Mated to the Wilde Bear

“So, you’re DOT. That means you’ll be on site for the rescues this season?” Nash asked.

“Gerald’s still around,” she assured them. “He’ll be back from vacation in a few days. I’m filling in until he’s back and then who knows. I wouldn’t mind it, though. Today was fun to watch.”

“I bet.” Jake gave her an exaggerated wink and Xavier growled.

She laughed. “I meant the crowd. Your alpha caused quite a stir when he refused the medic’s help and opted to carry the guy all the way down.”

“Show off,” Jake said, and Nash shook his head.

“No wonder you didn’t call us,” Nash said. He leaned in and whispered to Laurel. “He just loves the spotlight. Doesn’t want any of us to get the attention.”

She shot Xavier a wry smile, remembering the way he ducked away from the crowd of women who’d shouted for him as he’d walked away from her. “Definitely a diva,” she agreed.

their community was so accepting of a crew of bears living so openly as shifters. When they turned on the charm, it

smiled more than she had in ages, but she didn’t fully relax. She’d have to be extra careful now not to show her fox, she realized, looking around the table as the guys all laughed and joked. More than once, she had to remind herself all she stood to lose if anyone at work found out about her animal. She’d lost a job before. Friends, family even, over her being a shifter, and she’d promised herself she’d never let that

others might. Anti-shifter talk had been growing in this town. A shame, since she’d moved here to escape where

at that and caught Xavier watching her before she could cover it

asked. She nodded. “Walk with

took his offered hand, following him back to the far end of the deck where they’d stood earlier. This time, he led her around the corner so that they were out of sight of the rest of the

a good

“It’s been a long time since I got out

toward her, closing the distance between them, and Laurel’s nerves rattled all over again—for a different reason. She’d been fine in front of the group. Even when Xavier’s hand had reached for hers under the table, she’d let him touch her and kept her thoughts mostly ordered. But standing here alone, without an audience, she couldn’t catch her breath. What

inhaled again, and this time, it wasn’t pine or forest she smelled. She froze. Pheromones. God, he’d smell her and