Page 48 of The Bear's Reluctant Mate

No,Alfie said firmly, gripping the steering wheel tighter.If she wanted to see us, she would have responded to our messages.

So Alfie headed for the mountains, following the winding road that led deeper into the wilderness. The higher he climbed, the more the tension in his shoulders began to ease. This waswhat he needed—wide open spaces had always helped him gain some perspective when things got hard.

He pulled off at a familiar overlook, parking his truck in the empty gravel lot. The view stretched out before him. Bear Creek was nestled in the valley below, surrounded by endless forest and rugged peaks. Somewhere in that tiny collection of buildings was Marion, the woman his soul had recognized instantly as his mate. The woman who was now pulling away for reasons he couldn’t understand.

Alfie stepped out of the truck and stretched his muscles, which were tight from hours of work and worry. But it was time to let go of his fears. It was time to let his bear run free.

As Alfie let go of the world, the air around him popped and crackled with energy as his human form disappeared, replaced in an instant by his bear.

His bear huffed with satisfaction, shaking out his thick fur. This was what they needed. No more overthinking, just movement, and instinct.

He set off at a loping run through the forest, his enormous paws silent on the pine-needle floor. On and on he ran for miles, through dense forest and open meadows, along ridgelines, and across valleys. The physical exertion burned away his frustration, leaving only the essential question: what did Marion need from him right now?

But no answer came.

What he needed was advice. From someone who had experience of troubled pasts.

Dougray,his bear said as he headed toward his cousin’s place.

Ten minutes later, they headed down the trail that led to the cabin Dougray shared with his mate, Tammy, and their adoptedson, Finlay. Their home was an extension of Tammy’s Uncle Gavin’s cabin.

It’ll give us ideas of how we can extend our home,his bear said, still confident that one day—and one day soon—Marion and Charlie would come live with them.

Alfie wished he could share his bear’s belief that everything would work out all right.

It will,his bear replied.

Alfie shifted back into his human form and almost immediately, the cabin door opened, and Dougray appeared. “Alfie! What brings you up this way?”

“Just needed to clear my head,” Alfie replied as he approached the porch.

His cousin tugged his brows together. “Problems?”

Alfie nodded. “Do you have time to talk?”

“Always,” his cousin replied. “Come in. I’ll grab us a beer.”

Inside, the cabin was warm and inviting, with all the trappings of a family home.

You mean it has a woman’s touch,his bear said.

Yeah.Alfie ran his hand over the patchwork quilt draped over the back of a chair while his eyes rested on the jumble of shoes by the door.

Dougray grabbed two beers from the refrigerator and handed one to Alfie. “So, you found your mate?”

“You heard?” Alfie said.

“Are you surprised?” Dougray clinked his bottle against Alfie’s. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” Alfie grinned despite himself. “You heard it was one of Finn’s mix-ups?”

“Oh yeah,” Dougray chuckled, but then he grew serious. “But you are not here to talk about Finn.”

“No, I am not,” Alfie said, and then took a long drink.

“So, tell me why you are here,” Dougray said as he led the way to the living room.

“Well, I met my mate,” Alfie began. “Her name is Marion. She’s raising her nephew, Charlie.”

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