Jared: Mating Fever (Rocked by the Bear Book 5) Read Free

little girl, I knew I wasn’t normal. I see things that are about to happen, and sometimes I can even stop them. I learned to keep it a secret because people never understand, but now... “Are my visions part of that?”
    He shakes his head. “The magic is part of what makes you amazing. You’re meant to be so much more than a shifter, Courtney. And I’m in awe that I get to be your true mate.”
    I stare at the guy I’ve had a crush on since we first met. Something told me he was the one, and I wonder if maybe the magic in me knew. I look into Jared’s eyes, and the strength of his love fills me as he parts my legs gently to get closer. The searing heat of his touch shouldn’t make me shudder, but the way he sparks my desire does.
    Jared’s mouth is so much better than my visions led me to believe. His lips are soft against mine, and his flavor intoxicates me as my mind swims in our connection. When he breaks away, his gaze is intense, and I say, “That was better than I expected.”
    Jax’s laugh makes me glance over to him, and he says, “Bro. She’s perfect for you.”
    I’m not sure what he means, but I think he’s right, because I’m sure Jared is perfect for me too. I gaze into the face of the man that’s fated to be the love of my life, and Jared stares back as he says, “She sure is. So what do you think about being part bear?”
    My brain knows this is something that should freak me out. But finding out that I’m not human is like solving a hard puzzle. The pieces of my life I didn’t understand are clicking into place, and for the first time I don’t feel as if I’m a square peg in a round hole. I say, “I think it’s awesome. Teach me how to shift.”
    Jared grins at me. “You’re not ready for that yet. But one day soon.”

3
    I ’m ravenous by the time I sit at the table with Jax and Jared for dinner. Jared draped a blanket over my shoulders before I sat down, and it must have come from his room, because the scent of him wraps around me as I eat. Spaghetti never tasted so good to me, and I’m glad my second helping looks small compared to the three or more Jared and Jax consume.
    I sigh with contentment and lean back in my chair to ask, “Now that I’m fat and happy, can I ask how it is that I’m a werebear?”
    “One of your parents is one,” says Jared.
    I grew up without a father, and I wonder if that’s why. “Are people like me common?”
    “We’re not sure,” says Jax. “It used to be that mixed relationships weren’t allowed.”
    I imagine my mother having a secret affair and smile. She’s a lot like me, and I think she would have found it exciting. But my heart aches when I wonder if she met her true mate and couldn’t be with him. “And now?”
    Jax and Jared glance at each other as Jared says, “Did you ever dream about bear?”
    I nod as I recall the dreams I started having in high school. For a while they were intense, but once I got to college, they became sporadic.
    “It’s a long story,” says Jax, “but we’ve discovered that half-werebear females can be quite an asset to our clan. Our alpha, Tori, is one.”
    Jared reaches over to touch my arm. “Your gifts are very valuable, and when Tori finds out about you, she’ll be pleased.”
    I sip my glass of water and swallow more loudly than I intended as I imagine what she’ll expect me to do. “I’m not a hero.” I lick my lips as my heart rate increases. “I don’t save people. They save me.” I glance at Jared. “Like in the woods. If you hadn’t shown up—”
    “Courtney.”
    Jared reaches for me again, and I flinch back as I ask, “Who was shooting at you?”
    Jax mumbles a string of profanity, and his plate scrapes on the table as he shoves it out of the way.
    Jared says, “There are humans that think we’re dangerous. For decades it wasn’t much of a problem, but lately...”
    “Our generation has never had to deal with the danger,” says Jax. “We’ve mainstreamed into the