Bear glanced up at me from beneath dark eyelashes. He shot me a questioning look with a tilt of his head. He didn't need to speak in order for me to understand the question. It was clear enough.
"I'm an omega," I mumbled. My cheeks heated up. It was something I hated admitting. Now I wished I hadn't brought up the topic in the first place.
Bear nodded deliberately before returning to his work. I didn't know if the flicker in his eyes was my imagination or just a trick of the light.
When Bear finally finished, he sat back and nodded, satisfied with his work. I examined myself. The long gouges from the mountain lion's claws were still visible, but they looked a lot less angry. The pain was dulled under the influence of Bear’s magic poultice. Whatever he did, it worked.
"Thanks," I said. "I don't know what I would've done if you weren't there."
Bear frowned as if he didn't want to think about it.
I glanced to the mouth of the hollow. The sun had already set behind the trees, casting a deep purple glow over the land. The stars of twilight twinkled in the sky. Even without my injuries, it was too late to head home. I was exhausted and in pain. A journey was out of the question.
I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. Bear was trying to get my attention.
"You can't leave now,"he signed.
"I know. But my pack's probably wondering where I am."
"Pack?"
"I know it sounds weird since I'm a deer. But I live in a mixed shifter species family. Since the founders were a trio of wolf brothers, the name stuck."
Bear was quiet. He didn't sign anything. He stared out into the evening light as if deep in thought. I wondered if I said something that bothered him again.
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
Bear faced me. "It's fine. Do you have a big family?"
I chuckled. "Huge. Too many to count on both hands."
The corner of Bear’s mouth twitched like he was trying to force a smile. "Sounds like you all get along."
"Well… I actually had an argument with one of my cousins today. That's why I ran off into the woods and got myself into all this trouble." I grinned. "The silver lining was that you saved my ass, though."
The smile Bear returned was more genuine than the one from a moment ago, but it faded fast. He turned his face away but kept his hands visible. "You must want to get back to them."
Was he hinting at something? Did he want me to leave him alone? My heart fell. I thought we were getting along, but maybe I was assuming too much. It wasn't like we knew each other that well.
"Yeah, I do," I replied, not knowing what to say. It was the truth. I did want to go back to my family, but that didn't mean right away. I was enjoying this strange yet exhilirating experience with Bear, but if he didn't want me to stick around, then who was I to be a burden on him?
Bear stood up. "You should rest. Your wounds won't get better if you don't. I'll make you a bed."
He was signing quickly and not meeting my eyes. I felt glum. Just when we were starting to get along, too.
Bear gathered materials for a nest. Scraps of rabbit fur, dry grass and bird down. Since he spent most of his time in his bear form, that was probably the height of luxury. It was no soft fluffy mattress, but it would do.
"Thanks," I said after Bear finished surrounding me with the stuff.
He grunted. I felt a little hurt that he didn't even bother to signyou're welcome.
"Good night,” Bear signed stiffly.
He nodded once and turned around, shifted, and lumbered off to the opposite corner of the hollow.
6
Bear
