Mated to the Wilde Bear

Kelly whirled, eyes wide, as she pointed down at the animal print caught in the pile of flour. “Is this a… paw print?”

“Yes.” Laurel squeezed her eyes shut in resignation. After tonight, she wouldn’t deny it. Xavier might be a complete and total ass, but he’d shown her one thing: she couldn’t possibly continue this double life. Not in her own home. And she wouldn’t lie. Not after Xavier had just basically done the same thing to her.

Okay, maybe not an actual lie, but he was hiding something. And now that she knew how it felt, the shoe on the other foot sucked. Besides, she didn’t have the mental energy to even think of a good excuse right now.

She sighed. “I think it is.”

Kelly’s eyes narrowed to slits, and her head cocked sideways, her cropped brown hair bouncing. “Why are you wearing a man’s shirt?” Her expression changed as she finally noticed Laurel’s bare feet and the half-open back door. “Are you just getting home?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ll pay for it

Why would you do that? It’s

answer, but she felt Kelly’s suspicion finally

paw print in the flour and then back to Laurel’s feet. The cut from the lamp shard had already stopped

everyone. I’ve been busy at work and fighting it, and I think I waited too long this time and… I’m sorry. I’ll pay for everything,” she repeated, and because she knew she was rambling and Kelly hated that, she

wretched moment, and for a second, Laurel thought maybe she’d let it go. Accept it. Maybe she’d finally found a human who would let her be herself. But then Kelly’s face went red, and she stabbed a finger in

give notice. I know