Page 32 of Bear Creek Christmas
“So, he wants me to commit to him even if I’ve only known him for a few weeks? That isn’t realistic, and I don’t want to make a promise and then break it later...”
Calvin shook his head, face grim.
“Don’t. In fact, it’s the worst thing you could do. Shifters who are spurned by their mate have difficulty recovering, and most end up living in the wild, wandering in bear form. Until you’re ready to give Knox everything, don’t make any promises. The good news is that bears are good at waiting, especially for their mate. The longer you’re together, the easier it will be to know what your heart wants. When you’re ready, tell him.”
“What happens then?”
Calvin laughed, eyes twinkling.
“He’ll want to claim you right away. The first time will be intense, and you’ll need to be prepared. He may want to mark you—usually scratches or a bite. He’ll also expect you to move in with him immediately. Shifters don’t handle separation from their mates very well. Afterward, you’ll adjust to one another like any other couple. Once things settle down, you might want to get married. I suspect Knox would do anything to make you happy.”
Levi’s head spun with the information. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Knox, but he wasn’t ready to make a lifetime commitment. Levi looked up to find a wry grin on Calvin’s face.
“No pressure, right? Just remember a couple of things; mating a shifter will give you something real and lasting, and Knox is already crazy for you. Everyone who has seen you two together knows you have something special, and I think deep down, you do too. So for now, enjoy spending time together and try to share everything with him. I guarantee he wants to know what you’re thinking, and he won’t play games.”
On the drive back home, Levi tried to process the information Calvin gave him. Knox was everything Levi wanted in a partner, so why not relax and enjoy the ride? Perhaps because it happened so fast or seemed too good to be true? He certainly couldn’t blame Knox for his shifter nature or a heart of gold—things that actually made the man evenmoreattractive and desirable. Would it really be so difficult to let himself love him? Silly question, because deep down, Levi knew he already did.
Chapter 10
Last Wednesday in October
“... and the best way to prepare you is to practice in front of other people. The Fall Concert is this Friday night in the main auditorium, and you, gentlemen, will be performingJingle Bear Rockfor the audience at the conclusion.”
Six slack-jawed bear shifters, including Knox, gave Levi a look that would make any mere mortal’s legs shake. But, working with angsty, temperamental teens all day gave the educator a thicker skin than most, and he stood his ground while they protested.
“We aren’t ready for an audience!”
“Are you kidding?”
“I need more practice first.”
“They’ll eat us alive!”
“This is a bad idea.”
Knox, he noted with gratitude, only winked at him and said nothing while the others vented. Levi raised his palm to quiet them down.
“I know it sounds kind of scary, but four weeks from now, the public and news media will be watching you. Practice can help with the mechanics, but you need to experience interaction with a live audience. The excitement and energy will improve your performance and move us from pretty good to fantastic. You guys don’t realize how far you’ve come already, and afterward, we can view the recording together and figure out what needs fixing. The audience will be eating out of your paw, and you’ll be the talk of Bear Creek.”
Levi failed to mention that Dee Dee Tillman, the Holiday Committee, and half the town would be in attendance on Friday. Amid a chorus of worried growls, Levi started the practice and ran them through their paces. Later, they worked on their parts for the other songs, consisting mostly of group growling, walk-ons, and faux barbershop sextet numbers. It meant the bears were on stage for the entire production while the Community Chorale played along with their antics.
Levi praised them more than usual, and at the end of practice, presented them with both Bear Browniesanda pile of acorns. He’d have a mess to clean up afterward, but it was worth it. By the time the guys finished eating and redressed, they’d forgiven Levi and joked about strutting their stuff on Friday. Knox pulled his mate in for a smooch when they were alone and then helped Levi sweep and mop the gym floor. He finally shared his own biggest worry.
“I hope we don’t mess up and embarrass you in front of everybody. Bears can be unpredictable sometimes.”
