Page 11 of Riding With the Grizzly

“Yeah, that would have been a terrible idea,” she says and I give her a tight smile.

“I could have picked you up a bit from your house. I could have saved you some money and time.”

“It’s fine. Not a big deal. I’m used to it,” she says as she reaches for a menu. “Did you already order?”

“Just some queso and guacamole.”

“Ohh, good choices,” she says with a wide smile.

“Glad that you approve.”

We study the menu for a moment, but my eyes keep straying to my mate. Having her so close to me but not claiming her is torture. My bear and I won’t survive much longer without one taste. One touch.

Especially not with the mating moon coming up,my bear points out and I nod.

We need to make her ours before then.

Doesn’t leave us much time,he says and I set my menu aside and focus on the task at hand. He’s right. Making Nara our mate is the new top priority. Along with destroying the MC she grew up in. And possibly ripping apart a few members for laying a hand on her in anger.

No pressure or anything.

“So, college?” I ask, trying to think of a safe topic that doesn’t involve her family or any MC drama. I end up sounding like I’ve never heard of higher education, which isn’t exactly a point in my favor.

Nara smiles, her blue eyes sparkling as her lips part. My bear whines and paws at my chest, loving her smile but wanting so much more.Patience, I tell him.We have to be careful with our precious mate.My bear grumbles and huffs out a frustrated growl before finally settling down.

“Yeah, I graduated high school and got the hell out of here,” she replies. Her eyes widen as she looks up at me, worry and fear creeping into her features. “No offense,” she quickly adds.

I reach across the table, my heart shattering when she flinches away from me. It speaks volumes about what she’s had to endure in the past. I keep my hand on the table, my palm facing up, offering her a choice.

“Nara,” I say softly. “I’m not upset with you and I will never, ever hurt you. Even if I disagreed with you on something, I would never harm you. That’s not who I am, and that’s not who the Devil’s Pack are. Do we find ourselves straddling the line of what’stechnicallylegal? Sure. But we have a moral code.”

Nara finally looks at me, her cheeks flushed. “Sorry, I…”

“No apologies, princess,” I say. Her blue eyes spark to life when I call her princess. I’ll have to make a note of that. “I just want you to know you’re safe with me. My goal right now is to earn your trust.”

My girl looks from my open hand to my eyes, then back to my hand. I watch as she tentatively reaches out, placing her delicate hand in my giant, calloused one. I promise right here and now to never let her regret trusting me.

The moment is broken when the waiter steps up to our table to take our order. I didn’t look at the menu but that doesn’t matter. I’ll order whatever Nara gets.

My girl turns to me after we give the waiter our order, a smirk pulling at her lips. Another look I’ll treasure forever.

"I see what's going on here," she says in a playful tone. "You're keeping me around so you can order whatever I order.The jig's up, buddy." She narrows her eyes at me and then laughs, the sound like a balm to my aching heart. She's been through so much, but here she is, gifting me with her smiles and laughter.

“I’m keeping you around because you’re essential to my existence now that I know you exist.” I realize I’m coming on pretty intensely, but I’m just being honest. “I’m keeping you around so I can protect you and comfort you. I’m hardwired to take care of my mate, and that’s exactly what I want to do.”

Nara doesn’t say anything but I didn’t expect her to. It’s a lot to take in. I want her to get used to the fact that I’m not going anywhere and I’ll always be her safe place.

Our dinner goes by smoothly with no more incidents of me accidentally triggering Nara. She tells me about going off to college, and how it was a good experience but a lonely one. It's hard for her to trust others or make friends since she grew up in such a volatile home. I know she never had a boyfriend without her even telling me. Fated mates are only attracted to each other. The thought of my mate with someone else…

My bear is starting to get riled up, so I take a calming breath and remind him she’s ours, she’s always been ours. We just need to convince her to love us back.

“I’m stuffed,” Nara announces as we head out of the restaurant.

“Want to go on a walk with me? We can cut through the forest and I’ll make sure you make it back to your house safely.” What I don’t say is that she no longer has a home there. She belongs with me, in my house. Our house. All in good time though.

"Normally, I'd say no to a near stranger asking me to take a walk in the woods after dark," she starts. I wince, realizing that my request has all kinds of red flags. "But there's something about you," she says, her voice fading into silence as her eyeslatch onto mine. "I'm still unsure about fated mates and all of that, but if it's true, then… I definitely feelsomething.”

“The mating pull,” I rasp. Nara looks up at me in question. I hold out my hand once again, pleased when she automatically takes it and weaves our fingers together. We begin walking, my mate huddled into my side. It’s not particularly chilly out, which makes me think she likes being near me.

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