Charlotte happily agreed. Watching sunrises or sunsets ranked high on her list of favorite things to do. She settled into the bed of the truck, and several minutes later Ian came back with two thermoses of coffee and an assortment of nuts. Charlotte sipped and munched happily, watching the first sunbeams streaking colorfully across the sky. But their private show was suddenly interrupted when Zach came outside.
“Really, Ian?” Zach asked. “You were gone most of the day yesterday, and now you’re sitting out here lazily watching the sun rise? Don’t you have work to do? Or have you forgotten about everything except your new love interest?”
Zach stood with his arms crossed, giving Charlotte a look of total disdain. Ian sighed, and set his thermos of coffee down.
“Zach, my office, now. Charlotte, wait here and enjoy the coffee and sunrise. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Zach rolled his eyes but followed Ian as he stormed into the hangar. A few moments later, Charlotte could hear the sound of yelling coming from the hangar. She couldn’t quite make out what they were saying, but it was clear that Zach and Ian were having a very heated disagreement. The noise must have awoken the other members of the crew, because a sleepy-looking Hunter suddenly appeared beside the truck.
“Hey,” Hunter said in a shy voice. “I’m sorry if my shifting caused problems for you and Ian. It sounds like he and Zach are having an epic argument about you right now.”
Charlotte let out an exasperated sigh, and patted the blanket next to her on the bed of the truck. “Come on up,” she said. “And don’t apologize for shifting. You and Ian saved me from a bear attack. There’s nothing to apologize about.”
Hunter hopped into the truck and glanced over at Charlotte. “Is it true?” he asked. “Are you and Ian going to be lifemates?”
“Lifemates?” Charlotte asked, confusion etching itself into her face.
“Oh, I guess he hasn’t asked you yet,” Hunter said, sounding embarrassed. “I thought he had, since he’s arguing with Zach about it so loudly. Asking someone to be your lifemate is kind of like asking them to marry you. Ian said just a moment ago that he’s planning to be your lifemate, and Zach flew off the handle about it.”
“You can hear what they’re saying from here?” Charlotte asked, surprised.
“Yeah, bears have really good hearing. Sounds like Ian is putting Zach in his place.”
“Good. Zach’s been giving him such a hard time, for no good reason.”
“Don’t be too hard on Zach. He’ll come around,” Hunter said. “He’s a good guy, but he has a temper and he doesn’t like to admit it when he’s wrong. And he was clearly very wrong about you.”
“Wrong about me?”
“Yeah. He thought as soon as you found out we were bear shifters you would out us. Then not only would your relationship with Ian be done, but the entire crew would probably lose our jobs.”
“I’m not like that,” Charlotte said.
“I know that now,” Hunter said. “We all know that now. But Zach is stubborn and doesn’t want to admit that he was wrong. He’ll come around eventually. Just give him some time.”
Hunter pulled a small piece of fabric from his jeans’ front pocket. “I made this for you,” he said. “It’s our official Burning Claws Crew patch. I designed them, and we all wear one on our jumpsuits. I decided that since it looks like you’re going to be a permanent part of the crew, you should have one, too.”
Charlotte looked down at the patch, which had a bear paw with flaming claws on it. “Hunter, this is awesome,” she said. “Thank you so much.”
Hunter shrugged, but looked pleased. “I’m glad you like it. Welcome to our crew, officially,” he said.
Charlotte held the patch tightly in her hand and smiled. She belonged here, now. Zach could put up a fuss about it all day long, but Ian was standing up for her now. And the rest of the crew seemed to be excited about having her around permanently. As she studied the patch, Trevor and Luke came out of the hangar with wide eyes.
“Looks like you’ve caused quite a stir between the boss and Zach,” Trevor said. “Pretty impressive.”
Before Charlotte could answer, Ian’s voice came booming from just beyond the open hangar door. “She didn’t cause a stir. Zach caused a stir. He had concerns about Charlotte outing us as shifters, but it’s clear now that his fears were misplaced.”
Ian came out of the hangar, followed by Zach, who looked sullen but remained silent.
“Zach and I have had a discussion, and I’ve explained to him that I’m confident that the crew is in no danger from Charlotte. He’s admitted that my confidence is well placed, and Charlotte will be staying with us. If anyone else has issues with this, now is the time to speak up.”
Ian looked around the group, making eye contact with each of his men. None of them offered any words of protest, and Charlotte silently cheered as she realized that Hunter and Ian weren’t the only crew members who had accepted her.
“Good,” Ian said. “Now that that’s settled, let’s all get back to work.”
His tone left no room for complaining, and the crew members scattered to start on their tasks for the day. The peak of the sunrise had passed by this point, and Ian offered his hand to Charlotte so she could jump out of the truck.
“Sorry about the sunrise,” he said. “We can try watching it again tomorrow, if we don’t get called for a mission.”
“No worries,” Charlotte said. “Is Zach okay?”
“He’s miffed at me, but it’s not the first time. He’ll get over it in a few days and everything will be completely back to normal. What’s that in your hand, by the way?” Ian asked, pointing to the patch Hunter had just given Charlotte.
“A Burning Claws patch for my jumpsuit!” Charlotte said. “Hunter gave it to me, so that I’m an official part of the crew now.”
Ian smiled. “He’s got such a good heart.”
“He also explained to me what a lifemate is,” Charlotte said, giving Ian a coy smile.
Ian chuckled and drew Charlotte into his embrace. “Oh, really? And how do you feel about that concept?”
“I feel like it sounds like a pretty good idea, if you find the right person.”
“Do you think you’ve found the right person to be your lifemate?” Ian asked, his voice growing serious.
Charlotte smirked. “I might have. But I can’t be sure, because he hasn’t asked me yet.”
Ian took a deep breath, and let it out in a ragged exhalation. “I didn’t want to ask yet because I didn’t want to overwhelm you right after my rather ungraceful revelation of the fact that I’m a bear shifter. But if you’re hinting at what I think you’re hinting at, then I’m just going to go for it.”
Ian knelt down on one knee in front of Charlotte. The bright, early morning sun illuminated his dark hair from behind, so it almost looked like it was on fire.
“I know asking you this question is absolutely crazy, but I’m absolutely in love with you, and I’ve never been the sane type, anyway. If you’re willing to take this leap with me, then I’m more than ready to take it with you. Charlotte Moore, will you be my lifemate?”
Charlotte grinned, her heart swelling with feelings of love and joy as Ian’s handsome face looked up at her earnestly. “I’m crazy in love with you, too, Ian,” she said. “Let’s take this leap together. Whatever bumps we face along the way, let’s face them together, as lifemates. My answer is yes.”
Ian jumped up and pulled Charlotte into his arms, spinning her around until her feet left the ground. When he finally set her down, he pointed to the patch she still held in her hand.
“You better go get that sewn on your jumpsuit,” he said. “Welcome to the Burning Claws Clan, my love. You’ve got a family again.”
Charlotte squeezed Ian’s hand happily as they walked into the hangar to share the news with the rest of her new family. She smiled over at him when he returned the squeeze. All of the stress from the last week was quickly forgotten as she
stared into the eyes of her soon-to-be lifemate.
Thank You For Reading!
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About the Author
There are bears walking among us. Sloane Meyers is devoted to telling their stories.
Sloane thinks we could all use a little escape in our lives. And what better way to shake up the ordinary than to transport yourself to the mysterious world of those who have an animal within them, roaring to be let out. Sloane promises hot shifter males, and spunky, spirited heroines—with NO cliffhangers! Each book can be read as a standalone.
When she’s not busy crafting bear tales, Sloane enjoys a good glass of wine, preferably shared with good friends. She loves reading, baking, and pretending that she’s actually a music buff. On weekends, she spends a lot of time in the great outdoors, hiking with her own sexy alpha and adorable little cub.
You can connect with Sloane at her website, www.sloanemeyers.com, or by Friending her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorsloanemeyers.
A Blaze To Bear (Fire Bear Shifters Book 1) Page 9