Page 13 of His Stubborn Mate

Amanda hesitated for a moment before crossing the room and sinking into the armchair opposite her friend. She knew Eva wouldn’t let her off the hook easily, and she wasn’t sure she had the energy to keep evading her questions. She took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully.

“I went to see Rance,” Amanda began, her voice steady. “I wanted to thank him for saving my life.” She raised her hand to stop Eva’s objection. “Don’t. He admitted he was there that night. We talked, and… well, he took me on a run in the woods.”

Eva’s eyes flickered with interest, and she leaned forward slightly. “A run? In the woods? At night?”

Amanda nodded, trying to keep her tone casual. “It was exhilarating. The air was crisp, the moon was out—it was beautiful. But while we were out there, we encountered a Kodiak bear.”

Eva’s expression turned serious. “A Kodiak bear? Amanda, those bears can be incredibly dangerous; they are very territorial.”

Amanda nodded, recalling the ferocity of the bear and the brutal fight that had ensued. “It was. The bear seemed to see me as a threat, but Rance… he protected me. He fought the bear off.”

Eva’s eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise in her expression. “Rance fought off a Kodiak bear? That’s… impressive.”

Amanda shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. “He’s strong, and he knows what he’s doing in the wild. I’m just glad we made it out of there safely.”

Eva studied her for a long moment, her expression thoughtful. “You’re leaving something out, Amanda. I can tell.”

Amanda’s heart skipped a beat, and she forced herself to meet her friend’s gaze. She couldn’t tell her everything—especially not about the fact that she had shifted into a bear herself. But before she could come up with a response, Eva’s next question caught her off guard.

“Did your she-bear come forward?”

Amanda froze, her eyes widening in shock. How did Eva know? Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Eva had always been perceptive, but this was something else entirely. “What… what do you mean?” she stammered.

Eva smiled gently, setting her tea down on the table. “Amanda, I know you’re a shifter. I’ve known since the moment I saw you after the accident. Your energy, your aura—it’s different now. It’s unmistakable.”

Amanda stared at her, her thoughts swirling in confusion and disbelief. “How… how do you know?”

Eva leaned back, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “Because I’m a shifter, too. I’m a lynx shifter. I’ve been one my whole life. I can sense others like me, and I could sense the change in you after what happened.”

The revelation hit Amanda like a ton of bricks, and she could only stare at her friend in stunned silence. Eva, the person she had confided in so many times, was also a shifter. It was as if the ground had shifted beneath her feet, leaving her disoriented and unsure of where to step next.

Eva gave her a moment to process the information before continuing. “Rance didn’t have a choice, Amanda. He did what he had to do to save your life. If he hadn’t given you his blood, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

Amanda’s thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions—shock, confusion, and a strange sense of relief that she wasn’t alone in this new reality. “So, you knew? All this time, you knew what I was going through?”

Eva nodded, her expression softening. “I had my suspicions, but I wanted to give you time to come to terms with it on your own. Shifting for the first time is a huge deal, and I didn’t want to overwhelm you. But when you started talking about the bear encounter, I knew I had to say something.”

Amanda shook her head, still trying to wrap her mind around everything. “I just… I didn’t know how to tell you. It’s all so new and… overwhelming.”

Eva reached out and placed a hand on Amanda’s arm, her touch warm and comforting. “You don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here for you, and so is Rance. We’re a community, even if it’s a small one. And don’t worry about anyone finding out—your medical records have been altered. No one will ever be able to prove anything.”

Amanda let out a shaky breath, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. She had been carrying so much uncertainty and fear, afraid of what would happen if anyone discovered her secret. But now, knowing that Eva was a shifter, too, and that her friend had her back, she felt a sense of relief she hadn’t known she needed.

“Thank you, Eva,” Amanda said, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Eva smiled, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze. “You’re stronger than you think, Amanda. And you’re not alone. You have a whole new world to explore now, and you have people who care about you to guide you through it.”

Amanda nodded, a small smile forming on her lips as she looked at her friend. “I guess I do.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of their shared secrets hanging between them but no longer a burden. She wasn’t alone in this journey, and she had the support of those who understood what she was going through.

“I’m going to be okay, aren’t I?” Amanda asked, her voice steady as she met Eva’s gaze.

Eva smiled; her eyes warm with understanding. “Yes, you are. And you’re going to be more than okay, Amanda. You’re going to thrive.”

Amanda took a deep breath, feeling the truth of Eva’s words settle in her chest. She was on the brink of a new chapter in her life, one filled with challenges and discoveries, but she wasn’t afraid anymore.

RANCE

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