by Ruby Shae
He got out of the vehicle slowly, as if not to frighten her, but his words revealed his anger.
“What are you doing?” he barked.
She wanted to apologize, wanted to bare her soul to him, but fear kept her silent. Not fear from him, she was over being afraid of what she didn’t understand, but she wasn’t sure if her apology would be welcome.
“My car won’t start—”
“I’ll take a look at it.”
He cut off her explanation, and held out his hand for the keys. She gently placed them in his palm, hoping he would understand the gentle gesture, but he took the keys, unfazed, and hurried past her toward the car.
***
Mason unlocked the car, slid into the driver’s seat, and started the engine. The car flared to life, and he wondered why it hadn’t started for her. It wasn’t his place to wonder though, so instead of looking under the hood, he left the car running and got of the car.
“It seems to be fine now,” he said, knowing she wouldn’t like his next words. It didn’t matter though, he had to make sure she got home safe. After that, whatever she did was her business. “I’ll follow you home, though, in case you have any more problems.”
His words weren’t up for discussion, and he hurried past her toward his truck. He needed to put some distance between them before he kissed her and tried to convince her to love him.
God, he was pathetic.
“Mason, I—”
He paused his steps, and turned back halfway, careful not to look directly at her. She’d wanted him to stay away, and that request was damn hard when he soaked in the sight of her. Hell, it was hard now, but his bear was easier to control when he didn’t look directly at her.
“You don’t have to be afraid…Paige.” Baby girl. “I would never hurt you, none of us would. I’m just going to follow and make sure your car lasts until you reach your apartment, or wherever you’re going, and then I’ll leave you alone.”
What if she was on her way to see someone else?
If Mason saw another man hold her, he might lose it. Maybe following her wasn’t such a good idea. Even as he thought the idea, he dismissed it. They hadn’t talked of exclusivity, but Paige wasn’t seeing anyone else. If she had been, he would have already known about it.
He started walking again, but stopped when her desperate cry filled the air.
“Wait!”
He sighed heavily, and turned back toward her, ready for an argument.
Fuck! He didn’t have time for this!
“Look—”
“I was scared…and overwhelmed…all that stuff…” she took a deep breath. “It’s a lot to take in in one night. I trust you, Mason, and I don’t believe the things I said. If you say you must kill to protect the clan, then I believe you. Hell, I don’t have a clue about any of this stuff, or the threats you face. And…I don’t care that you can shift into a bear. The only excuse I have for even mentioning it was fear, but that’s a lame excuse, and I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me, because I lo— …I like you…a lot…and I want to be with you, too. If you can give me another chance, then I’d like to meet your bear, and learn more about…everything.”
He’d been ready for a fight, but not for an apology, and her words stunned him. And made him incredibly proud. And hard. His mate had come to him, again, and she was everything he’d always wanted, and everything he never knew he needed. Unfortunately, her declaration hung in the air between them, and he knew if he didn’t say something soon, he would lose her again.
Not an option!
“Get in the car, and follow me,” he rasped out.
He cringed at the animal-like, raw possession in his voice, but Paige just smiled and followed his command.
Once she was safe inside her vehicle, he got in his truck, did a U-turn, and waited for her in the shoulder on the opposite side of the road. A second later, she pulled up behind him, and he led the way to the surprise he’d purchased over a year ago.
The cabin was a place of solace for him, but he’d bought the property with his future mate in mind, despite the fact that he hadn’t met her yet. He’d wanted a place where they could completely escape from everything, and though he’d just worked through the week from hell, he’d still managed a trip out to the hideaway in hopes of surprising Paige.
A couple of hours ago, his efforts had seemed stupid, but now he was glad that he’d taken the time to shop for groceries, and build up a supply of firewood. Unfortunately, their relationship was still dealing with his secrets and the weather was beginning to take a turn for the worse. Paige might be willing to give him another chance, but she might not be willing to be snowed in at a semi-remote cabin with him for several days.
With only a mile or so to go, he continued to his destination, fully prepared to turn around and head back to town. If they didn’t waste time, they could make it back before the snow hit, but just barely. Paige would have to leave her car, though. There was no way he was letting her drive that little sedan home when bad weather was eminent.
He parked his truck in the little parking area he’d created, and Paige pulled her car in next to him. Two spots. There would only ever be enough parking for two cars out here. This place was him and her…and no one else. Ever.
They both got out of their vehicles at the same time, and she slowly took in her surroundings. The look on her face was pure joy, and Mason’s pride swelled once again.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“It’s mine,” he said. “I bought it a little over a year ago as a means of escape from the unpleasant parts of my job. And the pleasant parts, too, I guess, but mostly the unpleasant stuff. My home works well for that most of the time, but I wanted a place no one knew about…except for my mate…a place where we could escape every now and then.”
She turned to him, then, and smiled.
“It’s beautiful,” she beamed. “I can’t wait to see the inside.”
“I shouldn’t have brought you here.”
He forced out the strangled words, and her smile fell.
“I see,” she nodded, lowering her eyes. “I’d better get going.”
She opened the car door, but before she could slide into the seat, he raced around the car, and slid his arms around her waist. Her intake of breath let him know she wasn’t immune to him, and he nuzzled her neck and inhaled deep. God, he didn’t want to do the right thing, but he wasn’t an asshole.
“You don’t see at all,” he said, caressing her ear with his breath. “It’s going to snow. Heavily. And soon. If I had been paying attention before, I wouldn’t have brought us here, but if we don’t leave now, we’ll be snowed in. Possibly for several days. We have plenty of food, water, and firewood to be comfortable—there’s running water and electricity, too—but you won’t be able to leave, baby girl, even if you’re afraid, and I don’t want that for you.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Mason.”
He placed a chase kiss on the juncture between her neck and shoulder.
God, he wanted to mark her so bad he could feel his canines extending.
When he didn’t respond, she clarified her response.
“I want to stay,” she said, clearing her throat. Then she softly added, “If that’s what you want, too.”
“That’s definitely what I want.”
He placed another chaste kiss on her neck, and then pulled her back flush against his front, and slammed her car door closed. He spun her in his arms, lifted her over his shoulder, and started toward the cabin. Instead of protesting, Paige giggled like crazy, and his dick hardened even more at the happy sound.
“Wait!” she protested, still giggling. “My purse! I need to charge my cell-phone.”
Damnit!
Normally, he would tell her to forget it, but he knew she’d probably want to text Becca, and even though Logan told him to take a few days off, he had to let the man know where he was.
He turned around, and when he reached her car, he slowly lo
wered her to her feet. Once her feet were on the ground, her soft body leaned into his hard one, and she placed her hands on his shoulders as if for balance.
“Get the bag.”
He growled the words, but she only smiled and rose on her tip-toes to kiss his jaw.
“I like you all growly,” she whispered. “When do I get to see your bear?”
Oh, hell, she was going to kill him.
“Soon,” he croaked.
“After we get inside?”
He nodded, not trusting his voice.
“Good,” she said, kissing his jaw again. “I want to know every part of you.”
“Get. The. Bag.”
He growled the words again, but this time she just laughed and dove into the car for her bag. When she emerged, bag in hand, he slammed the car door, and hoisted her on his shoulder again. Her laughter followed behind him, and he vaguely registered the single horn blast, indicating she’d locked her car using the key fob.
He was animal enough to want to carry her to his bed—their bed—and deposit her there, but he was man enough to set her down just inside the door. She’d wanted a tour, and this was going to be the cabin they shared for the rest of their lives. He didn’t want her first impression tainted with his animal lust.
“Oh, Mason,” she said, looking around the large living space. “This place is gorgeous.”
The living room was large enough for two couches, a small entertainment center, and a small coffee table. A small breakfast bar divided the kitchen from the main room, and just inside the kitchen, a door hid a large pantry. Even though the cabin seemed small from the outside, the kitchen was a decent size, and a small, wooden bistro table and chairs sat under the window.
The furniture was in the same dark wood that furnished his home, but he hadn’t added the bursts of color yet. He’d saved that task for him and his mate to decide together, if he were lucky enough to ever find her.
The hallway housed a large, master bedroom, a bathroom, and a laundry room, and he motioned for her to go down the hall, to take in everything, and she accepted his invitation. He didn’t follow her, though. He couldn’t. Not when she was so close to their bed.
She moved down the hall slowly, looking in every room, and taking her time to explore. When she disappeared into the bedroom, he fought to keep his feet planted by the door. Both the bear and the man were desperate to claim her, and if he followed her into that bedroom, she wouldn’t leave until she bore his mark.
A few minutes later, she emerged and rejoined him.
“I love this place, Mason,” she smiled at him. “It’s absolutely perfect.”
“You’re perfect,” he growled.
“Can I see your bear now?”
He desperately wanted to show her his other side, but the need to claim—to mate—with her was a palpable thing. There was so much he had to explain before they took the next step, that he knew he had to get himself under control.
“I… I need to go for a run first,” he said. “There are things I need to explain, and I can’t with you so near. My bear is going crazy with the need to mark you. A run will help me get him under control, and then we can talk.”
“I don’t want to talk,” she said, wrapping her arms around him.
Fuck! Neither did he, especially when the look on her face promised sin and sex, but they had to. He had to let her know exactly what she was getting into with him.
He grabbed her hands, and removed them from his waist, and then he stepped forward, forcing her to step back. Her smile fell, but he didn’t let it deter him.
“I don’t want to talk either, baby girl, but we must. And before that happens I have to run. I won’t be gone long, and you can text Becca while you wait. I’m sure she’s wondering…about everything, and whether or not you’re okay.”
“Okay,” she nodded.
She took another step back, and he had enough room to exit the cabin.
Without another word, Mason left the tiny building, and his mate, and escaped into the dense trees that surrounded the home. Thankful for the ability to shift with his clothes intact, he called his bear to the surface, and accepted the instant change into his animal.
One second, he was a man, and the next, a large grizzly bear, covered in thick, brown fur. Though he couldn’t see the home through the trees, he looked back anyway, still desperate to be with his mate. It didn’t matter which form he chose, he would always want her.
But he didn’t want to scare her, or take away her choices, so he did what he needed to do.
He ran.
Chapter Seven
Paige watched Mason walk out the door, and then she grabbed her cell-phone and charger out of her bag. She didn’t want to text her friend right now, but she knew it was the right thing to do, especially if Mason needed time away.
She didn’t like being apart from him, but she understood what he was trying to do, and she couldn’t be mad. Mason was doing the right thing, and though it was annoying, she loved him even more for it.
Oh, yeah…she loved him. She’d almost let it slip earlier in the evening, when she was asking for another chance, but now that he’d forgiven her, all bets were off. She’d already made up her mind about being with him, already figured she’d probably have to learn about being a bear, or at least how to live with one, and she didn’t care.
Mason was it for her, and whatever he had to say didn’t matter.
If he still wanted her, then she wanted him right back.
Forever.
The dead battery took a while to recharge enough for her phone to come back on, but when it did, she typed out a quick message to Becca.
P: Hey, sorry I ran. I’m with Mason now, and we worked everything out.
B: No prob. Are you okay? Did he…explain everything?
P: Not yet, but soon. He’s running now.
B: Where are you?
P: He has a cabin. In the mountain. I’m not sure exactly where.
There was a long pause, and then Becca replied again.
B: Okay, Logan knows where it is. If you need us, we’ll be there.
P: Thanks, but I won’t need you. TTYL
B: LOL! I’m sure you won’t, and I want details! TTYL
She laughed out loud at Becca’s text, and then heard the doorknob rattle. A second later, Mason was back, fully dressed, and in his human form again.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, lightly.
“Becca,” she smiled back at him. “She wants details.”
His face paled, and she laughed again.
“Basic details,” she assured him. “Nothing personal. That’s just for us.”
He nodded, but didn’t seem convinced.
“How was the run? All better now?”
“No,” he laughed. “Just kidding. I’m good. Did you tell Becca where we are?”
“Sort of. I said we were at your cabin—”
“Our cabin.”
She laughed and started walking toward him.
“Our cabin,” she agreed, “but that I didn’t know exactly where it was. She said Logan did, and they would come if I needed help.”
“Good,” he nodded again.
He watched her warily as she crossed the room to stand in front of him, and she wanted that look gone. She knew of only one way to make that happen, but she also knew Mason had other things he wanted to take care of first, so she urged him to get on with it.
“Can I see your bear now?” she asked.
“In a minute,” he said, guiding her toward the couch. “There’s some stuff you need to know before we mate.”
“Okay.”
She didn’t want to sit, but she sat down anyway, and Mason sat down beside her. For a second, and then he got up and paced the floor.
“Ugh! I think we should have went back to the city. I feel like I’m about to crawl out of my skin.”
“Mason.”
She waited until he stopped pacing, and really looked at her.
“I wan
t to be with you. I don’t care that you’re a bear, in fact, I’m dying to meet your animal, and I want to be with you. You said I was your mate…the other half of your soul…which I’m really hoping means forever. If those words are true, and you really want to be with me, then say what you have to say so we can kiss and make-up.”
“You’ll turn like me,” he blurted. “To complete the mating, to make things permanent, we’ll bite each other during sex. In fact, you’ll grow canines to match mine to do it, and once it’s complete, you’ll turn into a bear like me. For the rest of your life, which won’t be forever, but your life-span will increase by about twenty-five years. And you’ll be stuck with me, and only me, for all of that time.”
Paige got up off the couch and went to stand in front of him. All of that sounded amazing, and she wasn’t afraid, but there was one thing she needed to know before she agreed to forever. She slid her arms up his biceps, and wrapped them around his neck. His hands immediately grabbed onto her waist, as if he thought she would leave.
She wasn’t going anywhere, though.
“What’s your first name?” she asked.
“Ansel,” he said, “but only Logan and Jacob know, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Can I call you Ani?”
“No.”
He growled the reply, but she just laughed.
“I love you, Ani,” she said, “and I want to be with you—like you—for the rest of our lives. You can show me your bear later. Mate me, now, Ansel Mason.”
***
Fuck!
Mason hated his first name. He hated it with a passion he didn’t even really understand, and he never used it. Never. He couldn’t even remember the last time anyone had used it, not even his parents, and they had given him the damn name. And Ani? No. Never. He hated the shortened version even more.
Except when it fell from her lips.
