Page 14 of Trusting Her Bear

“Anyone,” she says.

“Everyone has a past,” I say slowly.

“Uh-huh.” She stares out the front window.

“Are you alright?” I follow her line of sight and see a shadow move.

“Prepare yourself,” she whispers.

“What?” I ask, but she takes three giant steps away. I pull my hands from my pockets and rest them on the counter.

“You came.” Breeane’s words break through my confusion seconds before the scent of a bear shifter does.

I slowly turn my head, and a gasp leaves my lips as his presence fills the room.

My mate.

I freeze when he takes one step, then another, his focus centered on me. A low, constant growl comes from deep within his chest. He is bigger than any of my family. His shoulders are broad and strong. The long sleeves of his black shirt are stretched tight against the muscle he can’t hide.

He has brown hair, so dark it’s verging on black. His eyes are stunning. His eyelashes are black and long, highlighting his unusual eyes. They are green, but one is darker than the other.

“What’s wrong?” Breeane asks, her eyes bouncing around the room.

I don’t have control over my body. Heat spreads over my face, my neck, and down my body. My nails dig into the tile, gripping hard to keep my body from moving forward.

“Baby, come here,” Las says, urging Breeane to move away from my mate. He can sense that Quinn is meant to be mine. I’m sure it was the same for him when he met Breeane.

“You’re Stephanie,” the bear shifter says. I open my mouth to respond, yet no sound comes out, so I nod instead. “I’m Quinn.” His voice is deep and husky, sending a shiver down my spine.

I remember Breeane talking about him.

“Quinn,” Bash says.

“Fuck off, vampire,” Quinn replies. He takes his gaze away for a second to glare threateningly at Bash.

“You know,” Bash says.

“I know, and I said fuck off. Trust me.” Quinn takes a step closer, and the hair on my arms raises.

I don’t know what their short conversation meant but Bash was warning him away. I don’t like that. My bear is suddenly clawing at my chest, wanting to be close to her mate.

She has been quiet within me for months, but decides to wake up in the presence of her mate. The human side is cautious but can’t help feeling the same need.

“Steph?” Breeane asks.

“I’m fine,” I say.

Quinn moves slowly toward me, watching me closely, his body attuned to every small move I make. His jaw is stiff, the grinding of his jaw visibly jumping as he makes steady progress toward me. My chest rises faster the closer he gets. He stops, but is close enough that if he reaches out his hand, he could grab me.

“You are mine,” he rumbles. “Mate.”

“Yes,” I whisper. His scent surrounds me and oddly brings me comfort. Humans would never understand the pull that shifters feel when meeting their mates.

“Do not let her come near me,” Quinn snaps over his shoulder, and I notice Breeane fighting her mate's hold.

“Breeane, stop,” I say quickly. “Stay by your mates.”

“I don’t want you hurt,” she whispers, and I understand her worry. She has been a protector to me.

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