She patted him on the head before leaning forward and kissing him. “Thank you.”
His bear stared at her for a long moment, she was perfect in every way. And she was theirs to love and protect. Maybe I should sleep next to her tonight, his bear announced. I can keep her warm and safe from anything that might try to harm her.
We’ll keep a fire burning, but if there is any hint of danger, I agree, you should sleep by her side. Caleb wanted to be the one to protect her, but he realized his bear could do a much better job. They had to think about what was best for their mate.
“Okay, here we are.” Elise placed the woven bag she’d used to store the items she’d foraged carefully on the ground. “I’m going to need Caleb, the human Caleb, to come back now.” She hunkered down next to the bear and cupped his head in her hands. “Thank you. I’ve loved spending time with you.” She kissed him on top of the head, and he shivered at her touch.
He loved her. She was their mate. He rubbed his cheek against her thigh before huffing and walking backward, his eyes never leaving her face.
When he was five feet away, he stopped and stared at her for one long moment before he let go of the world around him. The air popped and fizzed and then he was gone.
Elise didn’t move as she watched Caleb rematerialize. “That’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.”
“My bear? Or the shift itself?” Caleb stepped toward her.
“Both, I guess. How exactly does it work?” Elise’s eyes shone brightly as she placed her hand on his arm and squeezed it as if checking that he was real and not a mirage.
“I don’t know exactly. It’s something that just happens when a shifter reaches puberty. Then we must try to control it. It gets easier as we begin to understand the two halves that make us whole.” He took the pack off his back and placed it on the ground. “We should build a fire, it’s getting late.”
“It is.” She looked up at the sky. “Your bear and I lost track of time.”
“It’s a good thing I don’t get jealous of him,” Caleb joked.
“Why would you when you are part of each other?” Elise asked.
“I was joking. Although we’re going to fight each other to spend more time with you. My bear wants to sleep next to you tonight and keep you safe,” Caleb confessed.
“He doesn’t think I can look after myself?” she retorted as they began setting up camp.
“No one can protect you like my bear can,” he replied.
Her shoulders sagged forward a little and she looked around the clearing where they’d stopped. “I just hate feeling like I did all those years ago. I hate feeling scared, as though I’m not in control.”
“You were in control,” he told her. “You didn’t panic, and you figured out how to get yourself out of danger.”
She stood up straight and put her hands on her hips. “I suppose you’re right. I did escape. I always thought I was lucky.”
“And now?”
“I came up with a plan and I executed it.” She nodded firmly.
“In the same way, you came up with a plan and executed it when you wanted a job with Ivan.”
“That was more luck. If Flora hadn’t met Aiden, I wouldn’t have had a chance. I used her as leverage.” She hung her head for a moment.
Caleb came closer and slipped his hand around her shoulders. “No, you saw an opportunity and you used it to your advantage. You used it to help execute your plan.” He massaged her shoulder. “I believe that you would have found some other way to set your plan in motion even if Flora hadn’t met Aiden.”
“I like the way you believe in me.” She nestled into him. “I really do.”
“That’s what I’m here for, to believe in you and make your dreams come true.” He wrapped his arms around her, and they stood still, caught in a moment as the late afternoon sun shone down on them.
He turned his face to the sun and felt its warmth, but the heat spreading through his body was not taken from the sun. Even the bright disk in the sky couldn’t warm him in the same way his mate did.
“We really need to get a fire going.” She shivered and wrapped her arms around him, her movements in opposition to her words.