Page 48 of His Determined Bear

I shoved everything in my suitcase without bothering to fold it. I needed to get out of Asheville as soon as possible. So why did it hurt so much? Why did it feel like someone was reaching into my chest and ripping my heart out?

I swiped angrily at the tears rolling down my cheeks. I would not cry about a man that could invade my privacy like that. He could do worse than that.

No tears, Cooper. You’re going to pack your things to go back home and pretend you never met him.

I knew the moment he was standing outside my door. I could feel his presence there without turning around.

“What are you doing?” Graham asked, his voice tight. “Running again?”

I spun around and pointed at him. “What would you do if you were in my position? No one knows I’m pregnant, but somehow you do. And your family knows. Did you put a tracker on my phone? Or some kind of listening device?” Even as I said the words, they sounded ridiculous to me. But what other explanation could there possibly be?

“You think I’ve been stalking you?” I could hear how ridiculous he thought I was just by the tone of his voice.

But there could be no other plausible explanation for all of this.

“How did you find out?” I demanded, throwing my hands in the air. “I didn’t tell you. So unless you hacked—”

Graham snorted, and then it turned into a laugh, “Me? Hack?” He shook his head but then sighed.

“Tell me how then? Don’t make it seem like I’m being ridiculous when you know private medical information about me that you couldn’t possibly know.”

Graham sighed, pushing his hand through his already unruly hair, and I could now see it wasn’t the first time he’d done that today. “I always planned on telling you about me. I guess I thought you at least suspected because Aaron mentioned that you knew what he was.”

My brow crinkled at his words, “What does that have— wait. Are you a cougar too?”

Graham shook his head, “I’m a bear. My family and I are bear shifters. That’s how we know about the baby. I guess the easiest way to explain it is early on they can scent me on you. Or I guess it could be the baby. I’m not really sure how all that works. When a pregnancy is in the early stages, the family can scent it where others can’t. You’re like a month pregnant, if I’m not mistaken.”

I nodded. “Almost.”

“If you were further along, Aaron would have been able to scent you. But for now, just my family can. I guess it was the way to protect our omegas back in the day. If a shifter died, his partner would be recognized, especially if they hadn’t been claimed.”

“Oh.” That was all I could come up with because honestly, what did you say to that?

Graham took a step into the room, “I didn’t want you to find out like that. And I didn’t think my dad would just blurt it out the way he did.” He took another step, “I was kind of hoping you would tell me.”

I released a heavy breath and sank down on the bed. I covered my eyes with my hand, not wanting to see the disappointment that was sure to be on his face. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, “I really didn’t plan this. I forgot to take the pill, and then when I did, it was a day late. Really who knew the whole 48hrs thing was that set in stone. I know this isn’t what you wanted—”

Before I could continue, Graham gently pulled my hands from over my eyes. I hadn’t even heard him squat down in front of me. “I want our baby Cooper. I am so fucking happy about them, and it’s been killing me not to be able to tell you how I felt.” He cupped my cheek, and I couldn’t help but lean into him. “I want you, Cooper.” He shook his head, “Want can’t—” he stopped himself, then started again. “You’re my soul. Being apart from you….” I saw it in his eyes how much my leaving had hurt him. And if I was honest, I think I’d known that.

“I know this may sound crazy to you, but,” Graham said.

I cut him off before he could finish.“Do you mean there could be something crazier than finding out my kind of boyfriend is a bear shifter and that I’m pregnant with his kid, that I assume will also be a bear shifter? Seriously, there’s something crazier than that?”

Graham nodded. “Yep?”

I chuckled and shook my head in utter disbelief. “Alrighty then, hit me with it.”

That remark earned me a small smile from Graham.

“Well, babe, as it turns out, you’re my mate,” he said like it was the simplest thing ever.

“Your mate?” I repeated, my question tinged in disbelief and confusion.

Graham nodded, “Yes, I guess the easiest way to describe it would be to say you are my soulmate… but it’s more meaningful than that. For a shifter, you only get one. One person that completes you. One person that you wait for and hope that you find to spend your life with.”

A small part of me had gone there, but… “And for you, that person is me?” My heart was racing. “Me?” I shook my head, starting to feel the panic creep up my spine again. “Graham, it can’t be me. It’s not possible, and it doesn’t make any sense that it could be me. We don’t even live in the same state. You must be mistaken.” I jumped to my feet, and Graham followed me.

“I’m not mistaken, Cooper,” he said quietly, trying to reassure me with his touch. “Trust me when I tell you that this isn’t something a shifter can get wrong. It’s embedded deep in my DNA, and it calls me to you.” Graham drew in a deep breath and continued on. “From the moment your scent hit me in the supermarket that day, it felt like everything in my life had clicked into place. You’re it for me, Cooper. Everything I’ve been waiting for all my life.” He took me in his arms, then tucked his head in my neck and breathed in deeply. “Mine,” his voice was deeper than I’d ever heard it, and I felt a shiver travel up my spine.

---