Page 17 of Luke: The Bears

“What does it mean that I’m your mate?”

For one heartbeat, Luke forgot how to speak. Valley, cheeks pink, brow furrowed, had just blindsided him with a question.

He cleared his throat. “It means that you and I are meant to be together. Shifters call it a truemate, the one person on the planet meant for them.”

“And I’m yours.” It was a statement, but it sounded a bit like a question.

“Yes. I felt you when I walked into the tavern Friday night. It’s why I walked outside and looked for you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You only said it once, though.” She folded her arms across her chest.

“I did say it,” he said. “But then a little bit later, you said you were leaving town. And I wasn’t sure if you understood our connection. It’s not one-sided. It’s not supposed to be. I’m wildly attracted to you, but it’s more than that. I feel drawn to you. I like being with you. You make me laugh, I think you’re so sweet. And hell, Valley, have you looked in a mirror? You’re gorgeous.”

Her cheeks darkened further and she rolled her lips but didn’t say anything.

Not even that she thought he was cute.

His bear was a little disgruntled at that.

“I know it’s probably the weirdest thing for you to hear. You’re human, so you don’t have a bear in your head giving you extra senses like a homing signal to your mate.”

“No, I don’t,” she said.

“You did feel something, though?”

She looked away, then back to him. “Yes.” The word hung in the air for a long moment, and then she said, “I don’t really understand it, but I do feel drawn to you. I like spending time with you, and I can’t really get you out of my head. Then today I talked to Juliette in the bookstore, and she told me how excited she was that you’d found your mate. So, I came over here to talk to you about it, and all I really want to do is just ask you one question.”

“Anything.”

She threw up her hands. “What the hell?”

He blinked. “What?”

“I mean, what the actual hell, Luke! Why didn’t you tell me that you think of me in a forever way before you rocked my world Friday? Maybe you could have mentioned it somewhere between the burger on the deck and when you were kissing me senseless.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I got caught up in the physical side of things, and then I backed off because I didn’t want you to think I was trying to make you feel guilty about leaving.”

“Does everyone know?” she asked. “Am I the only one left out?”

“Trick, the bouncer at the door, knew I’d found you. And my friends that were there. So, I guess two of the three shifter groups in town know.”

She rubbed the space between her brows with her finger. “So, the dragons don’t know?”

“I wouldn’t think so,” he said with a chuckle.

She moved closer and he picked up her sweet scent.

“I like you,” she said.

“I like you too.” More than like, but she was balking at the word like so he wasn’t going to add any other words to his feelings at the moment.

“I mean, I guess like isn’t quite the right word because it does feel deeper to me. I can’t stop thinking about you or wanting to be with you. And hearing Juliette talk about mates put a word to what I was feeling. But I have plans, Luke. I have a job waiting for me and a boss who gave me money to relocate that I already spent. My apartment is full of boxes and everyone knows I’m leaving Friday.”

He hated that word with a passion. Friday.

The last two days had been the best of his life. Saturday morning had been rocky, but he really thought they’d turned a corner last night.

But now she was here. Asking about mates but reminding him that she had one foot out the door.