Page 11 of Midlife Animal Rescuer Bear

She pondered it for a few seconds. “Yeah, pretty much. Plus, I needed a change of pace. It’s so much quieter and more peaceful here than back in Chicago. Figured I’d start a new life, one with a lot less stress.”

And somehow I managed to end up in the same town as the man I never thought I’d see again.

She raised her mug to her lips again, and Dale’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re engaged?”

Melissa realized he was staring at the ring on her finger. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she lowered the mug. “Not exactly.”

“What, it’s a fake engagement ring?”

“No, it’s very real.” She had no idea what the ruby cost, but it was definitely worth a lot more than her car. “I’m just not engaged...anymore.”

“What happened?” He leaned forward, curiosity flickering across his face. “And no, I’m not interested in you. I’m just curious.”

“I can tell.” She flashed him a warm smile. “Well...I used to be engaged. But then it ended. I ended it. I just never got to return the ring. I’ve had it with me ever since.”

“Why’d you end it?”

“He wasn’t who I thought he was.”

That was an oversimplification of the truth, but how was she to explain to this man that she’d taken off from her own wedding because she’d been unable to stomach the fact that the man she loved with all her heart wasn’t even human? In ten years, she hadn’t told a soul why she’d really left. Who would believe a tale about a man turning into a bear? Besides, she’d been more concerned about putting as much distance between herself and Cal.

“That’s rough,” said Dale. “I never was engaged or married. Spending a decade in the military will do that to you. Keeps you on your toes, knowing you’re one dumb mistake away from dying. I’d hate to make anyone a widow. These days, Leto’s my only companion. I found her years ago. Or I guess you could say we found each other.”

This time, he did smile, rubbing the dog’s head. The dog wagged her tail in response, rubbing up against his leg. Looking at them, Melissa felt a slight twinge. In the years since she’d left Cal, she’d been pretty much on her own. Now, looking at Dale and Leto, she couldn’t help wondering why she hadn’t gotten a pet.

“I like you already, Melissa,” the man said. “I’m sure you’ll be a great fit for this job.”

Chapter Five

“You’re an Animal Rescuer”

Cal was having trouble falling asleep.

It was not unusual. Usually, he’d spent the late hours tending to animals at the clinic or, more recently, keeping a close eye on Paradise Woods. More than once tonight, he’d contemplated shifting into bear form and trudging around the woods, both to clear his head and to make sure there weren’t any new attacks.

Instead, he sat in bed, his mind wandering by the minute. His bedroom in the big house wasn’t very large, but it was comfortable. It was dimly lit, the walls a dark green. A few boxes sat in a corner of the room, a lone self-portrait hung on the wall to his left. He shifted in bed, glancing out the window. Outside, the dark sky was dotted with hundreds of glittering stars.

He could climb out his window and shift, or at least take a walk around the property. As of late, he’d been doing a lot of patrolling anyway. And for good reason. There hadn’t been any more attacks since he’d buried the doe in the woods, but how much longer would it be before even more deer turned up dead?

Not to mention the woods were just as dangerous for humans these days. What if someone got hurt, or worse?

Even then, said a voice in his head, patrolling the woods isn’t going to be of much help. You were patrolling when you found that doe. It didn’t save her life, did it?

The fact remained that Green Sanctuary needed a vet. Too bad the only person willing to fill the position was the last person Cal needed to see.

He dropped his gaze, staring at the small photo in his hand. It had slightly yellowed over the years, but even in the dim lighting, the details were clear as day. It was a photo of him and Melissa at a picnic. She looked years younger than she did now, but just as beautiful, laughing as he tried to stuff a whole sandwich into his mouth.

Looking at the photo, Cal felt his gut clench slightly. That photo was taken over twelve years ago, but he could remember the exact moment, like it had happened just yesterday.

“You are such a big goof—you know that, right?” she’d said, putting the camera down.

Cal had grinned at her, half a sandwich sticking out of his mouth. “Mmm.”

Melissa had shaken her head and smiled. “That’s only one of the million reasons why I love you.”

He’d swallowed as much of the sandwich as he could and taken out the rest. “Only a million reasons? That’s pretty low.”