Page 57 of His Omega Bear

“No he’s not,” I said.

I wasn’t sure why, but I moved to the front. “He’s not here anymore. We should keep going.”

They didn’t ask how I knew instead all four followed my direction without question.

I nodded, steeling myself. I took my gun out, just in case, though the thought of using it against Rhys made my stomach churn.

While his brothers had struggled to find him in the vast forest, I seemed to have no trouble at all. We ventured deeper into the woods, the branches above blocking out most of the sunlight, casting a dim, eerie glow over our surroundings. The further we walked, the more I could sense Rhys’s presence. It was almost like I was drawn to him, an invisible thread pulling me through the dense woods, if you believed in such things. If people could turn into animals, then anything was possible. It was then that Hunter’s words from that day at range came back to me. Mate… could it?

Now was not the time, but it made sense.

As we pressed on, I spotted a flicker of movement ahead and quickened my pace. The others followed suit, their tension palpable as we pushed through the undergrowth.

And as if I’d conjured him out of thin air, there he was.

Rhys stood in a small clearing, his massive bear’s form towering over us all. His fur was ruffled and his eyes shone with a mix of fear, defiance, and what I thought might be longing. Maybe I was pushing my feelings on him. I took a step forward, my voice soft but firm.

“Rhys,” I called out, trying to keep my tone soothing. “It’s me. Please come back to us.”

His gaze locked with mine, a surge of emotions swirling in those deep brown eyes. For a moment, there was nothing but silence as we stared at one another. Then I heard a low growl.

I took a chance and glanced behind me, only to realize I was alone. With a pissed off bear.

“Rhys, it’s me. I’m so sorry. I reacted like an asshole because I was scared.” I probably still was. But now was not the time to focus on that. “But I love you, and I want to understand. Please, come back.”

All I got was another growl in response, and I couldn’t help wondering if he was growling because he was pissed? Or because he didn’t remember me?

My breath caught in my throat as I cautiously approached, remembering all the lessons Rhys had taught me about temperament when dealing with Emilia. “Rhys,” I called softly, keeping my voice steady. “It’s me, Jaxson.”

The bear’s eyes locked onto mine again, a glint of recognition flickering within them. At least I hoped that was what it was. And since he didn’t attack, I took it as a good sign. In that moment, I realized that Rhys would never hurt me or Emilia. The growling subsided slightly, his body tense but not aggressive.

“I’m sorry for everything I said and how I reacted. I’m sorry for pointing my gun at you, but I was terrified. It’s no excuse now, but I was shocked,” I said, my voice trembling with sincerity. “I love you, and I want to be with you. I want to raise Emilia and our baby with you. And I trust you completely.Bear or no bear.”

Suddenly, it occurred to me that I’d been in a house with all of his siblings and never feared for my safety, or Emilia’s.. And they all had a very good reason to be pissed at me.

To prove that I meant what I’d said, I slowly lowered the gun and set it down on the ground. My heart pounded in my chest as I crouched there, vulnerable.

Suddenly, Rhys came charging at me. I could have grabbed the gun and shot him, but my muscles wouldn’t allow me to do it. I’d rather die than hurt him…again. In that moment, I decided it was better to be mauled than to hurt Rhys one more time.

Rhys’s massive form bore down on me, but instead of the expected impact, he stopped just inches away. His hot breath fanned over my face, and I could see the internal struggle in his eyes. He was so close that I could see the individual hairs of his fur.

“I love you, Rhys,” I whispered, closing my eyes. “I trust you.”

Chapter 26

Rhys

Ihad been slipping away into sweet oblivion. The allure of losing myself in my bear's form was almost too tempting to resist. But even as a bear, I couldn’t ignore the call of my mate. I could feel the pull of his presence like a magnetic force. There was still enough of him in there to understand what Jaxson was telling him.

Hearing Jaxson’s words, a spark of recognition and excitement flared within me. I began charging towards Jaxson, eager to close the distance between us. As I bounded towards him, my body started to shift back into human form. By the time I reached Jaxson, I was fully human again, my momentum pushing Jaxson over.

We landed on the forest floor, with me on top of me, naked and breathless. His face was inches from mine, and I couldn’t stop myself. I started kissing him all over—his cheeks, his forehead, his lips. Each kiss was an acceptance of his apology, a reassurance he was here. He was real.

“I love you too,” I whispered between kisses, my voice choked with emotion. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I’m here,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Well, I was only human.

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