Page 55 of The Bear's Reluctant Mate

“Alfie?” Charlie asked.

“Well, I guess you could call it snuggling,” Alfie said. “Because they like to hibernate in the leaves.”

I’d sure like to snuggle with our mate,his bear said, imagining lying out under the stars, with Marion resting against him.

Alfie could think of nothing better. But for now, he had work to do.

When they finished, they stood back to admire their creation. The bug corner looked like a miniature woodland village, with the weathered oak stump serving as its centerpiece.

“It’s perfect,” Charlie breathed, clutching his new magnifying glass.

“Let’s take a break,” Marion suggested, reaching for her tote bag. “I packed some snacks and drinks.”

They sat together on the ground, sharing apple slices, cheese, and cookies while sipping cold lemonade from a thermos. Charlie perched between them, occasionally jumping up to check if any bugs had discovered their new habitat.

Alfie’s bear was practically purring with contentment.This is how it should be,his bear said.The three of us together.

Perfect,Alfie agreed.

I wish Charlie knew about me,his bear added wistfully.He would love to know bears can be naturalists, too.

Soon,Alfie promised.Very soon.

Now that he and Marion had reached an understanding about their relationship, the next step would be telling her about their mating bond. He knew he couldn’t keep his shifter nature secret much longer, not if they were going to build a life together.

“Alfie!” Charlie called, excitement threading through his voice. “I found a roly-poly bug already moving in!”

“That’s great!” Alfie called back. “They’re excellent decomposers. They help turn dead plants into soil.”

Marion leaned against his shoulder, her warmth seeping through his shirt. “Thank you for this,” she said quietly. “For all of it.”

“You are welcome,” he said, inhaling her scent. “But you don’t have to thank me. I get a kick out of doing this, too.”

Marion chuckled. “You and Charlie are like two peas in a pod.”

“He does make this all more fun,” Alfie said. “Seeing things through his eyes takes me back to my own childhood.”

“Well, look at this magnificent creation!” Elsbeth exclaimed, admiring the bug corner. “Charlie, you’ve built a five-star insect resort!”

Charlie beamed with pride. “We made different rooms for different bugs. And I already saw one moving in!”

“That’s wonderful,” Elsbeth said, coming to join them with a basket on her arm. “I brought some bulbs for you to plant nearby. Pollinators like bees and butterflies will love them, and they’ll visit your bug hotel, too.”

“Can I see?” Charlie stuck his head in the basket.

“Why don’t we take a look with your magnifying glass?” Alfie plucked a bulb from the basket.

“Okay.”

While Charlie examined the flowers with his magnifying glass, Elsbeth turned to Marion. “Alfie mentioned you make handcrafted soaps. I’d love to hear more about that.”

“It’s just a small hobby right now,” Marion said, her cheeks coloring slightly. “But I’m hoping to turn it into something more.”

“You absolutely should,” Elsbeth encouraged. “Would you like to visit my flower farm sometime? I grow all sorts of botanicals specifically suited to natural products.”

Marion’s eyes widened. “I’d love that.”

“Wonderful!” Elsbeth grinned as she watched Charlie and Alfie dig a hole for the bulbs. “Some of my flower petals and seeds would make perfect ingredients for your soaps. Calendula, lavender, chamomile—they all have wonderful properties for the skin.”

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