Chapter Two – Caleb
The tow truck’s engine hummed as it wound through the rain-slicked roads toward Bear Creek.
Caleb sat in the middle of the bench seat, hyperaware of every inch where his thigh almost-but-not-quite touched Hannah’s.
His body felt both too large and not large enough.
..too bulky in the cramped cab, yet somehow insufficient to contain the storm quietly gathering inside him.
The bond had hit him without warning.
Not a slow recognition. Not a gentle knowing.
More of an avalanche. Unexpected. Unstoppable. Transformative.
Because we are transformed. Forever. His bear shifted restlessly beneath his skin, wanting to move closer, to touch, to claim.
Mate.
The word echoed through his mind with each heartbeat.
Caleb gripped his knee, fingers digging into denim as he stared straight ahead at the rain-slicked road.
The windshield wipers cut arcs through the streaming water, a steady rhythm that did nothing to calm the chaos inside him.
He’d never expected this, not today, not on this road, not with a woman who had appeared out of the mist as if conjured by his longing to find her.
He replayed the moment when he’d first sensed her presence on the mountain road. He’d been running across the lower mountain slopes in his bear form, racing ahead of the weather front that was rapidly closing in.
When it hit him, he’d skidded to a halt as the sensation slammed into him, leaving him breathless and confused. As the fog in his brain cleared, he struggled to believe what his senses were telling him. That his mate was up ahead.
Instinct took over, and he ran to her. Drawn by an invisible thread.
When he’d seen her stranded by the side of the road with a flat tire, he’d been consumed with the need to help her. To get to her. To make sure she was safe. But after he shifted into his human form and approached, he quickly realized she was more than capable of looking after herself.
The sound of her voice, calm even in trouble, had stirred something deep inside him. She was incredible. So confident and composed as she methodically tackled the problem in front of her.
In that moment, his world tilted.
His bear had known immediately, too, going still and alert in a way Caleb had never experienced.
Mine, his bear had whispered. Ours.
But Hannah Rigby wasn’t theirs. She was her own person with her own plans. Plans that at present involved Slateford, not Bear Creek. Not this town. Not him.
Not yet, his bear replied confidently.
The truck hit a pothole, jostling them closer for a brief moment before Hannah shifted slightly away, pressing herself against the door. She stared out the window, her profile illuminated by the occasional passing headlight, her expression unreadable.
She’s not sure of us, Caleb said.
She will be, when she knows the truth, his bear replied.
A truth Roy seemed to have guessed already.
The mechanic kept glancing between them, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Caleb ignored him, focusing instead on keeping his breathing steady and his posture relaxed.
The last thing Hannah needed was some stranger getting weird and intense about a connection she couldn’t even feel yet.
We need to find a way to make sure she stays, his bear said.
Caleb mentally shook his head. We’re not manipulating her into anything.
But fate brought her here, his bear argued. Right to us.
Then fate can find a way to make her stay, Caleb countered. Without us interfering.
His bear huffed but retreated, settling into watchful silence.
Caleb used the brief respite to try to compose his thoughts, though it was hard to think clearly with his mate sitting so close, her warmth, her scent, a constant awareness at his side.
At last, the garage appeared ahead, its lights glowing through the rain. Roy pulled in and parked under the overhang, shielding them from the worst of the downpour as they climbed out.
“Let’s get this beauty down and take a look,” Roy said, already moving to the controls.
Caleb stood back, giving Hannah space as she watched Roy lower her car to the ground. Her shoulders were tight; her arms were wrapped around herself. Protective. Concerned. Bracing. He recognized the look of someone who didn’t want to hear bad news about something they cared about.
He remained silent as Roy examined the car, lifting it on the hydraulic platform and inspecting the undercarriage with practiced efficiency.
For Hannah’s sake, he hoped it was good news. But for his own, he hoped the repairs might keep her in Bear Creek for a day or two... just long enough to give him a chance to win her heart.
Because he’d already lost his heart to her.
The diagnosis, when it came, was straightforward.
“It’s the suspension,” Roy confirmed, stepping out from under the car. “The control arm’s bent, and there’s damage to the bushings, too. Must have hit something pretty solid.”
Hannah’s face fell, but she nodded once, accepting the information. “Can it be fixed?”
“Oh, sure,” Roy said. “But we’ll need to order the parts. They’re not something I keep in stock, especially for a model this old.”
See? his bear said smugly. Fate found a way.
Caleb ignored the smug satisfaction radiating from his bear and focused on keeping his expression neutral. The damage was real. The delay was unavoidable. That was all that mattered.
“How much will it cost?” Hannah asked, her voice steady despite the slight tremor in her hands.
Roy wiped his hands on a rag. “Let me work up a quote for you. Shouldn’t take long.”
As Roy disappeared into the office, Hannah stood hugging herself, shoulders hunched against the cold. The garage wasn’t heated well, and her clothes were still damp from the rain. A violent shiver ran through her, visible even from where Caleb stood.
The need to hold her, to warm her, to protect her, surged through him. His bear growled with approval as Caleb stepped closer.
“You’re freezing,” he said, keeping his voice casual.
“I’m fine,” she replied automatically, but her chattering teeth betrayed her.
Caleb unzipped his jacket. “Here, take my sweater.”
Hannah looked at him strangely, her brow furrowing. “What? No, I can’t...”
“My jacket’s kept me dry,” he explained, his tone matter-of-fact, “and I’ve got a T-shirt under the sweater. I won’t miss it.” He gestured toward the small restroom in the corner of the garage. “Why don’t you go change while Roy works out your quote?”
She hesitated, glancing between him and the restroom, but another violent shiver seemed to make the decision for her. “Okay. Thanks.”
Caleb slipped off his jacket, aware of her eyes on him as he pulled the sweater over his head. The weight of her gaze made his skin warm despite the chill air. He handed her the sweater, the dark gray wool still carrying his body heat.
“Thanks,” Hannah murmured, the briefest shy smile flickering across her face before she turned and walked away.
As the restroom door closed behind her, Roy reappeared, raising a questioning eyebrow. “So,” he said, a wide grin spreading across his face, “your mate?”
Caleb shrugged, running a hand through his hair. “I sensed her on the road,” he said simply. “And there she was.”
Roy chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. “Well, the part is going to take a couple of days, so you have some time to get to know her.” His grin widened. “And to win her heart.”
Caleb looked toward the restroom door, and he finally allowed himself a small glimmer of hope. Fate had stepped in.
Before he could respond, the door opened, and Hannah stepped out wearing his sweater.
The sight robbed him of breath. The sweater was far too large for her, the sleeves rolled up at the wrists, the hem reaching mid-thigh. But seeing her wrapped in something of his, surrounded by his scent, did things to him, primitive things that made his bear rumble with satisfaction.
Staring, his bear warned.
Caleb jerked his gaze away as Hannah approached, though it took every ounce of his willpower not to devour every part of her with his eyes.
The neckline gaped slightly, revealing the delicate curve where her neck met her shoulder.
His bear growled, wanting to press his nose there, to breathe her in, to mark her with his scent.
While Caleb wanted to press his lips to her skin and trail kisses lower...
Enough, Caleb ordered himself and forced himself to look at the floor instead.
“What’s the verdict?” Hannah asked Roy, her voice steadier now that she was warm.
Roy sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Well, it’s not going to be cheap. Parts for these old cars are hard to come by.” He handed her a piece of paper. “But I sourced what we need, and it’ll be here in a day or two.”
Hannah’s jaw clenched as she looked at the quote, her eyes widening slightly. “A day or two?”
Roy nodded. “Best I can do.”
“Or,” he added, “I can do you a deal on a part-exchange.”
No, Caleb’s bear growled. We need her to stay.
But if she needs to go... Caleb said, even though he hated the idea of losing her when he’d only just found her.
Hannah shook her head firmly. “No. I don’t want to part with her.” She swallowed hard as she looked at the car, then swiped a hand across her eyes and sniffed. “Do you know any cheap hotels around here?”
The question hung in the air, and Caleb felt something shift inside him. His house sat on the edge of town, and he lived there alone, so there was plenty of space. More than enough for a guest.For a mate.
For her.
His bear perked up immediately, eager and hopeful. Our den. Our mate.
But Caleb knew better than to rush things. This wasn’t about what he wanted or what his bear craved. It was about what Hannah needed... safety, shelter, and the space to make her own choices.
Even if every part of him wanted to offer her everything.