Page 22 of Rescued By the Surly Sasquatch

"Great," Betsy muttered. "Cryptic magical GPS. Just what I always wanted."

As they pushed deeper into the forest, the chaos intensified. Gravity seemed to have taken a vacation, with rocks and smallanimals floating by at random intervals. The ground beneath their feet alternated between feeling like gelatin and quicksand.

"Chase," Betsy called out, struggling to keep her balance on a particularly wobbly patch of earth. "I don't suppose you've got any Sasquatch secret tricks for walking on magical Jell-O?"

Chase turned back, concern etched on his features. Without a word, he scooped Betsy up into his arms, cradling her against his chest as if she weighed no more than a feather.

"Oh," Betsy said, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Well, this works too."

As Chase carried her through the magical obstacle course, Betsy found herself marveling at the easy strength in his arms, the steady beat of his heart under her ear. She'd always known he was powerful, but feeling it like this, surrounded by chaos yet completely safe in his embrace, made something warm and fierce bloom in her chest.

"You know," she said conversationally, as they passed a tree that appeared to be crying tears of liquid rainbows, "when I pictured being swept off my feet by a tall, dark, and handsome stranger, I didn't quite envision it like this."

Chase's chest rumbled with a low chuckle. "I imagine not. Is the reality disappointing?"

Betsy pretended to consider for a moment. "Well, let's see. Magical forest, check. Dashing Sasquatch hero, check. Imminent peril and world-saving quest, check." She grinned up at him. "Nope, I'd say this exceeds all expectations."

They continued on, the forest growing wilder and more unpredictable with each step. Betsy lost track of time, the journey becoming a blur of impossible sights and near-misses with errant magic. Through it all, Chase's arms remained steady around her, his presence a constant anchor in the sea of chaos.

Finally, after what felt like hours (or possibly days—time seemed to have gone as wonky as everything else), Chase cameto a stop. He gently set Betsy down, and she gasped as she took in their surroundings.

They stood in a perfectly circular clearing, untouched by the magical pandemonium that raged around its edges. At the center stood an enormous oak tree, its trunk easily as wide as Betsy's cabin. The tree pulsed with a soft, golden light that seemed to beat in time with Betsy's own heart.

"Is this...?" she breathed, unable to take her eyes off the magnificent tree.

Chase nodded solemnly. "The heart of the forest. The source of all its magic."

Betsy approached the tree slowly, drawn by an instinct she couldn't name. As she got closer, she could hear it—a faint melody, like wind chimes in a gentle breeze. She reached out, her fingertips barely brushing the rough bark.

The moment she made contact, a jolt of energy surged through her. Visions flashed before her eyes—the forest as it had been centuries ago, wild and untamed; her grandmother, young and vibrant, performing rituals with a grace Betsy could only dream of; Chase, standing guard over the land through countless seasons.

She stumbled back, overwhelmed by the onslaught of images and emotions. Chase was there in an instant, steadying her with a gentle hand on her back.

"What... what was that?" Betsy gasped, her head spinning.

"The forest recognizes you," Chase said softly. "It knows you are meant to be its steward, just as your grandmother was."

Betsy shook her head, doubt creeping in. "But I'm not my grandmother. I'm just... me. Clumsy, clueless me. How am I supposed to do this?"

Chase turned her to face him, his dark eyes intense. "You are more than you know, Betsy Ferris. The forest chose you for a reason. And I..." he paused, vulnerability flickering across hisfeatures. "I need you. Not just as my mate, but as my partner in this. I cannot do it alone."

Betsy felt something shift inside her, like puzzle pieces clicking into place. She thought of all she'd been through since coming to the forest—the laughter, the danger, the wonder of it all. She thought of Chase, this impossible, wonderful creature who had stolen her heart.

Taking a deep breath, Betsy squared her shoulders and met Chase's gaze. "Okay," she said, her voice steady. "Let's do this. What's the plan, big guy?"

Relief and pride warred for dominance in Chase's expression. "We must perform the bonding ritual. It will fully awaken your powers as a steward and strengthen our mate bond. Through that connection, we can channel the forest's magic and restore balance."

Betsy nodded, a determined glint in her eye. "Alright. Hit me with it. Do we need to dance naked under the moonlight? Sacrifice a virgin squirrel? Chant in ancient Sasquatch?"

Chase's lips twitched. "Nothing so dramatic. We simply need to open ourselves fully to each other and to the forest. No barriers, no doubts. Complete trust and surrender."

"Oh, is that all?" Betsy quipped, but her voice lacked its usual sarcastic edge. She understood the gravity of what they were about to do.

Chase took her hands in his, dwarfing them with his massive palms. "Are you ready?"

Betsy took a deep breath, pushing down the last vestiges of doubt. She thought of all the reasons she'd fallen in love with Chase: his strength, his gentleness, the way he looked at her like she was the most precious thing in the world. She thought of the forest, of the magic that now hummed in her veins as surely as her own blood.

"I'm ready," she said softly.

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