Page 31 of Fated to the Grizzly

It’s all so modern, stylish and clean. I’m really not used to clean. Or modern, or stylish, for that matter.

Every room we pass through is stunning. Orion shows me how to adjust the lighting and temperature with high-tech touchpads. It’s a lot to take in for a simple prepper girl; I’ll probably have to ask him to show me again later.

“What about the security system?” I ask.

“It’s right here.” He points to himself and grins. “These ol’ ears, eyes and nose are all I need. I’ve also marked my entire territory. The only time anyone’s breached it was yesterday, when a bunch of shifters went crazy over your scent.”

I blush. “T-they could all smell me?”

“Big time.”

“But won’t theykeepsmelling me?”

“Not now you’re mated.” There’s a possessive growl in his voice. “Now they’ll know you’re mine.”

My cheeks get even hotter, and so does that little spot between my thighs, which hasn’t quit aching since I first laid eyes on Orion. It’s embarrassing, but I also kinda like the fact that I smell different now I’m no longer a virgin. Now I’m his.

“Where are your supplies?” I ask, as he continues his tour of the house.

“Supplies?”

“In case, you know, there’s a national emergency or something.”

He grins. “There’s a whole forest of supplies out there, trust me.”

A burst of alarm goes through me. He’s not taking this seriously at all. “B-but what if something poisons the forest? You’ll starve.”

Orion turns to face me. He gives me a long look. Then he takes my hands in his. “Scout, listen to me. The chance of that happening is very, very small. I know that’s how you’ve been raised. But you’ve got to quit worrying. Now it’s time to have fun and enjoy your life.”

I close my eyes, and something inside me releases, like a spring that’s been coiled too tight for too long. I let out a long breath. “You’re right. I’ve been fantasizing about escaping my family for years. I don’t want to live like them.”

He presses his lips to my forehead. “And you won’t, so long as I’ve got anything to do with it. C’mon, I’m gonna show you the upper level.” He bounds up the stairs. His enthusiasm is infectious, and I race up after him, giggling.

There are a bunch of doors coming off the hallway. He throws open the first one.

It’s a gigantic games room. There’s a pool table, a foosball table, and a retro arcade machine. I wander around, my mouth hanging open. There’s a giant flatscreen TV with a bunch of gaming consoles and a pile of comfy beanbags beside it; a bookcase full of board games; a dartboard,anda vintage pinball machine.

My heart leaps. There used to be one in the mall close to my family’s old home. My bestie and I used to spend hours on it.

I think I lose a couple of minutes, pulling on the levers and muttering to myself as the ball zips around crazily.

When I next look up, Orion is watching me, eyes crinkling at the corners.

My face gets hot. “Sorry,” I mutter. “Got a little carried away.”

He puts his arm around me and pulls me close, planting a kiss on top of my head. “Don’t ever be sorry, Scout. “This is why I got all this stuff. To have fun with.” He grabs my hand and hauls me over to the foosball table. Then he crooks his eyebrow in that sexy way of his. “You any good at this?”

I grin. “The best.”

It’s a good couple of hours before I’m all played out. Orion is a great opponent. He doesn’t just let me win, but he encourages me a lot, and helps me with my technique.

We fall out of the room laughing and teasing each other.

“Now, I’ll show you the rest of the house.” Orion opens the doors to the other rooms. One is empty of furniture, but the other four are set up like luxury hotel bedrooms. They’re all decorated in different styles—the one I slept in last night, all done out in pretty florals; one all white; one like a log cabin, and one in bold, contrasting colors.

“So many rooms here,” I murmur.

“They’ll be full of our cubs one day.”

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