Page 49 of Beary In Love

"So, try something different." He squeezed her shoulder. "Trust your instincts."

Serena's chest tightened as Logan swayed slightly. The toxin was getting to him way faster because of his shifter nature. She couldn't let him down. Couldn't let him get hurt because she wasn't good enough.

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to think past the fog in her mind. What would she do if this was one of Logan's animals? She always knew exactly what to do then…

Her eyes snapped open. "That's it."

Instead of trying to break the runes, she needed to treat this like healing an animal - identify the source and neutralize it systematically. Her fingers flew over her vials, combining three different potions in quick succession.

"Hold on," she muttered, adding a drop of stabilizing agent. The mixture turned a deep blue, exactly the color she needed.

Logan's presence at her back steadied her as she carefully traced the outer edges of the runes with the mixture. The purple lines flickered, their glow diminishing where her potion touched.

"It's working," Logan's voice held pride that made her cheeks warm despite the situation.

Serena worked methodically, her confidence growing with each successful application. The runes' power ebbed and the toxin in the air thinned until she could breathe easily again. The runes faded completely and left only clean wood behind.Serena's confidence surged, warming her chest as she turned to face Beatrice.

Beatrice's laugh rang through the shop, but this time it held genuine delight rather than mockery. "Well done! I haven't seen anyone work out one of my puzzles that fast in ages."

Serena's knees felt weak with relief as the last of the toxin cleared from her lungs. Logan's hand steadied on her back, his warmth grounding her.

"The combination you just made?" Beatrice gestured to Serena's blue mixture. "That'll cure your animals too. Just adjust the ratios based on their size."

"Thank you," Serena managed, still processing that she'd actually succeeded.

Beatrice's expression turned serious. "Word of warning though - Silas was in early this morning. Got himself a strength enhancement tattoo. It'll let him break through most magical barriers and amplify his bear form's power."

Logan's deep voice vibrated through his chest. "Wonderful."

They turned and left the shop, stepping into the late morning sunlight. Serena barely had time to adjust her messenger bag before Logan swept her up in his arms, spinning her around.

"Logan!" She squeaked, grabbing his shoulders. His muscles felt like steel under her fingers.

"You were amazing in there." His eyes sparkled as he set her down but kept his arms around her. "The way you figured out that puzzle? Brilliant."

Her cheeks flushed. "It wasn't that impressive-"

"Stop that," Logan cut her off. "You outsmarted one of the most powerful witches in town. Own it."

Standing there in Logan's arms, the pride in his voice washing over her, Serena felt something shift inside her. For the first time since her divorce, maybe even before that, she felt truly capable. Powerful.

"I did do pretty good, didn't I?" She grinned up at him.

"Pretty good? You were incredible." His smile turned playful. "Though I could have done without the toxic puzzle part."

"You big baby." She poked his chest. "And here I thought bears were supposed to be tough."

His answering laugh rumbled through her, and for a moment, Serena forgot about enhanced Silas and all their other problems. Right now, wrapped in Logan's arms with the sun warming her face, she felt invincible.

21

LOGAN

Logan's truck rumbled down the winding coastal road toward the sanctuary, the salty breeze drifting through the cracked windows. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as pride swelled in his chest. The way Serena had handled that witch's challenge had been incredible.

Halfway to the sanctuary, he pulled onto a scenic overlook, the truck's tires crunching on gravel. Serena shot him a questioning look, her gray eyes bright behind her glasses.

"Everything okay?"

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