Page 8 of Fated to the Grizzly

She gives a little groan, and I crouch down at her side so my massive bulk doesn’t scare her.

Every bit of me is as tense as that bow she shot me with. Every nerve of my body is waiting on her, desperate to see her reaction when she opens her eyes and glimpses her mate for the first time.

Will she feel the way I did?

Will she know me in that first second?

Her eyelids flutter and I hold my breath. I won’t breathe again until I see what color her irises are.

Slowly, slowly, the thick fringes of her eyelashes part and two orbs, the shade of spring moss, glitter like jewels.

A sigh of delight rushes out of me. I just knew my mate would have green eyes, and they’re even more beautiful than I could’ve imagined.

But her pupils are contracting to pinpricks, and she gives a shriek of fear.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I tell her, then cringe at the sound of my voice. It’s kinda gruff and scratchy, because I haven’t spoken in who knows how long.

“You were hurt. You were running from a bear and you fell and passed out.”

Frowning, she tries to lift herself up on her elbows.

“Hey, take it easy. You might’ve hit your head.”

She lifts her hands and feels her head and face all over. “Don’t think so. I mean, nothing hurts.”

My bear purrs.

The sound of her voice.It’s like honey converted into soundwaves. Or tinkling streams. Shit, I’m not good with this kind of stuff. All I know is that it’s the sweetest sound I’ve heard in my life. I can’t wait to hear her say my name. Hell, call it out in ecstasy while I’m deep inside her and her nails are tearing up my back.

“My knees hurt though,” she mutters, craning her neck to get a better look.

“They’re a little grazed, but I’ve got a first aid kit,” I say quickly. I’m suddenly aware that I’m naked, and that humans aren’t really cool with that.

She lets out a groan of acknowledgment and lets her head fall back against the sofa cushion. She’s exhausted. I see it in her pallor of her skin, the dark shadows beneath her eyes. What has this poor girl been through that’s brought her to this wild place? When she trusts me a little, I’ll get it out of her. And if I find out someone’s hurt her, I’ll make them wish they’d never been born.

“Been a long day, huh?”

“Yeah.” Emotions shift across her eyes. “How did I wind up here?”

“I carried you.”

“While I was unconscious?”

I shrug. “Yup. I lifted you off the forest floor and brought you inside.”

Her eyes narrow as she takes in my modern home. She’s probably thinking it seems out of place in the wilderness.

“Are you a prepper?” she asks.

“A what?”

A slow smile spreads across her face. “Doesn’t matter. Are you a mountain man?”

I shrug. “Guess you could call me that.”

Her smile gets even wider.

“What’s funny?”

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