Page 22 of Ignited By My Mate

“I need to head into work for a bit,” he says apologetically.

I smile, though it feels tight. Fake. “Okay.”

“I’ll be home tonight. We can have a late dinner,” he suggests.

I nod.

He crawls closer on the bed and wraps his arms around me, burying his face in my neck. “I’m so excited to finally have you here. To start this next chapter in our lives.”

I nod again, but deep down, I’m freaking out.

What the heck was I thinking? Is this what I want? Do I want to give up my job, my apartment, my life to move to this small town and be with this man I just met?

“This is crazy,” I whisper.

He frowns. “What is?”

“This.” I motion between us. “All of it. I came here for a vacation. One week. And now I’m…” I trail off, brushing my fingers over the mark on my shoulder. “This changes everything.”

His jaw tightens, but he stays quiet.

“I don’t know what to do,” I admit. “Back home, I have a life. A job. A routine. My parents. Friends who don’t turn into bears.”

“Is that what’s bothering you?” he asks, his voice calm. “That I’m not human?”

“No,” I say quickly. “It’s not that. It’s just… this was supposed to be a break. A reset. Not an upheaval of my entire existence.”

His eyes darken, and he sits up slowly. “So, what are you saying?”

“I don’t know,” I reply honestly. “I need to think.”

He nods stiffly, standing and pulling on a pair of jeans. “I get it. You’re overwhelmed.”

I look down at my hands. “I’m not saying I don’t care about you. I do. I just?—”

“I have to go in for a few hours,” he says, cutting me off gently. “We’ve had more fires popping up around town. Suspicious ones. I’ll be back later.”

I nod, even though I want to ask him to stay.

He leans down and kisses my forehead. It’s soft. Sweet. But the air is thick and heavy with tension.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he says before walking out the door.

And just like that, I’m alone.

I pull the blanket tighter around me and walk to the window, staring out over the small town nestled between the trees.

It’s beautiful. Peaceful. Quiet.

But is itmine?

Can I give up everything I’ve known for a man I just met? For a life I never expected?

I don’t have answers yet.

Only questions.

And a wild, aching pull in my chest that feels a lot like love… and a little like fear.

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