Chapter Fourteen: Levi

We should go with her,his bear said as Rosie said her goodbyes to his family.

And say what?Levi asked. If we go in the car with her, she’s going to ask how we plan to get home.

We could follow her in our truck,his bear insisted.

That might seem a little creepy,Levi said. He understood his bear’s eagerness to be with their mate, but they had to think carefully and rationally.

No, we have to show her our truer nature and then there would be no need for this sneaking around,Levi’s bear said with a huff and went off with his head down to sit in the back of Levi’s mind.

“Thank you so much,” Rosie hugged Mary. “It’s been wonderful.”

“We must do it again, soon,” Mary said, her eyes flickering to Levi’s face as she gave him a sad smile. “Or perhaps you, me, and Camille could get together for coffee. Just the three of us.”

“I’d like that.” Rosie eased herself out of Mary’s hug and turned to Camille. “I’m so happy for you both. A baby is the most precious gift.”

“I still can’t believe it,” Camille admitted. “But I’m so happy.” She dabbed her eyes. “I can’t believe how emotional I am.”

“Get used to it,” Rosie said. “Your hormones will be all over the place.” She hugged Camille. “But you’ll enjoy every minute of it.”

“I plan to.” As she pulled away from Rosie, Camille reached for Ezra’s hand.

I am so happy for him,Levi said and felt a pang of longing in his heart. He watched Ezra pull Camille close, their love shining as bright as the stars over the mountains on a moonless night.

Levi’s eyes drifted back to Rosie as her smile faltered for just a moment as she turned away. It was subtle, but Levi’s bear noticed; it always noticed everything about her.

She wants more children, too,his bear said wistfully.

Levi had sensed it when Camille made her announcement, and he’d heard Elliott say that he would love a brother or sister. Something Levi wanted more than anything.

A child. A family.

Our mate,his bear said.

Levi needed to tell her the truth. Time was running out.

“Goodnight.” Rosie stood before him, and he was lost for words.

“Mommy.” Elliott slid between them and reached for his mom’s hand. “I’m tired.” He rubbed his eyes and yawned widely. “Can Levi carry me to the car?”

Rosie raised her eyes to Levi’s, her gaze questioning. But he sensed the question she was asking might be more than whether he could carry her child.

Something changed today. And a surge of hope threaded through his veins.

“Sure.” Levi hunkered down and wrapped his arms around the boy before lifting him gently and holding his small body against his chest.

“I love the ranch,” Elliott said as he rested his head on Levi’s chest.

“I do, too.” Levi placed his large hand on the boy’s back and smiled.

“Don’t be a stranger,” Waylan called after them as Rosie led the way to the car.

“Goodnight.” She waved, her eyes lingering on the Thornberg family gathered on the ranch house porch.

“They like you,” Levi murmured as Elliott’s breathing deepened and his body relaxed.

“I like them, too,” Rosie said and glanced up at him with a shy smile. “They’re very welcoming.”

“They are,” he agreed.

“I guess that might be a perk of living in a small town,” she said as she opened the car door and he carefully placed Elliott in his seat.

“Does that mean small-town life might be growing on you?” he asked as he buckled Elliott in and checked he was secure. The little guy’s head lolled to one side, and his mouth was curved into a smile.

He’s having sweet dreams,his bear said.

“I can see the appeal.” As Levi straightened up, their eyes met. “I’ve had a wonderful day.”

“Me, too.” He reached out and placed his hand on her upper arm. Warmth flooded his veins, and he longed to pull her into his arms and hold her close.

“I should go.” Her voice was thick with emotion, and he got the feeling she was lying, that she didn’t want to go, that she wanted to stay.

Maybe forever,his bear said hopefully.

Then she stepped away, walked around to the driver’s seat, and got in.

He followed, trailing behind her like a lost bear cub. “Can I see you again?”

“Of course,” she said.

“I don’t mean just at Camille’s,” he said as he leaned down, his hand on the car door. “I was thinking of a date. You and me. And Elliott, of course.”

“I’d like that,” she said, color tinging her cheeks as she inserted the key in the ignition and started the engine. “Goodnight, Levi.”

“Goodnight.” He cracked a smile as he closed the car door and stood back as she drove away.

“You’re letting her go?” Henry asked as he came to join his brother.

“I’m not letting her go,” Levi said. “I’m trying to figure out how to get her to stay.”

“By the way she looks at you, I don’t think that will be too hard,” Henry told him.

Levi cracked a grin as he recalled the way Rosie had looked at him earlier. “I think you’re right. I hope you are right. But she’s a city girl and Bear Creek is about as far away from the city as it could be. And I don’t just mean the distance.”

“But you’re here and she can sense there is something between you. And the way she looks at you when you are with Elliott, she knows you are great father material.” Henry placed a hand on his brother’s back. “If you want my advice…”

“Always,” Levi said, looking up at his elder brother.

“Strike while the iron is hot.” Henry nodded. “Go. Now.”

“Now.” Levi was already moving away from Henry, his senses locked on his mate. He knew where she was going and if he cut across country, he could be there not long after she arrived at Bear Creek Lodge.

And then she can meet me, and learn what we are to each other,his bear said happily.

Levi broke into a run and shifted midair as he sprinted off across the meadow, the sound of his family whooping and cheering echoing behind him. The night air was cool against his fur, and the moonlight bathed the meadow in a silvery glow. He could smell the pine trees of the forest beyond.

He ran at a steady pace, his senses locked on his destination as he ran straight and true. But another part of him was locked on his mate.

The two would converge soon, and excitement built within him, each stride bringing him closer to Rosie. The rhythmic pounding of his paws on the earth was almost meditative, calming him.

He sensed her car as it reached the lodge and slowed, coming to a stop outside lodge number seven. Levi could almost picture the scene as she opened the rear passenger door and scooped Elliott into her arms, cradling him against her as she carried him up the steps and into the cabin.

He was close now. As he neared Bear Creek Lodge, he shifted back to human form seamlessly before he broke from the cover of the trees. He paused for a moment. He needed to think this through. He needed to have a plan.

Hi, I was in the neighborhood and thought I would drop in,just did not cut it.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath as he crossed the parking lot, heading straight for the door. It was time to trust in the mating bond and trust in fate. When he knocked on the door, the words would come to him.

And they would be the right words.

He climbed the steps and raised his hand, knocking lightly so as to not wake Elliott. He could sense Rosie on the other side of the door, uncertain, unsure.

Of course, she was unsure. Someone was knocking on her cabin door late at night.

“Rosie, it’s me.” He sucked in a breath. What if she didn’t recognize his voice? “Levi.”

Rosie took a couple of steps toward the door. “Levi? Is everything okay?” Then she opened the door.

“Everything is just fine.” He gave her a crooked smile.

“I don’t understand,” she said. “Did we leave something at the ranch?”

“No,” Levi quickly assured her.

Tell her she didn’t leave something, she took something,his bear said. Our heart.

Rosie would never accept us as her mate if I used that cheesy line,Levi told his bear.

“I wanted to come and see you,” Levi began. “There’s something I need to tell you. Or show you.” He nodded to himself. “Yes, I think showing might be better than telling.”

“Now?” she asked, tilting her body to the side to see past him. “You didn’t drive?”

“No,” he said. “I walked. Well, I ran.” His brows furrowed. “Technically, I didn’t run.”

“Are you all right?” she asked warily. “You seem anxious.”

“I am a little,” Levi said.

“Do you want to come in?” Rosie stepped back and opened the door wider.

“No, I think it’s better if you come outside,” he replied.

“Outside.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I can’t leave Elliott.”

“He’ll be fine,” Levi assured her. “We don’t have to go far. Just to the edge of the trees.”

She stepped forward and leaned out of the cabin door. “I don’t know.”

“Do you trust me, Rosie?” he whispered.

She stared at him for a moment as if considering his words before she nodded and said, “Yes.”

“Then come with me.” He held out his hand. “I promise I will keep my senses locked onto Elliott at all times.”

“Your senses?” she asked, but she didn’t move away from him.

“Yes. My senses,” Levi confirmed. “I know you can feel the connection between us. And that connection goes deep. And wide. I can sense Elliott asleep in his room and I promise that no harm will come to him.”

“And what about to me?” Rosie asked.

“No harm will ever come to you while I am around,” he said hoarsely.

Rosie stared at him as if searching for something in his eyes, some deeper assurance. Finally, she took a breath and stepped through the door, closing it softly behind her.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Let’s go.”

Levi’s eyes softened with relief, and he gently took her hand. Then they walked down the porch steps and across the parking lot to the edge of the forest. Before she stepped into the trees, she hesitated, and for a moment, he thought she was going to pull away and run back to the cabin.

He squeezed her hand, trying to instill a sense of comfort and trust. “Just a little farther,” he murmured, guiding her gently toward the darkening woods.

“Levi…” She tugged at his hand.

“Here.” He let go of her hand and stepped away from her. “I know you can feel the connection between us.”

She nodded and then cupped her face in her hands. “I do. At least I think I do. But I don’t understand.”

“You will.” He locked eyes with her. “You trusted me enough to come out here with me. Now I need you to trust me a little more.”

“Okay.” She pressed her lips together and wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself.

He wanted to go to her and hold her, but she needed to see his true self.

With one last look at his mate, he let go of the world. The air around him shimmered and crackled and popped with static electricity. Then, for an instant, he was gone.

His bear formed in his place, large and shadowy at first, and then his features filled in until he stood before Rosie in all his primal glory.

“What the hell!” She covered her mouth with her hands.

I sure hope she isn’t stifling a scream,his bear said as he stood still, frozen in place.

“You’re a bear.” Her brows knitted together as if she were trying to comprehend what was happening. “And you are real. You are real, aren’t you?”

The bear snuffled and shuffled his feet before taking a tentative step forward, his head low, trying to be as unthreatening as possible.

“You are real.” She threaded her fingers through his fur and then dropped to her knees and buried her face in his soft pelt. “This is unreal. Like something out of one of Elliott’s games.”

She stroked his hair, taking her time to trace the contours of his face with her fingers. Levi’s bear thrilled to her touch.

She’s right, this is unreal,he said.

No,Levi said. It’s very real.

They had done it! They had shown their true selves to their mate. And she had accepted him.