Page 9 of Beast Bear

She turned to Alicia Reeves, motioning for her to speak. Alicia sat forward. Theo saw the worry etched deep in the lines of her face.

“As medical coordinator,” Alicia said, her voice resonant, “I’ve seen the dangerous consequences of these incidents firsthand.” Alicia paused briefly, letting her words resonate through the room. “The rope incident at the climbing wall could have killed someone. And a single email caused an injury. These issues must stop.”

Jade Rivers spoke next, her frustration evident. “Communication failures are causing serious risks. The recent scheduling confusion meant participants missed my hazard briefing. They went onto a dangerous trail unprepared. A sprained ankle could have easily turned into something much worse.” Jade looked around, eyes sharp and direct. “We need clear accountability and effective communication. This kind of oversight is unacceptable.”

Poppy gave Jade an approving nod before turning her attention to Theo. He shifted uneasily in his seat. “Theo,” Poppy began carefully, “while we acknowledge your quick response to the missing hikers as commendable, we must address your absence from the kitchen shift that day. Your position on SAR requires reliability. We need to know where you are and trust you to fulfill your responsibilities if you’re called.”

Theo’s heart sank. The room grew silent, and a flush crept up his neck. Shame and frustration mingled. He nodded firmly, accepting the reminder. “Yes, ma’am. You can trust me.”

Poppy nodded once more, signaling the meeting’s end. Chairs scraped as staff members stood and began quietly discussing their next steps. Theo lingered in his chair, his chest tight and jaw tense. Logan approached him, gently guiding him aside for a private conversation.

“Listen, Theo,” he began quietly. “We’re behind you. The shifters at the academy respect you. Your dad has a long history with SAR. And you were an amazing addition to the team when you were younger. But patience wears thin when incidents pile up.”

Theo rubbed his face, exhaling. “I know, Logan. It’s just—I’m trying to manage everything. Coming back here was supposed to help. Then I found out Serena is my mate. I tried to take her on a date, and my beast came out. It’s been… a lot.”

Logan nodded sympathetically. “I get it. But with everything happening around us, any personal slip-ups stand out. You need to stabilize yourself.”

“Thanks, Logan,” Theo said quietly. “I will.”

Logan squeezed Theo’s shoulder in support. “I have faith in you, Theo. But we can’t afford any more incidents.”

Chapter

Eleven

Serena walkedinto the cafeteria at midday, still feeling the tension from the rescue mission that morning. She picked up a tray and stepped into the line, barely noticing the options on display. She absently grabbed a few items: a salad, a corndog, and a cold drink.

At the end of the line, she scanned the room. She saw an empty spot near the window and decided to claim it, hoping a moment of solitude would quiet her mind. She placed her tray down and sank onto the seat, inhaling a calming breath as she tried to focus on her food.

Her heart skipped when she saw Theo weaving through the tables. His broad shoulders and intense gaze made him look like a creature caught in a space too small for him. As if the world couldn’t contain something so primal and wild. Her inner cougar stirred with desire, clamoring to get closer to her mate.

“May I sit here?” Theo asked softly.

Serena cleared her throat, nodding in reply. The urge to touch him was overwhelming. She reminded herself to stay composed as he settled across from her.

Theo began, his voice low, “I wanted to apologize for what happened in the meadow. I take full responsibility for losing control.” He hesitated, glancing at her to see if she was comfortable talking.

Her inner cougar urged her to jump in his lap, yet she managed to stay in her seat. She forced herself to remember how his bear had nearly claimed her.

“There’s a beast inside me that I’ve never fully contained. I lose control sometimes...” He paused, studying her expression. “I almost did that with you. It’s something I’m working on.”

Serena tried to ignore the roar of her inner cougar, which insisted that he was hers and that no barrier should stand between them. “I understand,” she said quietly. “We both have our… issues.”

“I thought maybe we could try to hang out again. Maybe in public this time? My parents own the Fate Mountain Diner, and they make a mean burger.”

“Mmm. I’ve had their burgers. They are good. I didn’t know that was your family’s restaurant.”

“Yeah. My dad is a chef too. He was pretty famous at one time but decided to settle down in Fate Mountain.”

“That’s cool,” she said, picking at her lunch.

“Since we’re both here at the academy, it seems pointless to keep avoiding each other.”

There was no way of avoiding Theo unless she canceled the rest of her training and left. She knew it was a risk to spend time with him. But she didn’t know what other choice she had unless she dropped out and lost her investment.

She sighed and then narrowed her brows. “You’ve got a point. I guess it’s better for us to at least get to know each other.”

“I’ve got the night off tonight. Do you want to meet at the diner around seven?”

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