Page 55 of The Bear's Blooming Mate

She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his fur as she cried. His bear held perfectly still, offering his silent strength while she released emotions that seemed to have been bottled up for far too long.

When her sobs finally subsided, she pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Without a word, she lowered herself to sit beside the spring. Philip’s bear joined her, settling his massive form next to her.

Together they watched the water flow, the gentle gurgling of the spring the only sound between them. It was as if she found peace in her silent furry companion.

And Philip’s bear had found peace, too. There, beside his mate at last.

After some time had passed, Elsbeth reached out absently to stroke his fur, her breathing finally steady again. “I think I need to talk to Philip now,” she whispered. “Not that you aren’t Philip. I can see in your eyes that you are.” She tilted her head, studying him. “But you can’t talk like this, can you?”

The bear shook his massive head slowly.

“I thought not,” she said with a small smile.

The bear rose to his feet, rubbing his head affectionately against her shoulder one more time before moving away. The air around him began to shimmer and pop with that same electric energy, the sound of crackling intensifying as his bear disappeared.

Elsbeth pushed herself to her feet, watching in awe as Philip stood before her, a tentative smile on his face.

“This is what you wanted to tell me,” she said. It wasn’t a question.

“It is,” Philip replied warily.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t ready to listen,” Elsbeth said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s okay,” he replied. “My mom and dad both told me I would know when the time was right, and last night, the time was not right. And now it is.”

She took one tentative step toward him, then another, more confident one. Philip held his breath, afraid to move, afraid to break this fragile moment between them. Then suddenly she was in his arms, her body pressed against his, her face buried in his shoulder.

“Last night, I was afraid you were going to tell me bad news. And I didn’t want anything to spoil the evening. It had been so perfect,” she murmured against his chest. “But if I’d have known this was what you were going to show me…” She lifted her head. “It’s like you’ve brought magic to my world.”

Philip’s heart ached as he held her close. “You brought magic to my world when you arrived here,” he confessed, his voice rough with emotion.

His bear rumbled with satisfaction, urging him to speak the words they’d both been waiting to say. Philip drew a deep breath, knowing this was the moment that would change everything between them.

“Elsbeth,” he said solemnly, “you are my mate.”

His bear let out a joyous roar inside him as he finally spoke the truth aloud.

“Mate?” She inched away slightly, looking up into his eyes with a mixture of confusion and dawning comprehension.

“We are meant to be together. Forever.” Philip’s hands tightened on her waist, anchoring her to him. “You are the only one for me, and I hope I am the only one for you.”

“You are,” she whispered, slipping her arms around his neck. She tilted her head, her eyes searching his. “I thought I was going crazy, that I was feeling this intense connection to you because I was lonely.”

“No,” he said firmly, “it’s because we are connected. By fate. By the mating bond.” He cupped her face in his hand, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. “You will never be lonely again.”

Then he kissed his mate, pouring all his love, all his longing, all his hope into that single, perfect connection. She melted against him, her lips soft and yielding as they moved beneath his. The kiss deepened, and Philip felt the last barriers between them dissolve.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Elsbeth’s eyes were shining with unshed tears of joy. “All this time,” she whispered, “I thought I was imagining things. The way I felt drawn to you from the first moment we met. The electricity when we touched.”

“It was real,” Philip assured her, pressing his forehead against hers. “All of it.”

His bear purred contentedly inside him, finally at peace now that their mate knew the truth.Our mate accepts us for who we are.

Chapter Seventeen – Elsbeth

Elsbeth had been working hard to get the irrigation system working. It had been her main focus, and now she had water to feed her flowers.

And Philip to help feed her soul.

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