What the fuck? How did she get here so fast?
She placed her index finger on her mouth, her long hair draping around us. I could barely see her face, but I figured she wanted me to be quiet. I wasn’t complaining she was straddling me right now, but what the hell was going on?
Another familiar scent filled the air, and instincts pulsed.
I looked to the side, into another two sets of eyes, big brown ones, surrounded by fur, lots of fur.
Yeah, the bears were here.
Swiftly, I pushed her off me and bounced to my feet, ready to fight. Whatever they were here for, they should have come in their human form. They knew better than to be around any human as beasts. It wasn’t safe.
“No, Alec. Stay down,” she whispered.
Was she scared for me? Did she actually run down here to…rescue me?
I liked the sound of that. Loved it.
“It’s okay. Just go inside and lock the door,” I whispered back, glancing down at her curled body on the grass.
She shook her head vigorously, her face white as snow, and then she pointed at me and herself. I presumed she wanted us both to sprint for the apartment building.
Of course, she didn’t know I could take the twin bears in a flash. All I cared about was her safety. I really needed her to get out of here. If they were here to stop me from talking to her—I wouldn’t listen—it could get…messy
Deep growls burst from the grizzlies. One of them lifted a paw, and Belle’s heart rocketed. I pounced fast, taking one down, yet he clawed my arm as I did.
It seared as I jumped up, the other bear getting closer. When I was about to lunge at him, hands dragged my shirt with enough force and speed to yank me out of the woods and into the building.
The door slammed shut. I stood in the dark stairwell, Belle staring at me with her enormous eyes.
“Are you out of your mind? Who the hell attacks abear? Your blood is all over the place, Alec!”
I checked my arm. It was hardly any blood. But to her, maybe it seemed like a lot. “I’m fine. How did you get down so fast? And how, for the love of the moon, you dragged me like that?”
“I don’t know. Adrenaline.” She threw her hands in the air in exasperation. “I was so scared. You’re such an idiot.” Her eyes roamed my arm. “And you’re not fine. Come with me.”
She started up the stairs, and I was more than happy to follow. Finally, I had a legit excuse to be in her apartment without her worrying about what people would say. Finally, I would have a chance to talk to her, maybe even…
A devious smile crossed my lips. She was so sexy in that sheer gown I could tear it up and take her on these very steps or against the wall. Again.
She let me in her place. I had to duck a little as I walked around afraid I’d break anything. I was too big for this miniature of an apartment. “Cozy,” I said.
Her eyes narrowed at me as she pointed at a couch. “Sit down.”
I did, and she disappeared into a room I assumed to be the bathroom. When she came out, she had a robe covering her body and a first aid kit in her hands.
I mourned the lost view in silence. She set the kit on the cherry wood coffee table and went away again.
“Where are you going?” I asked, the pain in my arm more real now. I healed best in my wolf form and could stand the pain a lot better.
“Getting something sterile to clean the wound.” Her voice came a little distant, more of an echo.
She returned with towels, a big set of bandages and a basin of hot water. She put everything on the table and sat next to me. The heat emanating from her soothed my pain. Her very existence next to me, this close, had always done wonders. For a beast fated to a mate like me, her presence alone was enough for life to be good again. I couldn’t help the smile on my face.
Carefully, she put a towel on my thigh right under my wounded arm, and dipped another towel in the water. “Why are you smiling?”
“I’m happy.”
“You were almost attacked by a bear. Then you threw yourself at it. Now, you have deep gashes, oozing with blood, covering your arm. You probably have bruises all over your body, too, and you’re happy?”
