Page 36 of Ash

Chapter

Seven

Suzannah felt like she'd been hit by a truck, or maybe like one of those huge logs from that Final Destination film.

Goodness, that film still gave her nightmares.

But this?

Having Ash Thomas, a bear shifter, tell her that he was her mate?

Thattheywere her mate?

Her heart was pounding in her chest.

The room was suddenly too warm.

"Suzannah?"

She lifted her gaze to meet his.

"I'm sorry."

She heard the words, and a strange kind of panic settled over her. "For?"

She closed her eyes and waited for the other shoe to drop.

Suzannah felt herself bracing for the impact.

And then she felt a hand around hers.

She felt heat surrounding her hand, but not a heat that burned.

A heat that was gentle and comforting.

Opening her eyes, she looked down and saw that the hand holding hers was Ash's hand.

Earlier, when Hetty had clasped her hand, she'd used both of her hands.

It only took one of Ash's hands to surround hers.

That fact alone had her heart pounding in her chest, but there was a tender, almost reverent way that he held onto her hand.

"I don't know how to do this the right way, Suzannah."

She heard a rumbling sound that felt as if it was resonating in his chest.

"I don't want to scare you."

She lifted her gaze to meet his.

"Why would I be scared?" Her voice was trembling so she couldn't blame him for worrying. The only thing that would make her seem more afraid of him was if she pulled her hand out of his grasp. "I mean... I'm confused and shocked. I couldn't imagine this happening to me... ever. Back home in Sylvan City, even though I knew that shapeshifters existed, it was kind of... wishful thinking that I might meet one of them, but here I am, in a room with two of them... of you."

She laughed, but it was thin and awkward.

"I should be apologizing to you."

He shook his head, his gaze fixed on her face. "You never have to apologize to me."

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