Page 13 of Shielded By My Mate

“I can use the crutches!”

I lift her easily, ignoring her protests and worry over my shoulder. Carrying her into the bathroom off the kitchen, I set her gently on her feet.

“I’ll be right out here when you’re done,” I say, closing the door behind me.

I lean against the wall while I wait, practicing what I want to say to her.

Tell her she’s ours, my bear suggests.

I’m just going to⁠—

The thought dies when the door swings open.

“This might sound crazy,” Mira says, “but did you turn into a bear earlier?”

“I… Yep,” I reply, startled by the sudden question. I had a plan worked out, but once again, my mate is throwing it into disarray. “You remember?”

“I thought it was a dream, but then I saw this.” She holds up her wrist, where some of my fur is stuck to her bandage.

“Do you remember what I said?” I ask, my heart racing.

“Yeah,” she whispers.

I step closer. “Do you believe me?”

“About us being soulmates?”

“Yes.”

“It’s still kind of unbelievable, but I can’t deny that it feels like there’s something special here,” she says slowly.

“I’ll prove it to you in time,” I promise, wrapping my arms around her waist.

She smiles. “I believe that.”

“Come on, let’s get you comfortable.”

“Not the couch!” she blurts.

I frown. “You don’t like it? Is it uncomfortable? We can buy a new one.”

She shakes her head. “No, it’s great, I just—I can’t sit on it anymore. I’m so sick of lying down.”

I smile gently. “No couch it is then.”

Lifting her again, I carry her into the kitchen and set her gently on a chair at the table. I get her a glass of water before pulling out food from the fridge. “You must be hungry.”

“Starving.”

“Is chili okay? Or I can make something else?”

“Chili is great.”

I get started heating that up while she looks around my place.

“Any sign of Ridley?” Mira asks when I join her at the table with our food.

“Not yet. We have people looking for her and the men who took you.”