Page 16 of Her Painter Bear Mate

The jingle caused Millie to jump up at the doorknob in a desperate attempt to open it. It was moments like this that revealed just how appropriate the breed name Springer was for them.

“Just be calm, you absolute nutter,” Dee chided, barely managing to clip the harness around Millie’s chest. She got her coat from the hook and turned the key in the lock. Millie let out a long bark and whined as if that would make the door open faster.

Dee braced herself against the harsh winter sun, briefly contemplating going back inside for sunglasses. But that would be too weird and Millie was impatient enough.

The route to the store was straightforward but she decided to take a detour through the fields so she could give Millie off-lead time.

The spaniel needed it.

While Millie chased every single atom of air, Dee pondered about her painting. She didn't understand why she suddenly disliked how her works were coming out. Maybe she was bored of it. Maybe the results were no longer a surprise. Whatever reason, she had to find a way to get over it.

Millie’s bark pulled her from her thoughts and Dee searched for her only to find her saying hello to another dog.

They were still sniffing each other’s bums when she reached them. From closer up, the strange dog looked exactly like Bork but what were the odds?

A figure turned the corner and Dee groaned. This town was too small.

“Hello. Fancy seeing you here,” Clarissa said, the amusement clear in her voice. She was only wearing a jumper and a green scarf that looked remarkably right with her red hair.

“I thought this dog looked familiar,” Dee remarked, leaning down to scratch Bork’s head now she knew he was friendly. Millie barked in jealousy and pushed the border collie out of the way so she could get attention herself.

“And who is this lovely dog?” Clarissa asked.

“This is Millie, my family dog. She is crazy.”

“She’s gorgeous.”

“You wouldn't say that if she trampled on you when you’re sleeping because she has the zoomies.”

Clarissa chuckled. “I still would. Bork wakes me every morning at seven with barking because he’s hungry.”

“Such menaces. Why do we love them again?” Dee said in mock exasperation. If she didn't live in a flat, she would’ve got a dog herself.

“Because even something that annoys you can be good for you,” Clarissa said wisely. She gestured at the dogs who were chasing each other. “They seem to like each other. Want to walk together?”

“Sure. We’re on our way to the corner store if you don't mind,” Dee said before she really thought it through. A few weeks ago, she would've done anything to avoid spending time with Clarissa but right now, it didn't seem so bad.

They wandered towards the village, chatting amicably about everything and nothing while Millie and Bork played together like they'd known each other forever. Making friends was easy for dogs.

Dee glanced at the other woman, her gaze lingering on Clarissa's bare forearms. "Are you not cold?"

"Nope, I run hot. Perks of being a bear shifter," Clarissa replied casually.

"Hmm." Dee couldn't figure out if that was new information to her or not. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she'd been vaguely aware that her rival was a shifter but she'd never given it much thought. It had never held any significance before so why was it kind of scratching her brain this time?

It shouldn't matter. Just because they were a compatible pair didn't mean they were. Dee had a lot of friends that were shifters, none of them were her fated mate. At least as far as she knew.

She pushed the thoughts away. There was only one way to confirm a fated mate pair and that was a dip into Crescent Lake on the night of the crescent moon. Dee had no intention of subjecting herself to that ritual so it didn't matter.

And if there was one person who was not her fated mate, it was definitely Clarissa.

“How’s the painting coming?” Clarissa asked, poking the elephant in the room.

“Ugh, don't talk to me about painting.”

“So no luck then.”

Dee put her hands deep in her pockets. “No. I started a new painting earlier but it's just the same issue. It looks wrong, I can't be bothered, and it’s just soulless. At this rate, I'm going to run out of canvases.”

---