Chapter 12
It had been a few days since I overheard Mack and Levi’s heated conversation, and the words still rattled around in my head. Human. Rules. Mate. Talk about a mindfuck.
I’d been watching Mack closely ever since, searching for any hint that he was hiding something from me.
But if there were cracks in his human mask, he guarded them well—no accidental slips, no cryptic admissions.
Fucking nada! Just the same steady, solid Mack.
Charming, dependable, magnetic…and mysterious as hell.
I caught myself examining every gesture, every look, and every little growl that slipped out when he thought I wasn’t listening.
Any time he went for a “run,” I wondered if he was running as a man or as something else.
I needed answers. I needed to know what I was truly a part of.
It was driving me nuts. I know I should just ask him, but seriously.
What the hell was I supposed to ask? How does one even bring up that conversation?
So, when he laced up his shoes that evening and said, “I’m going to get some air and clear my head,” I felt my pulse kick up. After a minute, I slipped out after him, my thoughts as fucked up as they could get.
Was I really doing this?
Spying on the only man who’d ever made me feel safe and wild, all at once? But my damned curiosity and the need for certainty had me creeping through the house and out into the yard, every step driven by the curiosity that had been building inside me since that overheard conversation.
My thoughts were a mess as I trailed him—half convinced I was about to confirm a secret I wasn’t ready for, half hoping I was wrong, and he was just a good man with a bad habit of secrets.
Every shadow looked like it could hold the truth.
The real question—was I ready to know the truth?
I felt like someone should be screaming at me, “You can’t handle the truth! ”
Then I saw movement that pulled me from my insane thoughts. It was the bear! He was huge with golden eyes and what looked like the softest brown fur. I had the strange urge to run my fingers through it to find out if it was as soft as it looked.
He was pacing by the house, radiating that same restless energy I’d seen in Mack all week. My breath caught in my throat. My heart kicked hard against my ribs.
Am I about to confront a real-life monster? If I do, will I finally get the answers I need?
I stepped into the open before I could second-guess myself. “Mack!” My voice shook, but I didn’t care. I was done tiptoeing around the truth. If he expected me to stay here, we were done playing games.
The bear froze. I could see him sniff the air, those intelligent eyes locking right onto me. Every instinct in my body screamed at me, telling me to run—fast. But stupidly, I held my ground. I just fucking had to know. I am such an idiot.
This is probably how I’m going to die. I thought before continuing on with the confrontation.
“I know it’s you,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “I know the bear is really you. You can stop pretending.”
For a moment, all I heard was my own heartbeat thundering in my ears.
Then the bear huffed a sound achingly familiar.
With a ripple of magic that almost broke my grip on reality, he shifted.
Bones shortened, fur faded, and suddenly Mack was there, breathless and impossibly solid under the moon’s glow.
“Holy fuck!” Thinking it was one thing. Seeing it. Well, that was something entirely different.
“Breathe, Audrey. Breathe.” I told myself over and over.
We stared at each other for what felt like forever. Every fear and hope I’d carried since moving here hung between us. I crossed my arms, refusing to look away. I sucked in a deep breath. I was at a crossroads.
I had two choices. Walk away and never look back, or I could take a leap of faith in the man—the monster standing before me.
I looked deep into his eyes. I swear it was like staring into his soul. Could I walk away?
No. It was as simple as that. I wanted him more than anything.
Now that I had my answer, I knew what to do.
“You could’ve told me, you know. About what you are. About… everything.”
He stepped closer, searching my face. “I wanted to. I just—” he sighed. “I didn’t want to scare you away. I didn’t want you to think you weren’t safe.”
“I overheard you and Levi. That day in your office,” I said, all the tension I’d been feeling spilled out. “I heard you call me your mate. What does that even mean, Mack? Why didn’t you just tell me the truth from the beginning?”
He hesitated, then closed the gap between us. His voice was low and rough. “Because the truth changes everything. Because once you know, you can’t go back. And because I was afraid you’d run.”
I shook my head. “You should have trusted me. I’m not running, Mack. I just want the truth.”
He ran a hand through his hair; a nervous gesture I’d seen a dozen times.
“You’re my mate, Audrey. It means you’re the one I’m meant to be with.
The one the Fates chose for me. It’s more than love, more than a crush.
It’s like I’m built for you. My bear, my other side, he’d do anything to keep you safe, to make you happy. ”
The words tumbled from my lips before I could stop them. “So, all this time, you’ve been protecting me. From James, from everything. Not just because you’re a good guy—but because you can’t help it?”
He nodded, the truth of our situation shining in his eyes. “Yeah. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I wanted you to have a choice, Audrey. Even if you said no.”
“I guess if you are being honest about everything, I should be too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I lied about my resume. I’d never done any of that shit before. I needed a job and wanted out of Black Creek. I used Google to learn how to embellish my resume and make myself look better. Like I knew what the hell I was doing.”
Mack laughed at my omission. “No more lies,” he said. His voice suddenly somber.
“No more lies.” I agreed.
I let the silence stretch, the cool night air swirling around us, full of possibilities. I closed the distance between us, drawn in by the wild, aching honesty in his gaze. “I choose you, Mack. Secrets and all.”
His hand rose to cup my cheek, warm and steady, and when his mouth finally found mine, it was electric. His lips were soft at first, then hungry, desperate, claiming. It was the kind of kiss that I had never once experienced.
The world fell away. All that remained was the wild and impossible truth of us.
When we finally broke apart, breathless, I pressed my forehead to his chest. “No more secrets,” I whispered.
He smiled, a real, honest-to-God smile. “No more secrets. Just us.”
For a long moment, we stood there under the stars, letting our new reality settle between us. My heart raced with a healthy mix of fear, excitement, and something that felt like destiny.
“I’ve never been a big believer in destiny. Until now,” I said. Standing there, wrapped in Mack’s arms, it was hard to imagine that anything other than destiny or fate had brought us together.
“It’s a word that’s tossed around in my world a lot. But until now, I’ve been pretty skeptical.”
Mack took my hand, and without another word, he led me through the quiet house to his bedroom. Every step, my body seemed to pulse with anticipation. The only sounds were our soft breaths.
His bedroom was warm and inviting. The air was tinged with cedar and something wild, which was uniquely him. As he closed the door behind us, we paused, looking at each other in the low light. I could see the tension in his jaw, the restraint in his eyes, and it made my heart ache in the best way.
“Kiss me, Mack.”
He reached for me, slow and gentle, giving me every chance to pull away. But I didn’t want distance. I wanted to feel him. I wanted to feel his strength, his certainty. I needed proof that this was real.
Our lips met again, and this time there was no holding back. His hands tangled in my hair, drawing me closer. My fingers traced the hard lines of his chest, memorizing every inch. His kiss was everything I’d hoped for. It was wild, tender, overwhelming.
He lifted me easily, laying me back on the bed. His touch was reverent as he explored every curve, every patch of skin exposed beneath my shirt.
I lost myself in the sensation of his lips on my neck, his warm breath against my collarbone. He was everywhere—above me, around me, driving me insane.
“Are you sure?” he murmured.
I answered with a kiss, threading my fingers through his hair. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
After that, there was only heat and sensation and the slow, glorious discovery of each other.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered as he kissed a path down the valley between my breasts.
He worshipped every inch of me, making me feel like the most beautiful woman on the planet, and maybe to him, I was.
I felt wanted in a way I never had before.
I let go of every fear, every doubt, and just surrendered to him—body and soul.
He continued south on his exploration. His tongue circled my belly button before heading further south to my core. A soft swipe of his tongue over my folds had me squirming beneath him.
“Mmm, so fucking good. I could do this every damn day,” he growled.
“Yes. Please!” I begged. “I won’t tell you no.” That was for damn sure.
“I can’t wait to be buried deep inside of you.” He slid two fingers into my heat and pumped them in and out.
“Mack, please.” I moaned. “I need you.”
“I want you to come first. I need to taste you.”
“Oh God!” I rocked my hips, meeting the motion he made with his fingers.
“That’s it, Audrey. Let go. I’ve got you.”
“Mack!” I cried out as the first of my orgasms crashed over me.
“Fuck yes!”
I thought he’d give me a minute or so to recover. I was wrong. Before I could even catch my breath. He was on his knees, palming his cock and pressing it against my entrance.
“Tell me you want me.” He demanded.
“I want you, Mack. I need you more than anything.” It wasn’t a lie. It was the God’s honest truth.
“You're mine, Audrey,” he said as he slammed deep inside of me.
“Make me yours!” I moaned.
“You don’t know what you're asking.” He slammed into me harder and faster until my body began to hum with the welcome feeling of pure, raw pleasure that I’d never felt before.
Sure, I’d had plenty of sex and lots of orgasms, but it had never been like this—this all-consuming urge to strip away any humanity in me and become nothing more than Mack’s mate.
“I do know. Now, do it!” I moaned, my hips twisting to meet his generous thrusts.
“Not yet,” Mack groaned as he hitched my leg above his shoulder before slamming back into me and going deeper than I’d ever thought possible.
Every nerve ending seemed to fire off at the exact same time.
My nails scored his back, digging in and holding on for dear life, and he thrust harder and faster until I was a shaky mess.
I couldn’t have formed a cohesive sentence had I wanted to.
Just when I thought I couldn’t take anymore, Mack flipped me over onto my stomach. Pushing my legs apart with his knees, he guided his length back into me.
“Oh, God! Mack!” I never knew sex could be so fucking good.
He kissed and nibbled a path up my back to my shoulder.
Each slow thrust seemed to take me further into the void.
It was a place where nothing mattered except the next touch, the next kiss, the next lick, the next thrust of his hips.
It was all I could think about. All I wanted.
“Come for me, Audrey,” he whispered in my ear, sending even more shivers down my spine.
The words, though softly spoken, felt like a command.
One that I couldn’t ignore, even if I had wanted to.
My body was on autopilot. Those four tiny words shot me from the void to the stars instantly.
Heat flooded my core as another climax rushed through me.
I gasped for air as the breaths I sucked in failed to satisfy my need for oxygen.
Mack thrust into me once more, twice before he shouted my name, his seed filling me.
Mack rolled to his side and pulled me close, his arms a safe, solid haven. I pressed my cheek to his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart and feeling the warmth of his embrace. I couldn’t imagine any other place on the planet that I’d rather be.