Page 8 of My Forever Bear

His presence in the kitchen is larger than life, and it’s throwing me off balance. Being so close to him, surrounded by his potent cedar scent, I can’t think straight.

“Grab some bowls out of that cupboard, please.” He points to the cabinet on my left.

Wiping my sweaty hands on my pants, I open the cupboard door and retrieve two ceramic bowls.

The silence in the room grows tense until Kiernan breaks it. “You know you were totally unprepared for your hike,” he growls out sternly.

“I was not! I was—”

“Totally unprepared,” he interrupts. “At least you had water andsomeprotein. But next time, you need something to protect yourself. I can get you some bear spray and a hunting knife.”

“Would bear spray have stopped you?” Flaring my nostrils, I huff in irritation.

Suddenly, he’s right in front of me, backing me up against the island counter. Tipping my head back, I meet his glaring eyes.

“No.” His palms slap to the counter on either side of me. My flesh burns under his intense stare. “But I wasn’t going to hurt you. You could have run into a coyote or some other wild animal.”

Throat suddenly drier than the Sahara, I swallow down a lump. “Are animal attacks common on the Cypress Valley Trail?”

“Not common around here because of the shifter population; our scent keeps most animals away. But it’s still best to be prepared.”

His words have me stifling a laugh. “What, were you a Boy Scout growing up or something? Be prepared,” I snark, dropping my voice an octave.

The corners of his mouth twitch up before he catches himself. Cocking a thick brow, he glares at me. “No, I don’t like the idea of anything happening to you.”

“Oh,” I squeak, staring into his heated gaze. Well then. Something warms in my chest at the thought of this man, who I've just met, caring about my safety.

“Let’s eat before it gets cold. I can answer any other questions you have over dinner.” He smiles softly, waving a hand to the small wooden dining table on the other side of the island.

“So shiftersarereal? Is it just you, all alone out here? When did you know you were a shifter?”

I can’t help but chuckle at Wren’s rapid-fire questions. Setting my spoon back in my bowl, I look up into her curious blue eyes.Damn.I’ve never seen eyes so blue. Like a tropical ocean on a calm day.

Clearing my throat, I start from the beginning. “Yes, shifters are very real, although extremely rare. Cypress Valley, where we are now, is the largest group of shifters I’ve witnessed in one place.”

“Cypress Valley,” she repeats with a stiff nod. “How many shifters live here? Are you all grizzly bear shifters?”

“Currently, there are five grizzlies living here. Reese, our alpha, founded this sanctuary to provide a safe place for us. I can introduce you to him tomorrow.”

“Yes! I would love to meet him.” She bounces slightly in her seat before continuing with her barrage of questions. I want so badly to tell her that she's my mate, but I don't want to scare her off. I don’t think she caught my slip-up earlier when I called her my mate out loud. “When did you know you were a shifter?”

“I first shifted when I was eighteen.”

“You were so young. Is it common to shift at such a young age?”

My shoulder hitches up. “Honestly, I’m not sure. I didn’t know anything about shifters before my first shift. Besides my brother, no one else in our family has the shifter gene. My dad bolted as soon as my mom told him she was pregnant, so I don't know anything about him.”

“A brother?” Her eyes light up at the mention of Finn. “Is he as hot as you?” She clamps her hand over her mouth, eyes wide. I chuckle, but quickly sober at the realization I’m going to have to explain his death to her. She needs to know all the dark parts of me, too.

“Twin brother, actually. He, um,” I clear my throat before continuing, “he died five years ago. I've been on my own ever since.”

A soft hand reaches across the table and grips mine. “I'm so sorry, Kiernan. I didn't mean to bring up anything painful,” she says as her eyes glisten with unshed tears.

Looking down at her much smaller hand in mine, I turn my palm up to lace our fingers together. I bring our joined hands to my mouth and place a soft kiss on her knuckles.

She gasps but doesn't pull away.

“It's okay, Lilac. I want you to know everything about me. The good and the ugly. I spent a long time grieving Finn's death. Losing him is actually what brought me here.”

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