Connected (Gem Creek Bears Book 5)

by Jennifer Snyder

  “Last night.” I beamed, pulling her in for a hug.

  “I knew you two were a forever kind of thing,” Tris said. “I’m so freaking happy for you.”

  I squeezed her tight. “Thank you.”

  “Everyone, welcome our new clan member!” Tris shouted when she released me. Her fingers laced through mine, and she gave my hand a squeeze before lifting it into the air above our heads. “Penny is officially one of us!”

  My gaze landed on Liam. “Right?” I asked, hoping he agreed.

  While my bear enjoyed Tris’s enthusiasm, we both knew it was Liam’s approval we needed.

  Liam nodded. Then, he made his way to where I stood, grabbing a beer for me and Rafe on his way. “Welcome to the clan,” he said, passing me a beer. He lifted his in the air for a toast. Everyone’s attention shifted to him. “Tonight we celebrate our clan having grown by another. Cheers.”

  “Cheers,” I repeated, clinking my beer to his.

  Each clan member moved to touch my shoulder or my arm in a welcoming gesture. My bear warmed, basking in their kindness and acceptance. I’d never felt this before. It was a moment I always wanted to remember.

  “So, let’s see her,” Tris insisted, eager to meet my bear.

  I smirked at her. “Okay. Hold this.” I handed her my beer and kissed Rafe on the cheek before I slipped into the woods at the trailhead for Yona Waterfall like I remembered Tris doing on the night she was accepted into the clan not too long ago.

  When I could no longer see anyone, I peeled off my clothes. Once I was naked, I pulled in a deep breath and closed my eyes. I gave into my bear, stepping aside and letting her have this moment she seemed to want so badly. Shifter magic pulsed through the air, and the tiny hairs along my body lifted in response. The transition from being me to being her happened smoothly, and my bear rushed forward with confidence and excitement.

  I crept from the woods into Liam’s backyard, feeling my bear beaming with pride.

  “There’s my girl,” Rafe shouted through his cupped hands. He let out a whistle, and my bear grumbled with happiness.

  Everyone broke out in hoots and hollers. Whistles exploded through the night. I felt my bear glow. She’d needed this—the sense of warmth and acceptance oozing from everyone.

  We made our rounds and then headed back into the woods to shift again. Once I was dressed, I made my way back to everyone.

  “She’s beautiful,” Tris insisted, handing me my beer. A wide smile stretched across her face. “How does she feel?”

  “Fierce. Strong. Powerful,” I said.

  “Feisty,” Rafe insisted. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He kissed me, brushing his lips against mine in a soft gesture.

  “So, does this mean you’re moving out soon,” Rhett asked Rafe. His eyes shifted to me next. “Or are you moving in?” He took a sip of his beer, not seeming to care what the answer was one way or another.

  I was glad.

  “Actually.” Rafe flashed me a grin. “We’re building our own place.”

  Liam choked on his beer. It went spraying all over. “What?”

  “Relax,” Rafe insisted. “We’re building a cabin here in the campground.”

  “Where?” Nash asked. It only took one look at his face to realize he’d thought the same as Liam—that we were leaving the campground.

  “Where Dad used to take us camping when we were kids,” Rafe said. He took a swig from his beer and then draped his arm over my shoulder, pulling me in close. “You guys know how much I love that place. Penny had the idea that we could build our cabin there. Are y’all okay with that?”

  “I think that’s a perfect place for you,” Nash insisted, surprising me. While he wasn’t an ass, he never seemed to be anything other than moody. So, to see him smile at Rafe and offer some kind words was nice.

  “I do too,” Liam insisted.

  Rhett lifted his beer for a toast. “To your love and always having the best view of the sunset.”

  We all clinked beer bottles.

  “When are you going to start building?” Tris asked. “This is exciting.”

  “I was thinking we could head to the bank next week and talk about our options for loans,” Rafe said, shifting his attention to me. “I have some money saved that would probably be enough to prep for the cabin to be built, but I’m sure it’s going to go quick.”

  “We don’t need a loan. I have the money from selling my mom’s house and her life insurance,” I said.

  “Are you sure you want to spend it on this?” Rafe asked.

  I kissed him. “I couldn’t think of anything better to spend it on than building a home with you.”

  “You two are already cheesy as hell,” Nash insisted with a smirk before he strode away, taking a swig from his beer.

  “I have to agree with him,” Rhett said.

  “Says the guy who’s been obsessing over the mysterious new camper in lot two,” Rafe teased.

  Rhett shook his head. “I haven’t been obsessing.”

  “No? What would you call it then—stalking?” Rafe cracked a grin.

  “Whatever.” Rhett rolled his eyes and then took a swig from his beer. “I’m just curious.” He walked away, and I could feel his irritation rolling off him in waves.

  “Go easy on him,” Liam insisted, giving Rafe a look. “He really feels for her. Frankly, so do I.”

  My brows pinched together. Clearly, I should have paid more attention to this girl. What was there to feel bad about? Why were they all sympathizing with her?

  “What’s wrong with her?” I asked, wondering if she had bruises on her I’d missed or something when we’d bumped into one another in front of the bathhouse the other day.

  “She’s a bear shifter, but her bear seems to have gone dormant,” Tris said, opting to fill me in.

  “They can do that?”

  Tris shrugged. “Apparently so.”

  “Or, it could just be that she doesn’t realize she has a bear at all,” Liam said, his tone sounding bleak.

  “How is that even possible?” I asked, unable to fathom such a thing. How could someone not know? I’d been able to feel mine instantly.

  “Trauma,” Rafe insisted. “Something might have happened to her, and she shut that part of herself down. There are loads of reasons something like that could happen.”

  “That sounds awful.” My bear growled in agreement.

  “It’s not healthy either,” Liam insisted.

  I shifted on my feet. “What do you mean?”

  “It can make her sick. Not like with the shifter sickness, but something worse even. Having a broken bear makes for a broken human. We’re so deeply connected to one another that what affects one affects the other,” Liam said.

  My heart broke for this girl.

  “Shouldn’t we help her?” I asked.

  “I asked the same thing,” Tris insisted, placing a hand on her hip.

  “And I’ll tell you the same thing I told her—you can’t help someone who doesn’t want it. Especially not someone who’s trying to hide, which is what she’s doing. This girl doesn’t want help. She wants to be left alone; it’s why she’s here. I can tell,” Liam said.

  “Let’s not think about it tonight,” Rafe demanded. “Tonight is a night of celebration.” He squeezed me closer and placed a kiss to my head.

  I loved when he did that.

  “To us,” Rafe said, raising his beer in the air. “To your bear, and to building our own cabin.”

  My bear roared, loving his toast and the idea of getting back to having fun. Oh, yeah. She was going to be a blast to have. We both seemed to enjoy partying.

  I lifted my beer to Rafe’s. “To everything you just said.” And then I kissed him. Something landed on my shoulder, and I broke our kiss to see what it was.

  A ladybug.

  “She’s always with you,” Tris said with a wink.

  I smiled wide. “I know.”

  I placed a finger next to the ladybug
, allowing her to climb on. When she did, I held my finger up and blew gently. Her tiny wings fluttered, and then she flew away into the night. Rafe pulled me close, and we headed toward the firepit to mingle with the others.

  Happiness bloomed through me as I looked down at my tattoo and then at Rafe’s fingers laced through mine. Deja vu hit me again, and same as always, I knew I was right where I was supposed to be.

  I hope you enjoyed Penny’s story. Be on the lookout for more from the clan members of the Gem Creek Bears coming soon. Until then, check out my Ward Witches series. Magic, witches, and a shifter breed in need of saving.

  Learn More About Ward Witches Here.

  Thank You

  Thank you for reading Connected (Gem Creek Bears, Book Five), I hope you enjoyed it! Please consider leaving an honest review at your point of purchase. Reviews help me in so many ways!

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  About the Author

  Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina where she spends most of her time writing New Adult and Young Adult Fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

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