“Goodnight, Kirk,” she said, and there was a warmth in her voice that lingered long after the words were gone.
“Goodnight, Isla,” he replied, watching as she walked around to the driver’s side of the car.
She gave him one last look, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth, before sliding into the seat and starting the engine. The headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the path back to the main road. Kirk stood motionless in the driveway, watching until the red taillights disappeared around the bend.
“She kissed us,” his bear said, sounding both awed and smug.
“She did,” Kirk whispered into the still night.
He brushed his fingers over his lips. Everything had changed.
His bear stirred beneath his skin.We need to run.
Kirk didn’t argue. He headed for the tree line, the memory of Isla’s kiss still humming on his lips. The moon was high, the forest calling, and joy moved through him too fast and wild to contain in human form.
In a moonlit clearing, he gave himself over to the shift, and the air around him cracked and popped as Kirk let go of the world. A moment later, his bear stood where the man had been.
Finally,his bear exulted and roared into the darkness.
Then his muscles bunched, and he launched himself forward.
He tore through the forest, over roots and stone and fallen logs, letting speed and cool air strip his thoughts down to their simplest truth: Isla had kissed him. His mate had chosen him.
A familiar roar sounded somewhere up the mountain.
And then another answered.
Spencer and Leo,his bear said at once.
Kirk changed course, his senses locked onto his brothers. He ran without thought, muscles bunching, lungs burning as he thrilled in the freedom of the mountains. His home.
At last, he found his brothers on the ridge, and the three of them ran together beneath the moon for a time, all strength and breath and wildness, until at last they slowed above the valley.
When they shifted back, Leo was grinning before he’d even caught his breath.
“Well,” he said, stretching, “someone’s in a good mood.”
Kirk tried for innocence. “It was a good night for a run.”
Leo snorted. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with the car I saw leaving your place?”
Spencer said nothing at first, only watched Kirk with that steady, thoughtful look of his.
“It might have,” Kirk teased.
“Come on, out with it.” Leo bumped Kirk’s shoulder lightly with his fist.
“Her name is Isla,” Kirk said at last. “She’s staying at Bear’s Rest with her son, Percy.”
“Son, huh?” Leo said, eyebrows lifting as he glanced at Spencer.
“He’s a great kid,” Kirk said, warmth creeping into his voice. “Smart. Curious. You’d like him.”
“And his mom?” Spencer asked quietly.
Kirk looked out across the valley. “She’s remarkable.”
Leo folded his arms. “You missed the important part.”
