Page 12 of Rough and Rugged

Now fully clothed, Beare stalked toward the bed, his golden eyes blazing with ire. “I get that and I’m sorry. But instead of talking and letting me explain, you took off and got lost,” he gritted out. “There are predators out here that won’t think twice about seeing you as food. You could have been seriously hurt, or worse.”

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but I had nothing to counter that. Beare was right. Though, who could think straight when one saw a bear shifting into a man? Still, that was no excuse for putting myself in danger.

I dropped my chin to my chest. “You’re right.”

“I am.”

For the next several minutes, quiet settled in the cabin. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing, but I waited for Beare to finish with the coffee.

I had questions, particularly about the mate thing, but the aroma of java infusing the small space distracted me. I inhaled, and yearned for a taste.

Beare turned from the makeshift counter, two cups in his hands. He extended one out to me. I carefully reached out and took the mug—without touching him.

The heat from the cup warmed my hands as I took a grateful sip. “Now you have your coffee. Please explain.”

“Before I explain about you being my mate, I want to clarify to you about this world—my world.” He pulled up the very chair I had propped against the door and sat. “You, as a human, aren’t aware of the supernatural world I was born into.”

“Supernatural world?” I was intrigued. “I thought that was only in books.”

Beare chuckled. “Yes, the supernatural world does exist. Shifters of all kinds, magic folks—both in other and human forms. We’ve coexisted with the humans for thousands of years. Granted, there were moments in history that our kind were seen by humans. But that was rare.”

“All kinds? Magic? Other and human?” I shook my head, utterly gobsmacked. “So, there are different kinds of animal shifters. Magic is real. But others? Like witches and…” I wanted him to fill in the blank.

“Demons and other things,” he whispered the words. The tension in his jaw relayed that the subject was too serious to talk about for the moment. That still didn’t fully explain things, but I didn’t push.

“What about this mate thing?” Trepidation coursed through me. I took a sip of coffee, needing another jolt of caffeine.

Beare paused, took my mug and put them both down on the nightstand. He then sat and took my hands in his. I sat there frozen; my heart thrashed against my ribcage as I focused on his face.

“Do you trust me?”

Do I?I glanced down at our clasped hands. His was big, calloused and warm. Not since Mrs. Muller, had I trusted anyone. But with Beare, there was sincerity and hope on his face that I couldn’t ignore.

“Yes,” I finally said.

“For many years, I was told there’s only one person for me. The one who’s a perfect match. One who gets me. But I thought it was only a myth. And then I saw you, Axton. Even though I caught your scent that first night, I didn’t believe it until I came back from my run. I scented you again and knew immediately that you are my fated mate.”

“I still don’t understand,” I admitted, and pulled my hands from his. I couldn’t sit there anymore. I got up and began pacing. “What do you mean by fated? Like destiny?”

“Yes.” Beare stood and came to me. “You and me. We are like missing puzzle pieces. We’re meant to be together.”

“Mating, is it like a sexual thing? Because I don’t know if that,” I pointed to his groin, “could fit…” My voice hiked up at the idea of Beare’s cock inside me.

“Mating is like a marriage. And it’s for life, Axton. As my fated mate, we only crave each other’s touch. No others. You complete me.”

I reflexively snorted, followed by uncontrollable laughter. I couldn’t help it as a familiar movie scene played in my head.

He frowned, and a deep groove formed between his eyebrows. “What’s so funny?” he growled, but I wasn’t afraid. I saw past his bravado. Beare was all bark and no bite.

“I’m sorry. But the second you said I complete you, a movie scene popped into my head.” I should be embarrassed by my actions, but I wasn’t and laughed harder.

He must have got the reference, because he ended up laughing with me. It was deep, and throaty, and so damn sexy I wanted to climb him like a tree and devour his mouth. But I restrained myself.

“I like your laugh.” Heat rose up my neck at my confession.

“I like yours, too.” Beare cupped my cheek. “I know this might be too soon for you to say yes, but Axton, I can’t leave here without you. My bear… Well, he wants to—and I…”

“What? Eat me?” I swallowed hard at the sudden panic choking me.

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