Page 9 of The Omega's Beary Merry Christmas

But the strange thing was, I wasn’t scared of him, since I stepped outside. Not even before I found out who he was.

That was odd for me. I’m always super apprehensive around strangers—or even adults I know—when Natalie was involved. Unless it’s someone I really trust, I’m always on guard. But with him, there wasn’t a stitch of worry. It was unsettling in its own way.

“Bears do frolic,” Natalie declared. “Mrs. Davis says so.”

“Mrs. Davis, huh?” He smiled down at her. “She must be pretty smart.”

“She is!” Natalie adored her teacher.

It was sweet seeing them interact like that. I kept waiting for my walls to go up, but they didn’t, and the closer I got to him, the more they fell straight into the basement.

I’d say it was because he was hot—which objectively he was. But it wasn’t that. There was just something safe and comforting about him.

“We’re having a problem with the hot water. I was hoping you could help. I think there’s a switch or something I’m missing.”

Bert nodded. “Let’s take a look.”

I asked Natalie to stay in the clearing and promised I’d be right back. She ended up coming inside with us anyway, saying she was cold. Bert and I went inside. I explained how I’d checked under the sink, hoping for one of those small water heaters, but there wasn’t one.

“I’m going to color,” Natalie announced. Worked for me. At least in here she wasn’t going to try and be a wild-animal whisperer.

“Is that duct tape on your boot?” Bert asked.

“Yeah, it broke. It’s your brother’s tape, but I’ll replace it.”

“No need. My brother owes me, and I can put duct tape against his tab.”

It was such a little thing, but somehow it felt like a huge-ass hug. What was it about this man?

“Thanks.”

Chapter Six

Bert

My bear sensed this man was more to us than some prickly human sent here to ruin my Christmas, but it wasn’t until I was in his space that I caught his scent. He smelled like ginger, molasses, and vanilla all wrapped up into one. The best gingerbread man ever.

Gods, I had to get my head on straight.

No. I couldn’t think that way. He had a child. A child meant he had an alpha, and I was no homewrecker, mate or not. He had someone who loved him and loved this young one. I might be rough around the edges, but I wasn’t the kind of alpha who moved in on another’s omega, fated or not.

Wait, was I saying he was my fated? One look? Was that all it took?

No. No. This wasn’t happening.

Plus, he was a human, and that posed problems only complete trust could solve.

I didn’t trust humans. Period.

Conrad’s visit was temporary. A swapping of houses. Vacation. Nothing more.

I couldn’t have anything more.

I stepped back as I entered the house, trying to close off how his scent permeated everything even though they’d only been here a few hours. My fists balled as he passed me, forcing myself not to reach out and touch him.

Drawing in another soul full of his scent, I was surer than ever that Fate had a sense of humor, and clearly I was the butt of her jokes.

He was here. On our land. But he was mated. Had a family.

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