Fae-ted to the Bear - Harmony Raines Page 0,45

freak out.”

“I’m not the same as the bear that chased you,” Caleb reminded her. “I’m still me.”

Elise nodded slowly. “You inside a bear skin.”

He tapped the side of his head. “Just like my bear is in here right now.”

“One and the same.” She inhaled deeply and took a step back. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Caleb closed the space between them, his lips brushing hers before he stepped back, his eyes fixed on her. “He’s just like me, we share the same bond with you.”

She nodded and swallowed hard as tears pricked her eyes. As the trees swayed in the breeze, she was reminded of that day so many years ago when the bear had scared her. This was not the same bear, she reminded herself as the air shimmered around Caleb.

He faded from view and the hair on the back of her arms stood on end as the air popped and fizzed. For a moment he was gone, and she felt his loss deep down inside of her. But the link between them was still there. If she reached out for him, she would be able to follow him out of this world.

“Oh!” She put her hands over her mouth as a large shape loomed before her. Slowly the edges of the shape become more defined, and the bear’s features filled in as if someone was painting him on a canvas. With each brushstroke, he came to life. Each hair that made up his thick luxurious coat glistened in the dappled sunshine filtering through the trees. Tinged with silver, she longed to run her hands through it and bury her face in the soft fur.

Her nerves were gone. As she locked eyes with the bear, she read the message he silently sent her. He wouldn’t hurt her. He could never hurt her.

The loss she’d felt as Caleb disappeared was gone. Her mate was here right in front of her.

“Hi there.” She lifted her hand and waved self-consciously. How exactly were you supposed to say hello to a bear?

The bear shuffled forward, his head low, then he stopped, his eyes on her as if waiting for Elise to make the next move. He didn’t want to scare her away.

“It’s okay. I’m not going to run.” She held out her hand and stepped forward.

The bear responded by sticking his head out as far as possible and sniffing her hand. His whiskers tickled her, and she smiled. The smile was replaced by a giggle, and then laughter erupted from inside her.

“I like you a lot.” She stroked his short muzzle, trailing her fingers over his broad head before stroking his back.

The bear made a face and shook his head as if to agree with her.

“Shall we go?” She cocked her head in the direction they were heading.

The bear turned around and then stepped forward, his massive paws making barely an imprint on the ground as he padded after her. He was light on his feet, perhaps he’d learned to hide his tracks when he explored the mountains above Wishing Moon Bay. Although, she doubted anyone hunted bears or any animals in the mountains when there were so many shifters around.

It was one of the many questions she had for Caleb as they walked side by side along the forest trail. Perhaps when they were seated around the campfire tonight, he’d answer them all.

She smiled softly. But if not, they had the whole of the rest of their lives to find out all about each other.

Not that she had a lot to tell. She might be a fae, but she was boring compared to the bear shifter beside her. Perhaps that was another reason why her people didn’t like shifters. They resented their ability to shift, to become something else.

Where did that something else live when it wasn’t in this world? Where was Caleb’s human form now, stuck in some kind of limbo between worlds?

So many questions.

She wound her fingers through the bear’s fur almost subconsciously. The bear turned his large head and looked at her unblinkingly. As she stared back at him, she finally understood the connection between them. A connection that was deep and unbreakable. And eternal.

Chapter Sixteen – Caleb

His bear accompanied Elise as she gathered various herbs and picked leaves from shrubs as they walked through the forest. When she stopped and knelt down to sniff the ground, he’d watched in amusement before digging in the ground with his large paws to uncover some truffles.

“I know what I’m going to cook for Ivan.”