Page 2 of Bear It All
The moment she entered the school grounds, something shifted within me. It felt like the world spun on its axis. I was almost dizzy with the feeling. Even with stone buildings and miles of immaculately manicured lawns between us, I could sense her, smell her. There was something different about her scent, though, and it wasn’t just because she was my mate. I had never smelled anyone likeher—humanorshifter.
When I had first seen Freya in person, a million thoughts ran through my head.This fragile human girl is supposed to be my mate? Can she handle it? Handle me?Since she stepped foot on campus, I’d had an uncontrollable urge to hunt her down, bring her to my bed, and have my way with her. Mark her body until she couldn’t move without thinking, feeling, remembering me. I wanted everyone to know who she belonged to.
It took everything in me not to react when I felt her arrival. There were several things holding me back. I couldn’t trust myself around her—I didn’t have the restraint yet to ease her into my world. Resisting the urge to shift and run blindly until I claimed her was becoming my daily struggle. True mates were a rare thing, and I had never considered I would find one. In those days, most mating unions were political in nature. It had put me in a complicated position when my mate’s existence was revealed.
That complication was Bianca. We had grown up together, her family running most of the southern districts, while my parents managed the north. The family alliance had allowed for peaceful trade and communication among clans throughout the regions. We had dated on and off for several years, ensuring the continuation of the alliance our fathers had formed—one that benefited both of our territories, keeping our communities safe.
Dating Bianca was easy. She was also a shifter, andwhile I found her attractive, after I had seen Freya, nothing about Bianca appealed to me. I realized she was convenient, a political alliance. She put all the effort in, and had chased me since adolescence. But there was no depth there. No true connection. It made it easier for me to break up with her. The actual conversation was far more painful due to her stubborn determination to ignore everything I said, dismissing my statements as inconsequential. She couldn’t have been more wrong.
The afternoon of Freya’s arrival, before I let myself go and find her, I had tracked Bianca down. She was in the courtyard, surrounded by Annika, Kris, and Balor. Our first year at Bartholomew, we had banded together as shifters. We could let our guard down together, go for runs, and shift without worrying about human students. There were a few other shifters at the school—like that wolf, Connor, but he was a growly son of a bitch, and always had that warlock, Vaelor, by his side. It was an interesting pairing considering shifters and warlocks notoriously didn’t play nice together.
Dragging Bianca away from the group was harder than I cared to admit. Annika watched us with something close to glee while the guys laughed, making jokes about us sneaking away for some alone time of the naked variety. I asked her to take a walk with me, and made sure to lead her away from campus.
“I need to tell you something,” I said once I decided we were far enough from any inhuman ears.
“Mik, what’s got you all worked up? You know you can tell me anything,” she said smoothly, running her fingernails down my arm. Before I could control my response, I jumped away, her touch feeling wrong. Determined to get it over with, I just came out with it.
“It’s over, Bianca. I can’t see you anymore.” Her throaty laugh that I used to find sexy suddenly only grated on my nerves.
“Can’t see me? What does that even mean? What game are you playing now, Mik?” She gave me a sultry smile, reaching out to touch my chest, but I gently knocked her hand away.
“I’m serious, Bianca. We’re done. I’m sorry for doing this to you. You’ve been a great friend, but it’s not working out. We’re graduating soon, and who knows what will happen. Your true mate could be out there. Aren’t you even a little bit curious?”
“You’re being serious?” she asked, her tone haughty and disbelieving.
“Yes. I care for you, Bianca, a great deal, but I’m not in love with you. And I know you’re not in love with me.”
“Love?” She scoffed. “True mates? Where did all this nonsense come from? We’re so good together, Mikhail. You have to see that.” Her brows furrowed in confusion as if she was seriously blindsided by my point of view.
“Are you in love with me?” I asked, noting she hadn’t disagreed when I’d mentioned it.
“We’re meant to be together. To rule as alphas.”
“You’re not answering the question. Do you love me?” I pushed, hoping she would see that our relationship had no future.
“Stop being such a pussy. Who cares about love when you can have power? We would dominate the entire northern hemisphere. You want to give that up for some fairytale true mate?” She scoffed.
“First, watch your fucking tone. Don’t forget who I am, what I have the power to do. Just because we’ve fucked doesn’t mean I’m bound to you. Power is one thing, but without a partner, it’s useless. So, yes, I want to be with someone who loves me. Who wants to be with me because of who I am, not what I can do for them. I want a partner, a mate in every sense of the word, and we aren’t that. I’m sorry, Bianca. I’m sorry I didn’t realize that this isn’t a good match sooner.” She flinched at that, but smoothly covered up the reaction.
“You’re sorry? That’s all you have to say? This has to be some sort of elaborate joke. You go ahead and daydream about your fated mate. I’ll be here, waiting when you crash back down into reality,” she said coldly before walking away from me.
Since then, Bianca had been acting like the conversation never happened, still hanging all over me and bossing the group around like she was queen bee. I went out of my way to avoid her, but she always managed to track me down. I hadn’t told my parents about Freya yet, and I didn’t want to cause any friction between the two clans. So, I let Bianca play her game of saving face in public for themoment.
Only because I was too focused on seeing my mate for the first time. I wanted to learn all about her. Her first night at the school, I went to the cafeteria early, excited to get my first look at my mate. When she didn’t show up,disappointmentwasn’t an accurate description of what I felt. I was nearly feral with the need to find her, my bear rippling under my skin, begging to be unleashed so he could track her down. I left the meal early and began stalking the halls, uncaring how I looked.
Loitering around the women’s dorm area, I tried to catch her scent, but there wasn’t a strong enough trail. Pacing the hall for hours, I grew more agitated by the minute.
Giving up, I slowly made my way back toward my room. Without looking up, I passed the library, only to stop dead in my tracks. An overpowering feeling hit me, rocking me so hard I almost fell to my knees.
Mechanically, I made my way into the large space, trying to scan the room as quickly as possible.My mate.She was there. I was about to meet her. The number of people scattered among the stacks and at tables surprised me. I rarely spent time in the library, and had no idea it was even open so late. Every fiber of my being was calling out for her. She was there. My mate was there. I just needed to find her.
Prowling the perimeter of the room, uncaring of anyone in my way, I was growing desperate. Panic was climbing up my throat the longer it took me tolocate her, but once I turned toward the far corner of the library, I stopped in my tracks. There she was, sitting on the ground with a book in her lap. Her head was down, and she was twirling a piece of hair around her finger. I was frozen in place, my heart beating so hard it felt like it was trying to jump out of my chest and into her hands.
She was oblivious to the world around her, never looking up from the pages that held her attention so deeply. Desperate for a better view of her face, I moved to get a better angle. Part of me worried that if she saw me lurking, she would leave. But my need to see her overpowered any concerns I should have had. Moving as silently as I could, I made my way into an aisle across from her.
From there, I could see her profile, her smooth skin with its rosy glow. From my spot, I studied her delicate features, her slightly upturned nose, and the plump bottom lip she was nervously chewing on. She was in a baggy sweater and pants, but there was no hiding her womanly figure. My mouth watered, and I lost track of time just standing there, watching her. Her scent was stronger there, and fuck, was it delicious. It would haunt me forever. No matter where I went, that smell would call to me.
A bell chimed, and she jumped as if electrocuted. With jerky movements, she stuffed her book into her bag and quickly hopped up. Keeping some distance, I joined the throng of students exiting, my focus solely on my mate. I followed her back to the dorms, my bear growling in approval when weidentified her room.
