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“Mindy,” he says with his voice racing. “Oh thank God, you’re okay. The beast is dead? Good job.”
Jackson is shaking his head. “It’s a little more complicated than that, boss.”
That’s when my grandfather sees Cain’s mark on my neck. “Oh.” His face drops. The smile withers away. “You’re mates.”
He takes a longer look at the wounded grizzly bear, realizing he’s not dead yet.
“Order them not to hurt him,” I beg with my voice racing. “He’s a good man. He doesn’t deserve this!”
The other agents surround us. I can’t hold them all back.
“He kidnapped you, Mindy,” Grandpa says as he approaches. “He attacked AFA agents.”
“Because these assholes were trying to kill him! And he took me because I’m his mate. I’m glad he took me.”
Grandpa’s eyes harden as he watches me. “No granddaughter of mine is going to be mated to a feral bear. Get in the car.”
“No.”
I squeeze the sword as I glare back at him.
“Mindy,” he warns. That tone would normally cause me to jump to attention, but now, everything is different.
“I said no,” I snap. “Call off your goons.”
The tension in the air thickens as we stare each other down. The AFA agents are awaiting his orders. I’m gripping the sword, ready to swing it at anyone who takes a step toward my man.
Cain’s bear groans as he tries to get up. He whimpers and falls back down.
My heart breaks when I see it. I drop the sword, forgetting all about these dangerous men. My mate needs me and that’s all I care about.
“Careful, Mindy,” Grandpa warns. “He’ll bite your face off.”
I ignore him and drop to my knees in front of the bear. There’s a tight squeeze in my chest as I take his big head into my hands. He rests his chin on my thighs and looks up at me with soft brown eyes. They’re half-closed. He’s so weak. I hope he’s not in too much pain.
Tears stream down my cheeks as I cup his face and kiss his snout.
He makes a low grumbling sound as I hug his head, wetting his fur with my tears.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “I’m here. We’re together now.”
Remy picks up the sword and I gasp when I see his shadow raising it over his head.
“Stop!” Grandpa shouts. “Everyone back up! That’s an order.”
Remy huffs in frustration but he does as he’s told.
“Wait in the cars,” he orders.
“But boss…” Remy complains.
“Do as I say,” he snaps. “I’m still the director.”
The men all reluctantly leave. They head back to the cars while I soothe my mate, whispering how much I love him into his ear.
My grandfather slowly approaches and kneels beside me.
His hand touches my back and a sob bursts out of me.
“Is he dying?” I ask in a shaky tone.
My grandfather sighs as he looks over the wounded bear.
“He’s lost a lot of blood,” he says in a soft voice. “But I wouldn’t count out a bear shifter. Especially one who just found his mate.”
“Is there anything you can do to help?” I ask with a sniff as I turn back to Cain. His heavy head is still resting on my thighs, only now his eyes are just open in little slits.
Grandpa shakes his head sadly. “It’s best to leave him alone. His shifter healing is doing the most important work. Moving him will only disrupt that.”
I pet my man’s face as tears drop onto the top of his head.
A few long tense minutes pass. I’m crying the entire time. Grandpa is holding my hand and praying for my man.
I gasp when he finally opens his eyes. Cain’s grizzly looks up at me and then slowly raises his head. It takes effort, but his energy looks like it’s trickling back.
“He’s pulling through,” Grandpa says as he quickly stands up. “We have to leave, Mindy. It’s not safe.”
He grabs my hand to pull me up, but I pull him back down. “You’re wrong, Grandpa. About feral bears, about Cain, about everything. There is still hope for them. They can come back to the light. They just need their mates to help guide them.”
Tears of happiness and gratitude fill my eyes as Cain’s bear struggles to stand. He’s on wobbly legs and whimpering with every movement, but he’s doing it. The fur under his leg is matted with sticky blood and coated in dirt, but no fresh blood is leaking out. He’s healing himself.
The AFA agents rush over when they see my mate back on his paws. They’re planning on putting him down for good.
I rush over to my grizzly and wrap my arms around him protectively.
“Grandpa,” I say in a panic.
His jaw tightens as he looks at the way my bear reacts to me. There’s no violence or anger or any shred of feralness. It’s just love, devotion, and dedication to his mate.
