Page 2 of Fearless Bond

How tall was the animal? Ten feet? More? It looked like it could swallow me whole and still have some room left for dessert.

I couldn’t distinguish its color in the dark, but black bears weren’t this big.

A grizzly then.

Just my luck.

And I’d made it this far. It was unfair.

I closed my eyes and blew out what would be my last breath.

This is it.

Except nothing happened. A thump and a few stomps, and then only the wind whooshing.

I squinted into the darkness.

The animal was gone.

“Okay. Okay. I’m not dead yet.”

Shuddering, I resumed my hike, trying not to think about what the prickling pain in my legs might mean. The adrenaline from the wildlife encounter could fuel my muscles for a while, so I marched on. My thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of images and fragmented memories. I grabbed one and replayed it in my head. It was a nice memory… or more of a fantasy. It had started the grand change that led me here.

A few days ago, I’d dreamed about being pregnant. My stomach was round and pretty, and I petted it with wonder. I was going to have a baby, but not with Damian. There was someone else; some unknown alpha stood behind me. I didn’t know his name, but I felt like I knew him. His warm hands rested on my shoulders, and I was happy.

Then I’d woken up and realized it had only been a dream. I’d started crying. Already dressed for work, Damian had rolled his eyes. He’d been dismissive about what he called my “episodes,” treating me like a nuisance when I got anxious. Sometimes, I couldn’t help but agree with him. When I couldn’t keep my shit together like normal people, I was a burden, right?

But that day, when he threw the package of my prescription meds on the bed and left without a word, I got angry. I was furious like never before, and it helped better than any pills my father or Damian had ever stuffed down my throat. My tears dried, but my anger stayed with me like a protective shield.

What if the child I’d dreamed about had been Damian’s? I imagined having a family with him, being dependent on his love and kindness. What kindness? Had he ever loved me? I hadn’t told Damian about the dream—he’d have laughed at me. But when I sat in the car with him, about to spend the weekend with him, I couldn’t pretend anymore. I told him that I wasn’t happy and that we were too different.

His reaction confirmed what I’d already known. I was better off without him.

You’re about to freeze to death. Do you still think you’re better off?

I let out a startled, breathless laugh. Yep, I’d rather freeze to death right here than spend the rest of my life dying inside next to Damian Hart.

2

BARCLAY

It was like he’d dropped from the sky.

Since the wind was howling and he’d been coming from the west, I didn’t smell or hear him until I saw him. Probably a lost hiker.

And what in the name of the devil was he wearing? Wet and shivering, he wouldn’t make it in the forest for much longer. The guy was dressed like he’d been headed for a stroll around a mall. It was a miracle that humans didn’t go extinct thousands of years ago with all their inane entitlement.

I’d miss poker night again, but I couldn’t let the stupid tourist freeze to death. I got on all fours and ran home. After I’d shifted and put on my gear, I grabbed an extra parka and a helmet for the man. A snowmobile would have been faster, but the snow was fresh and too thin. Besides, I hadn’t yet used the thing this season, so it needed some maintenance. I hopped on the four-wheeler.

The snowfall was getting heavier. I circled around where I’d first spotted the human and found his footprints in the snow. Hecouldn’t have gone far. He was headed vaguely in the direction of the town, but I couldn’t track him exactly since the four-wheeler couldn’t pass through where the trees grew too close to each other. I zigzagged through the forest, catching up with him slower than I’d hoped. Yeah, poker night was shot.

Then I caught his scent. The trace was distorted in the wind, but it was definitely a human omega, and he smelled incredibly good. I couldn’t compare the fragrance to anything, but it felt familiar all the same. Like some fruit or flower I’d known as a kid and hadn’t smelled since. My mouth watered, and my chest felt warm.

Who was the sweet-smelling fool?

It took a few more minutes, but I found him.

His hair was wet, his jeans soaked, and his thin jacket covered with snow. He was staggering between the trees like a drunk.

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