when the answer comes to me—werebear that are true mates. Andre finishes the song and falls silent. When we reach my dorm, both of us stop. I turn to face him as vapor streams out of his mouth. I ask, “Am I your true mate?”
“Yes.”
I look up to the sky, as if some divine intervention can strike down and save me from my destiny. My previous anger has a small resurge. “I’m not sure what to do with that, but I can tell you one thing—I do not belong to you.”
Andre says, “I don’t think you understand. You are mine the way I am yours. It goes both ways.” I frown as I shake my head, and he says, “Our destiny is to be together, but we have the power to change it. I’ve known it since the first time I saw you, and it’s what I want. But only if that’s what you want too.”
“I have a choice?”
“You do.” Andre gazes down at me with such tenderness that my heart hurts, as if a hand is squeezing it. I don’t know what to say, or what to think, and tears of frustration fill my eyes.
Andre strokes my cheek with the back of his hand. I want to pull away, but I lean into his touch instead. He says, “Merry Christmas, Vanessa.”
I step away, and my hands shake as I slide my keycard through the strip reader for the door. When it clicks open, I glance over my shoulder to say, “Merry Christmas, Andre.”
Chapter 11
C hristmas with my parents felt surreal. I watched the world I’d always wanted with fresh eyes as I imagined it without Andre. My parents are not happy because of their lifestyle, they’re happy because they’re in love. I realized that a gorgeous home, luxury cars, and country club events would mean nothing if I didn’t have a man I love by my side.
The interstate in northern Maine is only two lanes, and traffic is nearly nonexistent as I drive Ginny and me to Tori’s. If I choose Andre, I’m choosing the life of a werebear. I glance over at Ginny, my sister who is more than happy to become one for a life of forever love. As much as I wanted to talk to my mother about our werebear heritage, Ginny and I decided some things are better left unsaid for now. Judging from Mom’s reaction to Tori changing, we didn’t want to ruin Christmas by telling my mother that Ginny plans to do the same thing.
The tires rumble over the asphalt while I flip through the radio stations, searching for a song I like. I get fed up and tap the switch to off. Ginny’s asleep, so I hum Andre’s song softly to myself. The sense of loss I feel without him nearby is a constant reminder that I’ve fallen for him despite myself.
A large SUV speeds by, and the whoosh when it passes startles me. While I adore the concept of never having to question Andre’s feelings or my own, I’m nervous about what life with him would mean. I know that in order to have children, I’d eventually need to become a werebear. Andre is too in touch with his bear to ever be happy in a completely human world, and I’d never ask him to be. But do I really want to become a creature that must live a life of secrecy?
Ginny stretches beside me and lets out a sigh. “How much farther?”
“We’re about two hours away,” I say. “Feel like driving?”
“Sure. I need a bathroom stop.”
I recall a rest area sign I saw and say, “Just a few more miles.”
“I can’t wait to get there and see Adrian again.” She sighs as she hugs herself. “I miss him so much.”
I know what she means. Not only is Andre in my dreams every night, but being away from him has left me with a sense of loss that is like I’ve misplaced something important that I’m afraid I won’t ever find. And strangely, the closer we get to Maine, the more the pain eases up. Although as we get closer, flashes of black along the side of the road catch our attention, and we think we’re being watched by Tori’s clan.
After our pit stop, Ginny drives the rest of the way. We’re staying at Tori and Keith’s for New Year’s Eve and the week that
“Yes.”
I look up to the sky, as if some divine intervention can strike down and save me from my destiny. My previous anger has a small resurge. “I’m not sure what to do with that, but I can tell you one thing—I do not belong to you.”
Andre says, “I don’t think you understand. You are mine the way I am yours. It goes both ways.” I frown as I shake my head, and he says, “Our destiny is to be together, but we have the power to change it. I’ve known it since the first time I saw you, and it’s what I want. But only if that’s what you want too.”
“I have a choice?”
“You do.” Andre gazes down at me with such tenderness that my heart hurts, as if a hand is squeezing it. I don’t know what to say, or what to think, and tears of frustration fill my eyes.
Andre strokes my cheek with the back of his hand. I want to pull away, but I lean into his touch instead. He says, “Merry Christmas, Vanessa.”
I step away, and my hands shake as I slide my keycard through the strip reader for the door. When it clicks open, I glance over my shoulder to say, “Merry Christmas, Andre.”
Chapter 11
C hristmas with my parents felt surreal. I watched the world I’d always wanted with fresh eyes as I imagined it without Andre. My parents are not happy because of their lifestyle, they’re happy because they’re in love. I realized that a gorgeous home, luxury cars, and country club events would mean nothing if I didn’t have a man I love by my side.
The interstate in northern Maine is only two lanes, and traffic is nearly nonexistent as I drive Ginny and me to Tori’s. If I choose Andre, I’m choosing the life of a werebear. I glance over at Ginny, my sister who is more than happy to become one for a life of forever love. As much as I wanted to talk to my mother about our werebear heritage, Ginny and I decided some things are better left unsaid for now. Judging from Mom’s reaction to Tori changing, we didn’t want to ruin Christmas by telling my mother that Ginny plans to do the same thing.
The tires rumble over the asphalt while I flip through the radio stations, searching for a song I like. I get fed up and tap the switch to off. Ginny’s asleep, so I hum Andre’s song softly to myself. The sense of loss I feel without him nearby is a constant reminder that I’ve fallen for him despite myself.
A large SUV speeds by, and the whoosh when it passes startles me. While I adore the concept of never having to question Andre’s feelings or my own, I’m nervous about what life with him would mean. I know that in order to have children, I’d eventually need to become a werebear. Andre is too in touch with his bear to ever be happy in a completely human world, and I’d never ask him to be. But do I really want to become a creature that must live a life of secrecy?
Ginny stretches beside me and lets out a sigh. “How much farther?”
“We’re about two hours away,” I say. “Feel like driving?”
“Sure. I need a bathroom stop.”
I recall a rest area sign I saw and say, “Just a few more miles.”
“I can’t wait to get there and see Adrian again.” She sighs as she hugs herself. “I miss him so much.”
I know what she means. Not only is Andre in my dreams every night, but being away from him has left me with a sense of loss that is like I’ve misplaced something important that I’m afraid I won’t ever find. And strangely, the closer we get to Maine, the more the pain eases up. Although as we get closer, flashes of black along the side of the road catch our attention, and we think we’re being watched by Tori’s clan.
After our pit stop, Ginny drives the rest of the way. We’re staying at Tori and Keith’s for New Year’s Eve and the week that
Similar Books
