“Hey, Tony, isn’t it?” Alice called, running up behind them. “Want to go get smoothies? It’s a bit lame, but it’s about as good as it gets in Bear Bluff. Ace’s treat for being such a jerk.”
“How do you know my name?” he asked.
“I asked around. My mom knows Dylan.”
“I’m spending the evening with my sister,” Tony said, but his body language said he would follow Alice to the end of the world.
“No, you’re not.” Zoe pushed him forward and then walked off. “Just don’t let Caleb down in the morning.”
“I won’t,” he promised and then walked away from her with his new friend, leaving Zoe wondering if they were mates. She couldn’t be sure, but she hoped so, for Tony’s sake. However, that truth wouldn’t be known until they turned eighteen; they were on the cusp of a new life. And if they weren’t mates, that didn’t mean they couldn’t be friends, which was exactly what Tony needed right now.
A lump swelled in her throat. Tony had been afraid of who he was, or who he wasn’t, for such a long time. Their mom had made him feel as if he were a freak, something to be ashamed of. Yet in that one small gesture, Alice had accomplished something Zoe never could: she had made Tony feel accepted.
Just as Caleb made Zoe feel accepted.
Chapter Fifteen – Caleb
“Where are you?” he asked.
“I’m at home alone.” Her words excited him.
“Is this an invitation?” he asked.
“It is.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.” She hung up, leaving him like a dog with his tongue hanging out. He hadn’t misinterpreted her invitation—had he?
Only one way to find out. “I’ll be back later,” he called to his mom as he raced out of the front door. His bear longed to spring free and run to her; instead, he pulled his keys from his pocket and unlocked the car door. The car was moving down the drive and onto the road before he had his seat belt on, and he had to consciously make himself slow down. He needed to get there in one piece, not end up in a ditch on the way.
The ten-minute drive felt like an hour, but eventually he arrived outside her small house, feeling nervous, as though this was a first date.
Wishing he’d showered and changed, he stood outside her front door, allowing his breathing to calm down before he knocked.
Then he waited, listening for the sound of her footsteps coming toward the door. What was she doing? he thought as he waited. Then he heard her, and he took a step back, realizing it wasn’t polite to listen at doors.
Shaking his head at himself, and feeling like a teenager, all fingers and thumbs, not knowing what to say, he plastered a smile on his face as she opened the door, with an apologetic expression on her face, which immediately dampened his rising spirits. Well, rising something…
Adjusting his clothes, he let the smile fade, thinking he’d probably looked like some maniacal monster. A deep breath in, and a slow breath out, made him feel like his normal self.
“Hi.” She held the door in her hand, as if blocking his way. “I tried to call you.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking past her.
“Nothing is wrong… Not exactly.” She looked nervous, and dropped her voice further. “My mom and dad are here.”
“Oh.” His mouth hung open, and like an imbecile he found himself standing and staring at her. “Do you want me to go?” he asked.
Zoe shuffled nervously, her fingers picking at a loose chip of paint. “Do you want to go?”
He moved toward her, and wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her tightly against his body. “I don’t ever want to leave your side. But that doesn’t mean I’d force my company on you or your family.”
“I’d like you to force your company on them,” Zoe said, sounding calm and confident.
“You’re sure? I thought you said your mom would freak if she found out you were mated to a bear shifter?” Caleb asked.
“I did. She still might, but it seems she’s on some new meds or something.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him inside, shutting the door behind him as if to block his escape. “If there’s ever going to be a good time to tell her, this is probably it.”
Zoe might look worried, but she also looked determined, and he was going to support her in whatever way he could. If that meant standing by her side while her mom freaked out, then so be it.
“Mom, Dad, this is Caleb,” Zoe said, entering the small living room, with Caleb right behind her.
“Hi,” Caleb said, waving his hand at the two people sitting drinking coffee in Zoe’s sitting room. He didn’t know what he had expected, but they looked so normal. Which was pretty stupid, because why wouldn’t they looked normal? Just because Zoe’s mom had a nervous condition didn’t mean she was going to look like some freak with uncombed hair and lipstick smeared down her face.
“Hello, Caleb. I’m Marty, and this is Sara.” Zoe’s dad got up and offered Caleb his hand, which Caleb took, remembering to temper his grip so they didn’t scream bear and run for their lives. He smiled; this might be harder than he thought. Suddenly, he was the one who didn’t feel normal. Maybe it was because he dwarfed everyone in the room.
“Hi, Marty.” Caleb released Marty’s hand. “Hello, Sara.”
“Hi, Caleb. Zoe’s been telling us all about you,” Sara said.
“She has?” he questioned, looking at Zoe.
“Yes, about how you’ve been helping Tony,” Zoe encouraged.
“He’s a good kid, young man, I should say.” Caleb looked around. “Where is he?” He hoped for Zoe’s sake that Tony hadn’t run off at the sight of his parents arriving in what was his sanctuary.
“He went for smoothies with a new friend, Alice.” Zoe watched her mom’s face, and Caleb couldn’t help but turn to look too. He got the immediate sensation he was stuck in the middle of a minefield with no idea where bombs might explode.
“I’m so pleased he’s making friends,” Marty said. “And a girl, too.”
“Yes, she’s a bear shifter, I believe. Just like Caleb, who’s my mate.” The tension in the room spiked, and both Sara and Marty turned to stare at Caleb.
“I think we guessed that,” Sara said quietly.
He heard Zoe let out a breath, and the tension shifted. “We are going to get married…”
“Soon,” Caleb interjected.
“Will you give me away, Dad?” she asked.
“Of course,” Marty said, springing to life. “Congratulations, both of you. Sara?”
“Yes. Congratulations. I’ll have to think of something to wear.” Sara twisted the wedding ring on her finger.
“I’ll help you,” Zoe offered, and he could see how desperate his mate was to build a stronger relationship with her mom.
“You will?” Sara asked, sounding surprised. “You are always so wrapped up in what’s going on with Tony. I didn’t know if you’d have time.”
Zoe’s expression shifted, but she let the comment go and said, “He’s doing so well here. I think he can spare me to help you.”
“I’m so pleased he’s settled down. He needed to grow up, didn’t he?” Sara asked.
“He loves it here,” Zoe answered, looking across to Caleb, who smiled at her with some sympathy. “He works hard, doesn’t he, Caleb?”
“Yes, he does, picks everything up so quickly. I only have to show him once and he’s got it.” Caleb wanted to shout at Sara, to tell her Tony was a normal teenager. He was someone they should be proud of, since from what Caleb had seen, Tony’s work ethic was much stronger than most young men his age.
“We can’t thank you enough for straightening him out. We never thought it would happen, we expected to come here and find him in trouble,” Marty said.
“He just needed some focus,” Caleb added, feeling uncomfortable. It was as if they thought someone had waved a magic wand and Tony was perfect. They seemed to be missing all the hard work and time Zoe had put in
.
“Is he usually out this late?” Sara asked, looking at her watch.
“Mom, it’s 9:00 p.m., and he’s seventeen.”
“But you do know where he is, with this bear shifter?” Sara asked, spinning her ring faster. If Caleb was a betting man, he would wager she was struggling to keep it together.
“No, Mom, I don’t. They said they were going to get smoothies,” Zoe said, her voice shifting toward tense again.
“Listen, I know where they probably are; there aren’t that many places you can buy a smoothie at this time of night. Why don’t I go and fetch him?” Caleb asked.
“No, it’s OK, Caleb. I don’t want to pull him away from his new friends,” Zoe said, her smile offering him her thanks.
“If they are friends. You’re sure they weren’t just luring him away from you? We shouldn’t have let him come here, not when there are bears so close,” Sara said, her voice dropping as if trying to stop Caleb from hearing.
“Sara, you need to calm down,” Marty interjected. “Please. Tony is OK, he’s with friends.”
“I just want to know he’s safe. He’s so…” Sara’s hands moved, pressing together. “So weak. No match for a bear. He might get eaten.”
Zoe went to her mom and knelt next to her, taking her hand and holding it tightly. The emotion on his mate’s face wrenched at his heart. “Mom, he’s not weak. He’s not trouble. He’s strong, and he’s happy. Please don’t mess this up for him.”
“Mess it up?” Sara asked, her face falling as her eyes focused completely on Zoe. “Is that what I’ve done? To you both?”
A sad silence fell over the room, leaving him feeling helpless and so damn out of place. This was a family moment; one he didn’t belong in. Some truths were hard to bear, and even harder to hear when a stranger was looking in.
“No, Mom.” Zoe touched her mom’s cheek. “You did the best you could for us.”
With those words, he realized why he loved this incredible woman kneeling on the floor in front of him. Caleb cleared his throat, and asked again, “Do you want me to go and find Tony?”
“No.” Sara looked at Zoe, not tearing her eyes off her daughter. “I think we should leave him to enjoy his evening. After all, he’ll be coming home to Merry Wood soon.”
“He’ll be going home to Merry Wood?” Zoe asked, stunned by Sara’s words.
“You won’t want him here with you when you are married,” Sara said.
Before Zoe had a chance to answer, they all became aware of Tony standing in the doorway. He’d let himself in, and by the look on his face, he’d only heard the last part of the conversation. Then, without a word, he spun around and took off into the night.
Chapter Sixteen – Zoe
“Tony, wait.” She left the house, running after her brother. “Let me explain.”
She grasped the front door in her hand and swung it open, hesitating for a split second to look where her brother had gone. Seeing him running down the street, she set off after him. Running was not her greatest talent and when he ducked down an alleyway she knew the only way to catch him was if she shifted.
Taking the risk of being seen, or eaten by a bear, she let her rabbit spring out of her and raced after Tony. Catching him was easy when she was on four paws, and she dodged between his legs, careful not to trip him up. Once out in front of him, she shifted back into her human form. He skidded to a halt, nearly knocking her over.
“What the hell!” he said breathlessly.
“Back at you.” She grabbed his jacket as he went to run off. “I thought we’d got past running away.”
He shrugged, pulling away from her grip. “That was when I thought you were on my side.”
“And why do you think I’m not on your side?” she asked.
“Because you called Mom and Dad to come take me home,” he accused.
“What?” she asked, puzzled. “Is that what you think?”
“I heard what Mom said. You and Caleb want me out of your lives.” His face was set.
“That is not true, I promise you. I didn’t even know they were coming. It was as much as a surprise to me as it was to you.” She put her hand on his arm and added, “You know I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Really?” he asked, his tone still accusing. “Because it all makes sense, you and Caleb, wanting to live on your own. Where does that leave me? I’ll tell you, back with Mom and Dad.”
“No.” Zoe needed Tony to see it differently. To see that she would always be there for him. “We will always have room for my bunny-tailed brother. Do you really think after all these years I’d give up on you when you are happy and settled?”
“This is different. Caleb’s your mate. Your feelings for him are stronger than for anyone else, I know that.”
“But those feelings are not to the exclusion of you. We’ve grown up together. Grown up taking care of each other. That’s always there. You are a part of my life. And in Bear Bluff, we’ve got a chance of a good life. You made friends today, you stuck up for yourself.”
He blushed, the red tinge in his cheeks only just visible in the dim light of the alley. “Alice is the coolest person I’ve ever met.”
“And you think I’d make you give that up?” Zoe asked.
“No.” He shook his head. “I got scared.” He lifted his fist and banged the wall in front of him. “Why do I always get scared? Why the hell did we have to be born small and furry? I want claws, and teeth, and the courage to do whatever I want to do, without having to fight for it.”
“Tony, you have that courage. I saw it today, and once it’s there, and I believe it’s always been there, you will never lose it.”
“And what about a mate?” he asked. “What if my mate is a bear? How will she feel having a rabbit as her mate? I’m like the most pathetic shifter in the world.”
“If she’s anything like Caleb… Or Alice, I’m guessing it won’t matter. Because they’ll see you for the man you are. And that man is going to be whoever you make him.” She wrapped her arms around her brother. “And I know he’s going to be awesome.”
“You would say that, you’re my sister,” he said, burying his face in her shoulder.
“A sister who loves you and knows exactly what you are going through. And needs you there by her side.” She pulled back from him. “Because, deep down, you are the one who understands me the most.”
“Do Mom and Dad know about Caleb?” Tony asked, his voice shaky.
“Yes, I told them everything,” she admitted, the enormity of her actions settling on her shoulders.
“Oh boy,” Tony said. “And Mom didn’t freak?”
“She seemed to take it pretty well. I think she’s on new meds. She seems a little calmer.” Zoe thought back over what had happened. It was going to be OK, she was sure of it. “I had to tell them, I’m not going to hide Caleb away.” She looped her arm through Tony’s and guided him back home.
Which gave her an idea. While her parents were here, she was going to set a date for the wedding. She felt sick, but deep inside her, the small voice of her rabbit piped up and said, who dares, wins.
Did she dare? With all the preparations that would have to be made, it would be a huge step out of her comfort zone, which had been getting smaller and smaller before her arrival in Bear Bluff. Caleb said he wanted to get married soon, so why not? There was nothing to stop them, and their whole lives together lay ahead of them.
She looked up as they approached the house, to find Caleb waiting anxiously on the doorstep. “You ran him down. I’m impressed,” Caleb said, punching Tony lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t run from your sister again.”
“I won’t.” Tony then added, “I’ll go and say hello, while you two talk.”
“Talk about what?” Caleb asked, as Tony walked into the house alone.
“I want to set a date. For the wedding. I know you said soon…”
“And I meant it. I’d marry you tomorrow if we could make it work.”
�
��I think that might be a little too quick. How about we find out the earliest date and that’s the one we’ll go for.”
“Rushing me down the aisle, I like it,” Caleb said.
“I still like the idea of a nice beach with a blue sea and warm white sand,” she offered.
“Not happening.” He pulled her into his arms. “Although right now, the idea of running away to a lonely mountain is very appealing.” He raised his eyes and looked into the distance.
“I can’t abandon my parents, not when they’ve come all this way.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “But maybe we have a couple more minutes to spare.”
“Maybe we do,” he said, lowering his lips to hers. The kiss was long, and lingering and turned her insides to liquid fire.
“Will you stay tonight?” she asked.
“You mean you didn’t bring me here under false pretenses?” he asked, his hand moving down from the small of her back, to caress her bottom.
“No. No false pretenses.” She pressed her body to his. “This isn’t exactly how I pictured our evening together, but you know what?”
“What?” he asked, his breath warm on her neck, sending tremors through her body.
“I glad this has happened. I wasn’t sure how I was going to tell my parents about you. Now it’s all out in the open.”
“True,” he said. Glancing at the front door, he added, “Do you think we should mention how late it is? That maybe they should be getting to a hotel or something.” His face changed to one of horror. “They aren’t staying here with you, are they?”
She giggled. “Would that make you control your roving hands?” she asked.
“It might.” He looked serious.
“They are staying in Bear Creek. And I think you are right, it must be time for them to leave.” She kissed him again, pressing her body close to his, not wanting to let this moment of happiness go. “So we can have some alone time.”
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