Page 18 of Goldie's Grumpy Grizzly
“They’re not right. You’ve been working hard. I’ve seen you. How’s it been going?”
“Yeah, better than I expected, actually. I’m getting there, but I’m still worried I won’t be able to pull it off.”
“Your track record is your past. It doesn’t define the path you choose to walk from this moment forward.”
“Yeah? Try telling my family that.”
“Family should be there to support you, build you up when you need it, or maybe give you a swift kick in the ass, if necessary. Not add to your stress and make you doubt yourself. You shouldn’t have to live up to anyone else’s expectations but your own.”
“But everyone wants—”
“Everyone else can suck it,” he bites out. “You get to decide what you do or don’t do, Goldie. You control your own destiny. You’re the boss. What matters is what you want. So, what is that? What do you want?”
Heart pounding, I open my mouth and the truth tumbles out. “To belong.”
Cole yanks me to him and hugs me tight. Planting a soft kiss along my temple, he murmurs into my hair. “You belong, Goldie. You belong with me.”
I inhale the pine and berry scent clinging to his skin and wish it was the truth.
Then he takes a deep breath and lets it out, long and slow. “Rae, you’re my mate.”
Chapter Eight
Cole
This news doesn’t go over the way I expect.
“What?” She pulls out of my embrace, hugging herself against the chill of the night. I want to draw her back into my arms, but she’s holding herself away from me, and I won’t force her.
“You’re my mate,” I repeat, cursing myself for even bringing it up. If it wasn’t for the fact that she’d been looking a little sad and lost talking about not quite fitting in with her family, I wouldn’t have felt so strongly about making sure she knew she had support. My support. As her mate. “My bear scented you and recognized you from the start. It’s why I can’t keep my paws off you, why you feel drawn to me. We’re meant to be together.”
“I… I don’t know what to do with that information.” She blinks at me and my heart sinks. “Does that mean we’re—”
“We’re soulmates. Destined. Even if you choose not to have me, and it is your choice, I am bound to you. Yours. Always.”
“This is a lot to take in.” Rae turns and heads down the path toward the cabin—we’re close now—and I chase after her, not sure what’s rolling around in her head.
Pain slices through me. She doesn’t want me. This life, stuck up at the base of the mountains, roughing it in a cabin. Considering the lifestyle she’s used to, maybe this is all too quaint for her.
My bear whimpers.
I’ve royally fucked this up.
“Talk to me, Rae. What are you thinking?”
She whirls around. “Oh, I don’t know, Cole. I’m thinking you said you knew from the start and you didn’t tell me until now. I’m thinking you told me point blank that you didn’t want a mate, but you let me think I could share an intimate moment with you and still be able to walk away.”
“Is that what you want? To walk away?” My hurt gives way to irritation.
“No!” she explodes, then draws a shaky breath. “I don’t know. We’ve just met, Cole. All these feelings, this connection between us is still so new. So intense. But you should’ve told me so I could consider what to do about it for myself.”
Blood running cold, I shake my head and curl my hand into a fist. “You know what? This was a mistake. I should’ve never touched you. I should’ve never told you. I knew it wasn’t worth the risk. Forget I said anything.”
She recoils as if I’d slapped her. “I just… I need time, Cole.”
“Have all the time you want,” I snap. “I’ve got to go.”
“Running away again?” she asks tiredly. “It’s late. Just come in. We’ll figure this out.”
