Chapter Eleven – Kris
What exactly did he plan on telling, or showing, Cassia? As his bear ran over the mountains to Bear’s Rest Guest House, that was the one question on his mind.
And the one question he could not answer.
Should he tell her the truth? The whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Were either of them ready for that?
If he told her about his bear, told her they were fated mates, would that make things easier?
Or worse? Much worse.
Kris ran a hand through his hair, feeling the familiar tightness in his chest that came with overthinking.
Something he was good at.
Maybe better at than winemaking, his bear teased.
Funny, Kris retorted. But his bear might be right. He was an expert at overthinking, it was what kept him in the tasting room for such long hours as he tried to perfect a blend.
You’re going to have to cut your hours down now that we have a mate, his bear warned him.
Oh, don’t worry, Kris replied. Once Cassia knows she is our mate, I plan for us to spend every spare moment with her.
But he also knew he could not let his commitment to the vineyard slip.
Balance. That’s what he needed. Balance between love and duty, between his heart and his heritage. It would not be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever was.
“So, what is this about, Kris?” Cassia asked as she pulled the door closed behind her and joined him outside.
“I…” He was lost for words, and not simply because he still had not decided how much of himself he planned to share.
No, it was more than that. Being here with his mate still felt surreal, as if it were all a dream.
“Why don’t we walk?” he finally said and nodded toward a trail that led into the forest.
At least this way, his options were still open. If he showed her his bear, they would be shielded from view of anyone else staying in the guest house.
“Should I be worried?” Cassia asked as she fell into step with him.
“No,” he said and turned to face her with a frown. Did she know about shifters? Was she scared he might hurt her?
“So, you haven’t come to tell me the restaurant is not happening?” she asked, and her voice hitched.
And his heart ached.
“No!” he said quickly, wanting to reassure her. “The restaurant is absolutely happening. My family is thrilled about it. I’m thrilled about it. They love you…re ideas.”
Relief washed over Cassia’s face, softening the worry lines that had formed between her brows. “Oh, good. I guess I was worried it was all too good to be true.”
She’s not the only one, his bear said.
But we know this is true, Kris replied.
They continued along the forest path, and Kris’s bear stirred with contentment at being in nature with their mate.
This was his domain. The wilds of the mountains and forests, and he longed to share it all with her.
“I understand that feeling,” Kris assured her. “Sometimes the best things in life seem unbelievable until we let ourselves trust them.”
Like we trust in fate, his bear said. Because finally, we have met our mate.
Cassia glanced at him. “Is that what you wanted to talk about? Trust?”
“Trust?” Kris repeated.
“Yes, trust,” she replied, her eyes narrowing.
No going back now, his bear told him. You need to tell her everything. And fast.
His bear was right. If he explained everything to her, she would understand how this was about more than a restaurant. How her future here in Bear Creek was secure, whether or not the restaurant worked out.
But what if he was wrong? What if Cassia didn’t want to be the mate of a bear shifter in a small town?
Cassia was obviously driven. Her career was important to her. Why else would she have dropped everything and come to Bear Creek after reading the ad?
Because she needed a change. A fresh start, his bear replied.
And what if a relationship with a shifter does not fit in with her plans? Kris said.
“Kris?” Cassia folded her arms across her body, hugging herself as her brow creased. “Don’t you trust me ?”
“Trust you?” he asked. How could she think that? Surely, he’d given her no reason to.
“Yes.” She nodded. “I know this is a big step for your family. A big investment of both time and money. But I can assure you I am up for the job. I will work hard to make the restaurant a success.”
“Oh, I know.” He nodded and then gave a nervous laugh. “I don’t have any doubts.”
“But I completely understand if you would rather interview other people for the position,” she said.
“No,” he blurted. “You are exactly what I need. What we need. For the restaurant.”
And everything else, his bear added happily.
“As long as you are sure,” Cassia said. “I don’t want you to feel any obligation toward me.”
Oh, we are extremely obliged, his bear said with a chuckle. Obliged to make you happy. Obliged to protect you. Obliged to love you.
But it is more than an obligation, Kris reminded his bear. It is a deep-rooted need. One he could never deny.
Cassia’s happiness, and her wellbeing, both physically and mentally, would always come first.
Kris cleared his throat. “I want you here, Cassia. That’s what I want to talk to you about, actually.”
They reached a small clearing where the fading light filtered through the canopy of leaves overhead, casting dappled patterns across the forest floor. Perfect. It was private enough that he could shift, if necessary, yet beautiful enough that if this conversation went well, it might become their special place.
A place that would always remind them of this moment. Of the bond they shared.
“There’s something about me—about my family—that you should know,” Kris began.
“Okay,” she said, eyeing him warily. “I’m listening.”
Kris inhaled deeply, drawing strength from the familiar scents of pine and earth. “In Bear Creek, there are families who are...different. Special, you might say.”
“Different how?” Cassia asked, her eyes searching his face.
Yes, just tell her, his bear urged. Show her who we are.
“We’ve lived here for a long time…” Kris fought to find the right words.
“Oh,” Cassia’s body tensed. “Is this some kind of…” She paused and pressed her lips together.
“Some kind of what?” Kris repeated, a faint crease forming between his brows. Cassia licked her lips, and he sensed her wariness. She was afraid if she spoke her mind, she might offend him.
Or lose the chance of a job, his bear added.
“Please, tell me,” Kris said.
She let out a breath. “I don’t know…maybe some kind of high-status family thing?” She shifted her weight, glancing away. “As if you’re trying to say you’re these bigshots in Bear Creek and I should know my place. I don’t mean to jump to conclusions, but you said your family’s different—special. It made me think maybe your family is used to calling the shots around here. Of getting their own way… If that’s the case, I’d rather know.”
Kris blinked, then shook his head firmly. “No, no. It’s nothing like that.” His bear stirred, nudging him gently to make her see that it was about as far away from the truth as you could get. “We’re just a normal family. Honestly.”
“Then what?” she asked with slight exasperation in her tone.
“It’s…so much deeper than that.” He took a careful step closer to her and lowered his voice. “It’s about who we are. ”
“Who you are?” Cassia visibly relaxed a fraction, but her guard didn’t drop entirely. She studied him, clearly trying to read his intention. “Okay,” she said slowly. “So then…what is it? What are you ?”
Get on with it, his bear urged.
I know. I’m trying, Kris replied. It’s not easy.
Neither is watching you fumble your way through this, his bear said.
Well, it’s not as if I’ve ever done anything like this before, Kris said in his defense. And thankfully, he would never have to do it again.
He took a breath to steady his nerves, but it didn’t work. There was so much resting on this. “It’s something I hope you’ll understand, but it might be a lot to take in.”
There was a flicker of doubt in her eyes, but to his relief, she nodded, folding her arms in a protective stance. “All right. I can’t promise I won’t freak out, but I’ll try to keep an open mind.”
Kris let out a slow exhale of relief. “Thank you. That means…a lot.” He swallowed, steeling himself for what was to come. Then he took a step back from Cassia, lifting his palms in a gentle plea. “Trust me?”
Cassia studied his face for a long moment, then gave a single, careful nod. “I’ll do my best,” she whispered.
She’s willing to give us a chance, Kris said with relief.
That’s all we can ask for, his bear replied.
“All right,” he murmured. “Then…let me show you.”
He turned away from her slightly, preparing to shift. Here goes, he told his bear. Now it’s up to you.
But just as he started to let go of the world around him, and his mate, Cassia’s phone rang, shattering the quiet of the clearing.
Kris flinched, stunned by the jarring intrusion. Of all times…
“Apologies,” Cassia murmured, her face crumpling as she reached into her pocket and glanced at the screen.
Kris watched her face pale. Who could it be?
I don’t know, but they have terrible timing, his bear growled in frustration.
“Hello?” she murmured, pressing the phone to her ear. She winced, shooting Kris an apologetic look before taking a few steps away. “I…now’s not a great time.”
The voice on the other end of the line rose, the words too faint for human ears. But Kris wasn’t just human, and he caught every word.
“It’s me,” the man said.
“What do you want?” Cassia hissed.
“You,” came the reply.
Kris’s stomach tightened in knots, but he forced himself to remain calm.
However, his bear let out a mournful roar. This is not good.
Another few minutes and they would have revealed themselves to Cassia. They would have shown her what they were and told her they were mates, destined to be together forever.
But now…
Cassia’s shoulders stiffened. “Maybe you should’ve thought of that before you cheated on me,” she replied, her voice tight with hurt.
The man’s tone wavered. “I’m sorry, Cassia, truly. It was cold feet—I panicked. I didn’t know what I was doing. But we can fix this…we can fix us. I still want to marry you.”
A wave of anger and sadness twisted in Kris’s chest. Marry her? Adrenaline spiked in his veins.
She is ours! his bear roared.
But how could they stand in her way if she still had feelings for this man?
Cassia pressed her free hand to her forehead, half-turning away from Kris. “This isn’t the best time to talk,” she said, voice trembling. “I’m…I’m in the middle of something.” She glanced over her shoulder, meeting Kris’s gaze with conflicted eyes.
“Don’t end the call,” the man pleaded, desperation lacing his words. “We love each other, Cassia! I made a mistake, but we can move past it. I’ll do anything.”
Her knuckles whitened around the phone. “I’m not sure how you expect me to believe that after what happened. Saying you ‘panicked’ is one thing, but you slept with my best friend. ” Her voice shook, raw pain simmering beneath the anger.
“I know!” he burst out. “I—I was stupid, I got scared about the wedding, and I… God, I’d do anything to take it back. Just…please, let’s talk this through. You’re the only woman I want, Cassia.”
She remained silent, and in that silence, Kris’s mind whirled. The man was begging for another chance. Would she give him wanted he wanted?
Kris’s bear whimpered, feeling a painful mix of sorrow and jealousy. We’re her mate, he insisted. She belongs with us, not him.
A part of Kris wanted to roar in protest, to yank the phone from her grasp and proclaim she was his. His mate, his future. But what if that wasn’t what she wanted? Cheating aside, maybe this man had once been her entire life. It wasn’t Kris’s place to force her. If you love her, you’ll let her decide.
But we can’t lose her, his bear warned.
And we can’t keep her if she’s not happy, Kris countered. He forced himself to remain still, to fight every primal urge to grab the phone from her hand and tell the guy on the other end of the line that Cassia was his. And only his.
The hush stretched on, Cassia’s grip on the phone slackening. At last, she wet her lips and whispered, “I can’t talk right now,” again, then cut off the call. Her eyes stayed locked on the phone screen as if she couldn’t quite process what had just happened.
Kris swallowed the lump in his throat. Now what? He stood still, uncertain whether to reach out to her or step back.
She turned around slowly, face pale, heartbreak flickering in her gaze. “I’m sorry,” she managed, voice hollow. “I didn’t mean to drag you into that…”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Kris assured her quietly. “If there’s anything I can do…” He broke off, sighing.
Cassia let out a shaky exhale. “I…need some time to think. That was my ex-fiancé,” she added needlessly, eyes darting away. “He wants to fix things. Says he…loves me.” Her voice cracked on the last words, and Kris’s chest clenched in sympathy.
We can’t show her who we truly are now, his bear said with a pained rumble. She’s hurting.
Kris nodded inwardly. Of course not. With that phone call, everything had changed.
He stepped forward, raising a cautious hand. “Cassia,” he murmured, wanting to soothe her. Wanting to hold her. “You don’t have to decide anything right now. About him or about…us.”
Her gaze lifted to him, eyes glistening with confusion. “Us?”
Kris forced a sad smile, though it felt like his heart might shatter. “I mean the restaurant, your place here, or…anything else…” he said gently. “I can’t lie. I hope you’ll stay. But you deserve time and space if that’s what you need.”
A sob almost escaped her, but she swallowed it back. “I…I’m so sorry,” she whispered again, tears threatening to form. “It’s like everything’s hitting at once.”
Kris’s heart twisted. He wanted to cradle her in his arms, shield her from heartbreak and confusion. But would that actually help her? Or make things worse?
He let out a breath, slow and steady. “It’s okay,” he said. “Really. If you need to be alone, I understand. If you need to talk, I’m here. Either way, just know that you have a place in Bear Creek…with us…for as long as you want it.”
Cassia looked at him for a long moment, tears brimming in her eyes but not falling. Then she blinked them away, nodding. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I think I should go…sort my head out.”
He forced his chest to loosen, stepping back to give her space. “Right,” he said, voice tight. “I’ll walk you back.”
“You don’t have to,” she told him.
“But I want to,” Kris said.
Every fiber of his being told him that letting her go would break him in ways he’d never recover from. But Cassia’s happiness came first.
No matter the cost.