“Yes,” Matt said, taking a tentative step toward her. “And I needed you to know before... before we went any further. You deserve to know what—who—you’re getting involved with.”
Tessa felt laughter bubbling up inside her, born of shock and wonder rather than amusement. “I thought you were going to tell me you had a criminal record or something.”
Matt’s expression softened slightly. “Are you... okay with this? With what I am?”
Was she?Tessa examined her feelings, searching for fear or revulsion, but found only wonder and a strange sense of things falling into place. The way he sometimes seemed to know she was approaching before she entered a room. How he moved with that predatory grace in the kitchen. His intense connection to the wilderness surrounding Bear Creek.
“I think I am,” she said slowly, surprising herself with the truth of it. “It’s a lot to process, but... you’re still you. The man who builds fairy houses with little girls and bakes incredible pain au chocolat and kisses me like I’m the air he needs to breathe.”
Relief washed over Matt’s face, and he closed the distance between them, taking her hands in his. “There’s more,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “The reason I had to tell you tonight is because... shifters have mates. One perfect match. And Tessa...” He swallowed hard. “You’re mine. I knew it before you walked through the door. I sensed you approaching.”
Mates.The word echoed in Tessa’s mind, bringing with it a cascade of implications. It explained the immediate connection she’d felt with him, the way her body responded to his touch, the sense of rightness when they were together.
“Is that why I feel this way?” she whispered, looking up into his eyes. “Like I’ve known you forever? Like, I can trust you completely, even though we just met?”
Matt nodded, his grip on her hands tightening slightly. “The mate bond. It’s real, Tessa. As real as what you just saw. But,” he added quickly, “it doesn’t take away your choice. I would never...”
She silenced him with a finger to his lips. “I know,” she said simply. “I know you wouldn’t.”
Standing there in Matt’s yard, wrapped in his jacket with the stars bright overhead, Tessa felt something shift inside her. Thebarriers she’d built, the fears that had kept her isolated—they didn’t disappear, but they weakened, crumbling at the edges as a new possibility took shape.
She wasn’t just passing through Bear Creek anymore. She wasn’t just Rachel’s friend helping out temporarily. She was Matt Thornberg’s mate. And maybe—just maybe—she was finally home.
“Can I see it again?” she asked, surprising herself with the request.
Matt’s eyebrows rose. “You want to see me shift?”
Tessa nodded, suddenly eager to witness the miracle again, to fully absorb the reality of what he was. “Please.”
Matt smiled, the first genuine smile since they’d come outside. “Step back a little,” he instructed.
Tessa moved back, watching with wide eyes as the air around Matt began to crackle once more. The transformation was instantaneous. One moment, he was a man; the next, a massive bear stood in his place, powerful and majestic in the moonlight.
This time, knowing what to expect, Tessa approached without hesitation. She reached out both hands, burying her fingers in the thick fur of his neck. The bear—Matt—made a rumbling sound deep in his chest, something between a purr and a growl that vibrated through her palms.
“Beautiful,” she whispered, stroking his fur. “You’re beautiful.”
Tessa couldn’t help herself. She stepped closer, burying her face in the thick fur of his neck, inhaling his scent. Even in this form, he smelled like Matt—that comforting mix of pine and spice, now mingled with something wild and earthy. Her arms wrapped around his massive neck in a hug, and she felt the rumble of contentment vibrate through her entire body.
The bear—Matt—gently rubbed his head against her thigh, the gesture so tender it made her heart ache. Tessa laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep and joyful inside her.
“This is incredible,” she whispered, running her fingers through his fur again, marveling at how it felt both coarse and soft at the same time.
Overcome with wonder, she flopped down onto the damp grass before him, not caring about her sundress or the chill of the evening. Matt’s bear seemed delighted by this development. He dropped to the ground too, then rolled onto his back, massive paws kicking playfully in the air like an oversized puppy.
Tessa couldn’t contain her laughter at the sight of this enormous predator behaving so adorably. “You’re still you,” she said, watching him with amazement. “I can see you in there.”
She reached out to scratch his belly, and the bear’s eyes closed in bliss. They stayed like that for what felt like hours, but was probably only minutes—Tessa exploring every inch of his massive form, while Matt’s bear soaked up her attention with evident delight.
“You know,” she said softly, running her hands through the thick fur at his neck, “I never imagined I’d be petting a bear tonight.” She laughed. “I’m so happy to meet this part of you. It’s like I see the real you for the first time.”
The bear rumbled contentedly, his eyes—Matt’s eyes—watching her with unmistakable intelligence. There was something profoundly intimate about this moment, more vulnerable than if he’d been naked before her. This was his true self, his secret self, and he’d shared it with her.
When she finally stood, her legs stiff from sitting on the cool ground, the bear rose too. Even standing on all fours, his shoulder reached her chest. Tessa reached out, cupping hismassive face between her hands. The contrast was striking, her small, human hands against his powerful, wild form.
She stared into his eyes, searching for and finding the man she knew within the beast. Those dark eyes, framed by thick fur, held the same warmth, the same gentle intensity that had drawn her to Matt from the beginning.
“Could I draw you like this sometime?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’d love to capture this side of you.”
