Chapter Twenty-Five: Clint

Chapter Twenty-Five – Clint

The morning sun crept over the horizon, casting a soft glow on cabin number five as Martha and Clint prepared for her departure. Despite the heaviness in his heart, Clint knew he had to let her go.

She has to do this,his bear reminded him.

I know, but it doesn’t make letting her go any easier,Clint replied. But she had something she needed to accomplish, and he needed to be strong for her.

Martha looked into Clint’s eyes, her eyes filled with strength and passion. “I promise I’ll come back, Clint. This is where my life is. This is where my love is.”

Clint held her close, his strong arms enveloping her as if he could shield her from the world. While in his head, Clint’s bear moaned mournfully, feeling the impending loss.

With a heavy heart, Clint helped Martha pack her belongings. They moved in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, neither wanting to acknowledge the fact that she would soon be leaving. As Martha carefully folded her clothes and placed them into her suitcase, Clint felt a pang of sadness.

“Are you sure you have everything?” he asked, breaking the silence.

Martha nodded, forcing a small smile. “Yes, I think so. You know I wish I didn’t have to go,” she replied, her voice laced with sadness.

“I do,” Clint replied, his voice equally filled with regret. “But it’s only for a short time, and we’ll make the most of it when you get back,” he added, trying to sound optimistic.

Martha turned to face him, her eyes filled with emotion. “I’m going to miss you so very much,” she said softly.

Clint’s heart swelled with love for her. “I’ll miss you, too, but we’ll talk every day. You’ll see,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. He didn’t want to be without her, even if it was just for a short time.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally finished packing. Martha zipped up her suitcase and turned to face Clint.

“I guess this is it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Clint took her hand and squeezed it gently. “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon,” he said with conviction.

Martha leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you, too,” Clint reached for and held her tightly as if he never wanted to let her go.

But at least she’d said the words he had always hoped to hear from the lips of his mate.

“I should get going. My mom and dad are expecting me.” She brushed a hand across her eyes. “They’ll worry if I’m late. I sometimes wonder if they realize I’m a grown woman.”

“I’m sure we’ll feel the same about Freddy.” Clint reluctantly let her go and picked up her suitcase to carry it out to her car.

Freddy, sensing the somber mood, had hugged Martha goodbye earlier this morning before shoving his hands in his pockets and announcing that he was heading over to Grant’s ranch to help with the horses. His eyes had glistened with unshed tears, but he tried to be strong.

Clint would check in on him later. But the horses over at the ranch would be good at giving a wounded heart comfort.

Our heart is wounded,his bear groaned.

Clint leaned in for a tender, lingering kiss as Martha stood by her car. Their lips met in a bittersweet union, both knowing they had to let go for now but hoping for a swift reunion. With a last wave, Martha started the car and pulled away, leaving Clint standing alone on the pavement.

As he watched her drive off, the scene reminded him of the day she had first arrived, and a sharp pain stabbed him in the chest. The memory of that day was filled with hope and excitement, but now it was tainted with an ache for her return. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing now that she was gone, and he longed for her presence to fill the empty space in his heart.

Despite the pain, Clint truly believed that their love was strong enough to withstand the distance. With that thought in mind, he turned and walked across to the reception area, the key to empty cabin number five in his hand, already counting down the days until he would see Martha again.

He hung the key in the carved wooden box that his father had made. His gaze was drawn to the empty space where Martha’s car had stood, and he opened the door and went back out into the crisp mountain air.

The urge to shift became too strong to resist, and Clint finally surrendered to the call of his bear. The air around him crackled with static electricity as his human form vanished, replaced moments later by his magnificent bear.

His thick fur ruffled in the breeze, a testament to his power and grace. With a mighty roar, Clint wheeled around and charged into the mountains. This landscape was his sanctuary, a place where he could find solace and strength. He ran fast and hard, his powerful muscles propelling him forward, the wind whipping past him as he pushed himself until his muscles ached and his lungs burned, embracing the raw energy that surged through him.

Eventually, Clint slowed his pace and approached a bubbling stream filled with ice-cold water from the melting snow and ice. He lowered his head and drank deeply, the refreshing liquid invigorating his weary body.

He drank his fill and then raised his head, surveying the surrounding forest. It was a magical place, alive with the wisdom of the trees and the whispers of the wind. As he listened, the trees seemed to murmur reassurances, telling him that his mate would return. Their soothing voices filled him with hope, and he found a newfound sense of peace.

With renewed strength, Clint continued his journey through the mountains, each step a reminder of his love for Martha and his commitment to their shared destiny.

Drawn by an inexplicable force, Clint made his way toward the shack that Martha intended to buy. He had no tools with him, but the need to do something, to be close to her in some way, was irresistible.

I can knock down a few walls with my paws,his bear said.

As long as you don’t get too carried away,Clint replied. Martha never asked us to demolish the shack.

His bear huffed. It sure would make me feel better.

As he approached, his heart ached, and yet a new excitement filled him. There was something there. In the distance. Could it be true?

He ran on and on, faster and faster, until he was certain of what he could feel. His mate! But how could it be? She had left more than a couple of hours ago. She should be halfway home by now. But then he reminded himself that this was her home now, too. Fate had brought her here once, so why not again?

Clint raced toward the shack, driven by the powerful connection between them that resonated deep within his soul. As he neared the clearing, his keen eyes spotted Martha’s car parked nearby. His heart leaped with joy, and he slowed his pace, transforming back into his human form just before he reached the shack.

“Martha!” he called out, his voice filled with disbelief and elation.

Martha stepped out from the shack, her face beaming with happiness and surprise. “When you weren’t at the lodge, I figured you might come here.”

Clint fisted her hair and lowered his head, capturing her mouth. She gasped and melted into him, her body trembling as his lips moved hungrily against hers. He nipped her bottom lip before sliding his tongue inside her mouth, tasting and savoring her sweetness while his fingers caressed her cheeks tenderly. Martha clung to him, their kiss deepening as they stood in the mountain’s shadow.

When their kiss finally broke, Clint looked into her eyes, curiosity gleaming in his gaze. “Why are you here? I thought you were on your way to your parents’ house.”

“I was.” Martha broke away from him and stared out across the meadow, her eyes distant. “I got a call from Fiona. She told me that Diedre had been dealt with.”

“Dealt with?” Clint asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What does that mean?”

Martha turned back to face him, her expression a mixture of relief and uncertainty. “Fiona didn’t go into detail, but she said that Diedre won’t be a problem anymore. She must have found a way to handle the situation and protect Freddy.”

Clint wrapped his arm around Martha, pulling her close. “That’s great news. We can all move on as a family.”

Martha leaned against Clint’s broad chest, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “You’re right. We can focus on our future now. Finally, we can make our dreams come true.”

“Speaking of our future,” Clint said, his voice filled with anticipation. He shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small box. “While you were walking in the woods, I went through my stuff and found this. It belonged to my mother. And her mother before that. It’s part of me, part of my family, just like Freddy’s compass.”

Martha’s eyes widened, and Clint could hear her heart racing. Sensing her excitement and expectation, he slowly opened the box, revealing a beautiful diamond solitaire ring nestled within. Dropping down on one knee, he looked up at her with love and devotion in his eyes.

“Martha, from the moment I met you, I knew you were the one I was destined to be with. You are the other half of my soul, and your love has filled my life with purpose and joy. I want to spend the rest of my days with you, laughing, crying, and overcoming every challenge life throws our way. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and my partner on this journey?”

Martha’s eyes glistened with tears of happiness as she looked down at Clint, overwhelmed by the depth of his love. Unable to contain her joy, she nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion. “Yes, Clint, yes! I would be honored to be your wife and share my life with you.”

Clint slipped the ring onto Martha’s finger, and it sparkled as the sun glinted off the diamond. “Where it belongs.”

“And I’m where I belong,” she told him. “And I hope I never have to leave again.”

Clint took Martha’s hand, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, and led her toward the shack. “Shall we choose a bedroom?” he asked with a playful wink.

Martha laughed, glancing around at the somewhat dilapidated state of the shack. “This place is going to need a lot of work before I’d be willing to sleep here,” she teased.

Clint leaned in, his voice low and sultry as he whispered in her ear, “Who said anything about sleeping?”

A shiver of anticipation ran down Martha’s spine, and she looked at Clint with a flirtatious grin. “Well, in that case, let’s make the best of what we have right now,” she replied, her voice filled with warmth and desire.

As they stepped into the shack, hand in hand, the world outside seemed to fade away. In this moment, it was just the two of them, bound by love and passion. They knew that there would be challenges ahead and that the shack would require a lot of work to become their dream home, but they were ready to face it all together, side by side.

The future was theirs, and together, they would create a life filled with love, laughter, and the unbreakable bond of two soul mates.

Plus, Freddy.