"Because I was." I stroke her cheek, marveling that she allows it, that she's not recoiling from my touch after what she's witnessed. "My bear recognized you instantly. The man took a little longer, but not much."
"And what about me?" she asks, her practical nature asserting itself. "Do I get any say in this cosmic arrangement?"
"Every say," I assure her. "The recognition is instinctive for shifters, but nothing is forced. You're free to walk away, to refuse the connection."
She tilts her head, considering. "What would happen to you if I did?"
The question catches me off guard. "I'd survive," I say honestly. "But I'd never be complete. Never find another mate."
"That seems unfair," she murmurs.
"Nature rarely concerns itself with fairness." I shrug, trying to hide how much her answer matters. "But humans experience the bond differently. More gradually. Through choice rather than instinct."
Ruby is quiet for a moment. Then she says something that stops my heart: "What if I've already felt it? Not as strongly as you, maybe, but... something."
"What do you mean?" I barely dare to breathe.
"From the moment I arrived, something about you felt... familiar. Like I'd known you before. Like I was supposed to be here." She shakes her head, laughing softly. "I thought I was losing my mind, feeling so drawn to a stranger. But if what you're saying is true..."
"It is," I say, hope blooming fully now. "It's the mate bond. Even humans can feel it, though usually not so quickly."
"Maybe it's because I'm particularly observant," she suggests with a small smile. "Or maybe..."
"Maybe what?"
She meets my eyes directly. "Maybe we're particularly right for each other."
The words send a surge of joy through me so powerful my bear stirs again, wanting to emerge and celebrate. I control the urge but can't stop myself from pulling her into my arms, holding her close, breathing in her scent.
"You're not running," I murmur against her hair, still not quite believing it.
"No," she agrees, her arms wrapping around me. "Though I reserve the right to freak out properly later, when the shock wears off."
I laugh, the sound rusty but genuine. "Fair enough."
She pulls back slightly, looking up at me with those warm brown eyes. "We still have an audit tomorrow, you know."
Of all the responses I expected, this practical reminder wasn't one of them. "Yes," I agree, amused. "We do."
"And I still need to finish organizing your records tonight if we're going to be ready."
I stare at her, marveling at this woman who can witness the impossible and still worry about tax documentation. "Ruby Oliver, you are extraordinary."
She blushes at the compliment. "I'm just doing my job. The supernatural revelation is... extracurricular."
"Speaking of jobs," I say, suddenly remembering something important. "After the audit, you're supposed to go back to Atlanta."
A shadow crosses her face. "Yes. That was the plan."
"What if..." I hesitate, not wanting to push too far too fast. "What if you stayed? Just for a while. To see if this—" I gesture between us, "—is something you want to explore."
Ruby considers this, her practical nature visibly wrestling with the inexplicable bond we both feel.
"My apartment lease is month-to-month," she says finally. "And I can work remotely for most clients."
"Is that a yes?"
"It's a 'let's see where this goes,'" she clarifies, but her smile tells me more than her cautious words. "I'm not promising forever, Cole. I'm promising to stay open to possibilities I never knew existed before tonight.”
