Page 13 of Bred By the Beast

“It’s sweet. What’s not to love?”

He nodded, looking very pleased with her answer. “Do you know what animals love honey?”

She didn’t need to think long. “Bears,” she said proudly. “You’re so far off the grid. Do they try to steal your honey?”

He chuckled. “Definitely not.”

“Interesting. You’re lucky then. Unless I’ve just watched too much movies and bears don’t even like honey.”

“Oh, they definitely like honey.”

She finished her food and felt a lot better, that persistent hunger finally sated. He was a good cook. She never would have tried venison on her own.

Poppy took the dishes to the sink and started to wash them. Wilder stood next to her leaning against the counter and just watched. He didn’t try to stop her which she appreciated since he’d done the cooking.

“I love your house, Wilder. It’s like living in a fairy tale.”

He was quiet again. She saw the powerful muscles in his arm in her peripheral vision.

“I like the way you say my name.”

She swallowed hard, feeling the intensity of his words.

As if realizing he’d made her uncomfortable, he stepped back and changed the subject. “I built this house decades ago.”

She took a cleansing breath and wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed. As much as she wanted something to spark with Wilder, at thirty-two years old, she was embarrassingly naïve when it came to men.

“Alone?”

“I’ve been alone since I was very young. I’ve learned to take care of myself. It was either that or give up and die.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. It must be so lonely for him. People were meant to couple off, to find their happily ever after.

“Do you not have any family?”

“Not anymore. It’s just me.” He started walking away, putting an end to the conversation. “I’ll show you the beehives.”

He wasn’t comfortable with the subject and she wouldn’t push him. She wondered what his story was. Why would this hunk of a man leave society to live completely alone out here? Although she could see the appeal in ways, it was unnatural for a person to live so isolated.

She followed him out the back door. The young bear cub was rolling in the grass and weeds. Poppy still felt a bit nervous around him because wild animals could be unpredictable, but Wilder appeared unfazed as he walked past the cub.

“He looks happy,” she said.

“He’ll be safe here until I find him a new home.”

It touched her heart that he cared so much about wildlife. He’d go out of his way to help animals when he didn’t have to. In such a selfish world, it was refreshing.

“Wow, there’re so many.” She walked around the neatly arranged wooden beehives. “Can I get my camera?”

He shrugged, and she quickly ran back to the house to grab her camera.

“So, you do like your job?” he asked when she returned.

“No, not my job. But I love being a photographer. There’s something magical about getting that perfect shot, of capturing a moment in time. Like right now, I want to remember this forever.”

She took close-up photos of the bees as he pulled up a frame. It was amazing. What surprised her was how the bees would land on his forearm but none of them bit him.

He explained step by step the process of keeping bees. She was completely invested, loving his passion in living out here at the end of the world.