The timing was wrong, but I never thought about how the timing was supposed to work when you found your mate. I never thought I’d get to this point in life. I wasn’t the kind of bear who looked for his mate. I sure as hell didn’t expect to find her in a hotel bar in Sangreaux. And on top of that, I didn’t expect her to be a reporter. Everything about this was upside down, but there wasn’t anything my bear could do about it. She was the one. She was the one I wanted and needed for the rest of my life. Telling her wasn’t going to be easy.

I looked over my shoulder at the agents. At least I could count on them to keep the public out of the courtyard.

“What kind of secret could you possibly have?” Sabrina searched my eyes for answers.

“The kind that will change your life forever,” I answered.

She frowned. “I want to be done with the games. We’ve already hurt each other way too soon.”

“It’s not a game. What I’m about to tell you is not only a royal family secret, it’s my secret. The darkest most precious information about me.”

She rubbed her arms. “That sounds scary.”

“Depends on how you look at it,” I agreed. I wrapped my hand around her shoulder. “I need to tell you. I have to tell you.”

She nodded. “I promise anything you say to me from here on out is between us. I’d never write about you or publish anything.”

I chuckled. “No one would believe this. I’m not worried about you writing about it. It would be dismissed in a heartbeat. I’m worried about losing you.” It was hard to say the words, but they needed to be spoken. She had to realize the severity of what I was about to tell her.

“What could it possibly be?”

I brushed the long strands of auburn hair from her shoulder. I leaned toward her ear, letting a low growl rumble between us.

She gasped.

“What in the hell was that?”

“My bear.” I spoke quietly.

“Your what?”

“Bear,” I stated again. “Your bear, cher.”

She blinked, trying to create space between us. I was afraid if I let her have enough room she’d wiggle free and run. I couldn’t let that happen.

“I-I don’t know what kind of party trick that is, but it’s very good.”

“It’s not a trick.” I didn’t want to growl any louder, or the agents would hear. “It’s my bear. It’s me. Who I really am.” I stared at her, trying to press the words into her. Trying to make her understand the man I was on the inside.

“You can’t possibly expect me to believe you.”

“It’s the only explanation for what happened between us last night. It’s the only thing that makes sense about us.”

“Us?” she whispered.

I nodded, threading my fingers through hers. “I started to make you mine last night. Only mine.”

She shivered. “It was a one-night stand. You said so. You said we were going to play a game for one night.”

“That’s what I thought too. But you awakened something inside me. Something my bear wanted. Something he craves more than anything now.”

“What’s that?”

“I want you, Sabrina.”

“Me?”

“Is that so hard to believe?”

She shook her head. “No. I believe that part. I don’t believe the bear part.” She pressed her lips together and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“It’s not funny,” she snapped.

“I’m sorry, cher. It’s not.” I traced the corners of her mouth. “I should have realized you were going to be my mate the instant you landed at my feet. I saw your eyes, and I knew something was different. I was too stubborn to let myself believe it could be real.”

“You’re not joking about this, are you?”

“No, I’m not. It doesn’t get any more serious than when a bear finds his mate. The woman he wants to have his cubs.”

I brushed my lips across hers. They were so irresistible and soft. I crushed her mouth with mine and kissed her roughly, wanting her to feel my passion. Wanting her to know I had found her and wouldn’t let her go.

Sabrina shoved my chest. “Cubs?”

I nibbled at her lower lip. “Lots of cubs.”

“Why am I not more freaked out?” she asked.

I chuckled. “Because, you know it’s real. You know what happened between us was something magical. And because, you want me to take you back to that room and claim the fuck out of you.”

She blushed. “You know all of that?”

I nodded. “I do.”

“I have to cover the breakfast meeting,” she explained. “And Jacques is waiting for me inside.”

“He’s going to have to wait a lot longer.” I stood, scooping her against my chest. Sabrina squealed.

“Shh,” I hushed her. “Or you’re going to be on the front page of the paper.”

The agents surrounded us immediately. “Sir?”

“Take Miss Keys back to my suite.” I handed her off to one of the bodyguards. “I’m going to say my good-byes to the mayor and I’ll join her in a few minutes. Half of you can stay here with me while the other half goes with her.”

She looked at me over her shoulder while they shuffled her through the back of the courtyard.

“Brion, this is crazy.”

I put my finger to my lips. “See you soon, cher.”