Chapter Fifteen – Kris
How was he supposed to focus on the restaurant plans when all he wanted to do was look into his mate’s eyes?
Is that all you want to do? his bear asked with a chuckle.
No, Kris admitted. I’d like to hold her in my arms and kiss her. Not on the cheek, but on her lips.
Now, that would not be keeping things professional, his bear teased.
No, it would not, Kris agreed. But if that is what Cassia wants, then we need to respect her wishes.
It felt as if their relationship was on a knife edge and the last thing he wanted to do was tip the balance the wrong way. He took a deep breath and tried to focus on the recipe Cassia was showing him.
“This pasta dish would be perfect for the first week’s menu,” she was saying, tracing the ingredients list with her finger. “It uses local produce and pairs beautifully with your Pinot Noir.”
“It looks delicious,” Kris said, but he wasn’t looking at the recipe. He was watching the way her eyes lit up when she talked about food, the passion evident in every gesture.
Yes, the recipes might sound delicious, but nothing could taste as good as his mate’s lips.
She looked up from the recipes and caught him staring. “Sorry, I get carried away sometimes,” she said as a light blush flushed her cheeks.
“Don’t apologize,” he said. “I love watching you get excited about your craft.”
“My craft.” A smile spread across those kissable lips. “I’ve never thought of it like that.”
“You should. Blending the wines with recipes for the restaurant is as much a craft as the winemaking itself.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she replied. “I am not creating something as unique as you. I am taking two things that already exist and marrying them together.”
Oh, how I would like to marry our mate, Kris sighed.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, Kris forgot about everything else—the restaurant, the vineyard, even his bear. There was only Cassia...
“Kris,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “I know we agreed to keep things professional, but...”
His heart hammered in his chest. “But?”
She took a deep breath. “But I don’t think I want that anymore. Professional, I mean.” She reached out and placed her hand over his. “When I came to Bear Creek, I was running from my past, trying to find somewhere I could start fresh. I didn’t expect to find...this.”
Kris’s throat went dry. His bear was practically dancing with excitement inside him.
“This?” he prompted, his voice rough with emotion.
“A place that feels like home already. People who make me feel welcome. And you.” Her eyes softened. “Especially you, Kris.”
He turned his hand in hers, so their palms met, fingers intertwining. The simple touch sent electricity racing up his arm. “Are you sure? After the conversation with your ex last night, I wasn’t sure…”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she continued. “I’ve made my decision. Bear Creek is where I want to be. Where I need to be. I’m done looking back. I only want to look forward now.”
The words were everything he’d hoped to hear, but Kris knew there was still one massive barrier between them. One truth she needed to know before they could truly move forward.
“Cassia,” he said, squeezing her hand gently. “There’s something I need to show you. Something important about me, about who—what—I am.”
He could feel his bear rising close to the surface, eager to reveal himself after hiding for so long. This was the moment of truth.
“What is it?” Cassia’s eyes searched his face, concern creasing her brow.
Kris held on tightly to her hand. “It might be easier if I just show you. But I need you to know that I would never, ever hurt you.”
Her face paled, but she nodded. “I know that, Kris.”
“What you’re about to see...it’s going to seem impossible.” He stepped back, creating space between them. His heart beating so hard he was sure she could hear it. “My family has a special...heritage. A gift that’s been passed down through generations.”
“So you said yesterday.” She nodded again, and then added, “Kris, you’re scaring me a little.”
He gave her a fleeting smile. “I’m scared, too. Scared of how you’ll react.” Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. “But you deserve to know the truth.”
At last, his bear said.
She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “Kris, I do know the truth.”
“You do?” he asked, surprised.
“Yes. I know you are one of the kindest, most genuine men I’ve ever met. Whatever it is you need to tell me, it can’t change that.”
Her words gave him courage.
Do it, his bear said. It’s now or never.
It’s now, he told his bear.
Yes! His bear let out a long roar of triumph. He was ready to be set free, ready to meet his mate.
But were either of them ready for rejection?
She will not reject us, his bear said with such confidence that Kris had to believe him. And had to take the chance.
“Stand back,” he whispered, releasing her hand. “Please.”
Confusion flickered across her face, but she nodded and took several steps backward. Kris closed his eyes, centering himself, feeling the familiar surge of energy that preceded the shift.
The air crackled and popped as Kris took one last look at his mate and then let go of the world.
For a second, their mate was lost to them. It was as if they existed in different dimensions. But a second later, Kris’s bear appeared, huge, powerful, and filled with wonder, standing in the presence of their mate.
Cassia gasped and took a faltering step backward as her hands flew to her mouth. Her eyes widened with shock as she shook her head in disbelief. For one terrible moment, Kris feared the worst, that she would scream, run, and never look at him the same way again.
But she didn’t run.
“Kris?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Is that...is that really you?”
The bear nodded his great head, keeping perfectly still to avoid frightening her further. He lowered himself slightly, trying to appear less intimidating despite his massive form.
Tears filled Cassia’s eyes, but they weren’t tears of fear. Something else shimmered there, wonder, perhaps, or awe.
“May I...” she asked, extending her hand tentatively. “May I touch you?”
The bear rumbled softly and inclined his head toward her outstretched fingers. Cassia stepped forward, her movements slow and deliberate. When her fingertips finally made contact with his thick fur, she let out a shaky breath.
“So soft,” she whispered. Her hand moved gently, stroking the coarse outer guard hairs to find the downy undercoat beneath. “I can feel you in there, Kris. Somehow, I can sense you.”
The bear leaned into her touch, a low, contented sound rumbling from deep in his chest. Then he leaned forward and rubbed his head against her thigh, huffing softly.
“This is the most incredible thing I have ever seen,” she murmured as she cupped his massive head in her hands.
And Cassia is the most wonderful thing I have ever seen, his bear said in reply.
She is, isn’t she? Kris agreed, even though it felt like a complete understatement.
But how could he explain his feelings for this woman? A woman who was a part of him. Who made him complete.
I don’t know, his bear said. But you’re going to have to find them if we want to keep her.
You’re right, Kris said, and a moment later, Kris shifted back, the air shimmering around him as his human form returned. He stood before her, his eyes never leaving hers as he waited for her response.
“That was...” Cassia’s voice trailed off, her hand still outstretched as if searching for the bear that had just been there. “Something else.”
That’s one way of putting it, his bear said happily.
“I mean…” She shook her head. “It was incredible.”
Incredible, I’ll take that, his bear shuffled from side to side, unable to contain his excitement.
“What are you?” Cassia asked. “A werebear?”
“I’m a shifter,” Kris whispered. “A bear shifter. My family—all the Thornbergs—we carry this gift in our blood. It’s who we are.”
“It makes you special.” Cassia nodded slowly, processing this revelation. “This is what you were trying to tell me, show me, last night when I got the phone call.”
“It is,” he said.
“And there was me thinking it was a social status thing…” She sighed and cupped her face in her hands. “How wrong I was.”
“Are you okay?” Kris stepped forward, his hand outstretched as she swayed on her feet.
“Yes. At least, I think so. I mean, I should be terrified,” she whispered. “I should be running for the door. But I’m not.” She looked up at him, bewildered. “ Why am I not afraid, Kris?”
He took a step toward her. “Because of what we are to each other.”
“What we are to each other?” She tugged her brows together. “Could you be a little less cryptic?”
“I’ll try.” He drew a deep breath. “In our world, shifters have mates—one person they’re destined to be with. It’s like love at first sight. Everlasting love at first sight.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes. “And I’m...”
“My mate,” he confirmed, his voice thick with emotion. “From the moment I saw… No, from the moment I sensed you…”
“This is crazy,” she whispered.
“But it doesn’t make it any less true,” Kris said.
Cassia sat down heavily on the nearest chair. Her hands trembled slightly as she ran them through her hair. “You’re telling me we’re...what? Soulmates? Destined for each other?”
“Yes,” Kris said simply, remaining where he stood, giving her space. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with questions. “Is that why I felt so drawn to you? From the very beginning?”
He nodded. “And why I felt it, too. The mate bond works both ways, even if humans don’t always recognize it for what it is.”
“So you wait your whole life for your mate to just turn up?” she asked incredulously.
“Something like that,” Kris said. “You are my fated mate, Cassia. You are the only one for me. Ever.”
“Fated mate,” Cassia repeated.
“Yes, fate has a way of bringing mates together,” he gave her a lopsided grin. “In mysterious ways.”
“The job listing,” she whispered, realization dawning. “Oh goodness, you said it was never meant to be published. Are you saying that…”
“Was fate. Yes.” Kris smiled softly. “Finn swears he has no idea how the job listing got posted.”
“So fate brought me here,” Cassia said wonderingly. “Because we are...mates.”
“Yes. I truly believe that fate had a hand in that ad finding you,” Kris said.
Cassia’s eyes widened with wonder. “Fate,” she whispered, testing the word on her tongue. “I’ve never believed in fate before.”
“I’ve never believed in anything else,” Kris said. “But I was beginning to give up hope of ever meeting you. But then you walked into my life.”
Cassia’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “And I thought I was just running away from my past. It turns out I was running toward something far more important.”
“Toward me,” Kris said softly, taking a tentative step closer. “Toward us.”
“Us,” she repeated, testing the word on her tongue. She looked up at him with wonder. “How does this work? The mate bond, I mean. Do I get a say in it, or is it like some magical compulsion?”
Kris shook his head firmly. “You always have a choice, Cassia. Always. The bond draws us together, but it never forces us. It’s an invitation, not a command.”
“And if I accept this invitation?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Then we build a life together.” He kneeled before her, close but not touching. “We share everything, the good days and the bad, the vineyard, the restaurant, all of it. And...” he hesitated, his eyes searching hers, “a family. Children. If that’s what you want.”
“And I thought I was coming here to plan a menu, not the rest of my life.” She took a shuddering breath.
“Take all the time you need.” He reached out and covered his hand with hers. As warmth spread along his fingertips and traveled up his arms, he relished the connection between them.
But did Cassia feel the same?
He got his answer, when she cupped his face with her free hand, and whispered, “I don’t need time. I need you.”