Bearly In Control by Kim Fox

one
     
     
     
    “So what do I say again when I meet her Dad?” Edwin asked.
    He was standing on the platform waiting for his train at the station. He was heading to New York City to see his mate Grace. Connor and Sidney were seeing him off.
    “You say ‘Hi I’m the guy that’s porking your daughter,’” Sidney said with a laugh, his thick arms crossed over his massive chest.
    Edwin nodded. “Okay,” he said, repeating the words under his breath.
    “No,” Connor said, pushing Sidney away. “Don’t listen to him.” Connor pulled Edwin to the side and straightened his jacket. “He’s a Senator so remember to be respectful. Tell him that he has a nice home. Compliment him. Say nice things about Grace.”
    This was so confusing. Edwin had so much to remember. He had been a feral werebear when Connor had took him in and now he had no idea how to act in social situations.
    “What’s a Senator again?” Edwin asked.
    “It’s a politician,” Connor said, smoothing out a wrinkle in Edwin’s jacket.
    Edwin had so much to learn. “What do they do?”
    Connor looked up and to the right. “Uh, they vote on stuff and…Sidney?” Connor looked to the giant werebear by his side for help.
    “Senators say speeches and wear suits…” Sidney trailed off. “Just tell him you’re a fan.”
    People started to swarm around them as it got closer to the train’s departure time. A man in a leather jacket bumped into Edwin. He jerked his head around from side to side, nervous with all of the strangers nearby. Edwin didn’t like being in crowds.
    That kid by the magazine stand holding a toy truck was staring at him and it was freaking him out. There was a man with long hair playing a guitar beside the tracks. It sounded like an owl screeching in pain. Edwin didn’t like this place.
    Connor placed his hand on Edwin’s shoulder. “It’s okay buddy. They’re just people. They’re not going to hurt you. Just ignore them.”
    Edwin turned his head towards an old lady walking by. His stomach was rolling and he felt nauseous.
    “What if someone talks to me?” he asked.
    Connor exhaled. “We talked about this remember?”
    Edwin didn’t remember. This was terrifying. He wanted to go back to the woods and sleep under the stars. He wanted to be surrounded by trees instead of concrete and hear the chirping of crickets instead of the murmur of people walking by on their cell phones. This was not his ideal environment.
    A couple pushing a baby stroller came dangerously close to him. He closed his eyes and ripped open the top button of his shirt. He was so hot all of a sudden.
    “What’s wrong with him?” Sidney asked. “He looks like he’s having a panic attack.”
    “He’s not,” Connor said.
    “I think he has a brain tumor.”
    Connor waved Sidney away. “Will you give us a minute?”
    Connor placed his other hand on Edwin’s shoulder and stared at him face to face. His stare was already calming him down. Connor was good at centering him and taking away some of his social anxiety. Edwin certainly had enough to spare. He wished that his boss was coming with him.
    “Are you sure you’re okay to go?” Connor asked as low as a whisper.
    Edwin swallowed hard and steeled his nerves. He had to go see his mate, Grace. It had been three weeks since the last time they had seen each other. A wonderful night where they got lost in the woods after a kayaking accident. Edwin had saved the city girl from a pack of wolves and then they spent the rest of the night making love under the stars.
    “I’ll be okay,” Edwin said, not believing his own words.
    “You’ve never been in a city before,” Connor said. Edwin was abandoned by his human parents when he was only ten years old. He phased into his bear in his parent’s house one day. They thought he was possessed by some sort of demon and drove him deep into the woods and released him.
    Edwin had spent his whole teenage years and the beginning of his twenties in his