Page 20 of Rescued By the Surly Sasquatch

Without thinking, Betsy stepped forward, her hand outstretched. "Hey there," she said softly, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. "It's okay. We're not going to hurt you."

Chase moved to her side, his presence a solid comfort. "Be careful," he murmured. "The magic has driven it mad with fear."

Betsy nodded, not taking her eyes off the frightened animal. "I know. But we can't just leave it like this. We have to help."

As if understanding her words, the deer's gaze locked onto Betsy. For a moment, time stood still. Then, with a sound somewhere between a sob and a scream, the animal charged.

Betsy's mind went blank with panic, but her body moved on instinct. Her hand shot out, palm facing the oncoming deer. At the same time, she felt Chase's arms wrap around her, his chest pressed against her back. Energy surged between them, through them, a current of magic more powerful than anything Betsy had felt before.

A beam of pure light erupted from Betsy's palm, enveloping the deer in a cocoon of calm. The animal's mad dash slowed, then stopped altogether. As Betsy and Chase watched, the unnatural glow faded from its eyes, the crackling energy dispersing like mist in the morning sun.

With a soft snort, the deer shook itself, then trotted peacefully back into the woods.

Betsy sagged against Chase, her legs suddenly weak. "Did we just do that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Chase's arms tightened around her. "We did," he confirmed, a note of wonder in his deep voice. "Together."

As the adrenaline faded, leaving her shaky and spent, the full weight of what had happened—what was still happening—crashed down on Betsy. She turned in Chase's arms, burying her face in his pink fur.

"Chase," she said, her voice muffled. "I don't know if I can do this. I'm not my grandmother. I'm just me. Clumsy, clueless me. What if I make things worse? What if I can't fix what I've done?"

Chase was silent for a long moment, his hand gently stroking Betsy's hair. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer than she'd ever heard it.

"You are more than you know, Betsy Ferris," he said. "You are my mate, chosen by the forest itself. And together, we will face whatever comes."

As they stood there, surrounded by pink trees and serenaded by surprisingly talented squirrels, Betsy couldn't help but laugh. This was not how she had imagined her life going when she decided to become an herbalist. It was crazier, more dangerous, and infinitely more magical than anything she could have dreamed up.

But looking up at Chase, seeing the mix of determination and tenderness in his eyes, Betsy knew one thing for certain: whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever magical mayhem theyhad to face, how bad could it be? She'd already turned a Sasquatch pink. Surely it was all uphill from here.

Right?

Chapter 10

Chase

Chase stood at the cabin window, his massive frame taut with tension. The forest beyond the glass writhed with unnatural energy, trees swaying in a nonexistent wind, leaves changing colors faster than a mood ring on a teenager. He could feel the magic pulsing erratically, like the heartbeat of a dying creature. Time was running out.

He turned to face Betsy, who was sprawled on the couch, idly flipping through her grandmother's journal. She looked up at him, a quizzical expression on her face. "You okay there, big guy? You look like someone replaced your shampoo with Nair."

Chase's brow furrowed. "I do not understand that reference."

Betsy waved a hand dismissively. "Never mind. Seriously though, what's got your fur in a bunch?"

Chase took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to reveal. "Betsy, there is something I must tell you. About the forest, about my kind... about us."

Betsy sat up straighter, closing the journal. "Okay, now you're starting to freak me out a little. What's going on?"

Chase moved to sit beside her, the couch creaking under his weight. He stared at his hands, trying to find the right words. "The Sasquatches are not just protectors of the forest. We are bound to it, tied to the land in a way that goes beyond simple guardianship."

Betsy nodded slowly. "Okay, so you're like, super-forest-rangers. Got it."

Chase shook his head, frustration creeping into his voice. "No, you do not understand. This bond is both our strength and our greatest vulnerability. If the magic of the forest falters or becomes chaotic, as it is now..." He trailed off, unable to voice his deepest fear.

Betsy reached out, placing her hand on his arm. "Chase, what aren't you telling me?"

He met her gaze, his dark eyes filled with anguish. "If the balance is not restored, my kind could face extinction. Or worse, we could be transformed into monstrous versions of ourselves, driven mad by the instability of the land."

Betsy's eyes widened, her usual quip dying on her lips. "That’s pretty serious."

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