Henry’s fingers tightened further on his glass until a small crack formed in its surface. Beer seeped onto his hand. The reaction confused him. Yet the thought of this slick consultant touching Ivy sparked territorial rage in him. His bear pushed against his human control, demanding action. Take her away from him. Show her who her real mate is.
Henry had never experienced jealousy before. The emotion felt foreign and unwelcome, yet undeniable. His rational mind argued against the foolishness of his reaction while his bear nature raged. Without planning the movement, Henry left his wall position and inserted himself directly into the conversation.
“The wildlife corridor design integrates natural animal movement patterns with human educational access,” he stated, positioning himself between Ivy and the consultant. “The northern buffer zone preserves critical elk calving grounds while the sunken observation blinds allow visitors to view wildlife without disrupting behavior. Smart design.”
Ivy looked up at him with surprise.
The consultant blinked, taken aback by Henry’s sudden expertise and physical presence. “Yes, well, as I was saying to Dr. Bright...”
“The boundary markers issue will need adjustment,” Henry continued, as if the other man hadn’t spoken. “I’m helping Ivy with proper placement.”
The conversation shifted to technical aspects of the project where Henry’s knowledge of the forest ecosystem gave him natural authority. He found himself maintaining a position that kept the consultant from resuming his close proximity to Ivy.
Eventually, the consultant retreated to the bar with a defeated look. Several construction workers exchanged knowing glances, hiding smiles behind beer glasses. Ivy’s hand touched Henry’s arm, lingering there with gentle pressure. Her eyes brightened, lips curving into a small, pleased smile that sent warmth spreading through his chest.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.Henry nodded, feeling unfamiliar satisfaction at having successfully interrupted whatever the consultant had been attempting. “He’s been asking me out for weeks, and... he’s not my fated mate. So...”
“You said no. And he didn’t take the hint.”
“Something like that.”
“Want to get some air?” Ivy asked, gesturing toward the brewery’s outdoor patio.
Henry followed her outside, where fairy lights strung between wooden posts illuminated rustic tables and chairs. The temperature had dropped with nightfall, the mountain air crisp against their skin. They claimed a table near the edge of the patio.
“So,” Ivy said, settling into a chair beside him rather than across the table. “Tell me more about your tracking work. You seem to read the forest like a book.”
The physical proximity should have made Henry uncomfortable. Instead, he found himself relaxing as they discussed mountain ecology. Words came more easily in the cool night air, away from the press of the crowd.
“The elk herds move through three distinct elevation zones with the seasons,” he explained. “Each range requires different protection approaches.”
Ivy nodded, genuinely fascinated. “That’s exactly why the nature center’s location is so critical. We need to educate visitors about these patterns without disrupting them.” She traced the rim of her glass with a finger, her enthusiasm dimming slightly. “Sometimes I worry I’ve taken on too much with this project. Everyone at the institute expects success because I’m Corey Bright’s daughter. If I fail...”
“You won’t,” Henry said.
“How can you be so sure?” she asked.
“You care about the mountain. Not just the project.”
Ivy smiled, the expression transforming her face in the gentle light. A slight shiver ran through her as a cool breeze swept across the patio. Henry found himself shifting closer, his bear instincts pushing him to provide warmth. Their shoulders touched. Ivy didn’t move away. Instead, she leaned into his warmth and gazed upward. “It’s so clear tonight,” she whispered.
Henry followed her gaze to where the stars above Fate Mountain spread in a brilliant tapestry against the black canvas of night. Without thinking, he raised his hand and traced the outline of Ursa Major. “My uncle Cyrus taught me to navigate by them,” he said. “When I was a cub.”
Ivy turned toward him, their faces closer than before. A streak of light shot across the night sky. They both turned to look, then back to each other simultaneously. Something electric passed between them.
Henry registered her quickened pulse. The way her pupils expanded in the dim light. The scent of desire rising from her skin like spring flowers in morning sun.
His bear surged forward with unexpected force as their faces drew closer. The first brush of lips sent shock waves through his body. Her mouth tasted of mountain hops and sweetness. Recognition flooded his system.Mate. Mine.
The kiss deepened. Ivy’s hands moved to his chest, then his shoulders, pulling him closer. He responded with equal hunger, one hand tangling in her curls while the other pressed against the small of her back. Heat built between them, and a low growl vibrated in his chest. Ivy matched his intensity. Her own bear nature rose to meet his, her eyes glowing amber in the darkness.
The urge to claim her completely crashed over Henry. His mouth traced down her jaw toward her neck, where the claiming bite would mark her as his forever. The bear in him howled for completion of the bond.
Terror cut through his desire. What was he doing? He barely knew this woman. A claiming bite would bind them for life.Forever.With physical pain, Henry tore himself away. The separation hurt like ripping off his own skin. He stood, breathing hard, putting distance between them.
Confusion and hurt flashed across Ivy’s face, and the wounded look pulled at something in his chest. “I...can’t,” he stammered. “This is...”
Words failed him. How could he explain the intensity of what had just happened? How could he explain the fear that consumed him at the thought of a permanent connection? Ivy reached toward him, the movement weakening his resolve. If she touched him again, he might not find the strength to leave.
