Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Ouch. Hopefully, his fright made me appear larger in his mind, but I did tend to pack on some weight in the fall. I was half bear, after all.
“Plus, I think he already ate someone else,” he added, his voice shaking again.
My brows furrowed as I tried to figure out his rationale, but came up empty. So, I asked, “Why do you think that?”
“He had someone's backpack! He probably gobbled its owner up before stealing it.”
I was sure he wasn't ready to hear the actual explanation, so I replied, “He probably just found it lying around somewhere. I bet the owner got scared off and left it behind.”
“I hope so. He was pretty scary.”
My heart ached over the fact I'd frightened my poor mate. It was the last thing I ever wanted to do. “Well, he's gone now. It's just you and me.”
“Are you sure?”
“I'm positive.” When he only answered with silence, I tried changing the subject and calming his nerves. “My name is Weldon, by the way. What's yours?” I needed to know the name of my fated one.
After another moment of silence, he finally answered, “Tater.”
Tater? What kind of name is Tater? An adorable one, that's what. A dumb smile crossed my lips as an equally dumb thought crossed my mind. Aw, he's my sweet tater.
“I promise you're safe, Tater. Can you climb down to me?”
To my surprise, he answered with a giggle. “It's Tatum.” Ohh, that makes more sense. I had excellent hearing, and I could only guess why I misunderstood him. Maybe he was covering his face since he was scared. “But Tater is cute.”
I bet he is. I was itching to see just how cute. I longed to lay eyes on my beloved. “Are you able to come down to me?”
“I don't think so.” He added quietly, “I'm too scared. I don't even know how I made it up here.”
I did; an adrenaline rush most likely fueled him. Tatum was more afraid of the bear than he was of the climb. Now that the “threat” was gone, his mind was getting in the way.
“You can do it,” I encouraged. I was strong enough to easily shimmy up the trunk to retrieve him, but I doubted the tree was strong enough to hold my broad, heavy body, let alone both of us. “I believe in you. Just take it one small step at a time.”
“Okay, I'll try,” Tatum replied, and pride surged in my chest.
“Good boy,” I answered on instinct, and heard a quiet gasp in reply. I had enough faith in Fate's pairing to believe it was a good gasp. I smiled when the leaves rustled as he moved. “Good job, Tater.” Knowing he approved of the nickname, I was more than happy to use it. “Nice and easy.”
After a few more moments, the leaves abruptly stop shaking. “Weldon?”
“I'm right here. Are you okay?”
“My head feels funny.”
I scrunched up my forehead once more. “Did you bump it?”
“No,” was followed by a shriek as branches creaked and Tatum's body came tumbling down, his arms and legs flailing.
I reached out and caught him, but before I could get a good look at him, Tatum wrapped his arms around my neck, and legs around my waist, holding onto me for dear life.
“It's okay,” I said as I hugged him back, rubbing my hand up and down his spine. “I've got you.” Daddy's got you. He'd been through enough of a shock, so I didn't push it by saying the words aloud.
His body trembled against me. Tatum was thin and light (and would be even if I didn't have shifter strength). The way his legs were stretched around my middle suggested he was much shorter than I was. A mop of rowdy brown curls topped his head, and I buried my nose in them, deeply breathing in his sweet scent.
“Thank you,” he whispered, hugging me tighter. “I got dizzy and lost my grip.” I assumed his nerves had gotten to him.
“I would never let you fall,” I promised. As much as I wanted to see Tatum's face, I wasn’t about to push him away. I was happy to hold his slim body against mine forever.
But after a few minutes, his breathing slowed down against me, and he pulled back. My jaw dropped at my first sight of him. He was stunning.
Tatum looked to be in his early twenties. His cheeks and jawline were smooth, and he had plush, pouty pink lips. But what captured my heart in an instant were a pair of light green eyes, which were wide as they studied my face.
I wasn't angelic as Tatum was. My skin was weather-worn, and a brown, bushy beard cascaded down my cheeks. My blue-gray eyes didn't sparkle in the sun like his. But Tatum appeared to like what he saw, judging by the slight blush of his cheeks and the way his tongue trailed across his bottom lip.