After the sheriff had been taken to jail and booked, Brody headed straight to Millie’s hotel room. He had to tell her how he felt. He had to get it off his chest. He just didn’t feel he could handle all of this. He couldn’t bring her into this world.

He knocked on her hotel room and she opened it with a smile. “Hi,” she said, “I was just about to go to sleep.”

She was in her pajamas and looked tired.

“I can go,” he muttered.

“No. Come in. It’s fine.” She yawned and backed away, allowing him space to walk inside.

He ambled in and sat at the end of the bed. He held out his hand for her to sit next to him. She took it and sat beside him, holding his hand. The warmth of her skin and the fragrance of her body confused him even more. How could he bring this woman into his messed-up life? She deserved so much more.

“Brody,” she started. He looked up into her dark brown eyes. “Being your mate is important to me. It means something. And to be honest, I can feel it. I can feel that we are meant to be together. I’ve never had this experience before in my life. At first, I thought I was just being a hopeless romantic. Not that I’ve ever been that way, but because I lost my job and I’m in this new place, I thought maybe I was just vulnerable. But then, the urge to be with you felt so strong.”

Brody looked away and didn’t speak for a long time. He stared at the beige carpet until his eyes stung. Then he looked up at her again.

“My world isn’t safe, Millie. I’m a mess. I’m broken. I’ve been drinking. It isn’t fair to bring you into this.”

She squeezed his hands tighter and put her delicate fingers on his jaw, forcing him to look at her. “None of that matters if we’re together. You just have to trust me.”

“I do trust you, Millie. It’s me I don’t trust. And the evil, ignorant humans in the world.”

“It’s okay. We’ll figure it out together.”

She slid forward and wrapped her arms around his chest, pulling him tight to her. He enfolded her in his arms and the surge of love and desire burst in his gut. He wanted to protect her. He wanted her to be safe and happy. But he also wanted her to be with him, forever.

All at once, he flipped her over on the bed, under him. He growled, growing hard instantly.

“Millie, marry me, have my cubs, be my mate,” he growled, his bear coming through his voice.

Millie gasped and giggled, pushing against his chest playfully. “I want that too,” she whispered.

He sank down and kissed her. The smell of her body was driving him wild. His bear burst forward in his mind and took over. All at once, he was yanking at her pajamas, pulling down her pants. Millie panted and made sexy little moans as he opened her up to him.

He pulled open his pants and sank inside her wetness as she wrapped her legs around him. “Oh Brody,” she whimpered.

“I’m going to claim you, Millie,” he growled. “I’m going to turn you.”

“Turn me?” she said panic in her voice.

He thrust into her; totally sure of what he needed to do now. She would be safer with her bear. If she was to be his mate, the haters would be after her no matter what. With the bear inside her, she could fight back. It was all so clear now.

“Yes. Are you ready for this?” He pulled back and thrust into her again, making her eyes roll back. She moaned with each thrust.

“I’m ready,” she gasped. “Make me yours.”

He roared and his sharp teeth descended in his mouth. He threw his head back and bit down hard on her neck, sinking his teeth deep into her veins. Millie screamed as she came hard on his cock, clenching around him as he pumped into her.

He was so close. When he marked her, she’d be forever changed. Tonight, the moon would be full and she would shift for the first time.

Firing his seed deep into her core, Brody came with an erupting force he’d never experienced. His teeth still deep in her neck, pleasure and hunger itched at his entire body. He pulled his teeth from her neck, licking the wound clean. Pulling his shaft from her, he rolled over, pulling her into his arms on his chest.

The itching contractions in his body still shot through him as he petted her hair. “You’ll change when the moon rises,” he told her.

“Tonight?” she sounded worried.

“Better to rip it off like a bandage,” he told her.

“This is a lot to take in.”

“We’re in it together, babe. Let’s go.”

He knew for sure this was what was right. He’d taken her by surprise, but he knew this more clearly than anything he’d ever known. He and Millie belonged together and he would do whatever it took to keep her protected and by his side. Changing her was the best way to do all those things.

“It’s going to hurt the first time,” he said, pulling some hotel bathrobes out of the bathroom. He handed her one and put one on himself.

“How bad?” she looked nervous as she pulled the robe on.

“Pretty bad, but I’ll be with you. And it won’t ever hurt again.”

“Okay,” she said, biting her lip.

“It will be okay,” he whispered. “Millie. I’m sorry I’ve been holding back from you. But I’ll never hold back from you again. I can see clearly now. We belong together. You’re mine and I’m yours. This is the surest way to declare our connection. This is my complete commitment to you. I’ll never hurt you. I’ll always protect you.”

“I’ll admit, I’m a little confused. And worried. I wanted you to open up to me, but I didn’t realize you’d be ready to turn me so fast.”

“That’s something you need to know about me. I’m kind of impulsive.”

“I’ve already seen that,” she said laughing.

“We need to go. The moon is rising.”

He took her hand and led her out of the hotel and into the forest near the lake. No one would be around this late at night. They’d have the forest and lake to themselves. The moon began to rise over the lake, and they dropped their robes on the fishing dock. Millie stood naked on the dock, the moon bathing her skin.

She screamed and doubled in on herself. “Oh God!” she yelled as the pain took her over.

“Just let go, Millie. Just let it take you.”

With a tortured roar, Millie’s body contorted into the form of a grizzly bear. Wind off the lake blew through her fur. She was magnificent. Brody changed all at once and stood beside her on the dock as she panted.

He called out to her through their link. Her animal eyes glowed in the moonlight, new awareness blinking to the surface. She roared as she followed him into the forest. Her excitement was palpable as they galloped through the trees.

In that moment, Brody knew he’d never been happier in his life.