WILD FATE

SAVANNAH BROOKS

Wild Fate is a work of fiction. Apart from well-known actual people, events, and locales that figure in the narrative, all names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales, or to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2016 by Savannah Brooks

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the author, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

Books and Stories by Savannah

Short Stories & Novellas

• Falling for his Best Friend • Letting Him In • Never in a Million • Just One Kiss • Cross My Heart • Before You Leave Again • Finding His Forever Guy • Snowed In • Our Family Secret • Whole Again • Moving Forward • Just Maybe • Snowed In Again • Wild Fate • First Times in Old Pickups • Harvest Kisses • Something About Fireworks • Only Him •

Troubled Hearts Series

• Finding Home •

• Broken •

• Before It’s Too Late •

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Epilogue

About the Author

Chapter 1

I GAZED out the window, excitement bubbling inside me. I couldn’t believe I was finally here. A lifetime of dreaming and months of planning had led me to the beautiful, remote wilderness in the heart of Alaska on display beneath me. I’d planned to stay for three months, and already it wasn’t enough. Something here called to me in ways no other place in the world ever had, and deep down, I could feel something amazing waited for me here.

I marveled at the beauty of the vast landscape below. A river snaked through the trees and grasses with some areas still dusted with snow. I couldn’t wait to be on the ground and out hiking the wilderness alone. It was something I really enjoyed and often did back home. I’d already hiked Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park…. It was my favorite thing to do. I loved being by myself in the wild, especially those areas known for bears.

Arriving in early April, I’d hoped to avoid the height of the tourist season while taking advantage of decent weather, not to mention the balanced hours of daylight and darkness. After an uneventful flight to Fairbanks, I’d hopped a tiny little four-seater bush plane to my final destination. The pilot, Bill, was an older guy, maybe pushing fifty, dressed in thick jeans, hiking boots, a long-sleeved T-shirt layered under a short-sleeved one, and one of those down-filled vests.

I hadn’t realized how quiet our flight had been until Bill broke the silence.

“Beautiful country, isn’t it?”

“Gorgeous.”

The plane hit a small air pocket and bounced, but I ignored it.

“So, Caden, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s a young guy like you gonna do all by yourself out here?”

“Photograph wildlife, mostly.” I cast a glance toward him. “Hoping to see lots of bears.”

“Most folks do that kind of stuff in pairs or groups, you know, for safety’s sake.”

“Eh. I’m a solo act. I like being alone. As a matter of fact, I prefer it.”

“Well, you’ll get plenty o’ that up here. I’m a people person, myself. Most folks up here are more like you, preferring the quiet and solitude. Flying this here contraption, I get to meet all sorts of people from around the world. You picked a good time to come out. This place is a tourist trap starting in June. ’Specially the hot springs.”

I smiled. “That’s what I’m counting on. I plan to be heading out by then.”

The plane banked right, and Bill began our descent into the river valley below. A few minutes later, we were on the ground. Bill helped me with my luggage, and I followed him into the small, single-story building about the size of a fast-food restaurant that served as the terminal.

“Need a ride up to the cabins?” Bill asked.

“Actually, I’m supposed to be meeting a friend here. Well, a friend of a friend. His name is Dean Fisher.”

“I know Dean. His family’s lived in these parts for generations. He’s part native, so they say, but you really can’t tell it by looking at him. Knows every inch of this forest, though.”

“That’s what I hear.”

“Good man. Friendly, too. His twin brother, Drake, not so much. I’d steer clear of him if I were you. Then again, you probably won’t ever see him anyway. Drake lives deep in the forest and keeps to himself, rarely making it into town. Oh, there’s Dean now.” Bill gave a short wave, and I followed his gaze as we approached the man I assumed had to be Dean.

“Hey, Bill.” The man beamed. “Right on time with my delivery, I see.” Towering above me a good six inches, the man turned toward me—his brown eyes bright and smile still firmly in place—and extended his hand. “I’m Dean Fisher. You must be Caden Wells.”

“That’s me.” I smiled back. Wow, this guy really was friendly, and huge. I thought I was tall at six feet. “Great to meet you, Dean.”

“Leslie’s son, right?”

I nodded, pleased he remembered.

“I’ve heard a lot about you through my sister. I guess they share a mutual friend or something like that,” Dean said.

“Something like that.”

“Well, I best be gettin’ back,” Bill interjected. “I’ll see ya both.”

“Safe trip, Bill.”

“Yes,” I said, “and thanks for all your help.”

Dean grabbed two of my bags and started rolling them in the direction of the only other door in the tiny building. “So, Caden, ever been to Alaska before?” he said over his shoulder.

I hurried to catch up to him. “No, but it’s been on my to-do list for a long time.”

“I hear you’re a wildlife photographer.”

“Yep. And conservationist. What about you?”

“Ranger, game warden, local sheriff, husband, father.”

“Wow. Lots of hats. That’s pretty cool, though.”

We exited the terminal onto the sidewalk. Dean stopped behind a large, fairly new, fire-engine-red Ford F-250 parked along the curb and lowered the tailgate. Without a word, he promptly piled all three of my bags into the bed and shut the tailgate.

“Hop on in.”

I climbed into the passenger seat as Dean settled behind the steering wheel and pulled away from the curb.

I picked up the conversation where we’d left off. “So, Bill said your family’s lived in this area for generations.”

“That is a well-known fact around these parts.”

The cell radio on his belt chirped, and a woman’s voice came across the static. “Dean? You out there?”

“Excuse me. One second.” Dean unclipped his phone from his belt and held it up like a walkie-talkie. Pushing the button, he responded. “Hey, Janet. What’s up?”

“Just a heads-up. Your brother’s in town. Acting kinda weird, though. Not his usual grumpy self. Figured you might want to check on him. He left here a few minutes ago.”

“Did he say anything?”

“Yeah,” Janet said. “Asked me how I was doing and what the family was up to. Then asked if I knew where you were. I told him you were out picking up that photographer who’s supposed to be spendin’ the next few months here, and you’ll never believe what happened next.”

“What?”

“He smiled and thanked me.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. Like I said, really weird. Then he paid for his usual supplies and left.”

Dean laughed and replied to her, “All right, well, I think that definitely warrants me checking on him. Thanks, Janet.”

“You bet,” came her response.

He set the radio in the console between us and glanced over at me. “Mind if we make a quick stop before I take you up to the cabin?”

“Not at all. Not like I’m gonna get to hiking this late in the day anyway.”

“It’ll be quick. My brother isn’t in town often. Figures he’d pick today to come out of his lair.” Dean chuckled.

“Lair?”

“His cabin. I just call it that because he holes up in it most of the year. Drake’s not one for socializing much. Every year, right about this time, he comes into town to load up on another six months of supplies before disappearing again. Though, I must say, he’s a little early this year.”

“He only comes down twice a year?”

“Pretty much. And every spring, he’s grouchier than the last. Well, usually he is. Not sure what’s gotten into him this time. Personally, I think he’s lonely. I keep telling him he needs to come around more often. He’s never gonna find his mate dropping in once every six months.”

I smiled inside at the use of the word mate. People didn’t usually talk like that where I was from, but it sounded sweet. “That would make things kind of difficult.”

“Yeah. Anyway, Janet and her husband run the general store. Seein’ as he’s already been there, he’s likely on his way to the café.”

“Oh, well, I am kind of hungry. Maybe I can grab a bite to eat while you, uh, check on him.”

It didn’t take more than five minutes to get to the café. Dean pulled into the gravel parking lot and hopped out. I followed him in. A little bell above the door rang as we entered, and the moment I stepped into the warmth of the local fifties-era diner, a strange feeling came over me. For some unknown reason, I stole a glance toward the back corner of the café, locked eyes with a beast of a man, and knew right away it was Dean’s brother. His gaze narrowed, almost as if he were angry with me. A shiver shot through my bones, and I quickly averted my eyes, heading straight for the counter to order something to eat.

“I’ll be right back,” Dean said behind me.

After grabbing a seat at the counter, I plucked a paper menu from a metal holder and tried to focus on what I wanted to eat. A hot sandwich and fries sounded really good right about now.

“You the guy Dean’s helping out?”

I looked up from the menu and smiled at the young woman. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail and fell down the back of her pink, white, and gray flannel shirt.

“Yes. I’m Caden.”

“Lulu,” she said. “I can’t believe he dragged you along with Drake here.”

“Is that a bad thing?” My mind went back to the warning Bill had given me, the radio conversation between Dean and Janet, and the way he looked at me when I walked in.

“Drake… can be….”

“Grumpy?”

Lulu laughed quietly, pushing her sleeves up to her elbows. “So you’ve heard.”

“Yeah. Dean’s a bit of a talker.”

“That he is. How he and Drake can be twins, I’ll never understand. He wasn’t always like that, though. Drake never was a talker, but he and Dean were always together, at least until they graduated high school. Ever since Dean married his high school sweetheart, Drake hasn’t been the same. If you ask me, I think Drake is jealous of Dean.”

“Dean said he thinks his brother is lonely.”

“Could be. Watching his twin fall in love and raise a family for the last twelve or thirteen years must be hard.”

My heart broke a little for him. I’d heard of bonds between twins being strong, and Lulu’s comment made me think a little differently about the guy.

I glanced back over my shoulder toward the corner. Dean had taken a seat at the table opposite his brother, and they were talking quietly. I was pretty sure they were identical twins, but I’d have to see Drake up close to be sure. Drake slid one of his big hands into his dark brown hair. From this angle, he appeared more muscular than Dean. His bicep flexed beneath the tight sleeve of his shirt, and I suddenly imagined what it would be like to have that arm wrapped around me, squeezing me against his strong body. Heat pooled in my groin, and I turned away, blinking rapidly, just as Drake shifted his gaze in my direction.

I looked up at Lulu, who was still patiently waiting for my order, her brow arched and her lips curved into a knowing smirk. Shit. How long had I been staring at him?

After clearing my throat, I ordered a pastrami melt and a hot coffee, needing a little extra caffeine after a long day of traveling. Half a minute later, Lulu set a mug in front of me and went out to check on the handful of patrons spread across the dining room. As I took a sip of the steaming liquid, I heard Dean’s voice closing in behind me.

“Leave him alone, Drake.”

“I can’t. Not this one.”

Drake’s rich, baritone voice sent a shiver down my spine, and I gulped, wondering what he meant by that.

“Why, exactly?” Dean asked.

Silence followed Dean’s question, but I could imagine Drake giving his brother a hard glare.

“Are you sure?” Dean asked, his voice a hushed whisper I could barely understand.

Again, another silent answer behind me. Then more whispering, this time a little farther away, so I couldn’t quite make out what was said. As I strained to listen, Lulu returned and set a plate of food in front of me, causing me to jump a little.

“Thanks,” I said, forcing a quick smile.

“Caden.”

I spun in my stool and faced Dean, letting out a breath of relief when it turned out he was alone. Unable to help myself, I shot a glance past him toward the booth he and Drake had briefly shared. It was empty.

“Where’s your brother?” I asked before I could stop myself. Dean smiled slightly. Great.

“Outside, getting ready to leave. Did you want to eat here or wrap that up to go?”

“Oh, I can take it to go. I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”

Without waiting for Lulu, Dean reached over the counter underneath and pulled out a round aluminum container with a cardboard lid. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” I slid the sandwich and fries into the container and folded the edges over the cardboard, then pinched it in place. I waved Lulu over and pulled a twenty from my wallet. “Will this cover it?”

“More than enough.” She smiled, taking the bill from my hand.

“Keep the change.”

She filled a paper cup with coffee, snapped a lid on top, and passed it to me. “Will you be back?”

“With service like this and food that smells as good as I’m sure it tastes, I don’t see why not.”

Her grin grew wider. “Then I’ll put the change on your tab for next time.”

“Thanks, Lulu.”

I stood and grabbed my food and coffee, turning to find Dean waiting at the door for me. I rushed over and stepped outside, then headed toward his truck. “Sorry. Do you need to be somewhere? I don’t want to hold you up. I can get another ride if you’ve got work to do or something.”

“Actually, Drake asked if he could give you a lift.”

I skidded to a stop and spun around. “He what?”

“He was rather insistent on it,” Dean said.

“Why? He doesn’t even know me. As a matter of fact, when I first walked in the café with you and saw him, he looked pissed as hell.”

“He wasn’t pissed. He was….” Dean rubbed his palm over his face.

I furrowed my brow. “He was what?”

“You know, I think Drake needs to be the one to explain it to you.”

I shook my head in defeat. “Whatever. I’m confused, but I’d really like to get to the cabin and eat my food before my stomach starts digesting itself.” I chuckled quietly at my own joke, but it seemed to go right over Dean’s head.

“So, you’ll ride up with him?” Dean looked hopeful, and I didn’t understand why.

“Yeah, I guess. Not like you’re leaving me with much of a choice.”

“I promise, I don’t bite,” rumbled a serious, deep voice right behind me.

My eyes widened as I turned and looked up at Drake, looming over me in a way that would have intimidated most people, but not me. If anything, I actually felt… safe, in a weird sort of way I couldn’t possibly have explained.

“Caden, I’d like you to meet my brother, Drake.”

His eyes intense and focused on mine, Drake nodded. “Caden.”

Holy hell, the way my name fell from his lips in a husky whisper had me shifting to hide the growing bulge in my jeans as I lost myself in the honey amber of his eyes. I vaguely registered Dean clearing his throat.

I blinked. “Uh, hi,” I mumbled, my heart pounding into my throat.

Christ, was that all I had? Uh, hi? I had never been so incapable of speaking before.

“Hi.” The corner of Drake’s mouth turned up into the slightest hint of a smile, and I nearly lost it. I didn’t know what came over me. All I knew was I had the sudden, urgent desire to kiss him, or even just touch him—something I’d never felt for anyone before. I needed to recover my senses quickly before I looked any more like some love-struck idiot.

I cleared my throat again and made myself smile. “Sorry, you kinda caught me off guard. I’m usually a little more articulate.”

The smile that broke across Drake’s scruffy face told me I had made a successful recovery and set me at ease a little.

“So, you ready, then?” Drake asked, his voice calm.

“Um, yeah. I guess. I just need my bags.”

“Got ’em.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, then, let’s go.” I turned back toward Dean. “So, will I see you tomorrow? I’m hoping to get an early start.”

I swore I could feel the tension radiating from Drake behind me, and was that a growl I just heard? Dean’s gaze flickered over my shoulder before coming back to mine. “If not me, then my brother. One of us will be there.”

“Okay. I suppose that works. Thanks, Dean.”

“You bet.”

Dean headed back to his truck as I turned to go with Drake, catching the fleeting irritation in his stern expression as he watched his brother walk away.

“Um, everything okay?” I asked.

Drake dropped his gaze to mine, and his eyes softened. “I’m hoping so. Come on. Let’s get you up to your cabin.”

I followed Drake to an old, beat-up white pickup with rust spots wearing through the paint in several places. This truck had definitely seen better days. I caught a glimpse of my suitcases piled in the bed as I hopped in the single-bench-seat cab. Drake climbed in and turned the key in the ignition. I half expected it to take several attempts, but the engine roared to life on the first try. Drake pulled onto the street and headed back out of town.

Drake didn’t seem in the mood for talking, and I wasn’t really sure what to say at this point, so I stared out the passenger window. The whole afternoon had gone from friendly to awkward, yet I couldn’t help but feel some sort of affection for Drake, which made no sense whatsoever. Since I’d arrived here today, I’d only heard about how irritable and grumpy he usually seemed to be when around people and how strange his behavior was today, so his sudden interest in me confused me. The more I thought about it, the more puzzling the whole situation became. It also didn’t help that I loved the thick, earthy scent emanating from him, flooding my senses to the point where all I could think about was Drake wrapped around me, burying himself inside me.

My swelling erection strained within my jeans, and I shifted to alleviate the pressure, hoping Drake didn’t notice.

Within minutes we’d left the tiny town behind us, and Drake turned off the two-lane highway onto a narrow road leading into the trees. Gravel replaced pavement after about half a mile, and Drake downshifted and slowed his speed.

“Not much farther,” Drake said, his tone impassive.

A few more minutes of silence hovered between us. “Okay, I can’t sit here anymore, wondering. What is going on? You insisted on driving me up here, and yet you’ve barely spoken to me since.”

Drake glanced over at me, giving me an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I’m just… thinking.”

“Can I ask what about?”

“You.”

I stared at him blankly for a moment. “Me?”

Drake nodded.

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t expect you to be a guy.”

What the hell is that supposed to mean? “Okay, you’ve lost me.”

“Can I ask you a question, Caden?”

I snorted. “Sure. Why the hell not?”

Drake shot me a heartrending look that tore at my gut.

“Sorry.” I breathed deeply, leaning back against the seat and closing my eyes. “I just… I’m confused. In the past hour or so that I’ve been here, I’ve heard nothing but how you don’t like people and only come into town twice a year for supplies, and when you do show up, you’re an angry grouch to the point that your brother has to be warned so he can check on you, but that today, you were acting different and weirding people out.”

I opened my eyes and straightened, looking at him as he focused on the road. “And then, when I first saw you, you looked like you were pissed at the world and wanted to rip my head off, but now I’m in a truck all alone with you in the middle of the forest, and instead of being worried about that fact like any normal, sane person would, all I can think of is how much I want you to pull over so I can climb in your lap and kiss you!”

I bit my lip and squeezed my eyes shut, sinking back against the seat and letting out a groan. “And I can’t believe I just said that.”

God, how embarrassing was that? He must have thought I was crazy. I’d just told him I wanted to kiss him, and I didn’t even know if he was gay or even bi. I didn’t know him, period! His comment earlier about me not supposed to be a guy didn’t help either. I was mortified. I could feel his eyes on me now, but I didn’t even want to look at him. I couldn’t, for fear of what I might see. The worst part was, the potential rejection worried me the most, and I had no idea why. My heart was screaming at me to be patient and let this guy in while my brain was yelling, “What the fuck!”

“Caden.” Drake’s baritone voice washed over me like warm honey, calming me a little.

I sucked in a sharp breath, staring straight ahead. “Yeah?” I managed in a hoarse whisper.

“You shouldn’t be embarrassed about how you feel.”

“Easy for you to say. You didn’t just blurt out something crazy to a guy you’ve known for less than an hour.”

“You aren’t crazy.” Drake reached across the seat with a long arm and placed his large, warm hand over mine.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, hoping Drake didn’t hear it. My heart pounded as a wave of electricity pulsed through me and ripped down my spine. “If I’m not, I feel like I’m getting there fast.”

“Trust me, you aren’t. There’s an explanation for everything you’re feeling right now.” He pulled his hand away, and I bit my lip, instantly feeling the loss of his touch and desperately wanting it back. “And I would never hurt you.”

“I know.” My mouth uttered the words before my brain even had a chance to process what he’d said, and even then, I still believed him. Oh, wait. Explanation? For how I’m feeling? Is it that obvious?

“You do?”

“Um… yeah.” Christ, there I go again. Apparently, my mind had become useless at this point. “I don’t know why, but I do.”

I chanced a glance in his direction and was met with a brief glimpse of beautiful amber eyes tinged with joy and confusion, almost like he was wrestling with something. Drake turned his attention back to the road, and that’s when I realized I still didn’t know for certain whether he was into guys or not. My cheeks heated as my earlier embarrassment came back in full force, but I needed to know before I did something regrettable, like actually kiss him.

“So, out of curiosity… are you gay or bi?” I held my breath.

“No.”

“Oh.” That one-word answer stung deep, and a burning sensation unfurled in my chest. I swallowed hard, my throat tightening over a guy I’d just met, not understanding why it hurt so much to know he didn’t want me.

“But that doesn’t really mean anything.”

“It doesn’t?”

Drake stopped the truck and put it in park, then killed the engine. I looked around, noting the cabin just steps away from us, and admonished myself for not paying closer attention to my surroundings. I knew better, yet somehow I’d been distracted by Drake and whatever it was he and his presence were doing to me. Pull yourself together, Caden.

Drake shifted sideways, facing me, and I had to force myself not to slide closer to him, even though every part of my body was begging me to do so.

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Oh, okay,” I said, not quite sure what that meant but feeling a little more hopeful. “Then why the comment earlier? You know, about not expecting me to be a guy?”

Drake pinched his brows together and inhaled deeply. His gaze dropped to my food sitting on my lap, then darted to the cabin. “I’ll answer your question, but did you want to go inside first and see the place? Maybe eat? I’m sure you’re hungry.”

Oh, yeah. Food. Totally forgot. “Starving, actually.”

He pushed his door open and stepped out of the truck. “There should be a key for you in the flower pot on the windowsill. Why don’t you check while I grab your bags?”

“Key. Right,” I said, hopping out, then shutting the heavy door. I climbed the three steps to the small deck of the cabin and found a pot near the window. I pushed aside the leaves of the budding perennial and found a tarnished brass key lying half-hidden in the soil, just like he’d said. After grabbing it, I unlocked the front door as Drake came up the stairs behind me. “You guys don’t worry about people squatting or stealing anything?” I said over my shoulder as I opened the door for him.

“Not ’round here. People don’t do that kind of stuff in our forest.”

“Our forest?” I called after him, following him into the single bedroom, where he set all of my suitcases on the floor against the bed.

“My family owns a lot of the land around here and has for generations, and with Dean being a ranger and the sheriff and all, everyone just refers to it that way.” Drake dusted his hands off and pushed his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing thick, muscular forearms covered in coarse, dark hair. “Anyway, didn’t you say you were starving?”

“Oh, um, yeah. I seem to keep forgetting that.” I laughed, somewhat flustered, but my nervousness fell away when Drake’s warm smile hit me. I didn’t get it. Where was the grumpy grouch everyone had talked about?

I pressed my hand to my abs, trying to ignore the desire racking my body again. I needed to get answers about this guy before anything happened between us, or before I lost my mind. “I think my stomach gave up on reminding me.”

I spun around and took my leftovers into the kitchenette, grateful for the fact this place had a microwave. “So, earlier you said you’d answer my question,” I said as I scoured the cabinets and found a stack of four plain white hard plastic plates. I grabbed one, then opened the food container and placed the sandwich on the plate.

“I’ll answer all your questions as long as you promise to hear me out completely.”

I paused with a handful of fries in my hand and looked over at him, knitting my brow. “Okay,” I said, drawing out the word. “I suppose I can manage that.”

The smile that lit his face touched his eyes this time. I dropped the fries on the plate and put it in the microwave, wondering what exactly I’d done to make him so happy. He looked at me like he couldn’t believe I had agreed to what he’d said. Drake crossed the small living room into the little kitchen area, stopping about a foot from me. My heart rate went through the roof.

“Before we get into our question-and-answer session, there’s one thing I really need to know first,” he said as he searched my eyes.

My brain failed me, yet again, as I lost myself in his gaze. “Uh, okay. I mean, what’s that?”

Drake looked at me long and hard for a few seconds, then leaned forward and kissed me. And, oh fuck, did he kiss me. He tugged and pulled at my lips with his slightly rough, dry ones as he gripped the nape of my neck with one hand, possessing me in a way I’d never thought possible. Drake slipped his other arm around my waist, cupping my hip with his hand, and pulled me in close to his firm body. He pressed his tongue against the seam of my lips, and I opened my mouth, letting him in, tasting him for the first time, and holy hell, did he taste like everything I’d ever dreamed of.

I wanted Drake like I’d never wanted anyone before. The last couple hours of confusion and crazy emotions suddenly didn’t matter anymore. Food didn’t matter anymore. Only this man mattered. And I had to have him. I didn’t care about anything else. I needed him like I needed to breathe. I didn’t care that I’d just met him, and I certainly couldn’t explain it. I just knew.

As if he could read my mind, Drake slid his hands down and cupped my ass just above my thighs. Without breaking our kiss, he lifted me as I wrapped my legs around his waist, never in a million years imagining I would be able to do this. I’d always wondered what it would be like. I’d always been the stronger, bigger guy in the few relationships I’d had, or the guy period with the handful of girls I’d dated. Being in Drake’s arms like this, his lips locked with mine, fed a whole new level of bliss into my soul.

Drake set me on the counter, stepping in as close to me as he could while squeezing me against him. He brought his hands up and framed my face as he softened our kiss.

“You are the one,” Drake whispered against my lips, sending a shudder rippling down my back.

“What do you mean?”

Drake pulled back, cupping one of my cheeks in his big, callused hand. His soulful golden-brown eyes carried a heavy weight behind them. “Eat first,” he said softly. “Then we’ll talk.”

I nodded and slid off the counter as Drake took a small step back. His gaze remained fixed on my movements as I pulled the plate from the microwave and took it to the couch. I sat down at one end and leaned forward with my elbows on my knees. Holding my plate with one hand, I stuffed a couple fries in my mouth as Drake dropped into the chair closest to me. He gripped the armrests, leaning forward slightly, and angled it toward me.

I couldn’t help but notice the adoring, contemplating way Drake looked at me as I sank my teeth into warm sourdough, pastrami, and cheese.

“What?” I grinned.

“You’re just not what I expected.”

“What were you expecting?” I asked, taking another bite.

Drake chuckled softly. “Well, a woman, to be honest.”

“Oh.” I swallowed the food in my mouth and looked away, my heart sinking. After that kiss, I thought we’d moved past that part. “Sorry.”

“Caden, look at me.”

I turned my head and lifted my eyes.

“Just because you turned out to be a man doesn’t mean I’ll love you any less.”

I straightened, setting my half-finished plate on the table. “Why do you keep saying it like that? Like you were expecting someone else and got stuck with me? If you don’t like it or like me, then why are you even here? And why even mention love? We barely know each other.”

Fear and heartache marred his handsome face, and my insides knotted.

“I’m sorry, Caden. I never meant to upset you. Fated mates of the same sex are just so rare for us. You being a man doesn’t bother me. It’s just unexpected and could make it more difficult for you to accept.”

“Why? I’m bi. And what do you mean by fated mates?”

Drake scooted closer and reached for my hands, clasping both between his like a sandwich. His warm, gentle touch washed away some of my annoyance instantly. I didn’t want to be mad at him. I just wanted him to pull me into his arms and tell me I was his, but my mind kept yelling at me to wake up and pay attention. None of this was normal.

“Caden, there are some things you need to know about me. I’m not like most people.”

“Why do I get the feeling this conversation is about to get weird?”

Drake’s lips twisted. “Let me ask you something. How did you feel when I kissed you a few minutes ago?”

“I felt….” My mind drifted back to the kiss we shared and the depth of the emotions that had consumed me. The way his body felt pressed against me, fitting perfectly with mine. The protective way his strong arms had held me close, his warmth seeping into my skin. The way his lips moved gently against mine with a mix of care and desire and longing. “I felt like I never wanted to kiss anyone else ever again. Only you.” I squeezed my eyes shut, letting out a heavy sigh.

“What would you say if I told you I felt the same about you?”

“Then I’d say we’re both crazy.”

“Caden,” Drake said, squeezing my hands tighter. “Every one of my kind has a fated mate somewhere in the world, the one and only person they’re destined to be with, and when they’re nearby, we know. It’s why I came into town today rather than later in the month like I usually do. I knew you would be here. I could feel it—the other half of my soul calling to me. I’ve been feeling it for weeks now, and today, that feeling grew stronger the closer you came. Kissing you confirmed what I’d been feeling. It’s you, Caden. The one I’ve waited so long for. The one I want to spend the rest of my life with. You’re feeling it too. You keep calling it crazy, and yes, to those who don’t live the way we do, it would seem crazy. But it’s not. What you’re feeling is real and powerful. All you have to do is accept it.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I held his hopeful gaze. Drake really believed every word he’d spoken. My heart was on board, but logically, my mind couldn’t make sense of it. I needed some sort of proof to calm the chaotic battle raging inside me.

“Drake, I… this is a little much to take in. I… um….” I shook my head, trying to gather my thoughts. I set aside the whole soul-mate thing for now and decided to focus on something else he’d said that had caught my attention. “What did you mean by ‘your kind’?”

“There’s really no easy way to explain that one, and I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out how to tell you without scaring you off.”

I laughed nervously. “That’s not very reassuring.”

Drake stared at me.

“Just say it, Drake. After what you’ve told me so far, I can’t see how it could possibly get any crazier.”

The look he leveled at me sent a tremor through my bones, like whatever he had to tell me was about to take crazy to a whole new level.

“I’m not entirely… human.”

“Okay, maybe I was wrong.”

Drake still held my hands, like he was afraid to let me go. “I’m a shapeshifter, Caden.”

“Yeah, right,” I snorted.

“I’m serious. I can morph into a bear. My whole family can. Well, those directly blood-related, anyway. It’s part of why I could sense you coming. The bear inside me gives me the ability to sense things normal humans can’t.”

I stared at him for a long minute, waiting for him to crack a smile or tell me he was joking or something, but he didn’t do anything like that. He just stared back, his eyes searching mine. As the seconds of silence stretched on, the hope in his gaze faded, and the heartache I’d seen earlier now showed in full force.

My throat tightened. “Why are you doing this?”

“I need you to know the truth up front. I’ve never been intimate with anyone before, Caden, because when my people mate, it’s for life. Not telling you now would be lying to you, and I can’t do that. If you were to find out after we bonded, I could lose you forever, and that would be more painful than never bonding with you at all. It isn’t worth the risk.”

“But if we’re fated mates, as you call it, would I even have a choice?”

“Yes. You always have a choice. You still have to consciously choose me, just the way I’ve already chosen you.”

“And you’re okay with that? You know, because I’m a guy. Something you’ve mentioned multiple times now, and I just want to be sure we’re clear on that.”

The anguish in Drake’s eyes deepened, and I realized I’d been a little harsh.

“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean… shit. I really am sorry.”

“It’s fine, Caden. You’re right. I did keep saying those things, but I hope you’ll find it in your heart to believe that I want you more than anything right now.”

I didn’t know how to respond. I looked down at our hands, realizing then just how tight his grip had become, like he was holding on for his life. I didn’t have the heart to tell him he’d just crossed a line of insane that I couldn’t follow, but another part of me knew he wasn’t lying about any of it, that everything he’d said was the complete and honest truth.

I sighed. I needed time to think.

“Drake. I think maybe you should go. I need some time alone to process all this.”

His grip loosened, and he sat back a little. “Okay,” he whispered. “Take as much time as you need, but please promise me you’ll give me your answer, regardless of your choice.”

“Yeah. I will.”

Drake released my hands and stood, threading his fingers through his long hair. “I’ll have Dean stop by in the morning as originally planned.”

“Thanks.”

Without looking back at me, Drake headed toward the door. I stared after him, but as the distance grew between us, so did my need for him to come back. I resisted the urge to stop him from leaving. Drake was talking about something that would change my life forever, assuming I believed him. Maybe I could talk to his brother about it tomorrow. Still, my chest constricted as Drake opened the door and turned.

“Caden, I lo—” Drake stopped himself, shaking his head. “I look forward to hearing from you soon.” Then he stepped out and shut the door behind him.

But I knew what he’d been about to say, and I wished he’d finished his sentence, because I had no idea how much I’d wanted to hear those words from him until he walked out the door.

Chapter 2

SLEEP ELUDED me. I tossed and turned all night, unable to stop the torrent of emotions ransacking my heart and vexing my mind. I replayed the conversation with Drake over and over again in my head, but nothing made logical sense. He said I was his fated mate and that he could transform himself into a bear. A fucking bear! How does anyone prepare themselves for something like that?

But what if it was real? I never sensed he was lying. If anything, I felt—no, I knew—he was telling the truth, and I desperately wanted to believe him. My heart had already accepted it and was trying to move on, but my mind wouldn’t let me.

After some hours of restlessness, I threw the covers off and clambered out of bed. With dawn still a couple hours away, the cabin was dark and quiet. After scrubbing my hands over my face, I pulled on my sweatpants and made my way into the other room. I raked both hands through my hair and puffed out my cheeks, releasing a deep breath. This was supposed to be home for the next few months, but I couldn’t stomach the thought of living here without Drake, not even for a day.

For the first time in my life, I was actually lonely. I’d always been a solitary person. Being alone had never bothered me, until now. But I didn’t want to be with just anyone. I wanted Drake. I wanted him right here with me, wrapped around me all night as I slept. I’d give anything to have him here now.

Christ, I was such a mess.

I searched the cabinets and found some instant coffee. After making a cup, I settled on the couch and drank it down. It wasn’t the greatest, and even with the caffeine in my system, I was still exhausted. If I was going to go hiking at all in the morning, I needed to find a way to get some sleep. I set the empty mug on the table and rolled onto my side, squeezing a pillow against my chest, with thoughts of Drake plaguing my mind again.

Somehow I managed maybe an hour or two of terrible sleep before I woke again. I stood and walked to the window, then pulled back the thick plaid curtains. The muted glow of the predawn sky lit the misty forest perfectly. My anxiety fell away a little as the tension in my muscles eased. That’s where I needed to be. Alone and with nature, where I could think clearly.

I headed to the bedroom, where I dug through my suitcases and pulled out what I needed. After throwing on jeans and a T-shirt, I pulled on my hiking boots and a tan hoodie. Once dressed, I quickly brushed my teeth, ran my fingers through my hair once without even looking, and took a leak. I returned to the bed and filled my backpack with the basics: warm jacket, small camera, wallet, GPS locator, paper maps, and a large survival knife. Grabbing my pack, I headed into the kitchenette and filled my canteen and water bottle. I paused to drink down about a quarter of water in the bottle, then filled it again to the top.

I hefted my backpack on, slipped the straps of my canteen and water bottle over my head, then across one shoulder, and embarked on my first hike through the Alaskan forest.

The quiet solitude turned out to be exactly what I needed, and some hours later, I paused in a small grassy clearing to rest on a rock outcropping overlooking a rapidly flowing stream. A couple hundred yards away, a couple bears splashed and fished in the water. I pulled my camera out and snapped a few pictures.

As I zoomed in closer and watched them, the ache in my chest expanded, and I couldn’t help feeling that I belonged here. I’d always felt a familial connection with bears, but I never could explain it. It was just there.

Maybe Drake was right about us.

I spent most of the rest of the day close to the bears as I tried to rationalize everything I was feeling. Drake had said we were fated mates, and I still couldn’t understand how that made perfect sense to me, so I tried a different approach. I thought ahead a few months to when I was scheduled to return home, and the moment I imagined myself leaving Drake behind, my heart broke a little. I imagined staying here in Alaska without Drake, and tears threatened. I imagined my future without Drake in it at all, and I cried. Actually cried. It hurt like hell just to think of him gone from my life. So why was this so hard to accept?

Because “love at first sight” could be possible, but a man turning into a bear was just ludicrous. Or was it?

Fuck, I must be losing my mind.

Around midafternoon, I decided to start heading back. It was a couple hours after sunset by the time I made it to the cabin. Exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically, I dropped my pack on the floor and fell onto the couch. Hours passed with me unable to sleep again. I fretted my way through another disturbed night, wondering where Drake was and wishing he were there with me.

A hard knock on the front door woke me. With a tired groan, I sat up and rubbed my eyes, squinting at the clock on the wall. Fuck. It was after eight. How I managed to sleep that late was beyond me. Hell, the fact I managed any sleep at all baffled me.

Pushing to my feet, I stumbled to the door and pulled it open. The worry on Dean’s face faded a little the moment he saw me. “Caden, is everything okay? What happened? I came by yesterday a couple times to check on you and you weren’t here.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bail on you yesterday. I just… needed some time alone,” I said, waving him in and walking back to the kitchenette. I needed coffee, even if it was weak and tasted like crap. I filled a cup with water and stuck it in the microwave, then hit the quick-minute button.

Dean left the door cracked and followed me in. “He told you, didn’t he?” I just stared at him, and Dean shook his head. “Dammit. I told him not to just yet, but he couldn’t bear the thought of hiding it from you.”

I swallowed hard, my throat straining. “Um… are you… like him? With the whole… bear thing and fated mates and all?”

Dean nodded. “There aren’t many people who know. Just our family, a few close friends in town, and our mates, of course.”

“Of course.” I rubbed a hand over the center of my chest. “My chest aches, ever since he left the other day.”

Dean gave me an apologetic smile. “Would you like to know why?”

The microwave beeped, and I pulled the mug out and set it on the counter. I tore open a single pack of instant coffee and poured it in. Stirring the steaming black liquid, I took a slow, deep breath. “It’s because of him. He… did something to me, didn’t he?” I croaked, my eyes heavy and tired as I stared at Dean.

“No,” Dean answered softly. “That isn’t it.”

“Then why?”

Dean crossed the room, stopping a few inches from me. It was weird; he looked like a clean-cut, clean-shaven version of his brother, and yet I felt no attraction to him whatsoever. That right there was enough for my brain to acknowledge that whatever this was between Drake and me went beyond the physical.

“Your heart aches because he isn’t here with you.” That statement alone almost broke everything inside me. “You’re tethered to one another, and once you bond, some of that will go away, but the farther you are from one another, the more it hurts. I guarantee you, Drake is going through the same thing right now.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back against the kitchen counter. “But this doesn’t make any sense. How can I… feel so strongly about someone I just met a couple days ago?”

“That’s what happens when you find your other half.” Dean’s voice was soft and reassuring. He placed his hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently.

“I don’t understand what’s happening to me.”

“Caden.” Dean paused, and I finally looked at him, not caring that my eyes were strained and watery. “Stop trying to understand it. Just listen and feel. What does your heart tell you?”

I held back the tears that threatened, pressing my lips together. Everything inside me ached because Drake wasn’t here. “I… I think I love him.”

Dean gave me a heartwarming smile. “That’s because you do.”

“How is that even possible? I don’t know him.”

“You’ve known each other for a lifetime, Caden, in here,” Dean answered, barely tapping the center of my chest with his finger.

“Knock, knock.” A woman’s voice interrupted our conversation, and I knit my brow at Dean as the front door opened a little more. “Can I come in?”

“It’s just my wife, Selena. Is it okay?” Dean asked me.

I shrugged and gave a nod.

“Come on in, honey,” Dean called, walking toward the door.

I followed him, but the moment I saw his wife, I froze in place, my eyes widening. In her arms was a tiny little bear cub. The smallest and most adorable one I’d ever seen. As Dean drew closer to her, she passed the cub to him and glanced at me, giving me the most amazing smile.

“Hi. You must be Caden. I’m Selena. Dean’s mate.”

“Mate?”

“Or wife, if you prefer.”

I pointed toward Dean as he wrestled with the little ball of fur in his arms. “Is that…?”

“Our latest addition? Yeah. A girl, finally. Her name’s Emery. Born just a few weeks ago. We have three boys at home.” There was nothing but love and adoration in her eyes as she watched the cub with her husband. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “Do you want to hold her?”

“Could I?”

“Of course. It will help you too, you know.”

“It will?”

Selena gripped my bicep as she motioned Dean toward us and looked up at me. “I was right where you are once. I know what you’re going through, Caden, but I guarantee it’s real. And you’ll never find a more loving partner than your fated mate.”

“Drake?”

“He’s already in love with you, and he always will be, just as you will with him, whether you accept him or not. But I promise you, choosing this life, you won’t ever regret it.”

Dean passed the bear cub into my arms. She clung to me immediately but didn’t bite or scratch. If anything, it felt like she was hugging me. And it was one of the most incredible feelings in the world. I had a bear in my arms! I giggled. Actually giggled. How amazing was that?

“Oh, my God,” I whispered, a smile breaking across my face. The cub wrapped her paws around my arm, and I almost melted. “This is amazing. She’s beautiful. I’ve always loved bears.”

Selena and Dean both had wide grins splitting their faces.

“Just you wait.” Selena winked at me, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why she did, but that could wait for another time. I needed to find Drake and tell him how I felt.

“I should change. Do either of you know where I can find Drake right now?”

“Probably up at his cabin. Selena and I can take you.”

Selena took Emery from me.

“Thanks,” I said. “You were right. It did help.”

Selena smiled, and I turned and ran to the bedroom. I rushed through a three-minute shower and hurried to pull on my clothes. I brushed my teeth and finger-combed my hair, not bothering to shave. I emerged from the bedroom and grabbed my backpack and phone from beside the couch where I’d dropped them earlier.

“Okay, ready,” I said, heading straight for the front door.

“All right, let’s go,” Dean said. “Selena’s waiting for us in the truck.”

We made our way outside. I climbed into the front passenger seat, tossing my pack on the floorboard. As Dean started the engine and pulled out, I looked back at Selena as Emery pawed at her mom from her car seat. I turned my attention to Dean.

“So, do you mind me asking how the whole ‘bear cub baby’ thing works?”

“They’re born as cubs, and when they’re about three years old, they start learning how to shift into their human form,” Dean answered. “Once they master that, they stay in human form and only shift into a bear when they want to.”

“So, you can just turn into a bear anytime?”

“Yep.”

I glanced back at Selena and Emery. “What about Selena? Now that you’re… mated, can she shift into a bear too?”

“No. Only those in the direct bloodline have that ability. Our mates are always human. There are so few of us, and we aren’t able to reproduce with other shifters.”

Wow. This is crazy, weird, and awesome all bundled together. I fell back against the seat. “Wait. You said they’re born as cubs.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“What about doctors and hospitals and all that? You obviously can’t do things the traditional, human way.”

Dean shrugged. “You’re right about that. Thing is, complications with shifter pregnancies are rare, and so is the need for a doctor. However, there are a handful of specialized doctors in the world, all of whom are either shifters, mates, or trusted friends or family, that we can call on as needed. We go to great lengths to protect our secret in order to keep our families and our kind safe.”

“And are they born the size of a newborn bear or a human baby?”

“Bear. Emery was only ten inches and barely weighed a pound. She loved to curl up in my palm and sleep. All our kids did, but they grow so fast.”

I looked out the side window. “Yeah, I suppose they do.” My words trailed off as my chest tightened. Drake would never have the opportunity to hold his own child like that if he were with me. Was that why he was so upset I was a man instead of a woman? Because there would be no kids? It was obvious Dean treasured the memories. If I chose to stay with Drake, I would be denying him that.

“What’s wrong?” Dean asked.

I heaved a sigh. “If I’m with Drake, he won’t ever have that experience.”

Dean gave me a curious smile. “Tell me something, Caden. Whenever you’ve pictured your future, what did you see?”

I considered his question for a moment, wondering why he asked, but regardless, the answer was simple. “It’s been the same for as long as I can remember. I always imagined living in the wilderness, close to nature, with my wife or husband, whom I loved more than life itself, and who loved me just the same. And kids. Maybe two or three.” I couldn’t help my spreading smile. My heart warmed even more as I now pictured Drake as my husband and the two of us raising a family, here in the Alaskan wilderness. Then I remembered the whole bear-cub thing, and all the joy consuming me faded.

“Male pairs are extremely rare for our kind, but even so, having children isn’t an issue.”

I cocked my head, pulling my brows together. I glanced over my shoulder at Selena. Her face-splitting grin only added to my confusion. “I’m not sure I follow.”

Dean laughed, shaking his head a little. “You know, it really should be Drake talking to you about all this.”

“About what? Just tell me.”

Selena lightly shoved at Dean’s shoulder from behind. “Oh, stop delaying, Dean. The sooner he knows the better.” She turned and looked at me with a wicked gleam in her eye. “Just because you’re a man, Caden, doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant.”

“Oh.” It took a second for her words to sink in. “Wait, what?”

Selena and Dean both busted up, laughing hysterically.

“You guys are joking with me, aren’t you?” I looked between them. A man getting pregnant? That wasn’t possible, was it? Then again, neither were people with the ability to shift into bears, which I still hadn’t seen. Maybe that was a joke too, all at my expense. I gritted my teeth and looked away. I barely knew these people. What gave them the right to do something like this?

The laughing faded almost as quickly as it had started.

“Caden, I’m sorry, but it’s not a joke,” Dean said. “We like to have fun, but we’re not cruel. You already feel like part of the family, and I forgot how new and completely insane most of this probably sounds to you.”

“Fine. Then explain to me how it would even be possible for me to get pregnant.”

“It’s simple shifter physiology. Bonding with a male shifter enables you to conceive, but only with them. When you mate, your body adjusts in order to accommodate a child.”

“Okay,” I replied. Dean’s answer was to the point, if all too simplistic, but I wasn’t sure I was ready for a detailed shifter biology lesson. However, there was one other thing. “And if what you’re saying is true, how would the baby or cub or whatever… how would it come out?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” Selena chimed in. “C-section, of course.” She said it like it was common knowledge.

“Of course.” I sighed. I didn’t know what to believe right now. The only thing I knew for certain was I needed to see Drake, and the farther we drove up the mountain, the more the pressure in my chest eased. “Just get me to Drake,” I muttered.

The next forty-five minutes passed in silence with me brooding as I stared out the side window. My chest still ached when we pulled up in front of an old log and stone cabin. I would have admired the rustic craftsmanship of the place had it not been for the growing pain in my heart.

“He isn’t here,” I mumbled, not realizing I’d said it until Dean responded.

“He’s not?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I pushed the door open and walked toward the front of the cabin. Something didn’t feel right. Drake was supposed to be here. I knocked on the door. “Drake?”

Dean came up beside me. “I thought you said he wasn’t here.”

“I did, but—”

“No buts, Caden. Trust what your heart is telling you. If you can’t feel him here, he isn’t here.”

“Then where would he be?”

“His truck is still here, so he didn’t go back into town. Maybe he went out for a run or something.” Dean turned the handle and pushed the door open. “Come on. Drake won’t mind since it’s you. We can wait for him inside.”

Dean waved back toward the truck, gesturing to Selena, then entered the house. I started to follow him in, but something made me pause. Instead of going inside, I turned around and walked to the corner of the cabin, then immediately scoured the thick forest beyond. The hair on my arms and back of my neck stood on end as a shiver cascaded down my spine. That feeling that something was wrong—very wrong—grew stronger.

I stood there, quietly listening, searching into the distance. My pulse hastened as I tried to keep my breathing calm. Where are you, Drake?

A large hand landed on my shoulder, and I jumped and sucked in a sharp breath. “Jesus Christ, Dean, you scared the shit out of me,” I panted. “Fuck. Warn me next time.”

“Sorry.”

I wandered a few steps away from Dean, farther away from the house, crossing my arms over my chest. I still couldn’t shake that feeling that something had happened to Drake.

“Something doesn’t feel right, Dean. Actually, I take that back. Something’s wrong.”

“Dean!” Selena’s panicked voice carried from the truck. Radio in her hand, she ran toward us, then skidded to a stop in the dirt. “Poachers. About a mile north of Wolfsbane. Drake is down there.”

“What? How?” Dean asked.

“The boys were playing down by the creek when they were shot at. Drake was in the area and drew the hunters away from the boys. Ethan said he got Eli and Everett home safely, but that he was going back to help Drake.”

I didn’t wait to hear anymore. I ran back to the truck and grabbed my pack. I pulled my knife out, holstered it on my belt, and slipped my backpack over my shoulders. As I made my way back to Dean and Selena, I spotted a couple of ATVs alongside the cabin.

“Those hunters are gonna wish they’d never set foot in our forest.” With each word, Dean’s voice grew furious, animalistic, even.

“Dean,” Selena said, her voice filled with warning.

“They went after our boys, Selena!”

Happy, friendly Dean was now enraged as hell. That was one man you didn’t want to piss off. The same could be said about me right then.

“How far is this Wolfsbane from here?” I scowled.

“About three miles southwest.”

“And they’re about a mile north of that.” I spun and went for the ATV.

“Selena, take the truck and get back to the house. Make sure the boys are all right,” Dean said behind me. “Caden, wait!”

I hopped on the ATV, thankful to find the keys attached. That would save me some time. “I’m going, Dean. You can’t stop me.”

“I know.” He walked around behind me and hopped on the other ATV. He extended his arm toward me, handing me a radio. “Here. In the event we need to split up. I borrowed Selena’s. She’s got more at the house.” He turned the key in the ignition and started it up. “And, Caden. Be careful. Drake will kill me if anything happens to you.”

I smiled at that. “I’ve done this sort of thing before. I’ll be fine.” I revved up the ATV and pulled out, heading in the direction Dean had indicated. The direction my heart told me to go.

Dean was quick to follow, and we weaved our way through the trees as fast as the rugged terrain would allow us. I was no stranger to this. While I preferred to hike and take my time, taking pictures along the way, I’d found myself a number of times hunting down illegal poachers and doing everything I could to ensure they were caught. This time it was a little more personal.

Less than ten minutes later, Dean slowed to a stop and killed the engine. I parked right beside him and shut my ATV off also.

“We go on foot from here. If those hunters are still in the area, as I suspect they are, then we don’t want them hearing us close in.”

I nodded and climbed off the vehicle. “Did Selena happen to mention how many?”

“No, but I can’t imagine there being more than two or three.”

“There’s two of ’em, Dad.”

Dean and I both spun around at the voice behind us. I tried not to appear shocked at the sight of a young man of maybe twelve standing unashamedly in the buff, partially hidden behind a dense patch of snowberry.

“Ethan.” Dean heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank God you’re okay. You’re not hurt, are you?”

Ethan shook his head. “Who’s he?” He jutted his chin toward me as he regarded me closely.

“Caden. Uncle Drake’s mate.”

Ethan narrowed his gaze at me.

“You can’t smell it because they haven’t bonded yet.”

They could smell that sort of thing?

Ethan’s scrutinizing glare eased up at Dean’s added explanation. “What do you know about these hunters so far, Ethan?”

“Like I said, there’s only two. Both male. I was watching Eli and Everett splashing and playing in the creek, trying to catch fish, when a gun went off. I heard one of them curse and yell that he missed, but by then, the boys had taken off. I waited, hiding in the brush. They didn’t give chase, but I heard them both talking about how they were just little ones anyway and debating whether to follow. That’s when Uncle Drake showed up. He told me he’d found their camp about a half mile from where we were and had trailed them. Last he said, he was going to draw them away from us.”

“All right, here’s the plan. Ethan, you go with Caden and look for Drake. I’ll head for the camp. Radio if you need help. Ethan, if anything goes wrong, you run for home as fast as you can, got that?”

“Yeah, Dad,” Ethan said with the customary teenage eye roll.

“I mean it. Your mother’s already gonna kill me for involving you in this and not sending you home right away.”

“What about him?” Ethan asked, looking at me.

Dean flicked his gaze to me briefly before giving his son a stern look. “Caden’s done this before. He can hold his own. But he doesn’t know the terrain like you, and he may need your nose. You listen to him and do what he says.”

“Fine.”

“I’m serious, Ethan. Promise me.”

“Okay, Dad. I promise.”

“Good. Did you bring any clothes with you?” Ethan shook his head, and Dean cursed under his breath. “Then you’re gonna have to shift, but be extra careful and stay close to Caden.”

“I will.” Without another word, Ethan’s body rippled, thick fur growing from his skin, cascading across his body. He suddenly hunched forward, disappearing behind the bushes. A moment later, a full-grown grizzly emerged from the thick brush and pawed his way toward me. It was the first “proof” I’d seen, confirming what both Dean and Drake had told me. This is real.

Dean shifted his concerned gaze from the bear to me. “Caden….”

“They won’t touch him, Dean,” I assured him.

Dean nodded and turned. I watched him for a minute, then glanced around, studying the forest, listening, until I had my heading. “This way,” I said to Ethan, assuming he could still understand me in his bear form. As we hiked through the woods, Ethan fell in step right beside me. I couldn’t believe how big he was, considering, as a boy, he was barely entering his teens, or so I figured. As a bear on all fours, his shoulder height was even with my waist, and his head level with my chest. If he was this big, and only a boy, I wondered just how big Drake and Dean were in their bear forms.

They had to be huge. I’d read that, while rare, male grizzlies’ shoulders had been known to reach five feet, standing almost ten feet tall on their hind legs, and weighing in at up to fifteen hundred pounds—far beyond the average. With how massive Drake was as a man—he had to be at least six and a half feet and over two hundred fifty pounds of solid muscle—I wondered if those rare sightings had been of the shifter kind.

A low growl diverted my attention, and I froze, placing a hand on Ethan’s furry shoulder. Without seeing or hearing anything else, I knew immediately it was Drake. I could feel him.

“Wait here, and stay out of sight,” I said to Ethan.

He nudged my arm.

“No. I don’t know what or who else is down there,” I whispered. Ethan dropped into a sitting position with what almost looked like a pout in his eyes. I shook my head, chuckling silently. This was about to be my life. I couldn’t help the wave of happiness that washed over me at the thought, and I smiled.

Crouching down, I closed in on low rumbles and groans. A few minutes later, I spotted Drake through a gap in the foliage and held my breath. Lying on the ground against the thick, coarsely-fissured bark of a western hemlock was one of the largest grizzlies I’d ever seen. The bear turned his head and looked right at me, letting out a weak roar. He swiped an enormous paw across the ground and tried to push himself up but collapsed almost immediately.

My stomach cramped, and I started to move toward him, but stopped at the telltale chirp and static of a walkie-talkie, followed by the sudden bark of a man’s gruff voice. “Dammit, Jack, where the hell are you? Those tranqs are already wearin’ off.”

A response came back after a few seconds. “On my way back now. Some ranger was sniffin’ around our camp. All I had was a tranq, so I shot him with it. He should be out for hours.”

“If he ain’t dead, you dumb shit! Hurry your ass up so we can put this one down and get what we came for before we’re caught!”

Fuck, if that didn’t piss me off. Fortunately, the asshole had been so focused on his conversation, he hadn’t heard me move around behind him.

“Too late,” I growled, hitting him in the back of the head with a chunk of wood, just hard enough to knock him out. I quickly searched him for any weapons. Finding a skinning knife, empty Glock, and multitool, I tossed them into the bushes out of sight, then pulled out the rope I’d kept buried in my backpack. After flipping him onto his stomach, I tied his hands behind his back.

I knew that other guy, Jack, would be here any minute, but I needed to check on Drake. I stood and rushed over to him. “Drake?” I said softly. He lifted his enormous head and looked at me with glassy eyes. I framed his furry face with my hands, dwarfed by his incredible size. “Christ, what the hell did they shoot you with? Well, I’m here now, and no one else is gonna get to you.”

I leaned my face in closer to his and nuzzled his nose, closing my eyes. I didn’t know why, I just needed to. I needed to be close to him. This man who could transform himself into a bear, who’d saved his nephews from hunters by using himself as bait, was mine, in whatever form he took. I knew that now with absolute certainty, and no one was going to take that from me.

“What the fuck!” a man yelled. That was followed by, “Don’t move, or I’ll put a bullet in your ass.”

I clenched my teeth, pissed that I’d let my guard down long enough for him to get the drop on me.

“Hands up!”

With slow, deliberate movements, I lifted my hands into the air on either side of my head and stood, turning to face him. The man was a little shorter than me and slightly overweight, maybe in his midthirties, wearing a faded olive-green baseball cap, a shabby-looking camouflage T-shirt, and dirty, roughed-up jeans. If I could have gotten in close enough, I was pretty sure I could take him.

“Look, buddy, just put the gun down, and I promise I won’t do you any more harm than I did your partner over there.”

Drake shifted behind me, and Jack’s eyes widened, darting between the bear and me. By the fear in his eyes, I knew Drake must have risen to his feet. A huff of warm breath against the back of my neck confirmed it as Jack took a small step backward and readjusted his aim. But I moved with it, keeping myself between the gun and Drake.

Jack’s arm trembled as he tried to keep the gun steady. “That bear’s ours. Get out of the way before I shoot you too.”

“This bear is mine,” I growled. “He’s always been mine. And you’re hunting on private property without a permit.”

Snapping twigs behind him drew the man’s attention, and he turned just long enough for me to lunge after him. He snapped his head back, and the gun went off. I flinched as a searing pain stung my shoulder. Still, I managed to grab his wrist and twist his hand, forcing him to drop the pistol. Bending his arm behind him, I kicked at his knees and dropped him facedown on the ground. With a knee in his back, I fought to grab his other arm as Jack writhed beneath me.

I twisted his other arm higher.

“Ow! You asshole! Get the fuck off me!” Jack squirmed frantically. He reached for the gun just as a loud roar broke free from an enraged grizzly now standing right beside us. Jack froze, enabling me to grab his free arm.

“Drake, my pack.”

Still trying to shake off the tranquilizers, Drake staggered the short distance and grabbed hold of my backpack with his mouth, bringing it back to me. Using one hand to secure the man’s arms, I reached in my pack and pulled out more of the rope. After tying his hands behind him, I pushed off him and stood, pausing a moment and bracing my hand against Drake’s furry shoulder while the blood rushed to my extremities.

Jack pulled his knees up under him, trying to stand.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I grabbed his arm and helped him up, then shoved him down against the trunk of a tree. I still had plenty of rope left and tied him to the hemlock.

“You can’t keep me here like this!” Jack spat at me.

My bear mate roared again, bearing his fangs in warning at Jack. Jack cowered, pulling away as far from the bear as his bindings would allow him.

“I wouldn’t piss him off any more than you already have,” I warned. “I’m sure he’d love to rip your limbs from your body right about now.”

“How is it that bear hasn’t attacked you?”

“I told you already, this bear is mine.”

“Okay. Fine. I’m sorry. Just let us go, and we’ll leave you and the bear alone.”

“What do you take me for? An idiot? Not only were you trespassing and poaching, but I’ve got you on attempted murder for that ranger you shot with your tranq dart.”

Jack’s face paled.

“Yeah, heard it loud and clear over the radio earlier. You better hope he lives.”

“I’ll live,” Dean muttered from somewhere nearby.

I turned as Dean pushed aside a cluster of snowberry branches, shaking his head. He stumbled, and I darted to catch him, guiding him to sit on a huge chunk of log. “You okay, Dean?”

Dean rested his forehead in his hands. “Yeah. I’ll be fine. Just a little woozy still. And my head hurts like I was hit by a fucking truck.” He lifted his head and squinted up at me. “Caden. You’re bleeding.”

I looked down at my shoulder. Blood had seeped through the layers of clothing. “Oh, that? That’s just a scratch.” I shrugged.

Dean gave me a wry grin and shook his head, huffing a laugh. “You really have done this sort of thing before, haven’t you?”

I tossed my head from side to side. “Eh. Usually, I just photograph the evidence when they aren’t looking and report them to the authorities. Occasionally, I have to intervene to save a life, but it’s worth the few scars I’ve collected along the way. Strangely enough, I’ve never been hurt or attacked by an animal, only scum like these guys.”

“Speaking of which.” Dean straightened, looking a little better as more color returned to his face. He pulled his cell radio from his hip and keyed up. “Selena, do you read me?”

Her response was immediate. “I’m here, Dean. Did you catch those hunters?”

“Yeah, we did. Actually, Caden did. I’ll fill you in on the details later. Do me a favor, though. Call Sam and tell him to come out with the Jeep so we can haul them back to town.”

“Okay. What about Ethan?”

Dean looked up at me, but before I could answer, Ethan’s disappointed voice rang out from behind a nearby tree. “I’m fine, Dad. Caden wouldn’t let me do anything.”

Dean gave me a grateful smile and keyed up again. “Ethan is fine. I’m sending him home to you.”

“All right. I’ll see you soon, sweetie.”

“Ethan, did you hear that?”

“Yeah, Dad,” Ethan groaned. The bushes rustled, and a moment later, I barely caught sight of Ethan’s bear form tearing down the wooded hillside. Poor kid. I knew he’d wanted a part of the action, but there’d been no telling how dangerous the situation could have been.

“Shit! Look out!”

I spun at Jack’s terrified warning only to come face to face with a monstrous grizzly. He gently brushed his nose along my shoulder and up my neck, then pressed into my hair. I closed my eyes and smiled at how weirdly intimate it felt. Cracking one eye open, I glanced at Jack, who stared at us with wide eyes. I wanted to laugh but held it in, not wanting to ruin this moment with Drake.

After a few minutes, Drake’s bear lay down a few yards away from Dean, where he could keep a watchful eye on the two hunters. I wandered over to him and sat down, leaning against his side.

“Fuck, that is the tamest bear I have ever seen,” Jack said.

Drake lifted his head and growled.

“You don’t get to speak, Jack,” I said. “Not after the shit you pulled today. If you don’t shut your trap, I’ll knock you out just like I did your friend.”

“Caden, you can head back if you want. Sam will be here in about an hour or so.”

“I’m sure you would be fine, Dean, but I’m not leaving you here alone with these two. You’re still trying to shake off the effects of that tranquilizer, thanks to dumbass over there. I’ll wait with you until Sam arrives.”

Chapter 3

SAM ARRIVED about an hour later, and with Dean mostly recovered from a bear tranq that would have, at the very least, knocked any normal guy out for hours if it didn’t kill him, I helped them load the two hunters into the Jeep and watched them drive off.

As they disappeared from sight, a soft growl almost like a purr rumbled behind me. I turned and locked eyes with a grizzly. My grizzly. As I held his reverent amber gaze, his fur rippled, and through my peripheral vision, I saw his body change from bear to human, but I never took my eyes away from his. I couldn’t. I was lost in them. He looked at me as though he couldn’t believe I was there. In a way, I almost couldn’t believe I was there either.

“Caden?” Drake whispered, soft and unsure.

I stepped forward, and pulling his lips down to meet mine, I kissed him. Drake’s kiss was tentative at first, and I could tell he hadn’t been expecting it, but I simply couldn’t wait any longer. I’d managed to push aside my heightened emotions earlier, focusing on the hunt and protecting Drake, but now that we were alone and I could let my guard down a little, everything came rushing back. The heated desire. The desperate need. The knowing I was in love with this man I’d only met a couple days ago but felt like I’d known all my life.

Fated mates were the words Drake had used.

Fated to be together.

It actually made sense now.

The yearning for the Alaskan wilderness I’d lived with in my heart since I was a boy.

The peace I’d always felt when alone with nature.

The sense of belonging deep in my soul whenever I found myself in the company of bears.

The deep-seated love burning in my heart, knowing I’d found it all here, with this man.

I eased back a little, not wanting to end this amazing kiss, but needing to for the moment. We were in the middle of the forest, after all, and Drake had no clothes on. “Drake,” I breathed.

“Caden, I don’t even know what to say. I never expected to see you again so soon. I was sure I’d scared you away the other night, but I couldn’t hide myself from you. Dean told me to wait, but I couldn’t lie to you. And now here you are, and I don’t know why or how, but I’m really hoping that you weren’t kissing me good-bye. I finally found you, and I’ll let you go if this is all too much, but I don’t want you to go. I don’t want to lose you. I—”

“Drake, stop.” I finally had to cut him off. “It isn’t too much. You, and all this….” I inhaled sharply. “It still seems a little crazy, but it’s where I belong. It’s what I’ve dreamed of my entire life.”

In a flickering heartbeat, Drake wrapped his arms around my hips and lifted me off my feet, eliciting a squeal I’d never heard myself make before. The excitement and giddiness I felt at knowing and seeing how happy he was nearly burst out of me as I circled my arms around his neck. After spinning several times, Drake set me down and stared at me, his eyes shimmering, as he pressed his lips firmly together.

After a few long seconds, I cocked my head and grinned. “What?”

“Nothing. I just… I can’t believe you’re really here.”

“What I can’t believe is that we’re still standing here instead of getting back to the comfort of a nice cabin.”

“You’re right. Let’s fix that.” Drake grabbed my hand. “You and Dean bring the ATVs?”

With my hand in his, I pulled him a few feet and hefted my pack over my shoulder. “Yeah. Left ’em about half a mile back.”

“Good. Let’s go, because I can’t wait to get you home.”

ONCE WE’D reached the ATVs, Drake threw on a T-shirt, boxers, jeans, and running shoes he’d pulled from the small cargo box on the back. We took off, chasing each other through the wooded terrain, reaching his house a few minutes later. After we parked both vehicles on the side of the cabin where I’d originally found them, Drake took my hand again and led me to the front door.

With his body between the door and me, Drake clutched the handle and paused. He opened his mouth like he was about to say something but then shook his head and pressed his lips into a small smile. Turning the knob, Drake gestured me inside.

I gave him a quick peck on the cheek as I stepped in and was met with the perfect mix of pine, cinnamon, and vanilla—scents I loved but had never thought of putting together until now. The farther in I went, the more at home I felt. Wood plank walls, stone floors, wool rugs. I paused and ran my hand along the back of the brown leather couch facing the gigantic river-rock fireplace with a raised hearth.

“This is exactly what I imagined,” I whispered to myself.

Drake cupped my upper arms from behind with his large hands. His warm breath tickled my neck as he planted a soft kiss behind my ear and whispered, “Welcome home, Caden.”

His words alone sent a heated tingle down my spine. I spun around to face him, leaning against the back of the leather sofa. “It’s perfect, Drake.”

“You haven’t even seen all of it,” Drake chuckled.

“Yeah, but I don’t have to.” I linked my fingers behind his neck and pulled him down, ghosting my lips over his. “I already know.”

Drake smiled and leaned in a little closer, rubbing his lips across mine in a gentle but eager caress. He sucked my top lip into his mouth as I nipped at his bottom lip. Grabbing my hips, Drake stepped in closer and trapped me between his hard body and the sofa, and my cock hardened. I parted my lips, and the moment I did, Drake pushed his tongue into my mouth. His tongue touched mine, igniting another fire inside me as I pulled him closer. I slid my hands down to his ass and squeezed both cheeks, grinding against him. I moaned into our kiss as another wave of heat rolled through me, his thick, hard cock digging into my groin and thigh from beneath his jeans.

I reached under his shirt and caressed the strong muscles of his back. Drake released my lips just long enough to lift the shirt over his head, revealing the hard lines of his chest and abs. Thick dark curls of hair covered his pecs, narrowing into a path that trailed down the center of his abs and disappeared beneath his jeans. My dick throbbed, and I licked my lips as Drake grabbed the hem of my shirt and yanked it off before his mouth was on me again, exploring, devouring.

“Fuck, Caden. Everything in me wants to claim you,” he growled into our hungry kiss. “Make you mine.”

“Then do it,” I whispered hoarsely.

Drake found my belt, unbuckling it in a flash with deft fingers. Before I knew it, he’d pushed my pants down around my knees. He hooked his fingers in the waistband of my briefs and jerked them down, releasing my hard cock from its cotton restraint. Drake wrapped his callused hand around my dick and stroked gently, swiping his thumb across the pearly drops leaking from the tip.

He dropped to his knees, still stroking me, and licked across the slit. “Fuck, you taste good.” Drake swirled his tongue around the head, then closed his lips around me and took me into his warm, moist mouth.

“Oh, God. Drake….”

Drake gripped the base of my shaft, sucking me deeper. I threaded my fingers through his unruly hair, gripping tightly as he took all of me into his mouth and throat. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. My breaths came in short pants. My heart raced. My head spun. I’d never felt anything so blissfully amazing. He worked my cock with his seemingly skilled lips and tongue, gliding and sucking and teasing, pushing me to the edge of oblivion.

I tightened my grip on his hair. “Drake. Stop. I’m gonna come.”

He squeezed my balls with his hand and slid his mouth off me with a messy pop. I grunted, breathing hard and fast, my dick aching for the release he’d just denied me. In an attempt to keep from collapsing, I leaned back, closing my eyes and bracing my hands on the back of the couch. My dick pulsed painfully, oozing copious amounts of precum.

“Fuck, Drake. How can you be so good at this if you’ve never been with anyone before?”

“Simple. Instinct.” Pause. “You’re my mate, Caden. I’ll always know how to give you exactly what you need.”

Drake lifted one of my feet, then the other, removing my shoes and the last of my clothing, leaving me fully exposed to him. I heard a shuffling noise and cracked my eyes open, licking my lips as he toed his shoes off. He unzipped his jeans and pulled them down, yanking them off and tossing them on the floor. My eyes went straight to the massive bulge in his tight black boxers, and my cock swelled even more. Drake eased them down, inch by painful inch as my cock bounced and dripped a slow, steady stream down to the floor.

When Drake’s enormous dick sprang free, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes. He was huge, just like the man he was and the bear inside him. His long, thick cock curved upward and away from his body, and my eyes widened as the sudden realization crossed my mind. Would he fit inside me? And just how much would it hurt? My thoughts on the potential pain didn’t linger long as Drake pulled me into the circle of his arms and kissed me again. He eased away and grabbed my hand, tugging me with him down the hall and into what I assumed was his bedroom. I didn’t have time to notice anything before Drake bent down and lifted me with one arm around my back and the other under my knees. He wasn’t gentle about it either, but rather rough and primal, which only made it all the more perfect.

After tossing me into the center of the California king, Drake pounced on top of me and captured my mouth again in a bruising kiss. Our tongues wrestled for control, but I knew he would win. I wanted him to win. To claim me, as he’d said, and make me his.

He pinned me to the bed, sliding his cock against mine. The heavy weight of his body on mine was divine. I ran my hands over the taut, hairy skin of his muscled arms, shoulders, back, chest—anywhere I could reach. I wanted more and reveled in the skin-to-skin contact between us.

Breathing hard, Drake paused and pulled back a little, gazing down at me, his eyes dark and searching. “Caden, I want you more than anything, right now and for the rest of my life, but I want you to want this too. To want me.”

I brought my hand to his cheek, the soft scratch of his long stubble heaven against my skin. Forcing myself to think through the lust and crazy desire fogging my brain, I looked into Drake’s eyes and listened to my heart, letting it remind me of the conclusion I’d reached earlier. The one I knew undoubtedly to be true.

“Drake,” I said. “I do want you, but more than that, I love you. Logically, I can’t explain it, but when I try to think about my life from here on out without you, it hurts.”

“I love you too.” Drake crushed his lips to mine, his kiss filled with desperation and relief and something suddenly far more primal than I’d felt from him before. A moment later, he tore his lips away and kneeled up between my parted thighs. “Pull your legs up,” he said, and I didn’t hesitate. He stroked his large hand over his cock, spreading his precum all over his erect shaft. Squeezing the head, more liquid oozed from his tip. He swiped it up with his fingers and pressed them against my puckered ring, circling before gently entering with his fingers. With his other hand, he stroked my cock gently.

My head fell back against the pillow, and my eyes rolled back and closed as Drake massaged and stretched my tunnel. He brushed over my prostate, and I gasped and moaned and whimpered all at once.

“Drake… please….”

Drake didn’t prepare my entrance much before he lined the bulbous head up with my hole. I bit my lip, ready and wanting him inside me but unsure of just how much of him I could handle. He must have sensed my concern because he leaned down and kissed my lips ever so softly.

“You’re my fated mate, Caden. Which means we were made for each other. We’ll fit perfectly together, and I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

I nodded, believing in him and his words. He pushed inside me with slow, careful movements. A couple inches in, he pulled back out slightly, then slid in again, working past the muscled ring as I tried to relax and let him in. The deeper he sank, the more incredible he felt, until he was seated fully inside me.

If there was any pain from the stretching my passage did to accommodate his girth, I hadn’t felt it. Maybe the intensity of the physical pleasure zinging through me as he slid inside drowned out the pain that should have existed, but I didn’t care. From the moment he entered me, something deeper coursed through me. An emotional connection, stronger than the one I’d already felt, merged with the unbounded pleasure of being filled by him.

Drake slid out, all the way to the tip, and pushed back in again. A strangled moan fell from his mouth. “Fuck, you feel so good. So… perfect.”

Drake leaned down onto his elbows, tunneling one hand and forearm behind my neck, and kissed me hard. There were no words to describe what he was doing to me. The feel of his powerful body locked with mine, pinning me, restraining me, knowing the raw strength concealed beneath his skin that he could unleash at will… the pure passion in the way he kissed me… the way he rolled his hips, thrusting perfectly over the sensitive gland inside me, possessing me… claiming me.

His lips slid off mine as I dragged much-needed oxygen into my lungs. Drake licked and sucked and kissed his way along my jaw, down the curve of my neck to my shoulder. He thrust harder, faster, his heavy sac slapping furiously against my skin, pushing me close to that edge again.

“You’re mine, Caden.”

The animalistic growl of his words sent pure heat racing through my blood, straight to my groin, and my cock swelled. My balls tightened with my impending orgasm. I was so close. I wanted to come so badly, but I couldn’t just yet. My body wouldn’t let me, like it was waiting for something else.

“Drake… I….” My muscles were hard and tense. My eyes watered, every nerve in my body electrified. My breathing bordered on hyperventilating. My insides quivered in anticipation of what was sure to come. “Fuck, what are you doing to me?” Somehow I managed to get the words out.

“Claiming,” he breathed into my ear. “Mating. Bonding.”

My heart hammered, threatening to explode from my chest.

Drake lifted his head and looked down at me, his scorching gaze intense and penetrating as he slowed his relentless pounding, stilling inside me. Rivulets of sweat rolled down his forehead, a few drops landing on my face.

“Once bound, there’s no going back. Our souls will join together, and our hearts will beat as one. You will be my mate for the rest of my life, and I will be yours. I will love and protect you until my dying breath, and you will bear the fruit of our love, bringing new life into this world. Knowing all that and what I am, do you still choose me and this life?”

His words were an oath as he sought to confirm that I truly wanted this. That I accepted him—both man and bear—and anything else, however magical or unbelievable, that came with being his mate.

I didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Fuck, yes. I do. I want that more than anything.”

Drake leaned down and sucked my lips into his mouth. We tugged and licked into each other like this moment would never come again, and in a way, it wouldn’t. This was our first time together, but it certainly wouldn’t be our last.

Drake rocked his hips and slammed into me, over and over, his speed and vigor increasing with each perfectly angled thrust. He grunted with each powerful drive and slap of his skin against mine, eliciting loud, uncontrolled moans from me. Drake’s mouth found my shoulder again as his muscles hardened and his thick rod swelled inside me.

“Come for me, Caden,” Drake growled.

That was all I needed. I yelled Drake’s name with my release, bucking and writhing beneath him, coating both our chests and abs with long, thick ropes of sticky cream. Drake sank his teeth into my shoulder, biting hard. I dug my short nails into the skin of his back, clawing at him. He grunted loudly and jerked, filling me with hot liquid seed while my body still trembled and twitched. My senses obliterated, I panted hard as Drake rubbed the rest of his orgasm out inside me, the evidence coating my insides and seeping out of my tightly packed hole.

Without pulling out, Drake let his weight settle on me, and I wrapped my arms around him, wanting to keep him as close as possible. His warm, moist breath puffed over my shoulder as he pressed soft kisses and tender licks over the mark left by his bite. As the oxygen returned to my brain, my lips found his pulse, throbbing in his neck, and I lingered there with my eyes closed, soaking in the sweaty, earthy scents of our lovemaking. Our heartbeats slowed in sync together as though now beating as one, just as Drake’s words had promised.

After a long minute, Drake pulled out and rolled onto his side. The lost connection left me empty and cold. Before I could dwell on it, Drake snaked an arm beneath me, turning me on my side while bringing his other arm across my side and abs, and tugged me back against his chest, his still semihard cock pressing into the cleft between my buttocks. His feet and legs tangled with mine as he wrapped as much of his body around me as was possible.

Safely tucked against him, I’d never felt so warm and loved and utterly complete. My eyes slipped closed as the last few nights’ lack of sleep and this morning’s energy-sucking activities finally caught up to me. A soft purr-like growl rumbled in Drake’s chest as he pressed a tender kiss right behind my ear.

“Mmm, I could definitely get used to this,” I said, unable to stop my spreading smile.

“Good, because it only gets better from here.” Drake nipped my earlobe with his teeth, sucking it into his mouth. He ground against my ass as he slipped his hand down and palmed my softening cock. “And now that I’ve had my first taste of you, I don’t ever want to stop.”

“Down, boy,” I laughed, rolling to face him. “Some of us do need recovery time, and I slept terribly the last couple nights thanks to you, so give me break.”

Drake’s face fell, and his eyes dipped. “I’m sorry, Caden, but I told you earlier—”

“Stop right there.”

Drake inhaled deeply and lifted his eyes to mine.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. So I lost a few hours’ sleep, but you did the right thing, Drake. I’m pretty damn sure I would have been far less forgiving if you’d told me after we bonded.”

“I didn’t want to leave you the other night, but you looked as though you didn’t believe me, and I wanted to give you time and space.”

“The thing is, I did believe you. Well, part of me did. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it.”

“What changed your mind?”

“I just needed to think things through. Your brother and Selena also helped me. Oh, and getting to hold Emery. My God, she is about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Drake’s frown faded, and a smile teased the corners of his mouth. “Just wait until we have one of our own.”

My breath hitched. “Is that really possible? I mean, Selena and Dean both mentioned it, but I thought they were teasing me about the whole thing, and I started not believing the whole bear thing was real, and then we got caught up in that situation with the hunters earlier, and all I could think of was getting to you and—”

Drake stopped my rambling with a firm kiss. When he pulled away, I sucked in a sharp breath and pressed my lips together. I knit my brow, seeing the concern all over him.

“Caden, it’s not only possible, but probable.”

My heart nearly burst. The idea of being able to have a child, together—an actual child of our own flesh and blood—filled me with a bone-deep joy I’d never experienced before. This was something no other same-sex human couple on Earth could actually do.

“Really?”

Drake splayed his palm over my cheek, his fingers stretching into my hair. “Yes. Really. A shifter male can impregnate any human, male or female.”

I thought back to something else he’d said earlier. “Is that why you thought this would be difficult for me to accept? Is that why you were so concerned that I was a guy?”

Drake nodded as his eyes searched mine. “Only twice in our known history has a human mate ever rejected their shifter counterpart, and both were male-male pairs.”

My heart swelled. It all made sense now. “You were worried I would do the same.”

“I was terrified.” He closed his eyes. “I’m sorry if I made you think it was you.”

“Well, you don’t need to worry about that at all now. I’m never leaving you.”

I placed my hand over Drake’s as he framed my face, and I turned my face into his hand, nuzzling his palm with my eyes closed. Images of our future flickered in my mind, and what I saw was everything I’d ever wanted. A loving husband. Children. Dogs. A cabin in the forest, surrounded night and day by bears. It was the world I’d always dreamed of but never thought possible. And now it wasn’t only possible, it was actually happening.

“Caden.”

Drake’s soft whisper pulled me from my distant thoughts and dreams.

“Yeah?”

“You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”

I held his loving gaze, my heart brimming with absolute joy. “Yeah. I think I do.”

Epilogue

One year later….

I OPENED the front door and was immediately greeted with a hug from my mom.

“Caden! I can’t believe we haven’t seen you in over a year!”

“Hi, Mom.” I squeezed her back, catching my dad’s eye roll and my best friend Kristi’s genuine smile as they stepped inside behind her. She released me, and I hugged Kristi, then my dad. “We’re so glad you guys could make it.”

“Where is he?” my mom demanded as she walked farther into the house. “Where is the man that convinced my son to stay in Alaska?”

“Mom,” I groaned, rubbing my hand over my face.

“Don’t mom me. Where is he?”

“In the kitchen, making lunch for everyone.”

Before we could move out of the entry, our little bear cub made his appearance, poking his head between my legs before wiggling through.

“Oh my God,” Kristi squealed, kneeling down. “He’s so cute. Does he have a name?”

“Fynley,” Drake answered from behind me. He came up beside me, splaying his hand across my lower back, and gave me a quick peck on the lips.

“His mother abandoned him,” I quickly added. Okay, lied, but there was no way they would be ready for the truth. Fynley took to Kristi right away, rearing back on his hind legs and pawing at her hands. “I think he likes you.”

“Can I hold him?”

“Of course,” I said, glancing at Drake. He just smiled back. If anyone could accept Fynley was actually mine and Drake’s son, it would be her. I just wasn’t sure how much of our secret I wanted to share. Someday soon, I would tell them about the whole bear-shifter thing, before Fynley learned to shift and take human form, just not yet. I wanted to enjoy this short visit with my family before adding more craziness to their lives.

“So, you must be Drake,” my mom said, ignoring the bear cub completely for the moment. I think she was more concerned with why her son had decided not to return home from the Alaskan wilderness.

“Oh, yeah, sorry.” I linked my fingers with Drake’s. “Mom, Dad, Kristi, this is my husband, Drake. Drake, my family.”

“Aww, you called me family,” Kristi crooned while cradling Fynley in her arms.

“Well, you might as well be. You’ve been my best friend since I could walk.”

“I can’t believe this is your life now, Caden,” she whispered to me as I watched my mom pull Drake down into a tight hug. Kristi giggled, and I was torn between paying attention to her and my mom and Drake. “Rescuing bear cubs, living in the mountains with Mr. Sexy Lumberjack, and the amazing photos you’ve been getting and selling! Can’t say I blame you for wanting to stay here.”

I coughed and sputtered at her nickname for Drake, trying to listen to her and my mom simultaneously.

“You must be pretty incredible to have made my son as happy as I can see he is.” She released him and shook her finger at me. “But don’t think this makes up for the fact that we missed the wedding or that you didn’t come home for Christmas.”

I rolled my eyes. “Mom. There really wasn’t a wedding. I told you. Drake and I wanted something simple, and planning something big—like I know you wanted so don’t deny it—would have meant waiting, and we didn’t want to wait.”

“Well, if you ask me, smart couples wait, no matter how much in love they think they are. But I guess that doesn’t matter now. You’re happy, and that’s all that matters to your dad and me.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I wrapped her in another hug.

I let her go and stepped back, only to have Drake’s arms come around me from behind. He squeezed me against him and kissed the back of my neck. A tingle of electricity zipped down my spine, spreading warmth through my entire body. I couldn’t help the goofy smile plastered on my face nor the blush on my cheeks when I realized half a second later that my family was watching, staring back with their own goofy, knowing smiles.

But I didn’t care. I was in love and living in a state of pure happiness I never knew existed until a little more than a year ago, when I followed my heart to this beautiful place and found the other half of my soul.

A Note from Savannah

Wild Fate was my first shifter romance. I hope I didn’t disappoint and do sincerely thank you for reading.

About the Author

Savannah Brooks spends her days as a reporting analyst, which is extremely difficult when her imaginary friends are constantly pestering her to come out and play. One of these days, she plans to leave the world of numbers and spreadsheets behind in order to write full-time but for now, late evenings and weekends with the voices in her head will have to do. Even then, her attempts to play in her fictional worlds are often thwarted by her husband, son, or daughter dragging her back to reality.

Aside from reading and writing, Savannah loves video games, football, superhero movies, dragons, coffee, dark chocolate, and all things Disney. She dreams of having a castle on the water, be it ocean cliffs or a mountain lake, and traveling to historic places around the world.

Savannah currently lives in Arizona with her very supportive husband, two children, and ghost dog (the family beagle who passed away years ago, but whose spirit is kept very much alive by her son and daughter).