Page 30 of Her Embarrassed Bear Mate

Surprise sparkled in Alix's eyes. "Youwantus to be fated?"

"I would prefer that over us having to go back to being strangers," Veronica said truthfully. She was aware it wasn't some grand romantic declaration but how could she? They'd only just started dating, there was no point pretending they were madly in love. While a fated mate bond could tie them together instantly, love was something that had to grow between them.

Alix chuckled softly. "Looks like you don't take after your dad when it comes to rushing into things. Luckily."

"Is my insistence on taking it slow making your heart beat faster?" Veronica teased.

"Maybe."

"Oh, I see." The first real smile this entire evening appeared on Veronica's lips as she pulled Alix closer. "Let's take our time. I want to get to know you thoroughly before we make any commitments. Let's wait until we're old and senile before we get married."

Alix's delightful laughter filled the space between them. "Now you'rejust being ridiculous. And you're making plans for us to grow old together? That doesn't sound like you're taking it slow."

"That's true, good point." Veronica made sure nobody was watching them before she pressed a quick kiss on Alix's lips. "Let's just go through this ceremony and we'll find out in the morning what fate has in store for us."

They broke apart and made their way separately down to the beach where two groups had formed, as was tradition. Veronica joined all the shifters on the right, some of which had already taken their clothes off. Even though their shifter blood made them run hot, lots of them were shivering.

Another good reason not to look for love in winter times.

Veronica stripped until she was just in her underwear. The cold breeze made her shiver as she waited for the ceremony to start.

After waiting forever, an Elder appeared on the raised platform. Unlike everyone else, he was wearing a very thick jumper and mittens appropriate for the freezing weather.

"Welcome to the night of the crescent moon where all your dreams or nightmares can come true. The water will reveal the truth you seek, but only to those who are brave enough to risk it all.” The Elder'svoice carried into the still night. "The mark will reveal the Moon Goddess’ will and with it, your own."

Veronica couldn't help but search for Alix in the other group where the humans and kin were waiting. The crescent moon would reveal her own will as well but what did she want? Did she truly want them to be fated mates so it wouldn't be awkward around the dinner table or... did a deeper part of her yearn for something true and everlasting that would be hers and hers only? Someone who would be with her forever, who would be on her side, who would consider her above all others.

Perhaps it was foolish on her part, but at that moment, Veronica wanted Alix to be that person. Maybe they didn't love each other yet but there was understanding, compassion, and attraction. Everything else could grow if they nurtured it. If Alix woke up with her mating mark in the morning, Veronica would do everything in her power to make it happen.

It was with those thoughts in mind that she charged to the lake and plunged herself in ice cold water, completely at the mercy of fate and its whims.

EIGHTEEN

Alix

The faint lightof morning pushed through the gap of the hotel curtains and woke Alix from her restless slumber. She turned on her side, snuggling into Veronica's warm body until she remembered what morning brought.

She jolted up, the sheets and Veronica's arm falling away from her.

"Hmm... just five more minutes," Veronica murmured sleepily.

Alix gently touched Veronica's face. "Okay, you sleep five more minutes."

That worked out just fine for her because it gaveher the necessary privacy to check her body for a mating mark. She stepped into the adjacent bathroom. There was no lock on the door for stupid hotel safety reasons but that was fine, as long as it closed, she got all the privacy she needed.

The harsh light took a moment to switch on and she squinted at her unsightly reflection in the mirror. Her face was still puffy from sleep and her dark hair matched the dark bags under her eyes but that wasn't her concern right now.

She touched her face with both hands and let them slide down her body, examining every inch of skin for irregularities. She checked the sides of her neck but the only irregular thing there were more hickeys. Her shoulders were smooth, her arms slightly cold. She couldn't quite see or reach the middle part of her back but mating marks were usually as big as their shifter counterpart and there was no way she would miss something that big.

Her stomach tightened as she ran her hands further down. Maybe there was no mating mark. If that were the case, it meant neither Veronica or anyone else that was in the lake last night was her fated mate.

Alix didn't think she had a preference either way but now that she was faced with the possibility ofthat, she realised that wasn't what she wanted. Perhaps if they were in love and a serious relationship, Alix might believe that Veronica would disregard the Moon Goddess' opinion and stick with her. Considering they only just started dating, she was under no illusion that would be the case. She didn't want it either. There'd been many times where Alix had doubted her self-worth but she hadn't such low self-esteem that she was going to be someone Veronica settled for.

If they weren't fated, this would be the end---

Her left hand brushed over some unusual raised lines on the back of her leg and Alix contorted herself in an unnatural way to get a glimpse. She couldn't see it properly but there was definitely something pink that hadn't been there before.

Instantly, her heartbeat quickened. Was it a mating mark? And if it was pink, what were the chances itwasn'tVeronica's? There was a reason why people believed in fate and that was because it always made sense.

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