“Oh my,” she whispered, the words barely audible. “Oh, my.”
His bear wanted to move toward her, to press his head against her hand, to show her there was nothing to fear. But the bear stood still, giving her time.
Meryl’s breathing came fast and shallow. She pressed herself against the tree trunk, her gaze never leaving him.
“Spencer?” Her voice trembled on his name.
He nodded his massive head once, slowly, deliberately.
Minutes passed in stunned silence. Spencer waited, his bear form motionless, watching as Meryl’s mind worked furiously behind her eyes. He could almost see her reassembling everything she thought she knew.
Go to her,Spencer urged his bear.
Still afraid Meryl might run, the bear took a step forward. Then another.
Then he stopped, unsure of what to do. Spencer could feel his bear’s impatience warring with caution.
Careful now. Don’t rush her.
The bear huffed softly and stretched out his snout toward Meryl, moving with deliberate gentleness. Every instinct screamed to go to her, claim her, mark her with his scent, but this had to be her choice.
Meryl swallowed hard, her throat working visibly in the moonlight. Then, to Spencer’s amazement, she took a small step away from the tree’s safety. Her eyes locked directly with his—not looking away, not avoiding the reality of what stood before her.
“Spencer?” Her voice was stronger now, more certain.
The bear huffed and nodded, his heart pounding so hard Spencer thought Meryl might hear it echoing through the night air.
She shook her head slowly, disbelief warring with the evidence of her own eyes. Then, in a move that made his breath catch, she hunkered down to his level, making herself more vulnerable.
She trusts us enough to do that,his bear noted with wonder.
The bear inched forward slowly until he was close enough that she could touch him if she wished.
And how he wished she would. But he waited, barely breathing, every nerve ending alive with anticipation of that first touch.
Then Meryl reached out a trembling hand and stroked the thick fur on his head. The bear closed his eyes in pure bliss, the sensation sending waves of pleasure through his entire body.
Our mate, at last,his bear rumbled inside.She’s touching us. Accepting us.
Spencer let out a long sigh of relief. After all the waiting, all the fear and hesitation, she wasn’t running. She was here, her fingers working through his fur, exploring the reality of him.
Meryl spent several minutes just touching him, her fingers growing more confident as they traced the contours of his head, the sensitive spot behind his ears, down to his powerful shoulders. The bear couldn’t help himself—he rubbed his headagainst her arm, marking her with his scent in the most primal way.
Then she did something that broke him completely. She wrapped her arms around his massive neck and buried her face in his fur.
“How is this possible?” she whispered against him, her breath warm through his coat.
Spencer wished he could answer, wished he could explain everything—the mate bond, all of it—but those were human words that needed a human voice.
Meryl leaned away, her eyes wide with wonder rather than fear now. “You are incredible,” she murmured. Then, with a small smile, “But can I speak to Spencer now?”
The bear nodded once, understanding completely. She needed words. Explanations. Things only his human form could provide.
Spencer’s bear let go of the world, and in an instant, the air popped and crackled with static electricity. His bear form disappeared, and in an instant, Spencer stood before her in his human form once more.
“That’s...” Meryl swallowed hard. “That’s not possible.”
“It is,” he said quietly. “It’s who I am.”
