Page 6 of Bear to be Wild
“You’ve got this,” I pushed the small group in the Tabata class. “Finish strong—three… two… one.”
Kettlebells thudded onto mats. The collective sound of heavy breathing followed.
Sunlight poured into the fitness studio from the wide windows. Outside, the morning sun twinkled on the Caribbean Sea. Peaceful. Quiet. Just what I craved. When I’d joined the Moonlight Siren, I was looking forward to a fresh start somewhere new. To live simply while I sailed the world and maybe even find my place in it.
Since we had a day at sea, I had a full schedule with clients. After I finished up with a couple of classes in the fitness studio, I’d spend much of the day training individuals in the gym.
“Okay, drink some water,” I directed. “Then we’ll finish up with the cooldown and stretch.”
Staying busy. Busy was good. I needed it after the encounter with Maribelle yesterday morning and my bear reminding me about it since then.
As if I needed any reminders. She was likely on the other side of that mirrored wall in the spa, and I was keenly aware of just how close she was. My mate was on the other side of that wall, and I didn’t know what to do about it.
Could I win her over somehow? Doubtful, with the way she’d looked at me with disgust yesterday. But I couldn’t give up yet though, not if she was my mate. I’d just have to make a better impression.
“All right, step side to side. Roll those shoulders back.” I stood before the group of nine supes and showed them the motions. Once we got our heart rates down, I finished up with stretches.
“Great job today. You probably burned off a fraction of breakfast at the buffet,” I joked and a few chuckled in acknowledgment. “If you’re staying for the core class, meet back here in fifteen minutes.”
A few more “thanks” and “great class” followed as the supes put their weights away and spilled out of the room.
I carried my kettlebells back to the weight rack when something hit me. A pull. It yanked like a hook under my ribs. I wobbled, almost dropping the weight.
A wolf shifter cocked his head. “Coach?”
“Fine—” The word died with a gasp.
Heat filtered through me. Bright and humming. Magical.
My bear reared up, ears forward.Mate.
There you go again,I replied.Once more, I can’t go over there and declare she’s our mate since she’s essentially a stranger. And she doesn’t even want to be in the same room as us.
He snorted in protest. Again.
I took a few minutes to pace the fitness room and concentrated on taking deep breaths. Eventually, the strange heat subsided.
During the core class, I pushed it to the back of my mind and focused on guiding the group through the movements. More women attended this one than men, and a couple gave me appreciative looks. I barely noticed, distracted by the witch next door.
When I moved through the group, a lithe feline shifter asked, “How does my form look, coach?” Suggestive flirtatiousness edged her every word. If that wasn’t obvious enough, she snaked her body to push out her ass.
I guided her back to proper form, not the least bit enticed by this attractive woman since my awareness was locked on Maribelle.
After class, I wrapped up in the fitness studio and gobbled down a protein bar while I glanced at the schedule on my phone. The first appointment was a PT session with a wolf shifter in the gym next door. After washing down the bar with some water, I walked out of the studio and headed down to the gym.
But then—yank.
“What the hell?” I whispered.
A bolt of heat inside my chest pulled me backward. I turned around but didn’t see anything.
My bear perked up inside, equally perplexed.
I raked a hand through my hair and continued walking.
Boom. Another tug at my solar plexus. I staggered backward and braced myself against the wall. My breath came quickly as I scanned the hallway in rising panic. Was this the start of a heart attack?
Ahead, the spa door swung open. Maribelle stepped into the hall, eyes wide with distress, before they fixed on me and lockedthere. The strange heat, the enigmatic light returned. With the way her lips parted on a gasp, she must have sensed it too.
