Page 36 of Fated to the Grizzly

“What is it, honey?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I couldn’t sleep.” She swipes the back of her hand across her forehead.

“Something’s bothering you. Come tell me about it.”

She gives me a brave smile as I draw her down onto the bed and encircle her in my arms.

“Oh, I was just thinking about my family.” She puffs out her cheeks. “This is gonna sound real stupid?—”

“Scout, nothing you have to say is stupid, trust me.” I take hold of her hand and keep stroking it until she’s ready to continue.

“I just hate the way that dad is gonna think I failed because I didn’t make it back. And I know that’s crazy. I’m so happy here with you. Why should I give a crap what my dad thinks, after the way he treated me?”

I swallow hard. The tears in her eyes are like a knife twisting in my heart.

“You know what I think?” I say carefully. “I think your dad—in his own way—set you an Alpha challenge.”

She wrinkles her nose. “What’s that?”

“It’s common among shifters. When the Alpha of a clan or pack has several sons, he often makes them compete to see who would be best suited to succeed him when he gets old.”

She nods thoughtfully. “That figures. He always seems pretty preoccupied about building the community and the family’s position in it.” She’s quiet for a moment, then her expression darkens. “He put me in his Alpha challenge, but he never expected me to make it back.”

She springs to her feet, and when I see the fire burning in her eyes, I fall in love with her even more.

“I’ve got to show him.” She paces up and down in front of me. “I can’t rest until I do it.”

Her small hands are clenched into fists. I reach out and hold them in mine. “You’re saying you want to continue with your mission?

She nods fiercely. Then sadness fills her eyes. “I don’t know how long it’s gonna take. I might be gone for days or even weeks. I can’t stand to leave you, Orion, but I’ve got to do this. I hope you understand.”

My heart fills with pride for this tough little girl of mine. She’s even more of a fierce she-bear than I knew.

“Okay,” I say slowly. “I do understand. And I’ll be right here when you get back.”

Then I bite back a smile. Whatshedoesn’t understand is that there’s no way I’m leaving her by herself, ever again.

15

Orion

For five whole days, Scout travels through the wilderness, all alone—or so she thinks. Her eyesight and hearing are sharp, so I’m careful to stay well back, but I’m never more than a couple of minutes behind her.

But for my beast, those are two long minutes. Following Scout, not touching her, is agony for my beast. My animal is consumed with possessiveness and jealousy. It’s ripping me up inside, howling in pain. This is the only time we’ll ever be apart, but it doesn’t understand that. It doesn’t understand how I can bear to have her so far away from me. She’s my mate. There’s a tether connecting us, and the farther she is from me, the more my heart hurts.

I wonder if she feels it, too, and I hope she’s not suffering.

Every time I catch sight of her slight figure, dressed in the same men’s shorts and shirt she arrived in, I have to stop myself from catching her up and making her ride my beast’s broad back instead. But I understand how important this mission is for her. She wants to prove to herself—as well as to her father—that she’s capable of meeting the challenge. And I know she’s gonna make it.

She’s so brave, my girl. She keeps her bow handy, and her senses on high alert, but she’s not afraid. There’s no fear in the intoxicating scent that trails behind her.

Of course, she has no reason to be afraid. Sure, there are a bunch of shifters circling, but most of them know better than to approach a marked female. And the ones that didn’t? Well, the bite of my canines was the last thing they ever felt in their miserable lives.

Every night Scout catches a rabbit and roasts it over a campfire with whatever else she’s managed to forage. If I had my way, she’d be eating gourmet packed meals, but of course she insisted on going the whole nine yards and hunting all her food. I’ve just got to keep reminding myself that once this is over, she’ll eat like a queen for the rest of her life.

Of course, I help her out as much as I can. If she leaves the campfire to go wash up in the evening, I keep it all built up for her. I catch rabbits and toss them right in her path. And when she’s sleeping, curled up in her hammock, I watch over her all night long, making sure her sleeping bag stays tucked up under her chin.

Sometimes, when she finds a secluded spot by the river, she strips off and plunges in. This is the hardest bit for my beast. It darn near goes insane. There she is—my mate, beautiful and vulnerable, her delicious pale body exposed to the wilderness. She doesn’t understand how closely she’s being watched—and that’s probably for the best.

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