The next morning, Kelly woke late to see Hunter watching her from the wooden chair, clearly drowsy and exhausted from the previous night.

“You didn’t sleep at all, did you?” She pushed the covers aside and walked over to him, sitting in his lap as he looked down at her with a smile.

“I didn’t need to. I’m relaxed just knowing you’re around.”

She placed a hand on his chest, and it felt more intimate than ever before, just knowing how much they’d already shared together. “I mean, that’s nice, but we should get you to Garrett’s so you can get some rest.”

“That might be nice.” He agreed, standing up with her.

He followed her to the shower, where, after a quick, crowded, steamy wet-down, they both got out to dress. They then got in his truck and headed to Garrett’s, hoping Dawn and Garrett would be around.

When they arrived, Dawn and Garrett were eating lunch on the porch already, a table between the two rocking chairs they were on. Garrett waved to them as Hunter came around to help Kelly down from the truck.

There was something nice about being with friends here, something safe, even though she also felt safe in Hunter’s arms.

Perhaps it was just that there were people here who could protect him.

She wished she was somehow stronger. Able to take on the bear on her own. But she doubted she could do it even with her shotgun. She wasn’t sure she would be able to kill.

She closed her eyes and exhaled softly, knowing if Hunter was in danger, she would do it. She was sure.

But a part of her still felt off-kilter for putting him in danger in the first place, when he could be safe just by leaving her side.

The more she cared about him, the more uncomfortable she was with this whole situation.

As everyone had abandoned her, she had just wanted someone to stay by her side. But ironically, now that someone was standing by her, she was too worried about their safety to let it go.

Hunter brought two extra chairs out on the porch for them, and when she was seated, he brought lunch out as well.

Though Dawn and Garrett were cheerfully teasing Hunter about not coming home last night, Kelly just couldn’t get comfortable.

Her mind kept playing uncomfortable scenes of the bear possibly attacking her friends.

Would he come from the tree line? Would he attack when the men were in town? Would he break in the house, harming Dawn’s beautiful sanctuary?

Kelly really had no idea. It just sucked that the only people good enough to support her through this situation also didn’t deserve to get hurt.

And why did they all seem so calm about the potential that a bear was around here? They were just people, and yes, they were used to living out here in the wild, but that didn’t make them any stronger.

Hadn’t they seen any nature documentaries?

“Hunter, can I talk to you? Back in our room?” she asked once he had finished his sandwich.

“Sure, what’s up?”

She was quiet as he followed her back to the bedroom they were staying in, trying to gather her thoughts. She sat on the bed facing him, putting her hands down on either side of her legs. “I… Maybe I should just move on again. Take the bear with me and leave you and your friends alone.”

Hunter’s jaw dropped, and he crossed his arms stubbornly. “No. Impossible.”

“I… This isn’t anyone’s problem but mine.”

His blue eyes held panic, and a muscle ticked in his strong jaw. “No. You can’t be leaving. You know we have something between us. You know it as well as I do. You can’t even try to deny it after last night. I felt the way you were in my arms.”

She swallowed. “I know. We do have something. That’s why I want to leave. Hunter, you aren’t a bear. You’re a person. I love that you believe me, and that will always mean a lot. But you’re no good to me dead, and I don’t think that bear will ever stop coming.”

“I told you I’m not going to lose.”

Her hands tightened into fists in frustration. “How do you know that? Hunter, he’s an apex predator. He has claws like knives, and all I can imagine is you getting torn up by them.” She lowered her head. “I love your confidence, but I’d rather lose you than see that happen.”

“Why don’t you have faith in me?” He reached down and took her hands, holding them gently in his. “When have I ever let you down?”

She blinked back tears. “You never have. Of course not. But that doesn’t mean you can fight a damn bear. Can’t you see that’s why I’m worried for you? You’re a good guy. You want to be the hero. You won’t ever back away from a fight when someone needs you.”

“Damn straight.”

“Even if you should,” she added, causing him to stare at her.

“You can’t be serious,” Hunter said. “After all we’ve been through, you’re going to give up?”

“I’m not giving up,” she said. “I’m just considering my options. I’m just dealing with the fact that someone could get hurt for me, and it’s someone I care for very much.”

“If you care for me, that’s enough. I’ll fight that bear for you. I promise.”

“I wish you wouldn’t.” She swiped at an errant tear. “I wish he would just go away. But I know he’s never going to, even if nobody understands. I know it deep down in my heart.”

“And I know something in my heart,” Hunter said. “How hard I’ll fight for you. How much you are mine.”

Despite her determination to argue with him, his words made her swoon.

No man had ever made her feel like this. No man would ever be like Hunter, with that hat he always wore or that beautiful, sun-bleached blond hair. Those sparkling, playful eyes that were reassuring no matter what was happening.

That personality that would walk into danger for another person no matter how unsafe it was for himself.

As much as it ached, she wanted him to be happy. Someone should get to enjoy him for a nice long life. He shouldn’t waste it getting killed by a bear for her.

“Want to take a nap? I’m still tired.” She patted the bed next to her.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Hunter said, flopping down on top of the covers with a sigh. “I’m fucking tired from last night.”

“I thought you were relaxed because I was there.”

“I was, but making love is overwhelming. Besides, if I’m going to protect you, I need to keep up my strength.” His voice was a mumble by the time he finished, and before she could even laugh softly at his comment, he’d fallen asleep.

For a while, she just sat by him, brushing his hair back and treasuring a quiet moment with her man. Memorizing his handsome features, the long lines of his body.

It could all be hers if she was willing to risk it for her own safety.

Hopefully, things would still work out fine.

She’d go back and grab what she could and take off somewhere. Like she probably would have to for the rest of her life. But at least she would know Hunter was safe. As much as he cared for her, she was sure any woman would be lucky to have him.

And any woman who loved him wouldn’t want him to die because he thought he could take on a bear.

He was so damn overconfident. Perhaps if she knew the reason why…

But a part of her knew that was just Hunter. He didn’t explain himself, and he made decisions on the fly. And he was too good of a man to ever walk away, so she would have to.

* * *

Hunter woke drowsily later that afternoon, groggy from sleep even as he realized that the sun was still blazing overhead, shining on the forest outside their window.

No time for more sleep. He had things to do today.

But something felt wrong.

“Sorry, Kelly. I didn’t know I would sleep so long,” Hunter said through a yawn, rolling over to see if she was still sleeping.

Pure horror froze Hunter’s veins as he turned onto his other side, hand reaching for a person that was not there. Like a bolt, he sat up in bed, looking around the room for her.

She was gone.

Maybe she was in the bathroom.

He practically leapt out of bed, checking all of the adjoining rooms. All of them were empty. So he raced to the kitchen. But as terrifying as it was that he couldn’t see her, the fact that terrified him most was that Kelly’s scent was faint, almost gone from the house.

If she’d been up walking around, he would have known it.

How had she disappeared on him like this? He was right there.

Hunter supposed staying awake all last night hadn’t helped at all.

“Hey, what’s up, man?”

Hunter whirled around to see Garrett standing in the hallway, looking at him curiously.

“Kelly’s gone.” Even the words made his blood run cold. An admission of failure with terrible implications, given their situation.

All he could see was Kelly’s face. Was she in danger at this very moment?

“Whoa, what?” Garrett’s cheerful gaze was instantly alert. “You sure?”

“She’s not here, but…” Hunter rushed to the front door, looking out the living room windows. Shit, her car was gone.

“Maybe she went to the store,” Garrett offered hopefully.

“No.” Everything felt wrong. She would have told him if it was just a casual stop at the supermarket. She knew what was at stake.

“Here, I’ll call Grayson. We’ll go looking for her.” Garrett pulled out his phone.

“I’m going after her.” Hunter interrupted, bursting out of the door and feeling the shift take over instantly. Huge paws and long, powerful legs took the place of his human arms and legs. He felt his senses heighten, his eyesight sharpen like a blade on a whetstone.

“Where are you going?” Garrett yelled. Even from a dozen feet away, Hunter could hear the tinny warble of Garrett’s phone still dialing Grayson.

If his intuition was right, he knew exactly where she was.

“Her place!” Adrenaline was pumping through Hunter’s body, making him numb.

“I’ll tell Grayson and meet you there as soon as I can,” Garrett called from behind him.

But Hunter’s legs were already carrying him forward with lightning speed as he took long bounds through the forest, making a direct line from Garrett’s place to Kelly’s little cabin on the far side of town.

In a vehicle, the drive would take much longer, even at reckless speeds, due to the circuitous route and the crappy condition of the roads. But as a giant cougar, he could traverse any terrain, no matter how rough.

As he ran, he knew this was all his fault. She’d been nervous before he’d taken a nap, and he hadn’t been able to reassure her. He’d hoped just his word would convince her enough.

But what had he even been thinking? That she’d just be okay with a human that claimed that he could take on a bear? It sounded stupid now that he thought about it, even if he’d never thought about it that way before.

He just hadn’t been ready to tell her about his cougar, to risk her looking at him with alarm and confusion in her eyes. What if she hadn’t believed him? What if she had rejected him.

He had just wanted to solve her problem first.

Now that wasn’t an option because her safety was the only thing on his mind right now. Not her opinion of him, not how she’d look at him for being a cat.

She must care about him. Otherwise, she never would have run to protect him. She didn’t want him or anyone to get hurt. But Hunter was desperate for her not to get hurt either, and now he was just praying he could get there in time.

He leapt over a log, not losing speed as his body compressed and lengthened in long extensions, covering several meters of distance with each stride. Birds flew away and small creatures fled the presence of the big cat running through the forest. But everything around him faded into the background as he whizzed through ferns and bushes and dodged trees and rocks, the singular thought of keeping Kelly safe circling his thoughts on repeat.

The minutes flew by, his lungs taking great heaves to keep up his pace, until he finally arrived at the cabin.

And with great relief followed by utter dread, he found Kelly.

And the bear that was about to become fucking mincemeat.

She was in her car, parked in her driveway. The bear, its gray and brown fur catching the light and making him look even bigger than he had at night, was pacing around the vehicle, scratching and scraping at the windows while Kelly huddled inside.

She’d probably tried to get home for safety, but the bear had been there at her house, waiting to trap her before she could get indoors.

It was time to end this.

Hunter strode forward, his cougar growling protectively, ready to tear anything and everything apart that threatened to harm his mate.

The bear had its front paws on the front of the vehicle and was rocking it up and down, making the shocks groan against the weight of the creature. Then suddenly it stopped, soulless black eyes looking over its shoulder in the direction of the sound.

Kelly had been mid-scream when the bear stopped, and she turned to look, too. Her eyes met Hunter’s, and she immediately shrieked again. Hunter was confused at first, then realized she was probably only more alarmed by the sight of a cougar coming into the fight.

The bear, however, knew exactly what was going on, and he pushed off the car, landing heavily on all four big paws. It moved away from the car but kept itself between Kelly and Hunter, blocking a direct path for Hunter to his mate.

He’d just have to rip this fucker to shreds before he could get Kelly out.

“Yeah, that’s right. Come and get a piece of pissed-off kitty,” Hunter growled at the creature. Even twice his size, Hunter had no fear of it.

The bear just cocked its head, growling with sinister possessiveness, too feral to be able to speak while in animal form. It paced slowly while Hunter circled it, every muscle in his body tensed, ready to strike first.

And then, with everything his cat had been holding back for days, ever since he’d heard about this fucking bear threatening Kelly, he leapt at it.

Kelly would never have to run again.