It was this constant hollowness inside me, this hole that would never be filled until I found her.
My mate.
She was out there somewhere, but for all I knew, she could’ve been on a different continent.
I felt distant, detached. I was getting older, my life continuing to move forward even though I felt like I was being pushed back, further and further until I’d never catch up.
I continued on the trail through the woods that my brothers and myself had made years ago. We didn’t need hiking paths, not when our bears trampled through everything. The only thing they were mindful of was being free. But we’d thought of the future, of our mates and children, of family walks and picnics.
And all of my brothers had that now.
All of them but me.
I lifted my hand and rubbed my palm over the center of my chest, right over my heart, right where the hole was, where there was this painful reminder. All I wanted was to find my mate, to feel my happiness. All I wanted was that realization that I wasn’t actually alone in life.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, staying in my human form even though my bear wanted out, wanted to run free and get rid of some of this aggression and frustration.
I liked leisurely walking as a human, taking in the sights and smells, feeling the sun warm my skin. It was the little things I appreciated, that I didn’t take for granted.
I was at the edge of our property, the lake not too far from where I was right now. The path had since ended, my boots crunching along the rocky, uneven forest terrain.
It was another ten-minute walk before I found myself getting closer to the lake. I inhaled deeply, smelling the scent of the fish in the water, the birds up in the trees.
I heard the sound of a masculine voice, of water splashing. I didn’t know why I followed that noise, stopped and looked at where I saw the man wading in the water. The man was facing off to the side, an area where the trees obscured my view. He was laughing, splashing water in that direction. I moved to the side so I could get a better look at who he spoke to, not sure why I gave a fuck.
I should’ve kept walking, minded my own business. But the first thing I saw was the fall of damp, long dark hair. The first thing I felt was how my heart lurched in my chest when she turned around and started swimming toward the shore, laughing as the man continued to splash her.
The sound of her voice was the sweetest thing I’d ever heard.
And when she climbed out of the lake, the water dripping down her lean yet curvy body, I felt my cock instantly harden. It pressed against the fly of my jeans, demanding to get out. My canines lengthened, my nails turning into claws. My grizzly pushed forward, my skin stretching, my muscles thickening.
My mate.
Mine.
She was there, just down on the bank, close enough that I could smell the scent of lemons and gardenia surrounding her. Everything happened in slow motion, time standing still as everything fell into place.
The man crawled out of the lake, his focus trained on her. I inhaled deeply, the wind coming up from the water. A low growl left me. I smelled desire from him. For her.
But from her… from her, I only scented distance. Good, she didn’t want him. If she had, that would cause complications. Hell, him wanting her already caused problems.
And then as I watched him reach out, trying to push a strand of hair off her shoulder, every territorial and possessive instinct in my body rose up. I was jealous, fierce in that moment. No other male would touch her. No other male would even think about having her.
She was mine.
And that’s all I thought about as I charged forward, about to make my claim known.
Epilogue One
Mena
One year later
“You ready for all this?” Bethany, Zakari’s mate, said and stepped up behind me, smiling, the genuine happiness that came from her making me feel relaxed.
The mirror in front of me was full length, and as I stared at myself, at my reflection of the woman in this white wedding dress, flowers in my hair, my cheeks pink with my glow of happiness, I couldn’t help but smile.
I was getting married to my mate, actually about to tie the knot with a big, bad bear shifter. Nothing had felt more right, nothing as good as when I had first found my mate.