my heart. “And you’ll find another mate.”

No, there is no one else . My bear was clamoring at my insides, telling me to be honest .

It wasn’t a question but he didn’t move as his gaze was fixed on me. He was awaiting my answer.

“Maybe.”

“Ash, if I’m your fated mate, I deserve the truth, don’t you think?”

Gods this human pushed me to be the best version of myself.

“I will never meet another mate.” Sending those words into the universe, I imagined them circling the sun as the earth did. But instead of returning once a year, the reality would be with me every minute. I’d loved and lost my one and only.

“No.” Theo raced over to me and grabbed my collar. “There must be something we can do. Talk to your leader or something. Can’t we reverse this mating thing or turn it off?”

“No.” I could have continued and told him I’d be fine. He’d live his life and be happy but that one word summed everything up.

“That’s so sad.” Tears streamed over his cheeks and he wiped them away with his shirt.

I shivered at his high feathery touch and longed to put my hands on him.

But if I did, I wouldn’t be able to stop.

I’d kiss and fondle and murmur how much I loved him.

It took all my strength to keep my hands at my sides.

“Do you want to leave now or wait until it’s light?”

I swear there was a yearning in his eyes because he seemed to be holding back something. I silently urged him to say what was in his heart.

“I’ll wait.”

“May I drive you to the airport?”

“Sure, why not.”

There was nothing left to say other than arrange a time to pick him up. But Theo had more questions.

“The young wolf. What was that about?”

“It was his first solo shift without his parents and he couldn’t control his beast. He wanted to say sorry in person but I’ll tell him I delivered his apology.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

There was an awkward silence and I couldn’t fill it with anything so I walked to the door and said I’d be out front at seven.

But I didn’t leave. Instead, I lay on the carpet outside his room, listening to his breathing.

He didn’t sleep but tossed and turned all night and got up hours before he had to.

We sat in silence on the drive to the airport. I inhaled his scent, committing it to memory.

“I’m sorry.” Theo’s pale face and trembling hands told a story but I kept my feelings trapped inside me with my bear who was rampaging saying he couldn’t leave.

“Those are empty words but even if I agreed to be your mate, you wouldn’t be happy with someone who didn’t return your feelings. ”

“Be happy, Theo.” I waved, turned around and got in the car. I refused to go inside the terminal. No one liked goodbyes, especially when the one you loved was walking out of your life forever.

The tears flowed as I drove away and when I reached my place, I lay my head on the steering wheel and wept. Time wouldn’t ease my pain.

Opening the door, I stumbled out.

Take your fur . My beast ripped through my chest, his fury matching my grief and he tore through the woods, trampling seedlings, crushing fallen branches and hurling rocks into the air.

This is how it would be for us. We were missing our other half.