Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Amanda

T hey walked in silence through the snow-covered woods, the trees towering above them like ancient guardians. The air was crisp and cold, but Amanda barely felt it. Her mind was too preoccupied with what Rance might say, with the mystery that had been consuming her since the accident.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a clearing, the trees parting to reveal a frozen lake, its surface glistening under the pale winter sun. Rance stopped at the edge of the lake, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

"This place," he began, his voice barely more than a whisper. "This place is where it all started for me. It's where I first understood who I am."

Amanda's heart skipped a beat. "Who you are?"

Rance turned to face her, his expression shadowed. "I'm a shifter, Amanda."

"A shifter?"

He nodded. "A being that can shift between two forms—human and something else entirely. I can shift between my human form and that of an arctotherium—a kind of prehistoric arctic bear, to be exact."

Amanda's breath caught in her throat. She had suspected that there was something different about Rance, something not entirely human. But hearing him say it out loud was an entirely different matter.

"A shifter?" she echoed, trying to wrap her mind around the concept. "Like… a werewolf?"

Rance shook his head, a faint smile touching his lips. "Not exactly. There's no curse, no full moon required. It's just who I am. My kind—and others like us—have been able to shift for millennia. We're connected to the land, to the animals that inhabit it. It's as natural to me as breathing."

Amanda's mind was spinning, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. The dreams, the heightened senses, the strange connection she felt to Rance—it all made sense now. But one question still burned in her mind.

"What does this have to do with me?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Rance looked away, his jaw tight. "You're stubborn," he said with a smile. "No matter what anyone said, you wouldn't give up the idea that I had been there. You're right, I was. I pulled you from the wreck. You were close to death from blood loss and internal injuries. Had it not been for the freezing cold slowing your metabolism, you would have died. When I gave you my blood that night, I didn't just save your life. I passed on a part of my DNA to you. My blood carries the ability to shift, Amanda. And now, it's inside you, too."

Amanda's knees buckled, and she would have fallen if Rance hadn't caught her, his arms strong and steady around her. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice filled with a sorrow that cut through her like a knife. "I didn't have a choice. You were dying, and I couldn't let that happen."

Amanda's mind was reeling, her thoughts a chaotic jumble of fear and confusion. She had come here looking for answers, but now that she had them, she didn't know what to do, how to feel. Was he crazy? If he was, she must be too, as his explanation had the feel of truth and rationality. The life she had known, the life she had fought so hard to build, was slipping away from her, replaced by a reality she couldn't comprehend.

"What… what happens now?" she managed to ask, her voice trembling.

Rance released her, stepping back with a haunted look in his eyes. "That depends on you. You have to make a choice. You can stay here; learn to live with what you've become. I can help you, teach you how to control it. Or you can leave, go somewhere far away from here. Try to live a normal life, if that's still possible."

Amanda stared at him, her heart breaking at the thought of leaving. Despite everything, she didn't want to be away from Rance. The connection between them was too strong, too deep. But the thought of staying, of embracing this new reality, terrified her.

"I don't know what to do," she admitted, her voice cracking.

Rance stepped closer, his expression softening as he looked into her eyes. "I didn't give you a choice about whether or not you wanted to be turned. I took that away from you, but I will give you the choice of where you go from here. You need to make the decision that's right for you."

"There's more, isn't there." It wasn't a question, but rather a statement.

Rance said nothing, but something dark and dangerous flickered in his eyes. She searched his gaze, seeing the truth in his words. Despite the fear, despite the uncertainty, there was a part of her that knew she couldn't turn away from this, from him.

"I need time," she said finally, taking a step back, her voice steadying. "Time to figure this out."

Rance nodded, his expression understanding.

Amanda felt a sense of relief wash over her, knowing that she didn't have to face this alone but she wondered what it was he wasn't saying.

RANCE

"What is it, Rance? I need to know the truth—the whole truth."

Without a word, Rance stalked back to the cabin, his every movement taut with tension. He entered, a part of him hoping she would get in her SUV and go away, leaving him to wrestle with his demons alone. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls, but the warmth it offered did nothing to thaw the cold knot of anxiety lodged deep in his chest.

He had never imagined it would be this difficult. His entire life, he had been prepared for the moment when he would meet his fated mate—the one woman who was meant to be his, who would understand him in ways no one else could. He had been told stories by the elders, warned about the intensity of the bond, but nothing could have truly prepared him for the reality of it.

Meeting Amanda had changed everything. The moment he laid eyes on her, something deep inside him had recognized her as his mate. It was an instinct, a primal pull that went beyond logic or reason. But it was also a burden, one he wasn't sure he had the right to place on her.

Rance ran a hand through his hair, his frustration mounting as he tried to figure out how to explain the situation to Amanda. She deserved to know the truth, to understand what she meant to him, but the thought of overwhelming her, of taking away her choice, was unbearable.

He had always been a man of control, disciplined, and deliberate in everything he did. But this—this bond between them—was testing his limits in ways he had never experienced before. The urge to claim her, to make her his in every possible way, was a constant, driving force that gnawed at his self-restraint.

And yet, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not without giving her the chance to decide for herself.

The sound of soft footsteps pulled Rance from his thoughts. He turned to see Amanda standing in the doorway, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. She looked hesitant, as if she wasn't sure whether to approach him or give him space.

"Rance," she said softly, her voice pulling him closer like a magnet. "You've been getting more distant ever since I asked if there was more. I can tell something's bothering you. Please, just tell me what's going on."

Rance took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he had to say. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her, but she needed to understand what was at stake.

He closed the distance between them, stopping just short of touching her. The warmth of her presence was almost unbearable, a sweet torment that only fueled the fire burning inside him. "Amanda, there's something you need to know. Something I've been struggling with since the moment I realized what you mean to me."

Amanda's brow furrowed in concern, her gaze searching his face for answers. "What do you mean?"

Rance clenched his fists at his sides, fighting the instinct to pull her into his arms, to claim her right then and there. "You're my fated mate, Amanda. The one person in this world who was meant for me. It's not just a romantic notion—it's something deeper, something primal that's part of who I am—and who you are."

Her eyes widened, and he could see the confusion and fear flicker in their depths. But she didn't pull away. Instead, she stepped closer, her voice trembling as she asked, "Fated mate? What the hell is that?"

He exhaled slowly, trying to find the right words to explain. "It means that I'm connected to you in a way that goes beyond anything either of us have ever known. My instinct, my very nature, is driving me to claim you as mine. To protect you, to be with you in every way. But it also means that this bond isn't something you choose—it was decided by fate."

Amanda's gaze softened, but the uncertainty was still there. "And you're afraid of taking away my choice."

Rance nodded, his throat tightening with the effort to keep himself in check. "Yes. I don't want you to feel like you're being forced into something you don't want. I've seen what happens when someone feels trapped by the bond. It can lead to resentment, even hatred. I don't want that for us, Amanda. I want you to choose me because you want to, not because you're compelled to."

Amanda reached out, her fingers brushing against his hand. The simple touch sent a jolt of electricity through him, and he had to fight the urge to pull her against him, to bury his face in her hair and breathe in her scent.

"You're giving me a choice," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "But what if I choose you, Rance? What if I want this bond as much as you do? What if, even without knowing any of this, I felt this same pull to you?"

His heart hammered in his chest, the words he had longed to hear bringing both relief and torment. "If you choose me," he said, his voice rough with emotion, "then I promise you, I will be everything you need. I'll protect you, love you, and cherish you for as long as we live. But you have to be sure, Amanda. Once we complete the bond, there's no going back. We'll be connected in ways that go beyond just being together. We'll share everything—our thoughts, our emotions, our very souls."

Amanda's hand tightened around his, and he could see the determination in her eyes—the stubbornness—the strength that had drawn him to her in the first place. "I'm not afraid of that, Rance. I'm not afraid of what we could be together."

Rance's resolve wavered, the intense need to claim her warring with his desire to give her the time she needed. He could feel the bear inside him pushing against the barriers he had put up, urging him to take her, to make her his in every possible way.

But he couldn't do that. Not until she was absolutely sure.

"Amanda," he said, his voice strained, "I need you to understand that this isn't just about physical desire. The bond will change you, just as it's already begun to change me. You'll start to feel the pull, the same way I do. And it will only get stronger."

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with an emotion he couldn't quite place. "I understand, Rance. And I want this. I want you."

His control snapped. The moment the words left her lips, the dam inside him broke, and the full force of his need for her crashed over him like a tidal wave. He couldn't hold back any longer.

In an instant, he closed the distance between them, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her against him. His lips crashed down on hers with a hunger that had been building from the moment he first saw her, a hunger that only she could satisfy.

Amanda responded with equal fervor, her hands tangling in his hair as she pressed herself closer to him. The taste of her, the feel of her body against his, was intoxicating, and he knew that he would never get enough of her.

But even in the midst of his desire, Rance held back, giving her the chance to stop, to pull away if she wanted to. He had to know that this was truly what she wanted, that she was ready to accept the bond between them.

But Amanda didn't pull away. Instead, she deepened the kiss, her body molding against his as if she had been made to fit perfectly in his arms. Her willingness, her eagerness, was all the confirmation he needed.

With a low growl, Rance lifted her off the ground, carrying her to the bed in the corner of the cabin. He stripped them both of their clothes before laying her down gently, his hands trembling with the effort to maintain some semblance of control as he looked down at her.

"You're mine, Amanda," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "And I'm yours. Forever."

Her eyes met his, and in that moment, Rance saw the truth in them—she was ready. Ready to accept the bond, to be his mate in every sense of the word.

And with that realization, he let go of the last vestiges of his control. There was no more holding back, no more resisting the pull between them. They were fated to be together, and now, there was no turning back.

Rance leaned down, his lips finding hers once more as he claimed them in the way his very soul demanded. He poured all of his love, his need, and his desire into that kiss, knowing that this was the beginning of something extraordinary.