Free Romance: The Bear's Desired Mate: BBW Bear Shifter Romance Standalone ( Shifter Romance, BBW, Werebear) (Spicy Shifters Book 1) by Ashley Hunter Page A

only had one beer a week, was finding that out now.
    "I should. My mate doesn't want me." He lowered his arm and gave Mary Ellen a desperate look. "I'm not a liar, Mary. I'm not."
    Mary Ellen had never seen him like this before. He had been upset when his other girlfriends had left but he had never got so upset that he went into a deep depression. She sat beside him and pulled him into her arms, resting his head on her shoulder as she rocked him gently.
    "I know. And Amanda knows that deep down. But she has been through a lot with her last relationship and she's still hurting. She doesn't like things being kept from her."
    "What I did was for a good reason."
    "She doesn't see it like that." Mary Ellen cuffed him on the side of the head. "She loves you and you lied to her."
    That had the desired effect. Grayson needed something to get into his thick skull. He sat up and stared at her, hope starting to appear in his eyes.
    "She loves me?"
    "Of course she does. She wouldn't have reacted the way she did if she didn't." Mary grabbed the side of his neck and gave him a gentle shake. "You need to go out there and get her back."
    The hope dwindled and Grayson shook his head.
    "I can't." He said dejectedly. "She won't answer my calls or texts. I've given up."
    Mary Ellen closed her eyes to keep control. Grayson was as pig-headed as Amanda. They suited each other if that was the only quality needed. But Amanda was depressed and Grayson was lost without his mate. They needed their heads banging together.
    She opened her eyes and tapped his cheek hard. Grayson started.
    "You're pathetic, do you know that?" Mary Ellen snapped. "You need to get your head out of your ass and buck up." She stood up, needing to get into the fresh air. Grayson's dark mood was sucking her in. "If you don't the best thing that's happened to you is going to disappear before you know it."
    She didn't wait for Grayson's response. She left, hoping that the two people she cared about would actually listen to her. If they didn't she wasn't going to waste her time clearing up their mess.
    #

 
     
     
     
    Amanda paced nervously in the gym. This felt like a bad idea but she didn't know how to reach out. She couldn't bring herself to pick up the phone and call Grayson or go round to his house; he probably wouldn't answer the phone or would slam the door in her face. At least this way they were on familiar but neutral territory.
    She had been a fool. That much was obvious. She hadn't given Grayson a chance to explain things to her; her past had overtaken her rationality and she had run. Grayson hadn't deserved that. He hadn't deserved to be treated the way she had treated him. She needed to make it up to him.
    The question was would he forgive her? Or would he tell her to leave? She wouldn't be able to bear it if he turned her away.
    The door opened and Grayson came through in a rush. He was carrying his bag and was wearing a button-down shirt and jeans, brown loafers on his feet. He looked gorgeous. Then Amanda saw the pale face, the sunken eyes and the downtrodden expression and her heart clenched. She had done this to him.
    Grayson closed the door. He still hadn't seen her.
    "Sorry I'm late but I..." He turned and laid eyes on her. He froze. "Amanda."
    Amanda twisted her hands together. She gave him a nervous smile.
    "Hi, Grayson."
    She watched him look over her slowly, heat gathering in his gaze. In an attempt to seduce him, she had chosen the dress they had worn on their first date. She hoped he would remember the memories of that first night together.
    It was still ripped at the back but Mary Ellen had put on some Velcro straps to keep it together. The only difference was what she wore underneath. That would certainly make Grayson's mouth water.
    She hoped.
    Grayson looked up at her, his expression confused.
    "I thought you cancelled our sessions."
    "I set this one up. I didn't want you to know it was me."
    "But someone could walk in."
    There was a sudden loud