Page 8 of Shielded By My Mate

“Good. I need to get back to the clinic, but call if anything changes.”

“Will do. Thanks, man.”

He nods, clapping me on my good shoulder before going to his car. My bear and I scan the surroundings for any sign of those men as he leaves, but all is quiet and clear.

I head back inside to my girl, smiling when I see her drowsy eyes. The pain medication seems to be kicking in.

“Thanks for everything,” she says sleepily.

“Sure.”

“I should get out of your hair,” she says, attempting to push herself up on the couch.

“You don’t have to. You can stay. I was telling the truth earlier when I said I wanted you.”

“I got you shot.”

I shrug. “Not your fault.”

“I—you don’t mean that,” she protests weakly.

She’s adorable as she struggles to keep her eyes open.

I debate if telling her about shifters and fated mates is a good idea right now.

Yes. Do it, my bear orders.

I lean closer to her. “I mean it, Mira. The two of us, we’re soulmates.”

“You believe in soulmates?”

“Of course. Don’t you?”

“I…” She trails off, frowning as if she’s never thought about it before. “It’s a nice idea. But I’d worry about picking the wrong person as my soulmate.”

“Not me. I’m a shifter. We have fated mates. One person we’re literally destined to be with. That person is the only one we’ll ever love or want.”

“Sounds magical,” she says with a dreamy sigh.

“It is,” I agree.

“What’s a shifter?”

“Someone who can change between an animal and a human form. I’m a bear shifter.”

“That’s fitting.” She laughs huskily, her eyes growing hazy from the medicine.

“What?” I ask, my bear rumbling in my head to move closer.

She reaches out and pats my head. “Because you’re all big and cuddly like a teddy bear.”

I laugh, wondering if she wants to be closer to me too. “Uh, thanks? I think that’s the first time someone has described me as a teddy bear.”

“Uh-huh,” she mumbles, burrowing under the blanket.

“And you’re my fated mate,” I continue, wanting to tell her everything before she falls asleep.

“Aww,” she says through a yawn.