I call the wolves who run the local daycare as soon as I can, and they are very helpful. Pacing in front of a large picture window I answer what questions I can and ask a few of my own.

As I finish my call, I can hear whispering behind me. Someone much have joined the Alpha while I was on the phone. Hanging up I look back where Cecilia was leaning and instantly freeze.

Fuck me.

I was looking at an exceptionally large, extremely sexy back. Whoever this was, he was huge. At least 6 and a half feet tall and built like a tank. He didn't have the overly defined muscles you see on professional body builders, thank goddess, but he definitely worked out.

I wasn't sure if I was happy or irritated, he wasn't wearing a shirt; the view was fantastic but then he flexed his back muscles and I almost passed out as all the blood left my brain and headed south. I've always been a sucker for broad shoulders and sexy backs and this man had both. I could see his arms were covered in tattoos and there was one on his ribcage as well.

As my eyes started wandering past the waistband that was peeking out above his loose-fitting jeans, he turned around.

Goddess, the front was just as good if not better than the back. His left peck was covered in another tattoo and he had freckles.

FRECKLES!

They covered his chest, neck, and face. I had a feeling they were everywhere, like constellations all over his skin.

The best way I could describe him was handsomely rugged. Like a well-groomed lumberjack. HIs hair was cut close on the side, longer on the top and swept back from his face. He had a nice, well-kept beard. both his beard and his hair were somewhere between brown and red.

We locked eyes, my brown meeting a soft tan that I'd never seen before. I inhale sharply in shock and I'm hit with the scent of raspberries and mint. He smelled amazing.

He smelt like bear.

He's my mate.

FUCK.

This day can't get any more stressful.

This is too much for me today, too many things happening at once. I feel like my whole world has been turned on its axis and I'm overwhelmed. It doesn't that I knew who he was. The descriptions I had heard about the handsome playboy didn't do him justice. Magnus Bruin had quite a reputation and I have had more than one heartbroken man in my office crying over the man who doesn't date and rarely repeats.

He smiles at me and my mind goes blank for a moment. Damn he's gorgeous when he smiles. When he starts to move toward me, I snap back to reality and a growl rumbles from deep in my chest.

Pausing in his movements and he looks at me, hurt and confusion clouding his features. I look away, my eyes taking in Cecilia and Carson who both look worried. My eyes are burning as the stress makes me want to start crying out of frustration.

Another growl comes out as I storm towards the front door. I'm ripping off my jacket and shirt as I move, not even caring what happens to my possessions. As I reach the front door, I rip off the last of my clothes. I throw open the door and shift.

I don't even wait for my black and white fur to settle and take off in a run. As a Panda I'm not particularly fast but I'm pushing myself to move faster than I ever have before.

I shouldn't have run. I know better than to run from my problems. This is not a solution.

I panicked. My day went from standard bordering on good to horrific in a matter of hours.

I'm lucky my land is not that far from Cecilia's; I went far out of my way to bring the bike to her so I could enjoy the ride. After about 10 minutes I reach my land and instantly climb the nearest tree, up to the platform constructed there. I flop down on it, exhausted, mentally, and physically.

Not only did I have my house built to perfectly suit me, I had my backyard done as well. It had many platforms built into trees, there were ramps and tubes around, and a pool you can walk into and swim around, and a few large cloth hammocks strung around for me to lay on while in my Panda form. It was a nice little playground for my more playful, relaxed side.

After a few minutes, my heart rate slows and my breathing evens out. I stretch out further, my back legs push out behind me as I settle onto my stomach, one of my front paws dangling off the platform, the other next to my head.

Now that I’m not pulsing with an irrational adrenaline, I’m a little surprised I wasn’t followed. I did run from 3 predators and we Pandas are not known for our speed.

There was o way I could outrun two high ranked wolves in their prime.

I hope this means I will be left alone for now. In my rush to escape I had left my phones and everything else with my clothes, so maybe I can actually enjoy some uninterrupted peace.

That only lasts about 10 minutes before I hear someone approaching my territory from the forest. Someone big…. very big.

I lazily turn my head to see a huge fucking Grizzly Bear come out of the woods.

He’s carrying a bag in his jaws and the scent of raspberries and min hits my nose.

I guess my Mate followed me home.