This is the final chapter of ' Bear Hunter ' . A new chapter will come out every week . Any comments or questions can be directed to the author at nothlit ( at ) hotmail ( dot ) com There was a moment when I thought for sure that Matt was a goner . Everything had happened too fast : Matt breaking down , throwing his rifle away too far for him to use it to defend himself ; the bear , roaring threateningly ; and now , the charge . There was nothing to stop the bear as it half - rolled , half - ran down from its cave , right in Matt 's direction . At that moment , I knew real fear . Matt didn 't seem to hear me . He was looking at the mud - stained cap he still held in his hands , as if he didn 't know that he was seconds away from being attacked by the bear we had been trying to kill for so long . It was as if he didn 't care , and I felt my gut clench with terror at the thought that he was just going to let the bear take him out . The bear dropped something like five feet from the rocky ledge where his cave was , down to Matt 's level . I saw the animal was limping slightly from the shot I had landed on one of his hind legs , but he didn 't seem to be feeling any pain . If anything , he looked madder than I had ever seen him yet . Seeing the bear approach , Matt stood up . I was ready to shoot again , but by then the bear was too close to Matt and I didn 't want to risk shooting him by mistake . All I could do was watch , powerless , as Matt stood his ground and let the bear reach him , a numb look on his eyes . The bear reared up on its hind legs , but Matt didn 't flinch . He just looked up at the bear , defiant , angry , but also indifferent to his fate . I held my breath . For the two or three brief seconds that animal and man looked at each other , there was perfect silence in that forest . Neither Matt nor I moved a muscle while the bear walked back into the forest , leaving his cave behind and disappearing behind the tree trunks , leaving only a faint rustle of leaves to mark the way he had taken . I couldn 't believe it . I had been certain that it would be over for Matt , and maybe for me too . Instead , that bear had spared Matt 's life . I hurried over to Matt to make sure he was okay . When I reached him , he was still looking at the place where the bear had disappeared . From his face it was obvious that he couldn 't believe it either . " He forgave me , " Matt said , almost to himself . A single tear rolled down his cheek . " He let me live . He knew I couldn 't kill him , not after everything my father did to protect him and all the other bears around here . It 's . . . it 's like my father used to say : animals are nobler than you think . Many times they will surprise you . " He smiled a sad smile and put on his father 's cap , even though it was all dirty with mud . I didn 't say anything , but when his shoulders started shaking with the sobs he was trying to hold inside , I reacted instinctively , pulling him to me in a rough , hard embrace . At first Matt stiffened , but then he just melted in my arms , holding me tight and crying on my shoulder , his entire body shaking every time he sobbed . He let it all out , finally , murmuring things about his father and how much he missed him , about how sorry he was that he hadn 't reached out to him during his last days , and many other things . He gave voice to all his grief , and even though all I could do was stand there and hold him , I sensed that was the right thing to do . Matt looked into my eyes . " Thanks for being here , Sven . I mean it . I don 't know how to tell you how much it means to me that - " I kissed him , cutting short his speech . I had meant it only as a short kiss with nothing more to it , but I should have realized that Matt was feeling very vulnerable and emotional right then . His reaction to my kiss was instantaneous . His lips parted , and his tongue sought mine , answering my kiss with a sudden passion that caught me completely off guard . I did exactly that . Matt moaned when I grabbed his dick through his jeans , squeezing on it , following its shape with my fingers . I rubbed it , pressing hard against it with my right hand , while with my left I began to unbuckle Matt 's belt , fumbling with it a little until Matt helped me undo it and then unbuttoned the fly of his jeans . Seeing that , I pulled his jeans down below his knees , and now all that stood between me and Matt 's huge cock was fabric of the briefs he was wearing . I leaned forward and pressed my mouth against his crotch , breathing in Matt 's smell and using my lips to follow shape of his dick through the briefs . I kept going until I felt a wet spot on the fabric near the tip of Matt 's dick , where his precum had begun to soak through . That was my cue . I yanked his underwear down , and his cock sprang forward , fully erect . I heard Matt sigh as he felt the touch of my tongue all over his cock . My mouth was filled with his taste , and I began to suck him off slowly , enjoying the sensation almost as much as he was . My head moved back and forth in smooth , repetitive motions as my lips slid over Matt 's shaft . Soon it was slick with spit , and when Matt grabbed the back of my head and pushed my face forward , I didn 't resist . I let him shove his cock down my throat , fighting against the urge to gag , and was rewarded when Matt moaned in satisfaction , taking his dick out only to shove it back down again . I took it for as long as I could , and as Matt began to get into the rhythm of it , his urgency seemed to grow - he became rougher , harder in his thrusts , until I gagged for real and I had to stop , still on my knees in front of him , panting for breath and wiping my lips with the back of my hand . Matt grabbed me by the shoulders and motioned for me to lie on my back on the grass . I complied , not even caring that the grass was a bit cold . When I was ready , looking up at Matt 's cock hanging right over my face , I saw him kneel down over me and drop down on all fours , facing my feet , as if we were about to do a 69 with him on top of me . That wasn 't what he did , though . He grabbed his cock with one hand and guided it to my mouth . I opened up for him right away , and took his cock into my mouth in the new position . It was soon obvious Matt loved throat - fucking me this way . He began to shove his dick down my throat , and all I could do was lie there and take it , feeling how Matt 's huge cock was able to go even deeper in this position . " Yeah , " Matt whispered , his hips moving with short , hard thrusts . " Take it . Fuck yeah . You 're so fucking hot , Sven . " He used one of his hands to reach forward and began to caress my chest , although he couldn 't reach very well . I tried to answer him , but the only sound I could make was a choked , muffled groan . He was going faster now , and my eyes began to water as I tried to stop from gagging on Matt 's big , hard dick . I kept still for as long as I could , letting him fuck my face , but eventually I had to turn my head around , coughing , swallowing my own spit . After a long breath , I was ready to go again . Matt worked my throat hard . At one point he pinned both my arms down with his hands , so I was completely at his mercy with his dick deep in my throat and his balls slapping against my face every time he thrust . My own cock was rock - hard , dripping precum , but I couldn 't reach down and touch it . Not yet . Matt let me have it until he began to sweat , but then he broke off suddenly , panting a bit . I sat up to a kneeling position , some grass blades falling off my back as I did . Matt approached my cock , still on all fours , and opened his mouth eagerly . I caught his head , though , holding him off . He obeyed , exposing his smooth , round ass to me . I could see his balls hanging between his legs , below the crack between his buttcheeks and the puckered asshole that beckoned me to get closer . Which I did . I parted Matt 's cheeks with my hands , feeling the hard , supple muscle on each , and then bent down , burying my face between them . I grinned , and dove fully in , using my tongue over his hole , flicking it in and out , then running it up and down his crack in slow , gentle motions that drove Matt wild . He pushed back against me , begging me to lick his hole , and I granted his wish . I used my tongue in every way I knew how , pushing against his asshole with the tip , then running it in short circles around it , feeling Matt move in inviting , pleasure - ridden motions that let me know just how much me was enjoying having me work his hole with my mouth . I was so horny that was I afraid of touching my cock and coming right there . Instead , I used one hand to cup Matt 's balls , squeezing them in a firm grasp . Matt moaned , louder this time , and he spread his legs wider , giving in completely to the pleasure I was giving him . " I know , " Matt said . " I don 't care . You 're the first guy I 've been with in . . . I don 't know . A very long time . I 'm clean . And I trust you . " The sincerity in his words hit me like a sledgehammer . Nobody had ever trusted me like that before . I 'd always been very careful whenever I was with other guys - I was sure I was good , too . Seeing Matt 's ass like that , ready and waiting for me , with my own cock throbbing between my legs , I could barely force the next words out , but I had to . " We don 't have to do this right now , Matt . I want to . I really do . But I also want to know you 're sure . " I swallowed . Fuck he was hot . " I can wait . " I lubed up hastily , then worked on Matt 's hole with my tongue some more to make sure it would be nice and slick for me . Seeing Matt on all fours like that , waiting to take my dick up his ass , made it very hard to be patient , but I went slow . I didn 't want it to be over in two seconds . I stuck one of my fingers inside him , and Matt grunted , taking it easily . I moved it out and plunged it back in , deeper this time . Matt answered me louder . The way he moved his big , strong body to impale himself on my finger drove me wild with desire . And right then I knew I couldn 't wait anymore . I took my finger out , got into position behind Matt and rested the slick head of my cock against his asshole . I thrust forward lightly , guiding my dick with my hand , rubbing Matt 's crack with my dick . I then rested it between his cheeks and pumped a few times , dry - humping him , getting myself even more worked up . I was practically leaking precum , and when I pushed against Matt 's hole for a second time with my dick , I didn 't stop there . I slid inside him , forcing his tight hole to widen and take my swollen , rock - hard dick . " Fuck ! " Matt grunted between gritted teeth . I saw his fingers dig into the grass , unthinkingly tearing out a chunk of grass and dirt even as he let me in deeper , my cock slowly plunging all the way inside his ass . I kept going , steadily , smoothly , and I felt the resistance around my cock give way ever so gradually as Matt relaxed and took it . I leaned forward , resting my upper body against his back , feeling the warm smoothness of his skin , and the tightness of his hole around my cock . I kissed the back of his neck , using one hand to steady myself and grabbing Matt 's throat with the other . I didn 't squeeze or choke him . I merely held on , and he surrendered willingly to my grasp . I had him completely now . And he gave himself to me like no one had before . I began to move inside him , driving my cock deeper and then backing off , sliding in and out of his warm asshole with slow , deep thrusts . Matt moaned with pleasure mixed in with a little pain as he tried to get used to my big dick inside his hole so fast . He didn 't tell me to stop , though . In fact , the way he moved his body against mine , on all fours like he was , practically begged for me to fuck him harder . I fought hard to pace it so both he and I would enjoy it as much as we could . I had fucked Matt once before , but this time it was completely different . It was more than the way we were doing it , too . I had never fucked a guy without protection before , but the sensation wasn 't all that different . It was the emotions involved right then , between the two of us , that were making it so amazing . I felt a connection this time , something strong . As I knelt back upright and grabbed Matt 's hips with both hands , preparing to hit him hard with my dick , it suddenly dawned on me . This wasn 't just sex . We were making love . I began to hammer Matt right as the realization hit , thrusting savagely inside him , giving him everything I had . Matt 's deep moans of pleasure only enticed me further , and I let him have it . I rammed him with my hard cock and pulled him to me , my hips slapping against his butt in a fast , hard rhythm . I wiped some sweat from my brow with the palm of my hand . I saw Matt reach between his legs with one hand and begin to jack off furiously , grunting , moving in time to my thrusts as if we were one . I felt the sweet , almost painful tension building up in the base of my dick and I knew that I was close . " Yeah ! " Matt cried , arching his back . " Don 't stop , Sven ! " I didn 't stop , or slow down . I hammered his hole like a madman . And a few seconds later I was rewarded with Matt 's sudden , loud cry and I felt his body shudder underneath me . It was too much . Even as Matt came , spurting his hot cum down on the grass underneath him , I pulled out of him just barely in time to cum all over his butt and lower back , grunting deep in my throat as my entire body tensed up in a mind - blowing orgasm . I came explosively , shooting my load high up in the air the first time , then landing the next hot ropes of sperm on Matt 's smooth , sweat - slick skin . I emptied my balls completely , the incredible orgasm lasting for so long that I actually thought for a second I 'd come twice . At long , long last , when it stopped , I collapsed back on the grass with a sigh . I was sweating ; my legs were cramped ; a pebble had dug painfully into my knee in the last moments , a bug might have bitten my ankle . And I couldn 't remember feeling happier . I rested my head in my hands , and looked at Matt . He turned around and moved closer so he could lie next to me on the grass . I didn 't feel the cold of the wind . When he rested his head on my chest , wrapping his arms around me as if he didn 't want to let me go , all I felt was his warmth . I don 't know how long we stayed like that , just lying together , surrounded by the quiet serenity of the forest . The trees rustled with the wind , a sound like water falling . I saw a bird flying high overhead , getting lost behind the clouds that floated weightlessly above us , white against the deep blue sky . I could feel Matt breathing next to me , and touch the smoothness of his skin . I kissed him . It was a long , tender kiss , and I hoped it would convey to him everything I didn 't know how to put into words . It was a little of everything I was feeling , which I couldn 't even understand well myself . A sense of gratefulness , I guess , and of happiness too . The way I felt about being close to him . And a silent assurance that his trust was well placed . Matt returned the kiss just as intensely , and when it was over he looked into my eyes , caressing my beard with his fingers . I wanted to say something to him , but I couldn 't think of anything that would express the way I felt . So in the end , all I said was , " We should probably get cleaned up . Which way to the nearest stream ? " We gathered up our things and Matt led the way back south . I wasn 't worried about the bear anymore , even though I knew he was still out there , and probably closer than I thought . Somehow , though , I knew it didn 't matter anymore . We found a little stream soon enough , and we washed up as best we could in there . The water was awfully cold , but once I was dressed again and we resumed walking in the direction of Matt 's house , I warmed up very quickly . Matt walked next to me , but we didn 't say much on the way back , although it was several hours ' hard hiking . The only time I said something was when I noticed that Matt 's wound was bleeding again , but he said it didn 't hurt him all that much , and that it looked much worse than it actually was . I wasn 't sure I believed him , but I resolved to make him go to have it checked out once we had returned to his house . That train of thought led me to the other , more personal but inevitable conclusion I had reached . It had a lot to do with the fact that I 'd seen Matt deal with what , for him , had been the greatest threat he 'd ever had to face . He had been strong enough to face his past without fear , and he had survived . Now , I had to do the same . I wouldn 't run away anymore . It wasn 't right , and I realized that ever since I 'd let Matt go free , and all through the time we 'd spent here in the forest , I had recovered something that I hadn 't realized I had lost . My self - respect . I hadn 't been raised to run away from my problems , and the fact that I had been trying to escape the consequences of my actions back at the farm would have shamed my grandfather immensely . If I had to go to prison for having killed a man , then so be it . I had done the right thing . Now I just had to be brave enough to face it . With those thoughts running around in my mind , I barely noticed all the terrain we covered as we returned to the area around Matt 's house . I first realized we were there when we broke out of the forest and started walking on the rocky peninsula that I had come to know so well . At the far end , surrounded on three sides by the sea , stood the house that had been in Matt 's family for many generations . That , too , reminded me of my grandfather 's farm , and the way I had simply abandoned it . As we approached the house , I took a deep breath , and sighed . I wanted to go back in very badly , maybe relax in one of the chairs and pretend nothing at all had happened before I came to this town , but I couldn 't . I wasn 't going to hide anymore . " Yeah . It 's good to go , " he answered , confused by the suggestion . He looked at the house , then back at me . " Don 't you want to go inside first , though ? We could take a shower , maybe . Have something to eat . We don 't even have to go today at all . We could just relax . " I shook my head , fighting the temptation . " I 'd feel better if you had a doctor have a look at that bear scratch today . I know it doesn 't look bad , but you never know . Better have that cleaned up by a professional . " " Well . . . I guess you 're right . We could go and be back before nightfall if we hurry . And once we 're there , we can maybe have dinner at Mandy 's . She may be old , but she makes the best damn grilled cheese I 've had anywhere . You 'll like the sandwiches . " We dropped the backpack in the house , and Matt made a quick stop in the bathroom . I didn 't go in at all . Then we went down to the coast , where Matt 's boat was tied firmly . It looked slightly dirty , and there was a small water puddle inside , but the boat worked fine , as I saw for myself when Matt yanked the engine to a roar and the boat sped away over the waves with both of us inside . As I saw the town grow bigger and bigger the more we approached , I thought about what I would say to Matt about what I was about to do . I wasn 't even sure he would care - maybe I was reading too much into our last days together . Maybe I felt there was something there , when there really wasn 't . Maybe our time together in the woods had been more about the difficult trial Matt had endured and less about the two of us . I didn 't know , and it was too complicated for me to figure out . Instead , I thought about different ways of telling him that I planned to turn myself in to the police and in the end decided on just saying it bluntly if it came to that . It would be quickest . The smell of the sea and the faint spray of the waves as the boat crashed among them , bobbing slightly up and down as we approached the town 's dock , reminded me of another time I had been on a boat , just a few days ago but a lifetime away . It had been dark then . I 'd had a gun in my hand . I had also been scared , but I wasn 't . Not anymore . That , at least , would make this goodbye a little easier to bear . Matt brought the boat to a stop smoothly , parking it with the same ease with which I would park a truck . He tied it to the dock , made sure everything was good , and then he signaled for me to get out . I went first , trying not to fall and to make a fool of myself , showing that I really wasn 't a seagoing kind of guy , but I didn 't trip or anything and soon Matt was walking next to me us we headed for the town , our footsteps making the old wood of the pier groan with each step . Overhead , a seagull squawked loudly . I put my hands in my pockets , and followed Matt as he led the way to the doctor 's office . The town was familiar this time , yet strange . There were people walking around in the streets , and several of them called or waved to Matt as we passed . Quite a few of them looked at me curiously , but none of them said anything to me . From the way everybody greeted Matt , it was obvious that he was well - liked in the town . It was strange , in a way , seeing this other side of Matt 's life . I guess I had stupidly thought of him only as a guy who lived all alone in his house by the sea . As we walked , it dawned on me that I didn 't know very much about him at all . I didn 't know if he liked sports , for example . I had no idea what he did in his free time , who his friends were , or even what he really did for a living . The thought was surprising , but not unwelcome . It made what I was about to do a little bit easier . It reminded me Matt that and I were essentially strangers . We didn 't walk far , and soon we had arrived to a small office in the center of town , a partition of a bigger building that bordered the park that sprawled across the street . The park was relatively full of people at that hour , many of them walking their dogs , running or just chatting . Ignoring them , Matt rapped on the door to the doctor 's office . A few seconds passed , and then the door opened . " Goodbye , Matt , " I said , grabbing the door and closing it firmly after him . From inside , I heard the doctor calling him . I turned around and left . It wasn 't hard to find the police station . In a town as small as this one , there weren 't many buildings to choose from . When I saw it , I stood up straighter and made a beeline for it . I had to get this over with . The sooner , the better . When I got there , the door was closed . I had no idea if I should knock or something . I had never been inside a police station before . In the end , I simply knocked . " Coming ! " came a voice from the inside . A second later , a middle - aged man with a goatee opened the door . He was wearing a uniform , and I stared involuntarily at his badge . I also caught the glint of metal on his belt , where his pistol was tucked in . The officer shut the door behind me , a little more alert now . The station was small , and there was no one else in sight at the moment . Near the back , I saw one of those small holding cells they use to keep petty offenders in . It was empty . " You don 't say ? " the officer said . " I 'm officer Rogers . What 's the nature of the crime you want to report ? " Officer Rogers was pretty good at hiding his reaction , but it was noticeable to me . He rested his hand ever so casually on his belt , ready to take out his gun should he need it . I didn 't give him any reason to use it . I followed his instructions to sit down on a chair next to his desk , and gave him my statement of what had happened nearly three months ago in a farm a world away . He was efficient . He didn 't handcuff me or anything , but when I was done he led me to the holding cell in the back , still playing nice but also ready to act if I tried anything . I supposed he wasn 't sure if I was just making everything up , or if he had really stumbled across a murderer come from another state . I wondered if he had any experience dealing with a case like this . I supposed it wasn 't very likely . I let him lock me up , and sat down on the bunk that was provided . I stared out at the wall , thinking . Now , it was all out of my hands . I only had to wait . I heard the officer make a phone call , heard his footsteps coming closer , then the sound of a heavy door being closed , and then nothing . I looked out slightly from my cell , and I saw that he had closed a dividing door I had not seen before , isolating the holding cell area from the rest of the station . I supposed that whoever had answered his phone call had probably confirmed the details of the crime , since he didn 't come back or let me out . Now it was official : I was a caught criminal . I wondered why it didn 't bother me as much as it should have . I thought about where they would send me to prison . I also wondered if there would be any attenuating circumstances when they gave out the sentence since the murder had been in self - defense , or kind of . I had no idea , but I refused to freak out and I kept calm as the hours crept by and night fell . Lots of things occupied my thoughts during that time . I mostly thought about my home , and about the fact that I had let one of those guys escape . That was probably the only thing I regretted about the entire incident . They had all deserved to die . What they had done had been unprovoked , and unforgivable . I was glad I had had the chance to at least make those murderers regret ever having come to my home to kill the only father I had ever known . If there was a hell , I hoped those men were there . A couple hours after nightfall , a female officer I hadn 't seen before came in with a tray of food . She passed it over into my cell , but she didn 't say anything . I didn 't either . There was nothing to say ; whenever my fate was decided , they would let me know . So I ate , and then lay down to sleep in the clothes that Matt had given me , and I crossed my arms over my chest for warmth . Then I slept . Nothing happened the next day . Three meals were delivered to my cell , but I wasn 't told what the stated of matters regarding my case was . I thought briefly about asking for a lawyer or a phone call or some of the other things I had seen on television that you were supposed to have when they convicted you , but I didn 't bring myself around to asking for any of them . I guess I was too busy thinking . Also , I was tired of fighting whatever the consequences for my actions would be . I had come to the point where I was just willing to let it happen , whatever it was . I thought about what my life would be like in prison . From the movies , I had a vague idea that you had time to exercise and maybe do something productive if you behaved well . That didn 't seem too bad , at least not for a little while . If it turned out I had to be there for life , though , I guess things would look a lot different . I wasn 't afraid of prison , not really . I knew I was big enough and strong enough to make sure nobody messed with me , even if it cost me a tooth or two . I wasn 't bothered by having to be alone for so long , either . After all , I had always been alone , more or less . I didn 't have any close friends . I had never had what you could call a relationship with anyone . In fact , the closest I 'd ever been with another person had been with Matt , but now that was done . I had known it would happen , but it still hurt a little . I tried not to think about him , but that night , as I tried to fall asleep , I couldn 't help it . He hadn 't come , not even once . I supposed it was to be expected . Matt was probably glad I had been man enough to turn myself in , but I really couldn 't blame him for not wanting any part in the mess that was sure to come once the legal stuff pertaining the things I had done was done and it was time to assign the blame . I tried to tell myself that it was for the best , that by having come on my own I had spared Matt from having to explain everything that had happened in his house . After all , he hadn 't turned me in after I had set him free , so I guessed he could technically be called an accomplice in hiding me . Or not . I had no idea , but I was glad he was willing to move on . It didn 't make it any easier to bear , but it was something . As I slept that night , though , my dreams were mostly of him . I woke up on day three to the sound of somebody calling my name . In the first brief second after waking , I stupidly thought it was Matt . As I sat up , though , I realized it was Officer Rogers . " Hey Madison , " he said , unlocking the door to my cell . " You got a call . Your attorney . Long distance from Kansas , so hurry up . " I got up and put on my shoes , intrigued and a little confused . As far as I knew , I didn 't have an attorney back home . Even so , I followed the officer out into the main station . The other female officer was also there , and she looked briefly at me as I passed . Then she went back to reading her newspaper . Not the kind of reaction I would expect in the presence of a soon - to - be convicted killer . I held the phone up to my ear , not knowing what to expect . Definitely not the voice of my great - uncle Harold when I said hello and he practically yelled , " Sven ? Sven , is that really you ? " " Oh God ! Man , I 'm so freakin ' glad to hear your voice , kid ! You have no idea what everybody has been through back here for the past few months ! We thought you were dead ; we honestly thought those sons of bitches had killed you and dumped your body in a ditch somewhere . Randy from the gas station found your overturned truck ; he was the first one to notice something was wrong . Then he called the police and they went to the farm . . . when they told me what they had found there , Sven , I almost fainted . I 'm not kidding ; you know I have a heart condition . I just couldn 't believe they had killed Pete like that , gunned him down in his own house , and you were missing . I feared the worst . Everybody did . The way you disappeared . . . you left no trace , kid . The police even gave up searching for you . I had honestly lost all hope . " And then , last night , this call comes in . Saying you 're alive , but in Alaska . I swear to God , at first I thought it was a prank . It was only when I realized it was Sheriff Williams telling me this that I dared to hope . Said she 'd got a call from Alaska herself . I spent all night calling other lawyers , the county police and a hundred other people . We finally got everything sorted out , and I was allowed to call you and tell you only today . I actually called a little bit earlier , but they said you were still sleeping . Apparently you guys are a few hours behind us over there . Jesus Christ , kid . What were you thinking ? You 've scared everybody down here half to death . " " Uncle , " I cut in , to stop his seemingly never - ending stream of words . " What 's going to happen to me ? What about the man I killed ? " " The man you k - for God 's sake , Sven , is that why you ran away ? Because you thought you 'd killed somebody ? " There was a loud sigh at the other end of the line . " Listen to me , Sven . They found two men at your farm that morning . One of them , the older guy , was dead . After the investigation , it was clear he had been shot by his accomplice by accident , and the accomplice 's testimony confirms that . He said you came at them like a madman . He got so scared that he shot blindly , and got the old man by mistake . " " If you can call it that , " my uncle answered . " You left him in a bad shape , Sven . He 'll probably spend a few more weeks in the hospital before he can even be moved to jail . " My uncle sighed with exasperation again . " Haven 't you been listening , boy ? The guy confessed . Everybody knows what happened . The wounds you inflicted on the men were ruled as self - defense . You 're not being charged anything . That was part of why it took so long for me to reach you . Since we thought you were dead , finding out you weren 't meant a whole new process had to be started to process the new information . But now it 's done . You 're clean , Sven . You can come home . " " Did you hit your head on an iceberg up there ? " My uncle asked me . " Yes ! Of course you can come home ! The farm is yours , now , you know . Pete left everything to you in his will . I am taking care of it for now as the family attorney , but it 's here , waiting for you . " I felt numb . It felt like a dream , but I knew it wasn 't . It was just . . . too good . Too good to be true . " I can only imagine what you must have gone through , kid , " my uncle said , his voice softening . " You saw Pete get murdered . Then you ran away thinking you had to escape . It 's all over now . Trust me . Everything 's okay . " " We 're still looking for him , " he answered , " but it 'll take some time . It 's not a priority case anymore , now that it 's been proven you 're alive . Still , the police are doing everything they can . We 'll get him someday , don 't worry . " I was silent for a long time , just holding the phone to my ear . It was finally dawning on me : I was free . I wasn 't going to prison at all . I was free . " Thank you , Uncle , " I said , finally . " For everything . I 'll stay in touch . There 's a lot I need to think about . " " Take your time , kid . You know where to reach me . And if you need any money for the ticket back home , just let me know . I 'll wire you some cash as soon as you tell me to . " I hung up . I looked at Officer Rogers , who nodded . " You 're free to go , Mr . Madison . Sorry it took so long . I guess your uncle brought you up to speed . " " You 're free to go , sir . And . . . if I may say so . That was mighty brave , what you did . I read the case file while we were working on the logistics of your declaration yesterday . You take care , now . " I walked through the town , not really paying attention to where I was going . My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts . I could go home . This was all over . Finally , the fear , the sense of pursuit , the anger . . . I could just let it go . I was free . I took a big , deep breath . A gigantic weight had been lifted off my shoulders , and I felt light . What my uncle had told me wouldn 't bring my grandfather back , but it was a measure of justice . And it felt good . It felt right . I guess I should have been happier , but even though I felt free , there was a shadow in the back of my mind , something that dimmed the great life - changing news I had just received . Nothing was stopping me now from going back home to the life I had abandoned when I had thought there was nothing there for me any more ; there was nothing was keeping me back . . . but I wished there was . I wished there was a reason for me to stay . Without realizing it , my steps had led me back to the water 's edge . To my right , the sea extended out over the bay , the water reflecting the bright sunlight of the morning . If I squinted , I would probably be able to make out the tiny house on the other side of the bay , but I didn 't . It would hurt too much . Matt approached slowly , as if he wasn 't sure what I would do . I briefly noticed the new bandage over his arm , the tank top he was wearing , showing off his beautiful body , the way his hair gleamed in the sunlight . But most of all , I saw his eyes . And when he broke into a run to bridge the gap between us and extended his arms , a smile of pure happiness on his face , I opened my arms and caught him , embracing him , holding him tight , certain that know I was never letting go . " I was so fucking scared , " he said , his voice muffled as he buried his head between my neck and my shoulder . " I followed you as soon as the doctor was finished with me , but when I got to the station they wouldn 't let me in to see you . I came back the next day and it was the same thing . I waited outside for hours . Then I came back that night and Rogers told me that they were working on something to set you free , but he wouldn 't let me inside either . And this morning , he called , and I came as fast as I could . I 'm so glad Sven . Really . I just . . . " We stayed like that for a very long time , and then Matt looked up at me , and kissed me . I didn 't care about the world then , and neither did he . For that long , perfect moment , all that existed was us . " I love you , Sven , " he said , his voice husky . " I don 't care how long it 's been since I 've known you . You 're the one . I know it . " " I love you too , Matt , " I answered , smiling , and I meant it with every fiber of my being . Once , a lifetime ago , I would have never imagined that I would be able to say those words to anyone . Now I couldn 't imagine how I had lived without knowing what love was . We kissed again , and then Matt led me back to the town . We had breakfast at the place Matt had promised to take me the day before , and I had to admit that those really were the best grilled cheese sandwiches I have ever had . Matt ignored the many curious glances that were directed at the two of us . We didn 't speak much as we ate , but we didn 't need to , not anymore . When we were done , we left and headed straight for the docks . I spotted Matt 's boat right away , and I saw it was loaded with stuff . In fact , I could barely fit near the prow . Matt sat in the back , untied the boat and set off , back toward his house . During the brief trip back , couldn 't help remembering that the last time I had come this way , Matt had been ready to throw me overboard as violently as possible if he ever got a chance . Things couldn 't be more different now . Things couldn 't be better . " I . . . I don 't know , " I said , confused . Not sure if he meant that I should leave . " I do have a lot of things to take care of back there . I suppose I will have to go eventually . " I climbed the steps two at a time , and I reached the upper floor a few seconds after Matt . He was standing next to the door of his room . When he saw me coming , he averted his eyes . " I guess I forgot you had a life elsewhere , " he said . " I don 't know what I was thinking . Of course you have to go back . " " I only got the groceries done today because I was so busy yesterday , " Matt explained confusingly . " I had to practically threaten the damn movers to help me get the new stuff in . Charged me extra for the short notice , but I managed to get rid of the old stuff and put in some new things . I thought you might . . . well , I thought you might like it . " I stepped into the room that had so recently been his father 's , except that now it was completely transformed from whatever it had been before . All the old stuff was gone . There was a bed set against the far wall that practically had the price tag still attached to it , and a closet with a couple of very nice shirts hung from the pegs , new also . A stylish rug in a bright red color covered the center of the room , contrasting nicely with the worn , warm look of the wooden floor and walls . Matt had even bought a little rack that stood by the side of the bed , where he had put the gun I didn 't even know I had forgotten there . He had prepared the entire room for me , so I could stay . " It 's perfect , " I said , surprised I was actually choking up with emotion . " This is better than anything I could have imagined . " I turned around , looked right at him . " Matt , I want to be with you . For as long as you will have me . " Matt blinked quickly , almost as if he couldn 't bring himself to believe what I had just said . Then he nodded , unable to speak , his eyes slightly moist . He looked away , wiped them , and then came forward to kiss me . We held each other for a long while , giving in entirely to simple , pure happiness . " There 's something else I bought , " Matt told me , walking to the bed and kneeling down to get something from underneath it . " In case you decided to stay . I thought . . . well . I thought we could have some fun with it . " He was actually blushing . He stood up , holding a thick , braided rope in both hands . It looked new , but it was the kind that is easy on your skin if it ever gets wrapped too tightly , unlike the old scratchy kinds that were sure to give you a rash . Without a word , I walked up to the bed and threw myself down on it , making the mattress creak under my weight . I kicked off my boots . Then I held my hands over my head , tantalizingly close to the headboard . " Well , what are you waiting for ? " I told Matt , grinning with desire and anticipation , emotions I saw burning in his eyes as he approached . " Tie me up . " This is the end of ' Bear Hunter ' . Hope you guys enjoyed this story . Thanks to all the readers that sent in feedback as I was writing it , week after week . It 's been fun . I 'm working on another story now , and hopefully I 'll be able to post the link to it here in a few days , once I submit it to Nifty . See you !