God, you’re bad at this,my bear sighs, shaking his head.
Not helping!I snap.
“And you’re my fated mate,” I plow on.“That’s what I meant when I said you were home.Because this is your home.”
Vivian still hasn’t moved.
Anxiety blooms in my gut.She’s been through so much.Did I freak her out?Is she going to leave?
“I’m not crazy,” I add as she continues to stare at me.
Don’t let her leave us!my bear pleads, growing restless.She’s never going to believe you.You have to prove it to her.You have to shift.
“I’ll show you,” I tell her.
She doesn’t respond as I move behind the kitchen counter.I pull off my shirt and drop it on the floor, glancing at her as I kick off my boots and unbutton my jeans.
“Can’t rip my clothes,” I explain at her shocked look.
I push my pants and boxers down and step out of them.Then I look at her, holding her gaze as I shift.
I let my bear push forward.Fur grows, replacing my skin, my teeth elongate, my nails grow, and my hands grow as my bones all shift around.In a few seconds, I’m landing on my paws right there in the kitchen.
Vivian finally reacts—and not the way I hoped she would.
As soon as she sees my bear, she screams, jumps to her feet, and bolts.
I follow her, but my bear is too big to fit through the gap from the kitchen into the living room.I curse as I shift back and charge after my mate.
Vivian rips open the front door and leaps off the porch.She skids on the gravel, and my heart lodges in my throat, worried she’ll be hurt and it will be all my fault.
“Whoa!Easy,” Christian says, catching Vivian before she can fall.“Are you okay?”He looks up at me, taking in the situation.“Ah.”He winces as he puts it together.
I snag a blanket off the chair by the front door and wrap it around my waist.
“Thanks,” I grunt as he steadies Vivian.
“I came to check up on your mate.”He looks at Vivian.“How are you feeling?”
“Mate?”she squeaks.
I give her a wry look.“I tried to explain.”
She wraps her arms around herself, trembling.
I pull the blanket off my waist and wrap it around my mate’s shoulders.“I know it’s a lot.”
“You—I—You,” she stammers.“You didn’t explain anything!You just said you were a bear shifter, and I was your fated mate.Whatever the heckthatmeans!”
My bear paces inside me, his anxiety fueling mine.
Christian lifts his gaze to the sky while I try to do damage control with my girl.
“Come back inside,” I say, deliberately keeping my voice calm.
Vivian hesitates then finally nods.I lead her back inside, though it’s clear she’s reluctant to follow me.
“Sit,” I say, easing her onto the couch.“I’m not very good at this,” I admit as I sit beside her.
