I don’t find one.
“I’ve read about shifters,” I say, my mind swirling. “I thought they were fake. Like ghosts and unicorns and Bigfoot.”
“I don’t know about Bigfoot,” he says with a hint of a smile. “But shifters are real.”
“And you’re a…”
“Grizzly bear shifter,” he says. “Yeah.”
I laugh weakly. “Is this some elaborate prank? Am I being Punk’d? Is there a camera somewhere?” I look around, half-expecting Leanne to pop up with a second camera yelling surprise.
But no one does.
Boone just sits there. Solid. Unmoving. Real.
“This is hard to believe,” I say, wondering if I should leave now, force Leanne away from that lumberjack, and get out of here. But even as I think it, I know I’m not going anywhere. I’m finally feeling like this is exactly where I need to be. “You’re telling me you can change into a grizzly bear? That’s kind of insane.”
“What is your heart telling you?” he asks. “What do you feel in your gut? What is your soul saying?”
My logic is screaming that none of this makes sense, but everything else, everything that matters is telling me that this is real.
“It’s saying to believe you.”
He sits back, satisfied. “I would never lie to you, Veronica.”
“Prove it.”
His jaw clenches for a second, like he’s nervous about what I’m going to ask. “Okay.”
“Why was your grizzly bear out in the middle of the tree lighting festival?”
He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. “I was trying to ruin it.”
“Why?”
“I wanted everyone out of my town. It’s gotten too busy for my liking.”
“So, you didn’t like my article.”
“Not at first. But I’m grateful for it now.”
“Why? What’s changed?”
He looks at me with a stunned mesmerization in his eyes. “Are you serious, Veronica? That article brought my mate to me.”
“Your… mate?”
It all comes crashing down inside me. Shifters have mates. A one true love they bond with and never let go. One perfect soul that was made for them and them alone.
“Your mate moved here… because of my article?”
He just stares at me, giving me a second, letting me piece it all together.
“Are you saying… no… what?”
He takes a slow breath, as if he’s choosing his words with care.
“You’re my mate, Veronica.”
