Page 23 of Bearly Yours
It’s...embarrassing.
I can tell you a couple of my most embarrassing moments if that would help even the score a bit?
I nudged him in the side with my head.You don’t have any. I’ve heard females talking about you.I shook my head in disgust.I have to listen to them talk aboutallof you. Endlessly.
Even me?My alpha sounded startled that females were talking about him.
I craned my head back to look at him.They’re the worst with you. They’re afraid of you, because of your alpha power, but it’s also what draws them to you.
Mateo laughed.Poor Emrie, having to listen to females going on about her brothers all the time, and poor alpha! You have a fan club!
Anextensivefan club,I said, grumbling.
I could tell my alpha was dumfounded.Why are you so surprised? You’re a handsome bear shifter, and you’re a wonderful alpha.
You better stop, Emrie, or you’re going to make him blush,Mateo said.
It would have been lovely if one of you was my mate,I said in a small voice.
Then I wouldn’t be in this mess with my best friend. I cringed in embarrassment. I wouldn’t let it mess anything up with Roarke, but I really hated how easy I was to read. It made me feel like all of my feelings and thoughts were just out there for everyone to see. As a person with sometimes severe anxiety, this did not give me comfort. I grumbled as I stood on my hind legs and backed into a tree, using it to scratch my back. Aaah, that’s the sweet spot. I snorted out a sneeze when the pine needles fell on my face, tickling my nose.
A few of my Clan did the same with the surrounding trees. I was always really picky about my back-scratching trees. There was nothing worse than sticky sap that stuck to your fur. And then when I changed back to my human form, I ended up with sap, leaves, and dirt stuck so firmly to me that not even a regular shower could get me clean. I had to use a special soap and a heavy duty scrubber, which killed my sensitive skin.
I nibbled on some peppermint stems buried under some frost. The leaves were long gone, but the stems still had a lot of mint flavoring to them, and I loved nibbling on them in bear form.
The truth is, Emrie, we don’t really know that wearen’tyour mate,Alpha Riggs said.
What now?Mateo said, sounding completely shocked.
Emrie has a rare genetic mutation that makes her natural pheromones scentless, you know that Mateo. But because of that, technically, she could be anyoneof our mates.
I chuffed a laugh. Mateo’s bear face looked so shocked I could have probably knocked him over with a leaf.I thought you were aware of this already,Alpha Riggs told him.
Mateo shook his massive head.Nope, I hadn’t put that last bit together.
You’re getting soft, old man,I teased.
He grumbled good-naturedly.I’ve been finding dates for my potential mate. I feel really stupid right now.
Alpha Riggs laughed at him.I’ve been wondering why you guys keep finding her dates.
Well I’m going to stopnow!
We all laughed.Spread the word, please, Mateo?
You got it.
I sighed again.You know there’s no way to really tell.
Remember what I said, Emrie,Alpha Riggs said.Don’t give up hope.
I nodded. Was it giving up hope when you had very little to begin with?
We started heading back to the lodge, and I laughed at my Clan’s antics even though my heart was still heavy.
You never explained why you’re sad, Emrie,Mateo said gently.
Can this stay between you and Alpha Riggs?
