Free Bearly Breathing by Kim Fox

said.
    A wolf howled in the distance. She jumped over and wrapped her arms around his. His bear purred, delighted to be touching his mate.
    “Are they going to come back?” she asked. She darted her head around, searching the dark forest.
    “No,” he said. “If they do they’re stupider than they look.”
    She still hadn’t taken her arms off of his.
    “They were so scary. I don’t like this place.”
    “Really?” he asked. “It has everything.”
    “I love the city.” She squeezed his arm. “Give me lights, crowds, noise, cars, pollution, restaurants, nightclubs. That has everything.”
    The fish was blackening on the stick. “That sounds scary.”
    “I can take you sometime,” she said, taking her hands off of him.
    Edwin shuddered. All of the people around, walking and talking, bumping into him. What if a stranger spoke to him? He wouldn’t last five minutes without phasing.
    He stood up and took the fish off of the stick. He filleted it with a sharp rock that he found by the river as Grace watched.
    “So that’s how it’s done,” she laughed. “I always just sit at the table with a big glass of Barolo and wait for someone to bring it to me. I didn’t realize where the meat actually came from.”
    He handed her a piece and she gobbled it down. He slid the second fish onto the stick and placed it over the fire.
    She had finished her portion in record time. She wiped her greasy hands on her shorts and smiled. “I was so hungry.”
    “There’s more coming,” he said.
    She shook her head. “I’ve never camped before,” she said. “I’ve never slept in the woods or cooked something over the fire and ate it with my hands.” She was smiling. “My Dad would think this was undignified and improper.” She smiled at Edwin, making his heart rate increase. “It’s kinda fun.”
    He smiled back, unsure of what to say.
    She looked serious. “Do not tell Becca that I said that.”
    “I won’t.”
    “It’s a nice change not having to worry about designer outfits and make-up and what kind of car everyone is driving. Everyone in my circle is so concerned about the most superficial things. Sometimes I find it just exhausting . It must be liberating to live like you do and just let it all hang out.” She glanced at his package. “Literally.”
    Edwin did enjoy his life but sometimes he found it lonely. It wasn’t lonely tonight though. Tonight he was with his mate.
    They ate the second fish and Edwin threw another thick branch on the fire. It must’ve been getting cold out because Grace was shivering. She laid down on the dirt in front of the fire and curled in on herself as her thin body shook.
    Edwin laid down behind her and wrapped his arm around her. He was expecting another slap but she didn’t move.
    “You’re so warm,” she whispered. She tangled her fingers into his. “Thank you for saving me.”
    “Anytime,” Edwin responded, getting dizzy from the sensuous smell of her hair.
    “I can’t believe you’re a werebear,” she said. “My uncle Pete used to tell me stories of werebears but I never believed him. What’s it like?”
    Edwin wasn’t good at explaining things in words. “It’s like having a bear inside you.”
    Grace laughed. “You should get a reality show,” she said. “You would be famous.”
    The thought of fame made Edwin shiver. That would be the last thing in the world he would want. “I just want to live in the woods,” he said. “With you.”
    Grace laughed and turned around. They were face to face. There was a softness in her eyes that wasn’t there during the day. Edwin never felt so lucky before in his whole life.
    “You wouldn’t want me to live with you,” she said, smiling. “I’d drive you crazy with all of my complaining.”
    “It will drive me crazy to live without you,” he said.
    She leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips. His bear purred and Edwin melted with that kiss. If his bear form had bonded to her in the river. His