8. Louisa
Chapter 8
Louisa
After finishing breakfast, I lean back in my chair, pleasantly stuffed and quite a bit sore. Gabe’s energy fills the room as the bite at the base of my throat tingles, reminding me of last night. I glance over at him, narrowing my eyes with playful suspicion. “Are you ready to show me your polar bear?” I’ve been dying to actually see his animal side.
“If you think you can handle it,” he replies, grinning like the cat that caught the canary.
“I know I can handle whatever you dish out,” I lob back, but I’m talking a big game considering my newly broken-in lady bits aren’t up for another round.
He strides over to the coat rack, pulling my warm coat from its hook. The sight alone sends a thrill of anticipation racing through me. I can’t wait to see my mate in his polar bear form.
“Here, let me help you with this,” Gabe says, stepping closer and making my stomach twist with excitement as he slips the coat around my shoulders. His fingers brush against my skin as he zips it up, his fingers lingering longer than necessary. Every touch ignites a spark I can’t ignore, and electricity courses between us, crackling and alive.
“Thanks,” I manage to say, my voice slightly higher than usual.
“Gloves too,” he says, pulling the pair from my coat pocket, and helping slip them onto my hands. Each brush of his fingers sends my heart thumping against my ribcage, and I can feel tingling in my slightly sore girly bits.
With me now bundled up, I’m ready to meet my mate’s inner polar bear. To my shock, Gabe suddenly rips away his t-shirt and sweatpants.
“Gabe!” I barely manage to get the words out, my eyes widening in shock as I nearly swallow my tongue. The sight of his sculpted back is enough to send my mind racing. “Why are you stripping?” Wow. My new mate is freaking gorgeous. I hope my girly bits recover quickly, runs through my mind as I stare at him.
“My clothes will get shredded when I shift.” He glances over at me and winks, completely unbothered by his nudity as if it's the most casual thing in the world. I can see I have a lot to learn about my new mate.
He steps out the back door and I follow him. The cold air hits me like a slap in the face, but I barely notice. I only have eyes for Gabe, who stands in the bright sunlight, his body taut and ready for transformation. There's no hesitation. He’s done this a million times before.
I catch my breath, my heart pounding as he begins to shift. The air around us thickens with anticipation, and I watch in awe as he transforms before my very eyes. The muscles ripple under his swirling fur as the shift from human to polar bear happens, a blend of grace and wildness that has me mesmerized.
In an instant, Gabe disappears and is replaced by a massive, beautiful polar bear. He’s breathtaking. His fur is a striking white, glistening in the morning light, and I can’t help but take a step back, my heart pounding in awe. The sheer power of him radiates in waves, wrapping around me as the bite on my neck sizzles.
“Holy shit,” I breathe out, staring at the beautiful beast in front of me. It’s surreal.
He turns and looks back at me, his striking hazel eyes still sparkling with that same mischievous glimmer even in his bear form. “ Ready ?” a deep growl rumbles in my head, resonating through me like a heavy beat.
“Did I really just hear you speak in my head?” Nothing really surprises me anymore.
“ It’s one of the perks of being my mate .” He chuckles in my mind. “ Our mate bond allows us to communicate mentally .”
“ Neat trick ,” I tell him in my mind, a playful smirk ghosting my lips. “ I really love being your mate .”
He winks at me, and I can almost feel his laughter rumbling through my head. “ I love you, sweetheart .” The words wash over me like a warm tide, sending my heart into overdrive. The happiness that floods through me feels almost surreal like I’m floating in a blissful dream.
“I love you, too,” I murmur back, my breath hitching slightly as emotion swells within me. I take a cautious step closer, unable to resist the magnetism pulling me toward him. “Forever,” I manage to croak out, my heart pounding loudly in my chest as I close the distance between us, caught up in the intensity of our connection. Each beat feels like a drumroll leading to something monumental, and I’m damn well ready for it.
I reach out to run my fingers through the thick, soft fur. As my hand glides over his back, it feels like I’m touching pure power.
Gabe huffs softly, and a low, rumbling sound emerges from his throat—a sound that could easily pass as a purr. He leans into my palm, rubbing his massive head against my hand, and my heart flutters at the intimacy of the moment. He’s not just a wild animal; he’s my Gabe, my eternal soulmate.
He steps closer, and the heat radiating off him wraps around me like a cloak, engulfing me in a snuggly warmth. I never thought I’d feel so safe, so at peace, standing before a polar bear that could easily crush a car but is instead leaning into me like I’m the anchor tethering him to reality. There’s something so incredibly mesmerizing about this moment.
“God, you’re magnificent,” I find myself whispering.
He tilts his head, the intensity of his gaze locking onto mine, a feral spark of recognition shining through those deep hazel eyes. We’re connected in a way that transcends speech.
“ I’m glad you approve, sweetheart .” His words whisper through my mind. Darn. It’s going to take a while for me to get used to that little trick.
He butts his head against my palm again, urging me to keep those gentle strokes going, and I can’t help but smile as I run my hand along his neck and across his powerful back, feeling the muscles ripple beneath his thick fur. It’s both thrilling and intimate and a part of me is addicted to this feeling, wanting to stay lost in this moment forever.
“Would you give me a ride?”
“ Climb up, sweetheart .” He doesn’t even hesitate.
That playful challenge ignites something reckless within me, and before I even think twice, I steady myself, finding my balance as I swing a leg over his back. As I settle into place, my girly bits throb, but I’m determined to enjoy this time with my mate.
“Alright, let’s see what you’ve got, big guy,” I call out, playfully testing the waters.
He slowly turns and trots off through the back yard, and I can feel the power of his movements beneath me. There’s something exhilarating about holding on to him as he ambles across the snow-covered ground.