Page 16 of Rehabilitated

My bear is in heaven. Never shift back.

I snort. Tempting.

After a few minutes, Ever steps away.

“Okay,” she says, shaking out her hands. “My turn.”

I sit back on my haunches and watch her. She closes her eyes, and her face scrunches up in concentration. She’s so fucking cute. I fight the urge to shift back and kiss her.

I love her.

Of course I love her. She’s my mate.

She’s brave and sweet and funny. She survived years of abuse and still has so much kindness inside her.

Before Ever, every day felt the same. Wake up, eat, work, sleep, repeat.

Now my days are filled with her. Her smiles, her questions, her laughter, her scent all over my cabin.

Our home.

Ever takes a slow breath. “I can feel something.”

I lean forward, watching. Her eyes stay closed.

“It feels like something is pushing against me.”

That’s her, my bear says excitedly.

Ever’s hands clench at her sides. A second later, fur ripples along her arms.

My bear roars without thinking.

Ever’s eyes fly open. “What?”

I shift back so quickly that I nearly fall over. “You did it.”

“I did?”

“Fur. You had fur on your arms!”

Her mouth falls open. “I did?”

“Yes.”

She looks down at herself. “I didn’t see it.”

“It was there,” I promise.

Her grin lights up her entire face. “I’m getting closer.”

“You are.”

Ever closes her eyes again. This time, she looks more determined than nervous.

“Come on,” she whispers. “I know you’re in there.”

I hold my breath, watching like a hawk as her body trembles. Fur ripples over her arms again, then up her neck.