Page 75 of My Unbearable Mate

My bones were cracking, expanding, and I’d totally lost control of the situation.

But then, the heat faded, and sweet moon, I was a bear.

The world looked so different through these eyes. It was an entirely different spell, being in my animal form.

“Welcome back,” Bellamy said, roughing the fur on the back of my head.

“How is it possible you’re even more gorgeous?” I bumped against him. I was awkward in this form. It would take me a minute to get used to this body.

“You’re spectacular.” Bellamy fell to his knees and took my face in his hand. He rested his head against mine, and that heat was back.

Would it be like this every time we touched?

He rolled back, giving me one last look at that glorious naked body before his bear arrived. His shift was fluid, graceful, powerful, all the things I didn’t feel at this moment.

“Let me show you the forest,” he said, nudging his snout against mine.

“I’ve lived in Idaho my entire life,” I said.

“But you’ve never seen it like this, as a bear, with magic. The moon is almost full, and there’s still snow on the mountain peaks. The lakes will be sparkling, and the grass will be dancing.”

“You should write poetry.” I sighed as we headed away from the cabin. “Or everything really is different as a bear. Or with magic. I feel like I’m starting everything from scratch.”

“Kind of a cool place to be, if you ask me,” he said. “You get to experience the wonder of everything for the first time. Don’t hold yourself back, Clover. Let yourself enjoy this. Don’t worry about living life how your grandmother or your sister told you it should be. It’s time to start making your own rules.”

“I’ve never liked rules as much as you do. Maybe I won’t make any.” I stopped in the middle of the rolling field. We were at the base of one of the bigger mountains on the edge of Granger Falls. I could feel the energy vibrating from it. “How long do you think I can stay in my bear form?”

“Few hours. Few days, hard to tell.” If Bellamy had been human, he would have shrugged.

“Can we sleep out here?” I asked. “As bears?”

He gave me another nuzzle. “I know just the place.”

The lucid dreaming followed me into bear form. Bellamy and I had spent hours frolicking through the forest like we owned it. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had so much fun or felt so free.

I never wanted it to end.

Once we totally exhausted ourselves, we curled up under a cottonwood tree near the edge of the river, and fell asleep, nuzzling each other and listening to the gentle lap of the water against the shore.

Without warning, I was taken from the warm embrace of Bellamy’s arms and I was back in our village. I was just as aware of my sense of purpose as I was that I was still asleep, but this wasn’t like watching a movie. It was more like virtual reality. From my eyeline, I had a feeling I was human instead of bear. And the magic? Nowhere to be found. My heart hurt a little at that realization, but I couldn’t dwell on it, because I was on a mission.

I walked into Nana’s cottage with purpose. It was eerily quiet inside, which was unnerving. The village had been deserted too. That never happened. We were a lively clan, and everyone was always up in everyone else’s business.

“Nana?” I called out. Bellamy tightened his grip on my midsection. I wasn’t sure if I’d actually spoken out loud, or if he sensed my apprehension.

I wondered what he dreamed about.

She wasn’t here. And the house almost felt brittle, like she hadn’t been home for a while. Weird. Nana hardly ever left our village. As she was an elder, we made sure everything was provided for her.

Unless she was out looking for me…

A chill ran down my spine, and I moved more like a cat than a bear—quickly past windows, making sure no one saw me. I was in her bedroom, but that wasn’t my final destination. Nana had an altar set up in one of her closets.

The power of its contents fought me, making opening the doors challenging. Inside, I found her impressive collection of crystals, candles, and grimoires. I used to beg her to teach me about the contents of this closet. Every time she shot me down. Knowing what these stones could do would be helpful, but not now. I knew what I was looking for.

The cover of the jewelry box creaked when I opened it, sending panic rippling down my spine. Even though I hadn’t seen a soul since I’d entered the village, I knew there was no way that would last. Unless something was really wrong.

Sweet moon, had Nana already passed on to the next realm? My heart constricted, sad that I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye.

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