Page 43 of Bite the Power
"Move. Now." Kaidan's command cracked through the air with absolute authority, his king persona taking complete control. "We need to get out of this valley, or we'll be buried alive."
Tessa's legs responded before her mind fully processed the danger, her body launching into a desperate sprint across the treacherous terrain. But even as adrenaline flooded her system, she knew they were in trouble. The avalanche was gaining momentum with every second, and human speed—even her well-conditioned human speed—wouldn't be enough to outrun nature's fury.
"We're not going to make it," Kaidan shouted over the increasing roar, his long strides easily keeping pace with her frantic scrambling. "Not with human speed."
He stopped abruptly, turning to face her with an expression that was equal parts determination and something that looked almost like vulnerability. "I need to shift into my polar bear form. You'll have to get on my back—it's the only way we'll stand a chance."
Tessa's heart hammered in her chest as she processed his words. She'd never seen his polar bear form, never experienced anything like what he was proposing. The scientist in her was fascinated, but the woman in her felt a flutter of apprehension mixed with unexpected excitement.
Trust him,her instincts screamed.He's your mate.
"Okay," she said, meeting his fierce gaze without hesitation. "I trust you. Completely."
Something flashed in his eyes—relief, gratitude, perhaps even love—before his expression hardened with focus. "Grab our packs. Hold on tight, and whatever happens, don't let go."
The transformation began before she could fully prepare herself. Kaidan's human form seemed to blur and expand, his clothes tearing away as his body shifted into something magnificent and terrifying. In seconds, where the man had stood, a massive polar bear emerged—easily five hundred pounds of pure muscle and predatory grace.
Oh my God.
Tessa had seen polar bears in documentaries, had studied their anatomy and behavior patterns, but nothing had prepared her for the sheer overwhelming presence of Kaidan's bear form. His thick white fur was streaked with threads of gold that caught the Arctic light, and his massive frame radiated a power that made her knees weak with awe. This wasn't just an animal—this was her mate in his truest, most primal form.
"You're absolutely magnificent," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine wonder.
The great bear's intelligent blue eyes met hers, and she felt the mate bond pulse with warmth despite the mortal danger thundering toward them. He lowered his massive body, presenting his broad back for her to mount.
Tessa grabbed their equipment packs, slinging them over her shoulders before carefully climbing onto Kaidan's back. Her thighs gripped his powerful back as she tangled her fingers in his thick fur, marveling at how right this felt despite the insanity of the situation.
The moment she was secure, Kaidan launched into motion with a speed that defied belief. His massive paws found purchase on ice that would have sent her tumbling, his stride eating upground with a fluid grace that made her heart soar even as terror gripped her chest. The world blurred past them in a rush of white and blue, the roar of the avalanche growing louder behind them but never quite catching up to her incredible mate.
This is what raw power looks like,she thought, exhilaration mixing with her fear as they raced toward the research station.This is what it means to be mated to a polar bear king.
In what felt like no time at all, they burst from the valley floor and reached the relative safety of the research station's elevated position. Kaidan didn't slow until they were outside the front entrance of the building, where he immediately began the transformation back to human form.
Tessa watched in fascination as her mate's powerful bear form shifted and condensed, revealing the man she was falling desperately in love with. He stood naked and breathing hard, his skin flushed with exertion and his eyes still holding traces of his bear's fierce intensity.
"That was insane but incredible," she said, her voice breathless with genuine affection. "Your bear form is absolutely beautiful, and so strong."
A flush crept up Kaidan's neck, and she was thrilled to see this powerful Alpha king actually blush at her praise. It humanized him in a way that made her chest tight with emotion.
"I'm glad you think so," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "Not everyone appreciates the beast."
"Well, I'm not everyone." She reached out to trace her finger along his bearded jaw, loving the way he leaned into her touch. "And that wasn't a beast—that was my mate saving my life again."
He smiled as they headed into the research station, where Kaidan soon found some of Eli's clothes folded in his dresser. He pulled on the thermal pants which looked more like capris, and a thick sweater that stretched too tight across his broadshoulders. Tessa couldn't help but laugh at the awkward sight of this powerful shifter in human clothes.
Kaidan let out a soft chuckle too. "Well, we should stay put for a while," he said, his tactical mind shifting back into place. "Let the land settle and wait for the others to make their way back here."
Tessa nodded, her own scientific instincts agreeing with his assessment. "Smart thinking. I don't know how close Magnus and his people are, and after what just happened..." She shivered, and not entirely from the cold. "I'd rather not encounter any more trouble today."
Twenty minutes later, Tessa pressed her forehead against the cold window of the research station, watching the mounting snow piles cascade down the mountainsides in the distance. The howling winds rattled the station walls, and she could still feel subtle tremors reverberating through the floor beneath her feet. The explosion had triggered more than just an avalanche—it had destabilized the entire valley system.
Magnus really tried to kill us both today,she thought, her scientific mind cataloging the deliberate precision of the timing.
The cunning bastard had clearly been watching them, waiting for the perfect moment to trigger those charges when they were most vulnerable in the valley floor.
Warm, powerful arms encircled her waist from behind, and she immediately relaxed into Kaidan's protective embrace. His body heat seeped through her layers, chasing away the chill that still lingered from their near-death experience.
"Still processing what just happened?" he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.
