Untamed Grizzly: a paranormal bear shifter romance (Wild Alaskan Madness Book 1) by Ivy Ember

Author:Ivy Ember [Ember, Ivy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

Allura

The Alaskan wilderness stretched around my newly acquired cabin, its vastness echoing the turmoil inside me. The walls, rich with the scent of pine, cradled my restlessness. Tonight, Brandon would cross the threshold of this refuge I'd made my own.

As twilight descended, I busied myself with dinner preparations. The sizzle of salmon fillets mingled with the crackle of the fireplace, setting a warm ambiance that failed to calm my nerves.

A knock at the door signaled his arrival. I drew a deep breath and opened it to find Brandon, his smile like a beacon in the dimming light.

"Smells amazing in here," he said as he stepped inside, removing his coat and revealing a flannel shirt that clung to his broad shoulders.

"Thanks. I hope you're hungry."

The meal unfolded with an ease that belied my inner turmoil. We shared stories of the day's adventures and laughed over shared memories. But as the plates emptied and the fire's glow waned, an unspoken seriousness settled between us.

Brandon leaned back in his chair, eyes searching mine. "You've made quite a home here."

I fidgeted with my napkin, then met his gaze. "I have. But you know, all this—" I gestured vaguely around the room "—it's happening so fast."

He nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes.

"I mean, what happened between us," I continued, heart racing as I ventured into vulnerability. "It's intense and... it's real for me. But part of me wonders if we're moving too fast."

A smile played at the corners of Brandon's mouth. "Fast? Maybe. But if it's fate," he reached across the table and took my hand gently in his calloused grip, "you can't run from it."

I chuckled despite myself at his lighthearted tone but found comfort in his touch.

"You think this is fate?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

He shrugged, squeezing my hand reassuringly. "I don't know about fate. But I do know I've never felt this way before." His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Scary as that is."

My laugh broke free then, tension dissolving into the warmth between us.

"I just need time to process all this," I said after a moment, feeling weight lift with each word.

Brandon released my hand and sat back again, an easygoing confidence about him.

"Take all the time you need," he said with a gentle firmness that rooted me to the spot. "I'll be here for you regardless."

The cabin's walls whispered secrets of the wilderness as I stood, caught in the moment with Brandon. His warmth seeped into my bones, a gentle fire stoking the attraction that had flared between us since that first encounter. His hand lingered in mine, grounding me to the earth beneath our feet, to the reality of what was happening.

I cleared the table, movements deliberate, a stalling tactic for the tumult inside me. Brandon rose, stepping close enough that I could feel his breath on my cheek. "Let me help with that," he said, his voice a low hum that sent shivers dancing down my spine.

"No, it's fine," I insisted, voice betraying a tremble.

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