Chapter Nine – Frankie

“And you kept his secret?” Frankie asked as they left the diner and walked to Adam’s car. It was big, black and sleek. “Julius obviously pays you too much.”

“Yes. I kept his secret. I’m very discreet and would not want to ruin a marriage over a mix-up in room numbers.” He ran his fingertips over the hood of his car. “I don’t have a house, I didn’t have a mate, or a family to support, so I bought a car I liked. It says bachelor, don’t you think?”

“It does.” Frankie stepped back and admired it. “I thought you might have gone for something more sporty.”

“No.” He smiled to himself. “It’s more of an executive car. But I’ll trade it in and get something more serviceable.”

“Why?” Frankie asked.

“Because I’ve found my mate.” Adam opened the passenger door for her.

“Adam, I don’t want to rush this.” She stood on the sidewalk, not getting into the car.

“You mean rush into having children?” Adam’s expression became serious. “You think I plan to trade in this sleek beast for a family SUV?”

“Don’t you?” Frankie studied his expression, she wanted to know the truth about his feelings toward having children. Children she might not be able to give him.

“No. I understand that our…situation may be a little different. And I am okay with that. If we don’t have children of our own, we can adopt.”

“Adam.” She moved closer to him, so close she could feel the heat from his body. “I don’t know how long I’m going to live.”

“None of us do,” he answered, stroking her cheek and sending shivers of desire through her body.

“It’s a little different for me. With my heart transplant, the prognosis is never good. It’s unlikely I’ll live to an old age.” Frankie raised her eyes to his. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’ll take whatever I can and be grateful for every day we’re given.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips, his fingers stroking her cheek, and she kissed him back, hard and fierce.

Frankie clung to him as he kissed her. He was solid and real and hers. She wanted to live the rest of her life with him, and grow old by his side, with grandchildren at their feet to keep them young.

“Anything is possible,” he whispered.

“I want to believe.” Frankie took a step back and wiped her eyes. “Shall we go? I can’t wait to see this surprise of yours.”

“Come on then, let’s go.” He ushered her into the car and shut the door before walking around to the driver’s side and climbing in next to her. Adam started the engine, which purred like a pussycat.

“My car is half the size of yours and twice as noisy.” Frankie did her seatbelt up and settled back into her seat. “Hey, this is comfortable.”

“Heated seats. Fabulous in the winter.” Adam glanced at her sideways and laughed. “Sorry, I sound like a car salesman.”

“You wouldn’t have to push too hard to sell me one of these if I had the cash.” Frankie turned her attention to where they were going. She wasn’t a materialistic person, but she sure loved Adam’s car. “Where are you taking me?”

“I thought we’d drive up the mountain, as far as my car will take us and then walk.” Adam turned onto a narrow road that was more used to seeing trucks than smart black cars. “If you feel up to walking.”

“Of course.” Frankie half turned to face Adam. “I’m not fragile. I won’t break.”

“I promise not to wrap you in bubble wrap,” Adam told her solemnly.

“Good, because that would be like living in a prison. I’m as capable as anyone else my age, I just have to take my meds.” She leaned back and looked out of the window as the trees crowded in and the road narrowed even more. “I like it here. I don’t think I’ve been this way before.”

“It’s one of the less used roads since it doesn’t climb so high into the mountains. But, as I learned when I first bought the car, it’s not suitable for the gravel trails.” Adam pulled over to the side of the road where a shallow indent into the forest left enough room to park the car without blocking the road. “From here, we walk.”

“Good, I can’t wait to get out. I’ve explored the lower slopes, and some of the well-used trails, but I’m so used to town living, I haven’t ventured too far. I keep thinking I should buy a map.”

“You don’t have to, you have a guide.” Adam got out of the car and locked it, before walking around to join Frankie, who was staring into the dense forest surrounding them.

“Where are we going?”

Adam pointed to a narrow game trail. “We follow this, it opens out in about two hundred feet. There we can shift.” He struck off along the trail and Frankie followed.

“Is your secret about your bear?” Frankie asked.

“It is. Although it has to do with both sides of us, human and bear.” Adam became a shadowy figure in front of her as the trees overhead blocked out most of the light. The trees were mainly pine, and the fresh smell of pine resin, heated by the warm sun, filled the sultry air. Underfoot, a deep bed of pine needles cushioned her feet, and she made no sound as she walked after Adam.

The eeriness of the pine forest was left behind as soon as the trees thinned and the sunlight filtered down onto them. Here, a gentle breeze ruffled her hair as Adam stopped, turning around to look at her.

“This is where we shift. We’re still mostly hidden from anyone who might be out here. But there’s enough light for you to see.”

“See what?” Frankie asked, somewhat bemused by the whole thing.

“You’ll see.” He walked backward, not taking his eyes off her. “I’ll shift back afterward.”

She frowned, unsure of what was about to happen. “Do you have two heads or something?”

He chuckled. “No, nothing that dramatic.”

“Then what?”

“Patience.” With that, the air crackled and Adam slipped out of this world, to be replaced almost immediately by a big grizzly bear.

Frankie stepped forward, trying to figure out what she was supposed to be looking at. But as the sunlight caught his fur, she understood. Adam, the human Adam, was young, around thirty years old, with dark hair and dark eyes. The bear that stood before her was the same dark color, except for the tips of his coat, which were silver.

Reaching out, she plunged her fingers into his thick, soft fur and stroked him. The bear shivered with excitement and turned to look at her. “Is this what you wanted me to see? Your silver hairs?”

The bear nodded and she continued to stroke him, enjoying the warmth of his big bear body as he pressed against her legs. Unable to stop herself, she knelt by his side and hugged him, kissing his short snout. The bear looked ecstatic and shivered in appreciation of his mate’s touch.

“My bear can’t wait to meet you.” She moved to kneel in front of him, cupping his massive head in her hands. “You are fabulous.”

The bear huffed at her as if he were laughing and rubbed his head on her arm. Then he stepped backward, breaking contact with her. The air sizzled and the bear slipped away, and there standing before her was Adam.

Frankie rushed forward and flung her arms around Adam’s neck, and kissed his lips. He tightened his arms around her waist and pulled her close, his hand sliding further down to cover her bottom. She could feel the press of his hard length against her hip. He wanted her, and she could not deny she wanted him, too.

Whatever the outcome was of their search to find out if she had the heart of his mate beating in her chest, she didn’t want her feelings for him to change. They were mates, and Frankie was certain she would never feel this way about anyone ever again. There was a bond between them, a connection that bridged all space and time.

She laid her head on his shoulder, comforted by that thought. If one of them were no longer here on the earth, the other must take comfort that they would one day be together in whatever followed this life.

“You have silver hair. Is that what you wanted to show me?” Frankie asked.

“Yes.” Adam pulled back and looked down at her. “I never used to. Not until the knife incident.”

“The shock turned you gray?” Frankie asked in confusion.

“No, I lost a lot of blood and had to have a blood transfusion.” Adam sighed and ran a hand through his hair as if the memories made him uncomfortable. “Afterward, the next time I shifted, I had silver hair.”

“The transfusion made you into a silverback?” Frankie asked.

“Yes. But it goes deeper than that. It also made me…quaint.” He gave a nervous laugh. “It’s as if I changed. My personality changed.”

“Because of the blood?” Frankie asked.

“You asked me if I believed in ghosts.”

She nodded. “But you don’t.”

“I don’t believe I’m haunted by another person. But I do believe that some part of me changed. Maybe for the better.” He gave her an uneasy smile. “Do you think I’m crazy?”

“No. You have proof you changed. Physically.” Frankie took hold of his hand. “It’s fate, isn’t it? The two of us?”

“I’m beginning to think it is.” Adam caressed her face. “Maybe we’re supposed to go and find out who the donor was for your heart.”

“If it’s fate…do you think we’re connected?”

“Of course we’re connected.”

“I mean my heart and your blood.” Frankie didn’t know how to explain it, but there was something compelling her to make this journey with Adam. The same feeling that had compelled her to come to Bear Creek.

“Let’s trust in fate and see where it leads us.” Adam kissed her cheek. “Right now, fate is compelling me to shift and run across the mountain with my mate.”

“We should go then because no one can outrun fate.” As they shifted into their bears and ran along the dirt trail, Frankie knew she never wanted to outrun fate. Not as long as it meant being by Adam’s side.