Page 38 of Fated to the Grizzly

I blink. That’s not like mom, at all. Does that mean…?

“And Vinny and Owen?”

“Not back yet.” He grimaces. He’s ashamed. His big strong sons have let him down. I can’t help the little flicker of pride that runs through me. I made it back here, all by myself. Yes, I spent a few nights en route, uh, finding my mate, who I’m now missing like crazy, but I navigated the wilderness myself, every step of the way.

I feel heat soaking through the cloth. He’s burning up.

“Dad, you’ve got a fever. Maybe we should get you to?—”

There’s the sound of a heavy tread behind me. I spin around.

And my heart bounds in joy.

Orion. Right here in the bunker.

I don’t hesitate. I justruninto his arms.

My legs wrap around his waist, my arms loop around his neck, and our lips cling together like we’re drowning. A deep rumbling sound comes from his massive chest, and that pain in my own chest disappears. My mate and I are together again. Like two halves of one person. I don’t need to ask what he’s doing here. I think I knew deep down that he was with me all this time.

It’s a long, long time before he lets me down to the ground and gently sets me on my feet. Then he takes my hand in his and together, we turn to my father.

Dad’s eyes are bulging so much, they’re in danger of dropping right out of his head. He runs his tongue between his dry lips. “W-who’s this, Scout?”

“This is my mate, Orion. Orion, meet my dad.” I blink, surprised at the way my voice resounds around the room. I hadn’t even realized until now that it used to be like a mouse’s squeak. Now I sound like a—well, like a confident woman.

A well-loved woman, I think, squeezing Orion’s hand.

Of course, you are. More than you know.

What?My head jerks up to meet his gaze. “Did you say something?” I mutter.

A smile tugs at Orion’s gorgeous lips.

My soul communicated directly with yours.

I gasp. He definitely didn’t speakthosewords out loud. I heard them in my head.

Is this gonna keep happening?I think the sentence real hard.

He grins.You bet. More and more.

Wow, well this is all kinds of awesome.

Finally, I remember that someone else is in the room with us.

Dad is looking at us with confusion and something else—like he’s figuring out that he’s been tricked out of something. “Are you a prepper?” he says hoarsely.

Orion curls his lip. “Nope.”

“Where did you two meet?”

“During my mission,” I say shortly. I’m not about to let him give me the third degree.

“You’re sick.” Orion walks over to him and leans forward examining him closely. “What with?”

“He said he ate a weird can of tuna.”

“And you’ve got a high fever, vomiting. Having a hard time speaking?”

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