Page 6 of Bearly Breathing

CHAPTER 2

Marcus breathed in the warm, hibiscus-scented air and smiled. His Bear chuffed and snorted in his mind’s eye. The huge beast happy with their little escape. Paradise!

A little business mixed with a few nights on the beach was just what the Bear ordered! He’d worry about finding someone to settle down with later. Ugh.Settle. He hated that word.

Once upon a time he would have wanted something else, something like Ignatius and Dolores Devlin had! His great-great grandparents were rumored to be truly matebonded as only fated mates could be.

Such an occurrence was a rarity among Shifters. His father told him the tale of their love when he was just a cub. But Marcus didn’t believe in fairytales anymore.

His mother and father had a strong no-nonsense kind of marriage until his mother died. His father mourned her in his way, they all did. It had been three years now.

His father retired from the bakery, but he still ran their small Clan. He was whole after his wife’s death, leading Marcus to believe that his parents were not a truly matebonded couple. They were not fated mates. Maybe it really did only exist in fairytales?

He shrugged. So, what? He just needed someone to fill this ache in his chest, to settle his Bear, then his life could continue like it had been. But first things, first, vacation time.

“Welcome, Mr. Devlin!”

“Hi, Mr. Gordon,” Marcus had been in contact with the hotel manager the past few days organizing his stay.

He nodded and took the man’s hand careful not to squeeze it too hard. Mr. Gordon was a normal.

He smiled and looked around the huge lobby of the hotel and smiled. The open concept was fluid and very modern, unlike most of the other hotels, he stayed at.

This one had undergone renovations recently, and Marcus approved. The lobby was large and clean. Inviting was the word that came to mind.

The guests seemed to think so too as they milled about with wide, happy smiles on their sunburnt faces. This was going to be the perfect place to relax before he went back home and resumed his search for a mate. Mr. Gordon motioned for a bellhop to come and take Marcus’ bags.

“Shall I show you to your room, Mr. Devlin?”

“Let me drop in on the store first. I’ve missed Mrs. Leeds.”

“Ah, certainly, sir! The Bear Claw is a most welcome addition, and the guests are raving about it!”

“Great to hear, Gordon.”

“Certainly! I will send your things up ahead of you.”

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, sir!”

Marcus nodded and turned to the shining glass doors of the Bear Claw Bakery. When he entered, he was greeted with the familiar scents of their famous morning honey buns and sweet raisin rolls.

His smile grew broader as his impeccable sense of smell told him Mrs. Leeds followed his instructions regarding their signature recipes to perfection.

“Mr. Devlin! I see you’ve come to check on me!” a booming, accented voice reached his ears.

“I see you’ve added that coconut honey bun we’ve been discussing to the menu? I’ll take two to go and a large iced coffee, black, darling!” He greeted the older woman with a warm hug and friendly smile.

“Oh, yes! You will love it, I am sure! Right away, sir!” She smiled at him and swatted him playfully when he tugged open her apron strings.

“You tease, now if you go wandering round the island this visit, you just watch yourself, a pack of wild dogs was seen just last week over at your favorite lookout point, Mr. Marcus,” she told him and giggled like a girl when he kissed her round cheek.

Her hands went to tidy her pretty, gray braids as she moved quickly behind the counter and told a young man to fill his order in her native tongue. She smiled at him with all the warmth of a grandma to her young cub and he grinned like one back.

“Thanks for the warning, dear.”

Cheerful music played through the speakers, as Marcus quickly checked the equipment over. After taking a few notes and listening to some of his feisty manager’s suggestions, Marcus took his bag of goodies and his iced coffee and left the store.

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