Page 23 of Beast Bear

Chapter

Twenty-Four

The soft clinkof pans and the sizzle of bacon drifted through the crack in the bedroom door. Theo hummed a familiar tune in the kitchen. “Are you up? Breakfast will be ready soon,” he called.

Serena swung her legs over the bed and said, “I’ll be out in a minute.” She then closed the bedroom door to get dressed. She walked over to her backpack on the floor by the bed. As she reached for her shirt, she noticed a glint of metal on the floor.

She leaned closer and discovered several pieces of metal under the bed. She examined them because the parts looked like something she vaguely recognized. She realized the pieces under Theo’s bed looked a lot like parts of an anchor kit. Her pulse quickened when she remembered Logan mentioning the damaged anchor components from the mountain climbing accident.

Her stomach knotted. Why would these be here? She fought the immediate stab of suspicion. Theo was probably using the parts to repair or build something. Serena inhaled slowly andthen snapped several photographs of them to research later. She dressed quickly and made her way into the kitchen.

Theo stood at the stove wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. He glanced over his shoulder and offered a broad smile. “Morning,” he said, sliding scrambled eggs on to a plate next to a few strips of bacon. “I thought we could use a good meal before heading out for the day.”

Serena smiled back. “Looks good,” she replied, settling at the small table. The chair squeaked as she sat, and she curled her fingers around the steaming mug of coffee he had placed for her. She sipped the delicious brew, trying not to think about the bolts on the floor. Theo sat opposite her, taking in her expression with mild concern.

“Everything okay?”

She paused. “Just worried. Yesterday was tough.” After a few bites, Serena set her fork down. “I have rope training in ten minutes. I should get going soon.”

They finished in silence. When she rose to gather her belongings, Theo stepped over and gave her a gentle hug. She rested her cheek briefly against his chest. A wave of longing and confusion washed over her. She wanted to trust him. She wanted to believe in love.

“Thanks for breakfast,” she said, pulling away. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

Theo nodded, looking puzzled. “Yeah. I’ll text you later.”

With her backpack slung over her shoulder, she stepped out onto the small porch. The crisp mountain air hit her, and she took a deep breath. Sunlight filtered through the tall pines, castingdancing shadows on the ground. Her mind reeled, but she told herself she owed Theo the benefit of the doubt.

As Serena walked onto the gravel path that led toward the academy grounds, she vowed she’d never ignore red flags and fall into a mate trap like her mother. Whether her suspicions were a misunderstanding, or it all pointed to something far darker, she intended to find out the truth.

Serena stepped into her dorm room later that evening. All through her day of training, her thoughts fixated on the strange metal pieces she’d spotted at Theo’s cabin. Her mind warred with itself and her contrasting impressions of the man who was her mate. At times he could be tender, loving, and kind. At other times, he was unhinged, unbridled, and half crazed.

Serena dropped her backpack next to the bed. Crossing to her small desk, she powered on her laptop. She navigated to the academy’s internal resource portal and opened PDF manuals from the Rope Rescue courses. Next, she flipped to a section in her binder titled “Equipment Specs.” A printed diagram displayed the components of a standard anchor kit, complete with bolts, washers, and metal connectors.

Her breath caught in her throat as she examined the photos she’d taken. She moved to a new page in the digital manual, stopping at a high-resolution illustration of a specialized load-bearing anchor kit. Each part was labeled with care. Her heartbegan to pound when she noticed that the indentations, the slight ridges—everything matched the pieces in her photos.

She opened the staff updates on her screen, scanning for any mention of that incident. Within moments, she found a brief bulletin titled “Specialized Kit #47A—Unaccounted For.”

Skimming the text, Serena discovered that one went missing sometime before the climb. The brand name and part numbers on the missing kit were identical to the ones in Theo’s room.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Theo lefthis cabin just after sunrise. The morning light brushed the treetops, and a slight breeze carried the scent of pine through the academy grounds. The insurance inspectors were due at any moment, and tension filled the air. Serena had seemed distant when she left yesterday morning, and they’d barely spoken since. He tried to reassure himself as he walked. He wanted everything to run smoothly when the inspectors arrived.

He entered the cafeteria kitchen and checked the counters and sinks. He glanced at the overhead lights and the walk-in cooler, making sure the space looked spotless. His staff worked quietly in the background, prepping breakfast for the academy trainees. They did not speak much; everyone understood how important this inspection was. Theo forced a calm expression onto his face, though his shoulders felt tight with anxiety.

At 10:15 am, the insurance inspectors stepped into the kitchen. The man wore a well-fitted suit and carried a sleek tablet. The woman, also in a dark suit, clutched a clipboard covered with neat rows of printed forms. They introduced themselves asNorris and Emerson. Theo greeted them with a polite nod and offered to show them around the kitchen area.

The inspectors wasted no time in checking every detail. They asked about food storage and daily menus. They looked inside the pantry and asked Theo to explain his safety logs for perishables. He kept his answers precise, hoping his professionalism would shine through. Although the tension in the room never broke, he felt relieved to see the inspectors jotting small notes rather than glaring at him.

They turned to the sinks and tested the water temperature. Emerson asked about hygiene protocols, so Theo described how the staff disinfected all surfaces and kept track of cleaning schedules. His stomach was in knots, yet he maintained an outward calm. He reminded himself that this was his domain. He knew the kitchen inside and out.

When they finished in the main preparation area, the inspectors exchanged a few words with each other in low voices. Then Norris cleared his throat and said they needed to examine every place where equipment or supplies might be stored. Theo led them through a narrow corridor to a small supply closet that only he had access to. He unlocked the door and flicked on the light overhead. The inspectors followed and began scanning the shelves. Theo explained that the supply closet was used for non-perishable backups. He expected them to find little of note, perhaps only receipts and a few boxes of dried goods.

Emerson knelt near the back corner. She paused, frowned, and reached into the shadows behind a spare folding chair. She tugged and pulled out a bulky plastic container covered in a thin layer of dust. Norris moved closer with his tablet raised. Theo’s pulse spiked when he recognized the label on thecontainer. It read “Advanced Medical Kit”—the same type that had mysteriously vanished from the medic bay.

Emerson opened the container and found several smaller units inside. Norris’ eyebrows rose, and he recorded images on his tablet. Theo stood frozen, disbelief pounding in his chest. He had never seen those kits in this supply closet before. His voice caught in his throat before he managed to speak.

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