Bear to be Wild

Physical training? I’d rather hex myself.

I’m a witch who prefers potions, peace, and perfectly brewed tea. So when the cruise line hires a burly bear shifter as the new physical trainer, I throw up my guard like a magical ward.

I’ve been ghosted by a suave shifter before. Fool me twice? I’ve got a spell for that.

So I whip up a little magic to protect my personal space from "Mr. Beast Mode, Baby!"

But instead of repelling Roan, my spell backfires—binding us together. Every. Single. Day.

Now I’m stuck doing mountain climbers with the Iron Shifter.

Roan isn’t the meathead I expect. No flexing. No “time to get swole.” Just quiet strength, intense eyes… and a ridiculous claim that I’m his fated mate.

Yeah, right. Pretty sure someone spiked his protein shake.

Welcome aboard the Moonlight Siren, where love comes fast, spells go sideways, and even the most guarded hearts aren’t safe from fate.

I focused on steadying my breath with deep inhales and exhales, tapping into my center. Picking up the first crystal, I glanced down at the steps and wove the spell with intention, projecting toward the wall. I turned the page and continued through the steps. The crystals vibrated with energy and glowed with a warm golden light.

A quiet hum grew louder, resonating throughout the room—and then sputtered.

"What—"

The pink quartz in my hand grew hot, vibrating against my palm. A small orb of energy grew inside my chest. Weird. It snaked out in front of me and then snapped across the room like a snake, coiling right into the wall that separated the spa from the fitness studio.

Something was wrong. I dropped the stone onto the table and staggered backward, eyes wide as the energy thrummed with more vibrancy inside me. When it settled, a disturbing awareness snapped into place.

"No." My voice was barely audible.

A heavy weight thumped on the other side of the wall, followed by a startled groan. Then all fell silent for a few terrifying seconds.

My breath caught. A bonding thread pulsed toward that wall.

What was going on?

Turning my focus back to the book, I flipped through the pages. "What have I done?" I whispered as the horror settled over me.

Charlotte rushed in, glancing around with wide eyes. "Everything okay back here?"

I shook my head rapidly, as if I could undo my mistake as quickly as pressing Ctrl+Z on a keyboard. No such luck.

"I—um—made a mistake."

"How?" She tilted her head.

I pointed at the book. "I seem to have mixed up two spells." Biting my lower lip, I admitted, "I must have flipped to the wrong page."

She glanced at the open book and gasped. "Nooo... A binding spell?"

And with how the magic was already working inside me, drawing me toward him, I knew exactly who I'd accidentally bonded myself to.

"Yup." I swallowed, and my mistake tasted like sour regret on my tongue. "I've accidentally bound myself to Mr. Beast Mode."