Standing outside the guest room door, Cage took a deep breath. He listened and didn’t hear anything. So he knocked quietly. “Sophie, honey, can I come in?”

There was no answer, so he knocked again. Still quiet, he tried the handle and found it unlocked. Pushing open the door, he scanned the room looking for her. The lamps were off and the only light was from the bright moon shining into the room.

“Sophie?” Walking to the end of the bed, his eyes caught on a huddled figure squeezed between the wall and the nightstand. Sophie with her legs drawn up and her head on her knees, she appeared so tiny.

“Oh, baby,” he whispered and approached her slowly.

Sophie’s head came up and he could see the tracks the tears had left down her face. Kneeling in front of her, not wanting to frighten her, he held out his hand.

Sophie stared at it blankly for a moment, then looked up to Cage. Soft blue eyes looked back at her with so much love and concern, the side of Sophie that wasn’t freaked out about her man being a bear pushed the scared part back and launched herself at Cage.

Strong arms wrapped around her as he fell back on his ass, leaning against the wall to brace himself. Sophie straddled his legs and wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her head in his neck and let wracking sobs pour out of her.

“Baby, shhhh,” he said rubbing her back, trying to absorb her pain.

“I didn’t know how to tell you, I didn’t want to freak you out. We are so new and I’ve waited so long for you,” he tried to explain.

“You...you...lied to me,” she sniffled against his shirt.

“No, honey, I didn’t lie. I just hadn’t gotten around to telling you. And I was going to, believe me. I just hadn’t figured out how. I certainly wasn’t going to show you my bear and end up naked and bleeding in front of you.”

“I don’t understand how you’re a bear. Are all Americans bears? Is this a national secret the world doesn’t know about?” she hiccupped.

“No, darlin’, not all Americans are bears,” he laughed.

Taking a deep breath and placing a kiss on her head he started, “My family are all werebears or you can call us shifters, as are my cousins, aunts and uncles. Our clan has lived in this area long before there were states. We were born this way, as are all shifters.”

“Shifters? Like other animals?” she said in a shocked hush.

“Yes, wolves, big cats and the like. We all stick to ourselves; it’s easier to keep our secret that way. We’d be hunted down if people found out. And we are happier living quietly. Our bears pick us when we are very young. We are born shifters, but our bear halves are fated to us. Something about our individual souls draws them to us. The fates bring us together. And for each bear we have one true mate. The One that our human and bear halves can’t live without. You are that for me, Sophie. My true mate, perfect for me in every way. My last date was over twenty years ago. I knew I wouldn’t be happy, truly happy, until I met you.”

“Twenty years? What, you stopped dating as a teenager?” she sniffed.

“Not exactly, weres age a little slower than humans,” he hedged.

“How old are you?” she whispered, curiosity overruling her fear.

“Well….” Cage started.

Sophie waited, then pulled away from his chest and stared at him. Cage brought his thumbs up to her cheeks and brushed away the last drop of her tears.

“I’m technically, fifty-four years old,” he said, waiting for her to jump off his lap and kick him as she ran screaming the other direction. Oddly, he thought she might accept his bear easier than his age.

“Fifty-four…” she whispered, “You don’t look a day over thirty. Do you mean if we stay together I’m going to grow old while you stay handsome and young?” she asked in a near panic.

“Not exactly…”

“Cage Rochon, I am trying to stay very calm and listen to what you have to say, but if you don’t start being more forthcoming with information I won’t be able to stay. Tell me what I need to know, please…I don’t want to lose you,” she cried.

“I’m sorry Sophie, you’re right. Once a bear finds their true mate, there is a claiming. Basically bears bite each other, not only to taste each other’s blood which links them, but also to mark their mate so others know they are taken.

Since you aren’t a were, obviously you won’t be biting me. But to complete our mating, I would mark you. I’ve heard it doesn’t hurt really, the mark happens during sex and I’d make sure you are very happy before I did it,” he tried to joke.

Sophie gave him a raised eyebrow and he continued.

“Mated couples usually start a family pretty quickly. Our race is rare and each child is precious. I had to ask my uncle, who is our Alpha, what happens when one mate is human. He says after the claiming my DNA would change you on a biological level. You’ll still be human, but you’ll age slower and be able to carry our cubs.”

Sophie sat chewing her lip. Cage watched and gave her time to absorb the information. He kept rubbing her back hoping the fact she was still sitting on his lap was a good sign.

When Sophie took in a deep breath and looked Cage in the eye, he held his breath. What she said next would mean either his eternal happiness or the total destruction of his heart.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes, okay,” Sophie repeated.

“Okay, what, honey?” Cage asked, confused.

“Okay to all of it.”

“You are saying okay that I’m a bear, that we are fated mates, that I want to bite you and mark you, make babies with you and live happily ever after?” he asked in disbelief.

“Sure, but I want to meet your bear,” she demanded. “As long as it’s safe.”

“Of course you can meet my bear, honey. He wants to be around you. But I’m a little taken aback by your easy acceptance.”

“Oh, it wasn’t easy, Cage Rochon. I’ve been in here thinking about whether I should be heading to the airport. If I should find a gun and shoot you. If I should I call the national media and out you for being a big hiding wanker. But all of those ideas made me sad. They made me sad because I knew that I’d never be the same if I wasn’t with you. I love you Cage, I don’t know how or why, but I do and I can’t live without you.”

Cage realized his prayers had been answered in the curvy, vivacious beauty sitting in his lap. The fates had blessed him beyond measure and he sure as hell wasn’t going to screw this up.

“Honey, that is the best thing you could ever say to me. I love you more than my own life. I will cherish every day I have with you. Protect you and love you with everything that I am. I swear.”

Sophie let his declaration wash over her. The beauty in the words were nothing compared to the absolute conviction with which he said them.

“I believe you,” she said, giving him a kiss.

He tried to deepen the kiss, but Sophie pulled back. “I want to meet your bear. What if we don’t get along? What if he doesn’t like me?” she said worriedly.

“Trust me, honey, he already likes you. But if it means that much to you, let’s take a walk. I’ll introduce you two.” He lifted her off his lap and stood, pulling her up with him.