Page 2 of Midlife Animal Rescuer Bear

“You’ve made me the happiest woman in the world by agreeing to share...to share your life with me.”

That part definitely wasn’t true. She’d been the happiest woman in the world until he shared the entirety of his life with her.

“I...I promise to cherish and respect you, my love. I promise to love you for who you are...” Her mouth went dry. “And...and...”

Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest, she could practically hear each thump. She drew another deep breath, her gaze darting from the parchment to Cal, and then the crowd. They were all smiling, waiting for her to complete her vows.

She did love Cal. But after what she’d seen weeks ago, this...this didn’t feel right. None of this did.

“Melissa?” her husband-to-be asked. “Is something wrong?”

He had a look of concern on his face now. Those blue-gray eyes bore into hers, the same eyes she’d gazed into millions of times. Looking at him now, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different about him.

Something inhuman.

Not that she was wrong. What were the words he’d said to her that night? I’m not who you think I am, Melissa.

An image flickered through her mind for a second, then vivid enough that she stumbled backward in response. It was a brown bear three times her size, gray-blue eyes trained on her as it approached.

“Melissa!”

She blinked, the memory dissipating into nothingness. Cal was still staring at her, eyebrows furrowed.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” the officiant wanted to know.

She took a step back, shaking her head. “No. No, I can’t do this. I can’t marry you, Cal.”

A series of gasps and murmurs rippled through the congregation. Cal’s expression was one of bewilderment.

“What are you talking about?” He started toward her, his expression morphing into hurt as she recoiled.

“I’m so sorry, Cal.” Tears had sprung to her eyes, streaking down her face. “I really am, but I can’t afford to take this chance.”

She turned and ran, nearly tripping over the hem of her gown as she made her way down the aisle, away from him.

Away from a mistake that would’ve cost her everything.

Chapter One

A Safe Place for Every Wild Heart

Sylva

Downing, Colorado

Present Day

Three minutes before the doe’s heart stopped beating, Cal knew she wasn’t going to make it.

“Easy, girl,” he whispered, stroking her flank. “You’re going to be just fine.”

A gnawing sensation filled his stomach as he wrenched the lie from his lips. The doe was far from alright. She lay on her side, twitching slightly, bleeding profusely onto the earth from a deep gash in her neck.

“Crap,” he muttered.

This was the second—no, third—animal he’d found lying either dead or critically injured on the ground so far. He’d taken his third brief trip this week through Paradise Woods, half expecting to find another casualty. And he hadn’t been disappointed.

He stroked the doe’s flank, feeling her faint heartbeat against his fingertips. The creature’s eyes were wide with terror, her mouth open in a silent scream. She was far beyond saving—the doe had already lost too much blood, for goodness sake. He certainly couldn’t take her back to the Sanctuary with him. Still, just crouching there, helplessly watching her bleed to death, made him sick to his stomach.