Destined Bear (Windridge Den #3)

7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Finn

I had no idea what I was doing. My car was completely packed with all of my belongings, each item organized into neat little boxes or bags. My knickknacks were carefully wrapped and labeled, fitting in the car more easily than I’d expected, but somehow, I managed. It took far less time than I initially thought it would, and now that it was done, I questioned if I should’ve slowed down. This move was suddenly barreling at me at full speed.

That morning, Aydan and Jayce had dropped off boxes for me. Packing was quick, and once I realized it would be done early, I’d planned to be on the road by noon. At the time, it felt like the best idea. Don’t linger. Kind of like when you pulled a band-aid off.

Only, just like with a band-aid, I was hesitant at the last second. It was going to hurt. Fuck that. It already hurt. I was prolonging the inevitable.

I’d already moved out of the cabin. I’d been calling home for the past several months, and a new tenant was moving in the very next day. Now that I had officially left and put the keys on the counter, there were probably a few den members there cleaning up. I no longer had a place in the den.

Did I ever? Not really.

All I needed to do was drive home. If I left now, I’d make it before dark. Yet, when I should have driven my car to the highway, I found myself parking in Patrick’s driveway. I wasn’t ready to leave. Not yet. Not without a good-bye or a fuck you or a hug or I didn’t even know what. But I needed to see him.

He hadn’t answered the door, so my bear led me to the backyard. Patrick’s clothes from that day, based on the scent of them, sat on the deck—he must be out for a run. I knew I should have left, but I didn’t. Instead, I sat down. Waiting. denying my bear’s push to go and find the man.

What was I? What was I going to do when he finally showed up? I had no answers, only questions and more and more of them by the second.

The reality was that I was sitting around waiting for one last rejection. For some reason, I needed that to move on.

The person with the answers arrived not too long after I sat down.

Patrick’s gorgeous bear stepped out of the woods and into his backyard. I sucked in a breath when I saw him, his thick, stunning fur gleaming in the afternoon sun. I wanted to pet him so I could feel his fur through my fingertips, though he didn’t seem like the type of bear who’d welcome such a thing.

My bear wanted to cuddle up against the warmth and protection that his bear could provide. My bear was a glutton for punishment it seemed. So was I.

“We need to talk,” I said.

I should have rehearsed this.

I should have figured out what I was going to say before just blurting it all out.

“I’m leaving,” I said. “My car is packed. I should be on the road right now, but I know that I would kick myself later if I didn’t at least say something to you before I left.”

I took a deep breath, forcing the words to come.

“I know the two of us haven’t really said much to each other besides what my order was and you delivering it. Most of the words we exchanged were when you gave me the cinnamon roll. But…” I closed my eyes, took a deep breath. There was no going back after this. I’d have my answer, and I would need to accept it. “I have to know before I leave, so that I can move on… Why won’t you claim me, Patrick?”

I swallowed, feeling my throat tighten as I pressed on.

“You’re my mate, gifted to me by the fates, and yet here I am, standing in your territory for over a year, unclaimed. Why?” I swiped at my eyes, feeling the tears fall. “Why, after all this time? What is it about me that makes you not want to claim me?”

Patrick’s shift happened so quickly that I barely registered it. Where once stood a bear, now stood a man, completely naked. I kept my gaze fixed on his face, refusing to let myself look anywhere else, no matter how much I wanted to.

“You’re mine?” he said. It barely sounded like a question. He stepped forward, bringing himself closer to me.

“I’m yours,” I replied, barely understanding why this was a shock to him. He knew, didn’t he? He had to know. I sat within twenty feet of him for an entire year. He had to know I was his mate.

“You never said.” His eyes narrowed as he stepped even closer, gripping the back of my neck and burying his nose there, inhaling deeply. It was as if he were both man and bear in that moment, a low growl tearing from his lips.

“Mine,” he said. “My mate.”

“You didn’t know?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He pulled back, his eyes searching my face. “I… I didn’t know,” he said. “I never thought… I was scared to believe…”

“You know now.”

“I do.”

The air between us was electrified. Everything around us ceased to exist.

Drawing on the boldness that allowed me to confront Patrick just moments ago, I said, “What are you going to do about it?”

Patrick’s gaze darkened, and a low growl sounded in his throat. The noise went straight to my cock, and I knew the moment the scent of my arousal hit Patrick’s nose. He swung me into his arms and went inside. His stride was long and his steps sure.

Then we were in his bedroom. He placed me on the bed.

“Is this what you want, Finn?” he asked.

I nodded. “Is it what you want? You can take time—”

He covered me with his body after making quick work of removing my pants. I shucked off my shirt, tossing it to the floor. His lips covered mine and silenced my words. I had my answer.

His fingers dove into my hair, and he held my head steady as he kissed me. His tongue explored my mouth and danced against mine, all the while his body covered me like a blanket.

I let my eyes close and soaked in the sensation of being with Patrick. My mate. The man I’d dreamed about since the first moment I’d seen him. He was mine and he was in my arms. He wanted me. I hadn’t been rejected, not intentionally.

Patrick was my alpha, and I was his omega. If I was asleep, I didn’t want to wake up. I’d been waiting for this for far too long.

Patrick’s lips left mine long enough to kiss his way down my neck and chest, then the heat of his breath tickled my cock. He licked a circle around the tip before his mouth enveloped my length. A gasp escaped my lips as I gripped the sheets to keep from springing up off the bed.

With his hands, he opened my legs, and his fingertips danced over my hole. It was hard to believe this was Patrick, the alpha who barely spoke to me, who I thought didn’t notice me. Here. Now. He was reading me, as if he paid attention to every single breath I’d ever taken, every single move I’d ever made, every single word I’d ever spoken.

“So slick for me,” he mumbled against my erection.

This had to be a dream. There was no way this was real. It was too good.

“It’s real, mate. I’m yours.”

I hadn’t even spoken, but he knew.

Patrick stretched my hole, first with one finger then two. He might have fit three in there or more, I lost count.

“Need you.” No truer words were ever spoken. “Inside me now.”

Patrick growled. “I could never resist you. Not now that I know you’re mine.” He crawled his way back up my body and buried his face in my neck, inhaling deeply.

I captured his lips with mine. I needed more of him. I wanted to taste him everywhere, but first I needed him inside me.

Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his waist and urged him closer. His thick cock pressed against my entrance and the slick that gathered there eased the way. He sank into me, filling me completely.

My fingertips dug into his back as he entered me.

“Patrick!”

“Mate!”

It was everything I knew it would be with him. His strong body holding me close, filling me to the brim. Then he moved. His hips pistoned and the head of his cock hit the spot inside me that made stars light up behind my eyes.

“More.” I urged him on, meeting his thrusts with a buck of my hips.

“Mark me!” I couldn’t wait a single minute to be his fully. I’d waited so long, been so patient even when it near broke me.

Then his teeth were sinking into my neck. I cried out at my release erupted between us. Hot cum hit my skin. He licked where his teeth marked my neck, and I shuddered.

My teeth elongated, my bear refusing for the marking to be one-sided. My teeth sank into him, and his orgasm slammed into him, his hips jerking as he released deep within me. His knot growing, binding us together.

My eyes rolled back as the pressure from his cock growing became too much. My cock ached, needing to come again.

Patrick’s movement stilled now that we were connected together in the most intimate of ways. I’d almost forgotten about his knot.

My fingertips trailed down his back, and he let out a shudder.

“That was amazing,” he said. His voice was thick and husky.

“It was.” Amazing didn’t even begin to cover it, but words weren’t coming, my mind in a delicious haze.

“Give me a few minutes and we can do it again.”

I chuckled. “Maybe in the shower this time?” We were definitely sticky and sweaty, but in the best way possible.

“Anything you want, mate. Anything you want.”