“That was fun,” Gideon said.
“I can’t wait to meet her in person.”
“You will at the presentation ceremony. Now, time for gifts.”
“Me first!” Faye said grabbing a package from under the tree. She handed it to Gideon and he accepted it with a grin.
“Is it a puppy?”
“Hah, no more pets for now. Cornelius is the jealous type,” she replied, her eyes swinging over to the dog bed that held a snoring dog and a purring kitten.
“I agree, those two really are enjoying their lap of luxury.”
Gideon peeled back the paper to find a wood carved Koa box. He slid the lid open. Inside he found a small postcard-sized watercolor painting of a waterfall and rainbow.
“I didn’t realize how much it looked like the falls. I just thought it would be something to remember Hawaii by. The artist was local and he said he drew what he saw. I thought it was lovely.”
“It is. I think it will look nice on my desk.”
Gideon lifted the picture and found a glass heart. It was clear with a swirl of green inside. “I bought that before I had the words. I didn’t know that I’d be able to say it. But I was planning on giving you my heart. You’ve taught me to trust someone with my life and my love.”
Leaning over, he kissed her deeply. “I’ll treasure it always, just like I’ll treasure you.”
“That’s all I got you. I really couldn’t think of anything that you could need. So I got you something to at least think of me when we are apart.”
“In those few minutes I will use these gifts to remind me what you looked like and how your love felt.”
“Very funny. So what did you get me? No cars, and no pets, whatever could it be?”
Gideon pointed up to the tree. “I think what you are looking for is up there.”
Faye frowned at him and stood up. She searched the tree until she found the cluster of orchids he had arranged. Inside she found a small closed shell. She reached for it, then hesitated. She looked to him and Gideon nodded with a smile.
He watched her forehead crease as she figured out how it opened. When she got the edges to pry apart, Gideon made sure he was on one knee when she found the antique amethyst ring nestled in the shell.
Her eyes shot to his and he held out his hand. Faye placed her hand in his, looking at him with huge eyes and her lips parted in surprise.
“Faye, you know that we’re mated and that it’s forever. But I want to make sure that you know that I want you to be my everything forever. Will you marry me?”
“Really?”
“You’re surprised?”
“Gideon, you’ve already given me so much. I never thought that you would want this too.”
“It’s a human custom that will be just as much as a symbol as that mark on your chest. Tell me you’ll be mine in every way.”
“Of course, of course, I will. I love you, Gideon.”
Gideon stood and swept her into his arms. “And I love you.” He kissed her with all the love that he had in his heart. There wasn’t going to be a moment for the rest of their lives that he wasn’t going to have his beauty in his arms.
Epilogue
Faye looked out the window of the room she had been given to get ready in. The small chapel Gideon had found far outside of the city was part of a large estate. It was private, secure, and best of all had a legion of security ensuring there were no surprises.
The presentation to Clan Othala had been nerve-wracking. After being introduced by Gideon, she had managed to recite her pledge to the Clan with only a small tremor to her voice.
Her nervousness wasn’t because she was promising herself to Gideon, that was the easy part. Her worry about whether or not the Clan would accept her kept her nerves on edge. She put her trust in him that they would.
And they did. Faye had a family of thousands now. She’d never been hugged so much in her life. May men and women treated her like a long-lost sister. She was introduced to so many she couldn’t have possibly remembered names.
People handed her babies and wandered away trusting her with their precious cargo. Gideon would laugh and scoop up the children and hand them off to the next person. With her mate at her side she felt like she truly belonged. The last bricks of her wall floated away like dust. Her heart was forever protected by those she’d promised herself to.
Now she was standing in a small room with the smell of lemon oil used to keep the pews in the other room shiny wafting in to where she stood. Looking down at her long satin dress, she marveled at the intricate lace design. When she was a little girl, she always thought she’d walk down the aisle, if she ever did, in a giant fluffy ball gown. There had been dreams of burning candles and giant stands of flowers surround her. The bigger the better, her young mind thought.
Now she knew. It wasn’t about bigger and better. It was about expressing how you truly felt about the person you were marrying. Gideon had made her feel safe. She felt loved and desired. Her body now wasn’t something to hide, it was something that she could feel comfortable in. Her sexuality made her strong and every day with Gideon made her more confident.
When she’d gone into the bridal store with Gideon’s mother and sister, both having taken her under their wings, she gravitated towards the big gowns thinking it was what she wanted. It wasn’t until almost a half hour of searching did her eye catch on a mannequin wearing a form-fitting gown that was all sparkles and cling.
The second her eyes landed on it, Gideon’s mother had the sales woman pull it off and drag her to a fitting room. It was the only gown she tried on. She felt beautiful and she knew exactly what Gideon would think of it too.
After the dress, the rest came easy. She asked for small and private. He agreed. She asked for him to remind her of their time in Hawaii and he promised to make it happen.
The sanctuary down the hallway was decorated in flowers from Hawaii. Orchids and plumeria decorated the pews and walls. Cornelius wheezed in the corner of the room with a collar of flowers around his next. Nilla was home enjoying some peace and quiet.
She was almost ready, just waiting for the go ahead. A knock sounded at the door. Turning and expecting Allegra, she saw Betty, the Crone of her Clan.
Her Clan. She still loved thinking it.
“Betty?”
“I wanted to see you before you walked down the aisle to that hunk of Kindred.”
She was used to Betty now. She was like the best grandmother you could have.
Betty walked up to her and patted her cheek. “I know you don’t have any family, but you’ve got me.”
“I know, Betty. Thank you for being here.”
“Pfft, I always come to events with an open bar and those little hors d’oeuvres. I love those.”
“Well, we have both. If you need something, just ask.”
“Oh, I’m not that high maintenance,” she said with a wink.
Betty plucked at the neckline of her gown. The sweetheart sleeveless design that showed her full mate mark.
“You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” she sighed.
“Really? The most? Out of all the brides you’ve seen?”
“What? Every bride is the most beautiful and I never lie,” she sniffed. “I wanted to give you something.”
Betty pulled out a small drawstring bag and handed it to her. Faye pulled open the top and reached in. Opening her hand, she saw that it was a bracelet with three charms. The tarnish on some of the links indicated it was an older piece of jewelry.
“My parents gave this to me when I was a young girl. I’ve added a new charm for you. It has Gideon’s and your initials.”
Faye ran her thumb over the silver engraved heart with an F and G intertwined. Next to it was a heart-shaped blue sapphire.
“The heart is from Gideon.”
Faye smiled then looked at the next charm. It was a small house that looked like it had been worn down over the years from being touched over the years.
Faye looked up at the woman with tears in her eyes. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”
“Now you can walk down that aisle with your mate and build your own home. I expect an invite to your first cub’s presentation.”
Faye choked a little. Cubs. She couldn’t wait to start a family with Gideon.
“Of course. Thank you for this. I think I needed it.”
“Well, then now you have it,” Betty harrumphed. She looked a little uncomfortable with the emotions.
Faye gasped as her mate marked warmed against her skin.
Betty’s eyes flashed silver. “Looks like he’s here. I heard you’re walking down the aisle together. That’s… progressive.”
Faye smiled. “We do everything together now.”
“Don’t keep him waiting,” Betty waved to the door.
Faye reach for Betty’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Opening the door, she sucked in a breath at Gideon standing in a black suit with a cream shirt and cream tie, looking just as hot as always.
His eyes flashed and raked over her body. “Last chance, my beauty.”
Faye laughed, there was no way she wasn’t making the final bond between them.
“Where you go, I go,” she said, leaning into him.
“Then we’ll always be together,” he replied, leaning down to seal that promise with a kiss.
Faye had finally found a family and a home to call her own.
Also by Moxie North
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7 BRIDES FOR 7 BEARS
Runaway Bride
Willing Bride (March 2018)
Reluctant Bride (2018)
Forgotten Bride (2018)
Forbidden Bride (2018)
Unexpected Bride (2018)
Blissful Bride (2018)
Trust Me: A Kindred Novel
PACIFIC NORTHWEST BEARS
Be My Bear
Bearly Cooking
Bear in Mind
Bear With Me
Bearly Healed
Bearly a Memory
Bearly Breathing
Angel: Rochon Bears
Rainier: Rochon Bears
Finely: Rochon Bears
PACIFIC NORTHWEST COUGARS
Cougar’s Victory
Cougar’s Luck
Cougar’s Gift
REDEMPTION MC
Wounded Wolf
SOUTHERN SHIFTERS KINDLE WORLD
Stick Shifter
Rough Edges
ONE TRUE MATE KINDLE WORLD
Bear’s Embrace
NOVELLAS
Jingle Bears
Valentine’s Surprise
20 Shades of Shifters_A Paranormal Romance Collection Page 306