Chapter 5
Russo
I’ve been hovering over my mate for the last three days. I know it. Ever knows it. Ansel definitely knows it since he’s told me to stop at least six times.
I can’t help it.
Every time Ever winces or looks nervous, my bear loses his mind. Every time she walks too close to the stairs, I have to fight the urge to scoop her into my arms. Every time she disappears into another room, I find myself listening for her footsteps just to make sure she’s still here.
Safe.
With me.
Ever seems to find it more amusing than annoying. At least most of the time.
“I can carry my own glass,” she says as I take it from her hand.
“I know.”
“Then why did you take it?”
“Because I can carry it for you.”
She stares at me for a second before shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You love it,” I tease, pleased when her cheeks turn pink.
My bear rolls happily inside me. Our mate likes us.
Yeah, she does.
The last few days have been the best of my life. Ever is starting to relax and open up a little more. Her smiles come more easily now. She laughs more. The first time she laughed, really laughed, I nearly fell to my knees. It was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.
I’ve also learned more about her. She likes sweet coffee but hates tea. She loves to read, though her adoptive parents didn’t let her have many books. She likes watching the birds outside the kitchen window and taking long showers because no one is banging on the door and telling her to hurry up.
She also likes to cook. I hate letting her do anything that could be considered work, but she explained that cooking felt different now.
“It’s not a chore if I choose to do it,” she told me.
I understand that. I’m doing my best to let her make choices without jumping in and doing everything for her. I’m failing, but I’m trying.
Right now, we’re standing in the backyard for another shifting lesson. Ever has been asking questions about shifting since her first morning here. She’s curious about everything, but I can tell that not being able to feel her bear bothers her.
We’ve been practicing every day, but so far, she hasn’t shifted. The most she’s felt is a tingling feeling along her skin and the vague sense that something is moving around inside her. I told her that was progress. She didn’t look convinced.
“What if I can’t do it?” Ever asks.
“You can.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“How?”
“Because you’re stubborn.”
Her mouth drops open. “I am not.”
“You argued with me for twenty minutes this morning because you wanted to load the dishwasher.”
“That doesn’t make me stubborn.”
“You tried to hide the plates from me.”
“I was already holding them.”
“You ran away.”
“I walked quickly.”
I grin as she crosses her arms over her chest.
Her bruises are fading, but I still hate seeing them. Every mark is another reminder of what those monsters did to her.
I force my attention away from them and back to the shifting lesson.
“You’ll shift,” I promise her. “Your bear is in there. She just needs time and patience.”
“What if she doesn’t like me?”
My heart twists. “Why wouldn’t she like you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s angry that I never knew she was there.”
“She won’t be angry.”
“You don’t know that either.”
“She’s part of you, Ever. She loves you.”
Ever glances down at the grass. “I wish I could hear her.”
“You will.”
She still looks unsure.
I step closer and gently tilt her chin up. “We’re not in a rush. You don’t have to shift today or tomorrow or next month. We have time.”
Her eyes soften. “You’re very patient with me.”
“I’d wait forever for you.”
A shy smile spreads across her face, and I can’t resist any longer. I lower my head and kiss her softly.
My bear pushes forward, wanting more, but I keep the kiss gentle. Ever is still getting used to affection. She likes kissing me, but I won’t overwhelm her.
Not yet.
The full moon is tomorrow night, and the mating heat will make holding back even harder. I’ve explained what to expect and made it clear that nothing will happen unless she wants it to.
My bear grumbles about that. He wants his mate. So do I, but Ever’s comfort comes first.
Always.
“Will you shift for me again?” she asks when we pull apart.
“Of course.”
I step back and strip off my shirt. Ever’s eyes drop to my chest and stay there.
My grin widens. “Enjoying the view, mate?”
Her cheeks flame. “I was just waiting for you to shift.”
“Sure you were.”
“Russo!” she snaps, embarrassed.
I laugh as I kick off my shoes and push my sweatpants down. Ever spins around so fast that her hair flies around her shoulders.
“You’ve already seen me naked,” I remind her.
“I know.”
“And we’re mates.”
“I know.”
“You’re going to see me naked again.”
“I know!”
I chuckle, shaking my head at how adorable she is. “Ready?”
When she turns around, I call my bear forward.
The shift rushes over me in an instant. Bones snap and reform as fur covers my skin. My hands become paws, and a second later, I’m standing in the grass in my bear form.
Ever’s eyes widen, even though she’s seen me shift before.
“You’re so big,” she whispers.
I huff. She says that every time. My bear preens anyway.
Ever approaches me carefully. She’s not afraid of my bear, but she’s still cautious.
Her hand sinks into the fur between my ears, and my bear rumbles happily. “You’re so soft.”
I lean into her touch. She scratches behind my ear, and my back leg twitches.
Ever laughs. “You like that?”
I rumble louder, expressing my approval as her fingers move through my fur, stroking over my head and down my neck.
My bear is in heaven. Never shift back.
I snort. Tempting.
After a few minutes, Ever steps away.
“Okay,” she says, shaking out her hands. “My turn.”
I sit back on my haunches and watch her. She closes her eyes, and her face scrunches up in concentration. She’s so fucking cute. I fight the urge to shift back and kiss her.
I love her.
Of course I love her. She’s my mate.
She’s brave and sweet and funny. She survived years of abuse and still has so much kindness inside her.
Before Ever, every day felt the same. Wake up, eat, work, sleep, repeat.
Now my days are filled with her. Her smiles, her questions, her laughter, her scent all over my cabin.
Our home.
Ever takes a slow breath. “I can feel something.”
I lean forward, watching. Her eyes stay closed.
“It feels like something is pushing against me.”
That’s her, my bear says excitedly.
Ever’s hands clench at her sides. A second later, fur ripples along her arms.
My bear roars without thinking.
Ever’s eyes fly open. “What?”
I shift back so quickly that I nearly fall over. “You did it.”
“I did?”
“Fur. You had fur on your arms!”
Her mouth falls open. “I did?”
“Yes.”
She looks down at herself. “I didn’t see it.”
“It was there,” I promise.
Her grin lights up her entire face. “I’m getting closer.”
“You are.”
Ever closes her eyes again. This time, she looks more determined than nervous.
“Come on,” she whispers. “I know you’re in there.”
I hold my breath, watching like a hawk as her body trembles. Fur ripples over her arms again, then up her neck.
“Yes,” I encourage her. “That’s it. Let her forward.”
Ever gasps.
Then she shifts.
One second, my mate is standing in front of me. The next, a small brown bear is sitting in the grass, shreds of Ever’s clothes all around her.
For a moment, neither of us moves.
Then my bear explodes with happiness. Mate!
I shift again and bound toward her. Ever’s bear startles, stumbling back, and I immediately slow down.
Easy, I tell my bear. She’s new.
Ever’s bear looks down at her paws. Then she turns in a slow circle, trying to see the rest of herself.
I huff out a laugh, and her head snaps toward me. I lower myself to the ground, making my body less intimidating.
Ever hesitates before walking toward me, and my heart feels like it might burst. I move closer and nuzzle the side of her face. Ever leans into me, and our bears rumble together, happy and content.
Mine has spent years waiting for this moment.
For her.
We walk around the backyard together. Ever gets steadier with every step. Soon, she’s running from one side of the yard to the other, her excitement filling the bond forming between us.
She tackles me once.
Or tries to.
She bounces off my side and lands in the grass. I grin, happier than I’ve ever been as I lower myself next to her while she rolls around happily.
Our mate is perfect, my bear says.
She is.
After a while, Ever grows tired. I shift back and grab the clothes we left on the porch.
“Think about your human body,” I tell her. “Picture yourself changing back. Pull your bear in instead of letting her forward.”
Ever’s bear closes her eyes, and I know that she’s concentrating.
Nothing happens.
“It might take a minute,” I reassure her.
She opens one eye and looks at me. I’m still naked, and her bear’s eyes widen.
I grin. “Focus, mate.”
She huffs and closes her eyes again. A moment later, the shift rolls over her. Ever appears in the grass, naked and wide-eyed.
“I did it!” She throws herself into my arms.
I catch her, laughing as I hold her against my chest.
“I shifted!”
“You did.”
“I have a bear!”
“You do.”
Her arms wrap around my neck. “I can’t believe it.”
“I can.”
I kiss her before she can say anything else. Ever melts against me, both of us naked in the middle of the backyard.
My bear pushes forward, urging me to claim her.
Soon, I promise him.
Tomorrow is the full moon.
I pull away before I lose control and grab my shirt, tugging it over Ever’s head. It falls to her thighs, and I smile as I tug on my pants.
“What now?” Ever asks, sinking into the soft grass.
“We should talk about tomorrow,” I say, sitting down by her side.
“What about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is the full moon.” I scan her features. “Are you nervous?”
“A little,” she admits. “I don’t know what’s going to happen or what it will feel like.”
“The mating heat will make us want to be close. Our attraction will be stronger.”
“It’s already pretty strong.”
I smirk. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah,” she whispers, her cheeks flushed.
My cock hardens immediately.
Down, I order my bear.
He ignores me.
“You might feel restless,” I continue. “Your bear will probably be more vocal now she’s awake.”
“She didn’t talk to me when I shifted.”
“That can take time. Some shifters hear their animals more clearly than others.”
“What if I don’t want to… you know?”
“Then we don’t.”
Her eyes lift to mine. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
“Won’t it hurt you?”
“I’ll survive.”
“What about your bear?”
“He’ll complain,” I say, ignoring my bear’s growl. “But don’t worry about us. We just want you to be happy and safe. Nothing else matters.”
She sighs. “I don’t know what I’ll want tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to decide now.”
I’m about to suggest that we head in for the day when my phone rings. I glance at the screen and see Ansel’s name.
“Just a second,” I say before I answer the call.
“Yeah, go ahead.” Ever smiles as she lies back in the grass.
“Hey,” I answer, my eyes locked on my mate.
“Just a warning.” The tone of Ansel’s voice puts me on edge instantly. “Some people are in town asking questions.”
“What kind of questions?”
Ever looks up at me, her body tensing slightly.
“A middle-aged couple. They’re telling people that their daughter is missing.”
My grip tightens around the phone. “Names?”
“Thomas and Margaret Hale.”
I look at Ever. The color drains from her face. She heard him.
Fuck.
“They have a picture of her,” Ansel continues. “They’re telling everyone she’s mentally unstable and ran away during some kind of episode.”
A growl tears out of my chest. I regret it when I see Ever flinch.
“Does anyone believe them?”
“Not after the warning you gave the pack.”
“Where are they now?”
“They were at the diner. Levi is keeping an eye on them.”
“Don’t let them leave town without someone following them.”
“We won’t.”
My bear paces wildly inside me. Kill them.
Not yet.
“They haven’t asked about my place?”
“No,” Ansel replies. “They don’t seem to know she made it here.”
“Keep it that way.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks for calling.”
“I’ll keep you updated.”
We hang up, and I set my phone down slowly.
Ever is already pushing to her feet. Her hands are shaking. I hate that she’s scared.
“Baby—”
“They found me.”
“They haven’t found you.”
“They’re here.”
“They’re in town. They don’t know where you are.”
“They will.” Her voice breaks.
I’m so far out of my depth here. I want to comfort her, to reassure her that nothing bad will ever happen to her with me around, but she’s too lost in her fear to hear me.
I step forward, needing to hold her.
She throws her hands out to stop me, her eyes shining with tears. “Don’t! I can’t.”
A deadly calm falls over me. “Can’t what?”
“I can’t stay here.”
My bear roars.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I growl.
“I can’t let them hurt you.”
“They can’t hurt me.”
“You don’t know what they’re capable of.”
“And they don’t know what I’m capable of.”
My bear growls in agreement.
Ever backs away. “I need to leave before they find this place.”
“No.”
“Russo—”
“You’re not going back,” I promise her. “And you’re not leaving me.”
My bear presses close to the surface, desperate to comfort her, but Ever paces away from us before I can grab her and pull her into my arms.
It kills me, but I give her space.
I don’t know what those monsters are planning. I don’t know how far they’ll go to get her back. But they made one very big mistake.
They came after my mate.
And I’ll burn their entire world to the ground before I let them take her from me.