BK 5 - Chapter 27 - Duke
Roger looked at Mindy, who was whispering to Penelope. The little girl crossed her arms and stuck her lips out in a pout.
"I didn't say anything about shifters, grandma. I said Uncle Roger is a bear, and I'm a wolf. I did not say the word shifter." Everyone laughed as Mindy and Bailey shook their heads. Penelope was the most outspoken four-year-old he'd ever met, although he'd heard stories about Lisa when she was a cub. After the door was shut, Mariam looked at him in confusion.
"What was she talking about?" She asked. The only thing she could think of was maybe they had nicknames for each other. However, based on everyone's reaction, she thought maybe it was something more. Roger took her hand and had her sit on the small sofa.
"I was planning on telling you after dinner. What Penelope said was true. I'm not human; I'm a grizzly bear. I can change from a human to a bear. My bear's name is Duke." Mariam looked around the room. How could she get away? She had been worried that she was going to have a mental illness, but it looked like Roger was the one who was crazy. Why did his family go along with it? Shouldn't they try to help him so he won't think he's a bear?
"Okay, uh, I think I need to leave." She said. Roger could tell she didn't believe him.
"Mariam, listen." She tried to stand but stopped when she heard a low growl. She froze and looked around.
"Where did that come from?" Mariam asked.
"From inside me." Roger took her hand and placed it on his chest. She felt the rumble and heard the growl again, and her tears began falling.
"Why are you doing this? Are you trying to make me crazy? Is this because I told you about my mom? Please, why are you trying to hurt me by making me believe things that aren't true?" She put her face in her hands and cried. She didn't understand why he was being so cruel to try and make her think she was insane. When she felt his hand on her shoulder and looked up into his eyes.
"I don't think you're crazy, and neither am I. What I'm telling you is the truth. I can change into a bear. My entire family can change into animals. Well, most of them, we have some vampires and witches as well. Can I show you?" He asked gently. Mariam sighed. Maybe if he tried to prove it and he couldn't, she could convince him to get help.
"Okay, show me." She said.
"Uncle Roger, if you're changing into Duke, you better let me come in there. You promised I could pet him today." Roger chuckled.
"Are you okay with the princess being in here when I shift?" He asked. Mariam shrugged.
"Sure." She didn't think anything was going to happen anyway. Roger was thankful he and Emma had figured out how to shift without shredding their clothes, or Mariam would really think he was nuts. Roger walked over and opened the door.
"Come on in." He said. Penelope turned to her grandmother and smirked.
"I told you Uncle Roger would let me." She said, walking into the office and shutting the door. Mariam chuckled despite the uneasiness she was feeling. Penelope walked over, crawled onto the couch, and held her hand.
"Duke is a big bear, but don't be scared. I'll hold your hand." She smiled at Mariam.
"Okay, thank you." She replied. Roger pushed a few things out of the way to make room.
"Are you ready?" He asked Mariam. Penelope was the one who answered.
"Yes," She said excitedly. Mariam nodded next to her. She didn't know what was about to happen but wasn't expecting Roger to be standing there one second and a giant grizzly the next. Mariam was too frozen to move or react. Penelope giggled excitedly.
"Do you see a big bear?" She whispered to Penelope. The little girl laughed and nodded.
"Yes, silly, that's Duke. He's Uncle Roger's bear. He's really nice." She answered. Mariam didn't know what to do as the bear walked over to them slowly. She wanted to scream, but she relaxed when he laid his head on Penelope's lap. He looked at her with big brown eyes, and she felt like she was looking into Roger's eyes.
Mariam slowly raised her hand and touched the bear's head. She didn't understand how it was possible to have a man change into a giant grizzly, but her eyes and hands weren't lying to her. It was real.
"How does he do that?" She asked, not really expecting an answer.
"My whole family can do it. I'll have my wolf when I turn five but won't shift until I'm twelve." Penelope slapped her hand over her mouth.
"What's wrong?" Mariam asked her as she continued to stroke Duke's head.
"I promised I wouldn't tell you about shifters, and I said the word shift." Mariam giggled and shook her head.
"I think it's okay now." She said. Penelope relaxed slightly, sliding off the couch, and put her arms around Duke's massive neck the best she could.
"You can come back now, Uncle Roger. I'm going to see if dinner is ready." Penelope kissed Duke and ran out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Mariam watched her leave, and Roger was standing in front of her when she turned back around.
"Are you okay?" He asked, sitting next to her.
"I'm confused. I don't understand how this is possible. What happens when people find out about you?" She asked, lying back on the couch and looking at the ceiling.
"Most humans don't know about us. My dad, my Aunt Lisa, and some other family members helped get laws passed to protect us from people hunting and killing us or trafficking us. It's better now, but we'll always have issues just like humans do." Mariam turned to look at him.
"Who else in your family is an animal?" She asked, even though she couldn't believe the words were leaving her lips.
"My parents and siblings are bears. My Grandma Melanie is a lion, and my Grandpa Saxon is a vampire. Grandma Cat and Grandpa Trey are lions. We also have wolves, tigers, and panthers, to name a few." He replied. Roger was actually grateful for Penelope coming in when she did. He could tell it helped keep Mariam calm when she saw Duke.
"I don't understand how people like you even exist. It doesn't make sense to me." She said. Roger took her hand and felt hopeful when she didn't pull away.
"We don't know all the reasons, but some of it has to do with Native Americans protecting their tribes." He explained. Mariam thought that made sense. She'd read about shapeshifters in Native American history. It was another thing she didn't think was real, though. She remembered something else that was said before they went into the office.
"What did Penelope mean when she asked if I was your mate?" Mariam asked. Roger looked away. He wondered how she'd feel being his mate. Would she accept him or say she didn't want to be a bear? He knew he had to tell her the truth and let her decide.
"Shifers have mates just like animals in the wild. What that means is there's one person who is meant to be our soulmate. When we find that person, an immediate connection and bond starts forming." Roger said while watching her expression. She looked down at their hands and felt heartbroken.
"So you have another bear out there that's your mate." She said sadly. Mariam tried to stop her tears from falling. He was her intern, and she had only known him for a few hours, yet she felt like she was losing something she'd never had.
"Our mates don't have to be the same species. In fact, many of my family members were human before they found their mates." Mariam looked up into his eyes.
"What are you saying?" She asked.
"I'm saying my mate can be a human. When we find our mate, we feel sparks from the mate bond, confirming that we have found the one we're meant to be with." Roger paused, and Mariam held her breath. "You're my mate."
