I took another hit of her scent.
How was I even going to let herunderweargo?
With one last deep inhale, I forced my legs to carry me into my bedroom.
I didn’t fucking know what I was going to do.
four
MADISON
My heart was beating hard again,and not because of my attempt to trek through the snow.
Not because of the deep, intense cold that had sunk into my bones during my escape, either. Though that did suck.
My heart was pounding because of Bo.
I didn’t think it had stopped since he told me he’d wanted me.
When I found my underwear in his pocket, there was no way to deny that anymore.
He was attracted to me. Extremely attracted, considering he had taken my bra and shorts.
If a shifter was that interested in the way you smelled, things were serious.
ButAmbrose?
How could he possibly want me that way?
That was pure insanity… wasn’t it?
I shut off the shower.
I hadn’t washed my hair or even scrubbed the rest of my body, but I’d warmed up, and I needed more information.
Why hadn’t he told me sooner?
Why hadn’t he done something about his attraction to me after I graduated? I’d been eighteen the last time we’d seen each other. He’d been twenty. I’d helped him move into his cabin, much to Artie’s annoyance.
I’d mostly done it to get out of a required visit with my asshole fiancé, but still. We had been old enough that he could’ve said something.
Unless he was attracted to me, but not interested in my personality.
Or just not interested in having a mate.
Both options seemed pretty valid. Bear shifters were almost always male (like most breeds of shifters) and were loyal to their chosen mate for life. But they didn’t live with their mates or even stay with them at all. Their mate usually raised their kid alone.
When the bear shifter was still around, he usually had his own house, and custody was split between both parents.
Plus, grizzlies were crazy fertile after picking a mate. Also like most breeds of shifters. So, babies usually happened immediately.
I’d spent my whole life being told that I existed to raise little kitsunes for my alpha, so I wasn’t exactly opposed to starting a family. I had never wanted to do it so young, but it had always been a solid part of my plans.
Running away meant I didn’thaveto become a mom right away. It would be nice to get to choose, instead of it just being expected.
But there was still a good chance my fiancé would find me.
So I wasn’t going to let myself get too caught up in the fantasy of freedom.
