Page 25 of Stolen Mate

“I can. It’s not that hard to believe when you live up here. There’s so much more to life than what is seen in the lower forty-eight. So many down there have lost touch with their ancestors.”

Tess sat back. “So, you don’t think it’s as fantastical as I do?”

“No. I don’t. I’ve seen and experienced way too much not to take a lot of things on a bit of faith or at the very least to check it out before I reject them.”

Derek realized this was going to be difficult for Tess on a whole lot of levels. After all, when her bear came forward, she had blacked out and remembered none of it. He tried to think of a way to explain it to her but was at a loss for words.

Finally, he decided the old adage of a picture being worth a thousand words might be pretty accurate. “Tess, I know we’ve only just met, but do you think you can trust me?”

Instead of being taken aback, she leaned forward, taking his hand in hers. “As weird as it sounds I do. I could tell you it’s because you’re the deputy sheriff or because Betty spoke so highly of you, but it isn’t either of those.”

“It isn’t?”

“Nope. I trust you because I know deep down in my soul I can. I trust you because like you said, I believe we have known each other in different lifetimes. I know you now. I just don’t know all the details.”

“In that case, let’s finish up and go outside for just a bit.”

“Okay.”

They finished dinner and then Tess insisted they clean up, so they didn’t have to do it later. Once they were done, he took her outside, leaving her to stand on the porch by the railing while he went down the stairs and moved off to give her some space.

“I want you to know you are absolutely safe with me.”

“I know that. If I didn’t, I’d have left with Betty.”

“Don’t take your eyes off me. And remember, you are safe.”

“I get it, but you’re beginning to sound as weird as the woman in the journals my mother gave me.”

Figuring now was as good a time as any, Derek looked inward, found his great bear waiting and bade him to come forward. The enormous polar bear charged toward him as the swirling mist rose up from the ground with its accompanying vortex of lightning, thunder, and colors whirling all around. He heard Tess gasp, but she held her ground.

The maelstrom fell away and where once a man had stood, there was now only a polar bear. Tess seemed frozen. She was frightened but not terrified.

“De… Derek?”

He nodded and chuffed to her.

Tess staggered back and looked like she was about to pass out. “Derek? Is it really you?”

He chuffed again but held perfectly still until the tension seemed to flow out of her body and a smile that began as just a suggestion at the corners of her mouth began to spread across her face.

“It’s really you? Can I come down there to see you?” He nodded and she came down off the porch. “Can I touch you?” she asked, reaching her hand out.

It was tentative, but there was no trembling. She laid her hand on his head, and he rubbed his face against her hand. She stroked the rough texture of his fur. Derek stepped back, giving himself space to shift without any of the electrical energy zapping her. He watched her face as the storm of power and light swirled up to surround him. Her face had a look of rapture and awe.

This time as the mist dissipated back into the ground, Tess was confronted with a naked man—a powerfully built and not unattractive man, but a naked man, nonetheless. He might have been perfectly at ease if his cock hadn’t reared up to show her its size and potency.

“You turned into a bear,” she said, staring at him appreciatively.

“You don’t have to stare,” he said, brushing past her.

“Sure I do. You’re gorgeous, and besides, you got to see me naked. Fair is fair. Sauce for the goose and all that.”

In spite of everything, he started to chuckle as he turned away. She had a point. “Well, come on back inside and let me get some clothes on.”

She put her hand on his shoulder, stopping him. “Derek, I can’t imagine you wanting a lot of people to know about you—about what you can do. Thank you for trusting me.”

“You need to know that I’m not the only one.”

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