Page 3 of Beast Bear

“Morning everyone,” Logan started. “I’m your climbing and rafting instructor. We have some exciting models this summer. In Rope Climbing I, you’ll learn anchor-building, belay systems, and safe edge transitions. You can simultaneously enroll in Rope Rescue I, which covers multi-pitch work and highline systems. Make sure to double check with Kai which track you are on. For the rafting modules, we have White Water II and WaterRescue I. Alright, now let’s hear from our Paramedic Integration Coordinator, Alicia Reeves.”

Alicia, a stout woman with dark hair pulled back in a bun, took the stage. “I am thrilled to have so many Paramedic Integration trainees in the course this round. We combine our rescue and wilderness coursework with paramedic response training, which will earn you a Wilderness First Responder Certification.”

Jade Rivers took the podium and gave a rundown of her orienteering classes. Theo’s eyes flicked around the room, his mind wandering. He’d taken most of these classes, except the new paramedic integration, when he was in his twenties. As much as he wanted to be interested in what was happening on stage, his mind couldn’t stop spiraling about his mate.

Then he saw her.Medic Girl.

She was scanning her info packet in a chair near the front row. His inner bear sent a surge of adrenaline through his veins.Mate. Mate. Mate.The grizzly within roared. Heat rushed through him, and a trickle of sweat ran down his temple.

For a split second, he felt himself losing control. Fur bristled along his arms. He clenched his fists, and his claws scraped under the chair. He tried to remind himself to stay calm, but he could barely contain himself through the rest of the orientation. When it was complete, Kai invited the trainees to introduce themselves.

Finally regaining a sense of calm, Theo gathered his courage and approached Medic Girl. She looked up, and their eyes locked. “It’s you. Medic Girl. I’m Theo Keenan. Beast Bear.” He offered her his hand. She hesitated, then took it. An electric current ran up his arm and through his entire body. His inner bear roaredwith need. “I sent you a message on mate.com last night,” he said, voice rough.

A swirl of conflicting emotions danced in her gaze as she pulled her hand away. “Theo... My fated mate... I’m Serena.” She trailed off, her eyes going glassy.

His chest tightened.Don’t drive her away. Don’t shift,he practically chanted in his head. But the beast in him wanted to grab her hand again, desperate to kiss her.

“What brings you to Fate Mountain Wilderness Academy, Serena? I just started as head cook and on-call rescue crew,” he blurted out.

“I’m here for the Paramedic Rescue Training.”

Before either of them could delve further, Alicia Reeves, the Paramedic Training supervisor, stepped over to greet Serena and welcome her to paramedic training.

When Alicia moved on, Serena turned back to him, glancing around the hall. “I know we connected on the app, but I’m not sure if this is the best time. I signed up on a whim. I didn’t expect...”

Theo felt a pang of desperation. “I understand. The academy is intense.”

She gave a small nod. “I came here for paramedic training, not…” She let the sentence trail off again, but he got the message. The mate bond was not something she was eager to explore.

Logan Carter took the floor for a moment and announced that anyone curious about the climbing tower could join him outside for a short tour. Theo wanted to invite Serena to explore thegrounds together but worried he would seem overeager. She held his glance, then offered a polite smile.

“I’ll see you around, maybe,” she said. Her voice wavered, and he picked up on the tension in her tone. Before he could reply, she stepped toward the exit.

Her retreating figure left a hollow ache in his gut. He knew he should let her walk away. But the primal part of him, the part he couldn’t tame, ached to claim her as his own. He clenched his fists, resolved to keep his wild side under control. But a snarling voice inside him whispered that if he lost her now, he’d remain a beast in the shadows forever.

Chapter

Four

Serena heftedher backpack and looked up at the towering climbing wall. It stood starkly against the bright morning sky. Half a dozen trainees gathered in a loose circle around Logan Carter, the academy’s lead climbing instructor. Travis Li, a young trainee she’d met yesterday, knelt on the hard-packed dirt, practicing a figure-eight knot on a neatly coiled rope. He glanced up, grinning wide when he saw Serena, proudly holding up his finished work.

Logan raised his voice to catch everyone’s attention. “Welcome to Rope Rescue I. Today we focus on fundamentals: harness safety, belaying, and top-rope climbing.”

Logan passed out harnesses and then demonstrated how to put them on, threading and double-backing the waist belt, then locking each carabiner. Two trainees tried mimicking his steps, fumbling a little.

Logan turned to the group. “Always do a buddy check,” he said, gesturing for two trainees to inspect each other’s belts and carabiners. “Skipping that step might cost a life.” He caught Serena’s eye. “Same principle as paramedic gear checks, right?”

She nodded. “Exactly. If we skip verifying our ambulance equipment, we might discover a missing defibrillator battery mid-call. A single oversight can be fatal.”

Alicia Reeves stepped forward. “For Paramedic Integration, we’ll adapt these rope skills for real scenarios. That means hauling injured patients on a litter or rappelling in with a medical pack. Weight balance becomes critical.”

Alicia held up a set of compact mechanical devices. “These are ascenders. If a paramedic needs to reach an injured hiker perched above, this can help you bypass a blocked route. Each tug slides you higher up the rope, and it locks to prevent slipping back.”

Alicia demonstrated with smooth, practiced motions. Serena watched, fascinated by how the mechanism latched onto the rope. She imagined hauling a trauma kit while inching upward along the wall.

Alicia pointed to a staff member at the top of the wall who leaned back in a controlled rappel. “With extra gear, your center of gravity shifts. If you panic mid-rappel, you risk dropping equipment—and possibly your patient.”

Serena’s pulse quickened at the demonstration. She recalled frantic city calls in narrow stairwells, but never open air beneath her feet. Sensing her tension, Alicia offered a reassuring smile. “Respect for heights is healthy. Overconfidence kills.”

---