Page 54 of Sweet Heart for the Bear

My pulse thunders, my instincts screamingfind her.

My entire is body primed to hunt her down if I have to.

The bond between us is fresh, but already, I know—I can't exist without her.

Before I lose my mind, I finally catch her scent and follow it, stalking through the penthouse until I find her in the kitchen.

The sight of her roots me to the floor.

She’s standing at the island, her back to me, humming softly to the music playing from the built-in tablet.

The sleek screen extends from a metal arm, tilted just so, but she isn’t looking at it.

She’s focused on the stovetop, moving with an easy, natural grace as she hums softly and prepares breakfast.

My mate. In my kitchen.

Is there anything better?

She looks so perfect in it. So effortlessly right.

That realization slams into me like a wrecking ball to the chest.

She belongs here.

Not just for a night, not just as some fleeting moment of passion, but permanently. In my space. In my life.

In my heart.

The memory of my father and his agonizing heartbreak at the hands of the human woman who ultimately rejected his claim fills me for one moment.

But no. That will not be me.

I just know it.

Carina is not like the cold woman who bore me.

She is a sweet, gentle soul.

Strong. Courageous.

Everything I need.

Everything I want and more.

The rich, comforting aroma of coffee swirls through the air, mingling with the mouthwatering scent of eggs, toast, and something sweet—maybe pancakes.

But none of it holds a candle to her.

The subtle difference in her scent, altered by my mating bite, is a brand imprinted on my soul.

She smells like mine now.

Likeus.

Like something more intoxicating than anything nature could have conjured up on its own.

I take a step closer, barely breathing.

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