Page 42 of Coveted By The Bear

Chapter Nineteen-Miles

Icrouched next to my mate on the forest floor, fear flooding my senses as she writhed and groaned in pain.

This shouldn’t be possible.

But I knew what was happening. I scented it on her skin. And now, as I watched her fight through it, I wished I could take away the pain.

“Listen to me, Hope. Let. Her. In.”

It was the only thing I could offer her. The only advice that might help.

“The more you fight her, the more it will hurt. Come on, Brave Girl. You can do this,” I told her.

Her skin was slick with sweat and her body shimmered as Shifter magic swirled and pulsed throughout her entire being.

She tossed her head back, her scream turning into a roar as her face elongated.

“Oh fuck,” I murmured, falling back on my ass as I watched the impossible become reality.

Shifters were not made. They were born. And yet, here was direct proof that was false.

“Look at you,” I whispered awestruck by the creature before me.

The Hope I knew was all sweet curves and a smart mouth with a honey crisp apple scent.

This Hope.

Well, she was different.

Powerful.

Stunning.

A cinnamon furred Black Bear stood where my mate had been writhing in agony just moments ago. Velvet brown eyes met mine, and I read her fear, her panic. And it fucking gutted me.

“Easy, Pretty Girl,” I tried to calm her, but Hope was clearly not happy about her new shape.

She stood on her hind legs and blasted me with her angry roar. She fell forward, stomping the earth and tearing at it with her claws.

“Hope! HOPE! It’s gonna be okay,” I said, spreading my arms wide to show her I was no threat.

But she obviously didn’t believe me. She swiped at me, scratching my skin with her wicked sharp claws before lunging and biting my arm.

“Ouch!” I gasped, shocked as blood wept from the wound.

Hope’s sorrowful cry told me she regretted it. And my heart ached for her.

“I know, Baby. It was an accident. I’m fine. Look,” I pointed at my already healing skin.

Miles! Scared. How.? Why?

Her panicked voice entered my head. I gasped again, disbelief and joy filled me as a smile stretched across my face.

“I can hear you! I can hear you!” I yelled, falling down on my ass.

Miles? You can hear me?

“Yeah, Baby. Your Bear, I mean, she attacked, but it wasn’t malicious. I think those were claiming marks. And I can hear you now,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision.

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