by Joyce, T. S.
He wrapped her tightly in his sweater and rolled gently until they lay on their sides, facing one another and holding each other close. And as minutes drifted by, they watched the sun rise over the mountains together, all tangled up and happy.
“I lied to you,” he said with a serious set to his mouth.
“What about?”
“After you told me not to fall in love with you, I said I wouldn’t have a problem following that rule.”
A relieved smile stretched across her face. “And?”
“And I fell in love with you. Hang your rules, Cas.” He brushed his fingers across the claiming mark he’d given her. “From here on, we’ll make our own rules.”
“Together?” she asked.
Hugging her close and resting his cheek against hers, Haydan murmured, “Always together.”
Chapter Ten
Six months had passed in the blink of an eye.
No longer were the winds the cool breezes of autumn and winter. Now, they were warm with the promise of new life and springtime.
Cassie’s life had changed completely in the span of half a year. She was now a full partner with Riley in a company called Shabby Shifter Home Decor. She worked every day at the shop, which Damon Daye had kindly turned from a rickety shed to a red, refurbished barn behind the trailer park. Cassie was taking on more of the back-straining work lately because Riley and Drew were going to have a child of their own soon. She had a career, amazing clients, and a best friend in Riley she’d never thought she’d have.
It was mid-logging season, so Haydan was busy during the days up at the landing with the rest of the crew. She took sandwiches up to him on Wednesdays, and Tagan was nice enough to give him an extra fifteen minutes for lunch to picnic with her.
She’d moved out of 1010 and into Haydan’s den, and she hadn’t even balked against Petty living there, too. Now, she gloated that Petty liked her more than Haydan since the piggy chose to follow Cassie to the shop every morning, and then back home in the evenings while Haydan was up in the mountains clearing timber. She also slept on a blanket on the floor beside Cassie’s side of the bed. Cassie loved it, sleeping all safe and warm, surrounded by her favorites—Haydan and her pretty Petty.
Brooke had gifted her a painting of a grizzly bear standing beside a black bear, both overlooking a cliff with infinite stars stretched in front of them. It was hanging beside the kitchen table, and Cassie still couldn’t pass it without admiring the built-up, thoughtful strokes Brooke had created the painting with.
Cassie dragged her attention away from the picture now and smiled down at Wyatt, who was snatching grapes almost as fast as she was washing them. Any he didn’t eat, he passed to Harper, who’d gone to following him everywhere he went.
Today they were celebrating with a barbecue because this morning she’d registered to the public with the Ashe Crew. And when the paperwork had asked her who her mate was, she’d proudly penciled in Haydan’s name.
It was official now. She belonged.
“Hey, sexy, you ready?” Haydan asked from the open doorway.
“What’s sessy?” Wyatt asked.
“Ask your dad,” Haydan advised, picking Harper up and blowing a raspberry onto her tummy until she giggled.
“Dad!” Wyatt yelled, blasting out of the trailer.
Harper wiggled out of Haydan’s arms and stumbled after her little friend, less steady on her toddling legs.
“I’ve got her,” Diem said through a grin at the doorway, pulling her daughter into her arms.
Haydan stalked closer and settled his hands on the counter on either side of Cassie’s hips. He searched her eyes before he leaned in and kissed her gently. “I like coming home to you,” he murmured.
“I like the way you just said home.”
“Mmm,” he said, nipping at her neck. “I like the way you screamed my name last night.”
“Brute,” she teased.
“Toast time,” Bruiser called out, banging down the side of the trailer in true Bruiser fashion.
Cassie grabbed the fruit salad she’d prepared and leaned into Haydan as he draped an arm over her shoulders.
Outside, the sun was shining and the sky clear, the perfect day for a barbecue with the people she loved. Asheland Mobile Park was full of little groups talking and laughing together. The Gray Backs and Boarlanders had come. Kong and his Lowlander Crew were cutting up with Drew and Denison. Damon Daye was taking Harper from Diem’s arms with a big doting grin on his usually stoic face. And off to the side, right in front of 1010, was Matt. A smile on his face, he was looking at her with such pride. Her brother had been right about everything.
For so many years, she’d thought it was impossible for a person like her to find contentment, but she’d come so far in the last six months. If someone would’ve told her a year ago her life would be so fulfilling today, she would’ve told them they were crazy. But life didn’t travel in a straight line. It curved wherever it wanted to. Her winding path had just taken a few extra loops and zigzags to get here, to this moment, to the exact place she belonged. To her place among her beloved Ashe Crew with Haydan.
Haydan pressed his lips against her temple. “You look happy.”
She smiled when he looked down at her with such adoration in his eyes. Her sensitive, patient, immoveable mate. He’d filled the dark corners of her life with light and gave her the strength to chase away her demons.
He’d shown her how strong she could be and loved her despite all of her faults.
He’d stood quietly by, proudly watching her as, little by little, she found herself.
Haydan had given her a crew, a family, and a home.
He’d given her everything.
“That’s because I am happy,” she murmured.
Kellen handed her a Dixie cup of what looked like red wine, and Brooke smiled at her from her place by Tagan’s side, joy in her eyes.
Tagan whistled, quieting everyone, and lifted his own drink high. “To Cassie, for making it official today and honoring us as the last piece of the Ashe Crew.”
Eyes burning with emotion from all she’d found in this old, dilapidated trailer park with a crew of trash-talking, beer-guzzling, loyal-as-hell, big-hearted lumberjack werebears, Cassie grinned through her tears and lifted her cup and her voice with the others. “To the Ashe Crew.”
Surprise Announcement
As a giant THANK YOU for the awesome response to the Saw Bears series, Matt Barns will get his book in the spinoff novella, Gray Back Bad Bear.
Coming August 2015
New Release Newsletter Sign-Up
For new releases, exclusive sneak peeks, and giveaways, sign up for T. S. Joyce’s Bear Shifter Romance Newsletter HERE.
Other Series by T. S. Joyce
Fire Bears
Bear My Soul (Book 1)
Bear the Burn (Book 2)
Bear the Heat (Book 3)
Bear Valley Shifters
The Witness and the Bear (Book 1)
Devoted to the Bear (Book 2)
Return to the Bear (Book 3)
Betray the Bear (Book 4)
Redeem the Bear (Book 5)
Bear Valley Valentine (Valentine’s Day Novella)
Hells Canyon Shifters
Call of the Bear (Book 1)
Fealty of the Bear (Book 2)
Avenge the Bear (Book 3)
Claim the Bear (Book 4)
Heart of the Bear (Book 5)
Wolf Brides
Wolf Bride (Book 1)
Red Snow Bride (Book 2)
Dawson Bride (Book 3)
Standalone Shifter Romance
Coveted by the Bear
Amazon
Standalone Contemporary Romance
Shelter Me Home
Amazon
About the Author
T. S. Joyce
T.S. Joyce is devoted to bringing hot shifter romances to readers. Hungry alpha males are her calling card, and the wilder the men, the more she'll make
them pour their hearts out. Experienced at handling an alpha male of her own, she lives in a tiny town, outside of a tiny city, and devotes her life to writing big stories. Foodie, bear whisperer, ninja, thief of tiny bottles of awesome smelling hotel shampoo, nap connoisseur, movie fanatic, and zombie slayer, and most of this bio is true.
Bear Shifters? Check
Smoldering Alpha Hotness? Double Check
Sexy Scenes? Fasten up your girdles, ladies and gents, it’s gonna to be a wild ride.
For more information about T. S. Joyce and her work, visit her website here.
Contents
Other Books in the Series
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Surprise Announcement
Newsletter Sign-Up
Other Series by T. S. Joyce
Bear Valley Shifters
Hells Canyon Shifters
Wolf Brides
Standalone Shifter Romance
Standalone Contemporary Romance
About the Author