25. Jaxson

The next morning, I arrived at the ranch with a sense of determination mixed with dread. I needed to see Rhys to try to make sense of everything that had happened. When I arrived at the ranch, I headed straight for his house. He had shown me which one was his the first time we came over for dinner at Gabe’s place. I knocked and called his name, but there was no response. The silence made my heart pound with anxiety.

I had no choice but to call Hunter, hoping he could help.

We met up at his house, and it didn’t surprise me when all the brothers showed up: Gabe, Austin, Hunter, and Graham, each with their mates—Kian, Nash, Sage, and Cooper. The tension in the air was palpable. All the mates shot daggers at me with their eyes, but I ignored them, my focus solely on finding Rhys.

“Where’s Rhys?” I asked, my voice tight. “I— we need to talk.”

Hunter stepped forward, his expression serious. “He ran off into the woods. He’s in his bear form, and hasn’t turned back. We’re worried he might go feral if he stays that way too long.”

The gravity of the situation hit me hard. Rhys could lose himself completely if he didn’t return to his human form.

“I need to talk to him,” I said. “I need to make this right.”

I didn’t know how or if there was a way, but I had to try, right?

Gabe nodded, though his eyes were filled with suspicion. “We’ll take you to where we last saw him. But you need to understand—this isn’t just about you and Rhys anymore. If he goes feral, it’s dangerous for everyone.”

I understood their concerns, but knew I had to try. Emilia was in my arms, her little face peaceful in sleep. Kian stepped forward, offering to take her.

“Are you one of them?” I asked, my voice edged with unease.

Kian shook his head. “No, but I am a parent to one, as are you.” His words reverberated through me, hitting hard. He was right. I felt a wave of guilt wash over me as I handed Emilia over to him, realizing the depth of my prejudice and how it had clouded my judgment.

We headed into the woods, a silent procession led by Rhys’s brothers. The forest was dense, shadows dancing between the trees. My heart raced with each step, the urgency driving me forward. We reached a dense thicket where they had last seen him.

“He’s in there somewhere,” Graham said quietly.

“No he’s not,” I said.

I wasn’t sure why, but I moved to the front. “He’s not here anymore. We should keep going.”

They didn’t ask how I knew instead all four followed my direction without question.

I nodded, steeling myself. I took my gun out, just in case, though the thought of using it against Rhys made my stomach churn.

While his brothers had struggled to find him in the vast forest, I seemed to have no trouble at all. We ventured deeper into the woods, the branches above blocking out most of the sunlight, casting a dim, eerie glow over our surroundings. The further we walked, the more I could sense Rhys’s presence. It was almost like I was drawn to him, an invisible thread pulling me through the dense woods, if you believed in such things. If people could turn into animals, then anything was possible. It was then that Hunter’s words from that day at range came back to me. Mate… could it?

Now was not the time, but it made sense.

As we pressed on, I spotted a flicker of movement ahead and quickened my pace. The others followed suit, their tension palpable as we pushed through the undergrowth.

And as if I’d conjured him out of thin air, there he was.

Rhys stood in a small clearing, his massive bear’s form towering over us all. His fur was ruffled and his eyes shone with a mix of fear, defiance, and what I thought might be longing. Maybe I was pushing my feelings on him. I took a step forward, my voice soft but firm.

“Rhys,” I called out, trying to keep my tone soothing. “It’s me. Please come back to us.”

His gaze locked with mine, a surge of emotions swirling in those deep brown eyes. For a moment, there was nothing but silence as we stared at one another. Then I heard a low growl.

I took a chance and glanced behind me, only to realize I was alone. With a pissed off bear.

“Rhys, it’s me. I’m so sorry. I reacted like an asshole because I was scared.” I probably still was. But now was not the time to focus on that. “But I love you, and I want to understand. Please, come back.”

All I got was another growl in response, and I couldn’t help wondering if he was growling because he was pissed? Or because he didn’t remember me?

My breath caught in my throat as I cautiously approached, remembering all the lessons Rhys had taught me about temperament when dealing with Emilia. “Rhys,” I called softly, keeping my voice steady. “It’s me, Jaxson.”

The bear’s eyes locked onto mine again, a glint of recognition flickering within them. At least I hoped that was what it was. And since he didn’t attack, I took it as a good sign. In that moment, I realized that Rhys would never hurt me or Emilia. The growling subsided slightly, his body tense but not aggressive.

“I’m sorry for everything I said and how I reacted. I’m sorry for pointing my gun at you, but I was terrified. It’s no excuse now, but I was shocked,” I said, my voice trembling with sincerity. “I love you, and I want to be with you. I want to raise Emilia and our baby with you. And I trust you completely.Bear or no bear.”

Suddenly, it occurred to me that I’d been in a house with all of his siblings and never feared for my safety, or Emilia’s.. And they all had a very good reason to be pissed at me.

To prove that I meant what I’d said, I slowly lowered the gun and set it down on the ground. My heart pounded in my chest as I crouched there, vulnerable.

Suddenly, Rhys came charging at me. I could have grabbed the gun and shot him, but my muscles wouldn’t allow me to do it. I’d rather die than hurt him…again. In that moment, I decided it was better to be mauled than to hurt Rhys one more time.

Rhys’s massive form bore down on me, but instead of the expected impact, he stopped just inches away. His hot breath fanned over my face, and I could see the internal struggle in his eyes. He was so close that I could see the individual hairs of his fur.

“I love you, Rhys,” I whispered, closing my eyes. “I trust you.”