Page 65 of Gunnar

His gaze lifts to mine again.

“Because she wasn’t the one. We bears have fated mates.”

Something in his voice makes my heart skip.

“Some of our kind deny it,” he says quietly. “But it’s there. In all of us.”

“What does that mean?”

His eyes stay on mine.

“It means there’s one person meant for each of us.”

He pauses, like he’s choosing his words.

“You might never find her.”

Another beat.

“But if you do…”

His thumb shifts against my hand.

“…you know.”

He holds my gaze.

“There’s no one else after that.”

The words hang in the air between us.

The fire crackles softly in the hearth.

“It just hits you?” I ask. “Like some kind of cosmic lightning strike?”

He studies me for a moment.

“Something like that.”

“You believe that?” I ask quietly.

“I do.” His eyes stay locked on mine.

He smiles suddenly.

“Sounds insane, doesn’t it?”

I shrug and take a sip of my beer. “Honestly? It sounds a lot better than endlessly swiping on dating apps.”

He frowns. “That’s how humans do it?”

“Sometimes.” I smile. “Other times we get drunk and meet each other in bars.”

His frown deepens. “That’s how you meet men?”

I laugh. “No. I’ve always been too busy studying and working.”

Something shifts in his expression. “You’ve never had a boyfriend?”