The beast didn’t understand the human element.He had no desire to.With him, it was all about the primal urges and wild instincts, and mating was at the very top of that list.
The urge to circle back to the cabin and check on her was overwhelming.I rose from the creek, shook the water from my fur, and trotted through the trees, scenting the air for any sign of trouble.A deer bolted at the edge of the clearing, but I ignored it.Any other night, I would have given chase, but tonight, my mind was on Audrey.
As I neared the house, I heard the distant sound of the pool filter humming and caught the sharp, comforting scent of chlorine.And then—Muffin.The little black cat was out by the pool, tail high, stalking some imaginary prey.I padded over, careful to keep my movements slow and gentle.The last thing I wanted was to scare her, especially since Audrey had made it very clear Muffin was family.
I lowered my head and sniffed at her.Muffin paused, her tail flicking, and then stared at me with those big, unblinking eyes.She didn’t run.If anything, she seemed almost unimpressed by my size.Such a brave and foolish little thing.We were going to get along just fine.
“Funny creature,”my bear mused,“Not scared at all.”
Suddenly, a shriek split the night.“Mack!Bear!Oh my god—Mack, there’s a bear!Muffin!”Audrey’s panic was unmistakable, her fear slicing through the quiet like a blade.
I jerked my head up and saw her at the sliding door, wide-eyed and frantic.She banged on the glass, trying to get out.“Muffin, get away from it before it eats you!Mack!Help!”
I sat down beside Muffin, trying to look as harmless as a seven-hundred-pound bear possibly could, but that only made her more hysterical.
“Shoo!Go away!Get away from my freaking cat, you beast!”Audrey screamed, rushing outside to scoop Muffin up.Her fear radiated off her in waves, and I felt a pang of guilt.
Muffin, for her part, seemed entirely unconcerned.She let herself be scooped up, but not before shooting me one more curious look.
“Should we let her in on the secret?”my bear rumbled, half amused, half longing.
“Not tonight,”I thought, backing away toward the tree line.“She needs time.”
Audrey clutched Muffin to her chest, backing away from me, glaring daggers as I lumbered off toward the woods.
“It’s okay, Muffin.You’re safe now.Mack, if you don’t call animal control, I will!”Audrey shouted.
I melted into the shadows of the forest, letting my magic shift me back into my human form.Bones, flesh, muscle, until I was just Mack again.I stood behind a tree, catching my breath and running a hand through my hair, torn between laughter and frustration.
Soon, I’d have to tell her the truth.About what and who I am, and what she means to me.But for now, as I watched Audrey carry Muffin inside and lock the door behind her, I knew I’d do whatever it took to protect them both.No matter how wild things got.
“Is everything okay?”I asked as I stepped back into the house through the side door.
“You have a bear problem!”Audrey was beside herself.“It almost ate Muffin!”
“Really?Bears don’t normally dine on house cats,” I laughed
“Very funny!Ha ha!How would you know?I’m serious, Mack.That thing was huge!And Muffin!My God, she has no sense of self-preservation.I think she actually kissed it!”Audrey’s pitch got higher with every sentence.“Didn’t you see it?Where were you?Why are you all sweaty?”
“I—uhh went for a quick run.I like to do that in the evenings sometimes.”It was the best I could come up with off the top of my head, and technically, not a word of it was a lie.
“You’re lucky you didn’t get eaten by the giant bear.I didn’t even know that grizzly bears lived in Texas.I thought they only lived in Alaska or somewhere up north!”
“They are rare in this area, but definitely around.”
She turned her attention toward Muffin.“And you!You stay away from bears, young lady!You may think that you’re a panther, but I assure you, you are not!”
“Meow.”Muffin sprang from her arms as if to say, “Whatever.”
10
Ipadded into the kitchen at 7 a.m.My hair was a wild mess, and my eyes were heavy with sleep.I swear it felt like I’d just had the best night’s sleep in my life.The smell of strong coffee hit me first, followed by the sizzle of something delicious on the stove.
“Fuck me.It’s too early for this.”I thought as Mack stood there in his usual larger-than-life form, but this morning he was barefoot, shirtless, and wearing nothing but a pair of soft plaid pajama pants that hung low on his hips.I quickly scrubbed the sleep out of my eyes so I could get a better view.My mouth watered, and it wasn’t for the food.The way the early light cascaded through the windows caught the lines of his back and shoulders, had me ready to jump over the counter and run my hands or tongue all over him.Every inch of him was solid and strong, making it impossible for me to look away.
“Morning, sunshine,” he said, flashing me a grin that made my heart do a little somersault.“Coffee’s ready.Omelet?”
“Yes, please,” I managed to say before sliding onto a stool at the island.That was the second time he called me sunshine.I usually hated pet names.
