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This race was more than a tourist event. It was a celebration of our way of life. I might spend most days in human form, but my inner bear relished this opportunity to reconnect with the wild.
The roar of engines greeted me as I strode through the makeshift paddock, my boots crunching on the gravel at the festival grounds. Silverpaw Hollow had outdone itself this year–the usually sleepy town center was transformed, packed with spectators ready for a spectacle and vendors making the most of the opportunity to sell their wares.
As I wove between the assembled motorcycles, I swept the crowd, searching for a flash of red hair.
Amber.
My Wildflower.
Last night was perfect. Seeing her laugh and joke with my family and how seamlessly she fit into my world was… everything.
When I’d taken her home, I’d only meant to kiss her goodnight and leave, but my noble intentions had evaporated the second my lips touched hers. Everything that had come after had felt natural. Right. And having her come apart on my hands and tongue? Indescribable.
I hadn’t expected her to reciprocate–last night was supposed to be for her. But I couldn’t lie. The exquisite torture of her mouth wrapped around my cock as I spilled down her throat was the hottest thing I’d ever experienced.
We’d fallen asleep wrapped in each other’s arms, and it was the best sleep I’d had for a long time. I’d woken at seven, dressed, and kissed my sleeping woman before heading home to shower and change.
But the intimacy we’d shared had stayed with me all morning. It had only accelerated my desire to complete the mating bond–a bond Amber knew nothing about.
My bear prowled beneath my skin, urging me to claim her, to slide inside her tight heat and seal our futures with my bite. But I couldn’t–wouldn’t–do that without revealing my secret and giving her the choice. It was a case of when not if.
I knew Amber felt our connection too. It was clear every time she looked at me, the tremble of her body when I was near, and the goosebumps that erupted on her soft skin whenever we touched.
The way she came apart for me so beautifully last night. The mating pheromones had a hold on her, too, but she needed more time.
And I’d tried to give her that time; time to get to know and trust me before I told her about my world. Because there would be no going back once she knew the truth, once I revealed who and what I was, what my family was.
But I was also navigating unfamiliar territory. Our kind had always mated with female bear shifters, which were almost extinct. Mating with a human meant opening our circle of trust and sharing our secrets. It was risky, not knowing how Amber would react.
Sure, I could reject the mating bond, but it would be painful for us both, although not so much for Amber. For her, it would present as flu-like symptoms, whereas the muscle and joint pain would incapacitate me for days. I’d only seen it once, and I didn’t relish the idea. Besides, I had no desire to reject the bond. Amber was everything I wanted in a mate. Everything I wanted in a woman, a life partner, a wife.
She was unlike any woman I'd ever met—brilliant and brave, with a core of steel. Yet she'd shown flashes of vulnerability, too, hints of loneliness and longing that made me ache to take her in my arms and keep her there forever.
Yeah, I was well and truly hooked. I knew she was The One, even without the mating bond. I felt it in my bones, in the primal part of me that recognized its mate. My bear rumbled in agreement.
But I had to tread carefully. Amber was wary. She said she’d been hurt before, and she guarded her heart carefully. Yet she’d lowered her defenses and opened up with me a lot in the last week. Still, I couldn't shift in front of her and expect her to be okay with it. I needed to ease her into our ways. When the moment was right, I'd reveal everything to her. Bare my damn soul if that’s what it took to keep her in my life.
Soon, my bear urged.
I spotted Axel in the throng, his face set in concentration as he scanned the sea of unfamiliar faces. He nodded almost imperceptibly, signaling that he was monitoring the situation closely, his keen nose no doubt picking up on any unusual scents.
I nodded, my good mood dimming slightly. Now we suspected that pyromancers were behind the fires, the threat had escalated. They’d already caused so much destruction and fear, yet their motives were still unclear. The thought of them here, among all these innocent people, took the edge off what should have been a relaxing day.
“Emmett!” I turned to see Leif striding toward me, his face set in lines of concentration. “You ready for this?”
“Born ready.” I grinned, clasping his shoulder. “How's the crowd looking?”
Leif's eyes narrowed as he scanned the crowd. “Busy. Lots of unfamiliar faces. Axel and I are keeping an eye out for any sign of the pyros.” He shook his head, frustration evident in the set of his jaw.
I shook off the dark thoughts, forcing a smile. “We'll find them, Leif. But today, let's give these people a show, yeah? Something to take their minds off their troubles.”
Leif's answering grin was fierce. “Hell, yeah. Let's do this.”
My heart leaped into my throat when my gaze landed on Amber. She stood at the front of the spectator area near the start/finish line with Aunt Thea, Brock, Zeke, and my parents, her green eyes fixed on me. When our gazes locked, she smiled, and my chest tightened with emotion.
God, she was beautiful. And she was mine. The thought filled me with a primal possessiveness. I wanted to win this race for her, to show her that I was worthy of her love, her trust.
I waved to my folks, watching Amber move closer to the barricade as I approached.
