by Anya Nowlan
Another silence took over, and Tory couldn’t help herself. On her tiptoes, making sure she didn’t bump into anything in the dark room, she crept even closer to the crack in the bedroom door, peering out into the hallway. From there, she could barely catch sight of the edge of the couch.
Bonnie’s dark hair fell around her shoulders, hiding her face as she looked at Pierce. Tory could only catch a glimpse of his knee as he sat a good distance away from Bonnie. Unsure of what exactly Pierce’s strategy was, Tory waited with bated breath, remembering her promise to try and be patient, no matter what would end up being said.
“I’m… sorry,” Bonnie hesitated.
“You don’t need to pretend,” Pierce said, but there was no anger in his voice. “I know you played a part in it.”
Bonnie shook her head, as Pierce moved closer to her on the couch. Tory could see the side of his face now, and he looked calm, collected, even sympathetic.
“I don’t know what you think…” Bonnie started, but Pierce interrupted her by taking her hands in his.
Bonnie looked surprised, frozen for a moment. She looked down at their hands and then back at Pierce. All Tory could do was watch everything unfold. She hadn’t thought Pierce would be so direct, but then again, he needed her to admit it, didn’t he?
“Please,” Pierce said gently. “I already know everything. You left the window open, but I could still smell you. How could I not? I remember your scent so well,” he smiled.
“You do?” Bonnie asked, a tentative smile on her lips.
“Yes,” Pierce nodded. “And while I can’t exactly approve your methods… You’ve given me some clarity. I realize now I made a mistake letting you go. I think I was scared of the connection between us so I just pushed you away. But you kept fighting for us, even when I was so cruel to you. And for that I’m sorry.”
Tory could hardly believe her ears. This was Pierce’s strategy? To tell Bonnie he actually enjoyed her stalking him? It sounded insane, but then again, what Bonnie had done was equally crazy.
It didn’t escape Tory’s attention that she was already thinking like she believed Pierce, while nothing was yet proven. Sure, Bonne hadn’t gotten up and left in a huff at the mere accusation she had broken into her ex-boyfriend’s apartment, which was odd. But people handled situations differently.
I would already be out the door. But then again, I’ve always been good at running from my problems.
“Pierce,” Bonnie whispered, leaning closer to him. “You really mean it?”
“Of course,” he smiled. “But before we can even think about moving forward, I think we both have to be honest with each other. This relationship can’t be based on lies.”
Bonnie gave him an enthusiastic nod.
“I knew from the moment I saw her she wasn’t right for you,” she said.
“Tory, you mean?” Pierce asked.
“Yeah, her,” Bonnie grimaced. “I was trying not to hope you and I could get back together, but I knew you couldn’t end up with her. She’s a stranger, not even from Black Oak,” she scoffed. “And a dance teacher? That’s so not you.”
“I can see that now,” Pierce agreed.
Bonnie was getting deeper into her story now, the words flowing out quickly. Tory quietly fumed in her hiding spot. But she also felt a little sorry for the woman. Clearly Bonnie was delusional.
“I had a moment of weakness when I warned her…” Bonnie trailed off. “I had already been to your house, with the spare key I had made. I kept thinking about how much it had hurt when you broke things off, so I texted her. I got the number from Sally. I don’t even really know why I did it… But she didn’t listen.”
Pierce had gone quiet, as Tory’s heart beat ever faster. So the text had been from Bonnie. It didn’t surprise her, not with all the woman had just admitted to.
“What if I hadn’t figured it out?” Pierce asked, his tone colder than before. “What if Tory hadn’t found the underwear, or what if she didn’t think it that big of a deal?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Bonnie shook her head, tucking her hair behind her ears. “All I knew was I had to do something. Deep in my heart, I knew if you weren’t distracted by her, you’d see we were meant for each other. And you have,” she beamed at him, even as he pulled back, letting go of her hands.
She looked mildly confused when Pierce’s expression suddenly changed, a hardness to his features. He got to his feet, glaring at Bonnie, but when he spoke, it wasn’t to her.
“Tory, you can come out now,” he said.
And so she did.
Twenty
Pierce
“What…” Bonnie muttered, leaping up from the couch as Tory came into view.
“Wasn’t expecting to see me?” Tory asked, her lips in a thin line.
She stepped into the living room, standing tall, her shoulders squared. Pierce moved to her side, with Bonnie now unexpectedly outnumbered. The woman’s gaze flitted from Pierce to Tory as she blinked at them.
“You lied,” Bonnie finally said, focusing her attention on Pierce.
“I did,” he admitted. “I’m sorry for the deception and that I hurt you, but you took things too far for me to stand by and do nothing.”
Fists clenching at her sides, Bonnie stared at him with fury and sadness in her eyes. The lies Pierce had told to coax out her confession had been hard to tell, and not just because he hadn’t meant a word of it. Despite all Bonnie had put him through, it still felt wrong to toy with her feelings the way he had.
But getting Tory back was more important than anything. Given the choice, he would do it all over again.
Tory was silent beside him, probably wanting him to have a chance to clear the air with Bonnie. But she stepped closer, taking hold of his arm as a gesture of support. That was all it took to send joy and relief spreading through Pierce.
“I can’t believe this,” Bonnie hissed. “What does she have that I don’t?”
“I’m not certifiable, for one,” Tory interjected, ice dripping from her words.
That did not go over well with Bonnie. Pierce put himself between the two women, just in case. With what Bonnie was capable of, he had to be ready for the unexpected.
“I’ve known him more than a week, who the hell are you?” Bonnie raised her voice, jabbing a finger in Tory’s direction.
The last thing Pierce wanted was this to devolve into a shouting match. All he really wanted was for Bonnie to leave so he could be alone with Tory. He had no interest in arguing over who knew him better, or who was more in the wrong, or whose lies were the worst. The past was the past, and he was ready to move on.
He just needed Bonnie to understand that.
Glancing over at Tory, her beautiful face tight with anger, but her scent just as sweet as ever, he made the decision to lay the truth out there, and settle this, once and for all. Turning his eyes to Bonnie, he stared the woman down.
“She’s my mate, Bonnie,” he stated plainly.
It was as if all the air had been sucked out of Bonnie’s lungs as she gasped, her eyes widening. Tory’s grip on his arm tightened as she looked up at him.
“What?” Tory whispered.
But Bonnie interrupted before Pierce could say anything.
“You can’t know that,” she shook her head. “You must be confused.”
“I knew it from the moment I met her,” Pierce replied. “It’s not something you can deny or reason away, Bonnie. Tory makes me feel like I’ve never felt before. There’s nothing confusing about it. She is my mate. I know it in my bones. There can never be anyone else for me than her.”
Bonnie fell silent, her eyes shiny. Pierce let her gather herself for a moment, exchanging a loaded look with Tory. Finally, he slowly approached Bonnie, his voice soft.
“It’s time for you to go,” he said. “Don’t make this harder on yourself. I won’t press charges on the breaking and entering, but if you ever meddle in my business again…” he trailed off.
Sil
ently, Bonnie wiped away the tear now rolling down her cheek. She didn’t look at either him or Tory as she walked to the door and left, leaving it open behind her. Pierce and Tory walked behind her, watching the woman disappear into the darkness. He closed the door after her, letting out a huge breath.
“That went as well as could be expected,” he muttered, his restless bear slowly calming inside him.
Tory grabbed his hand, squeezing it tight. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they walked back to the living room. She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Did you mean what you said? Or was it just to get her to leave you alone?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” Pierce frowned.
“About me being… your mate,” Tory replied.
Biting her lip, she studied him closely, her body pressed against his. Pierce’s bear let out a growl as he turned toward her, taking her face in his hands.
“Of course I did,” he said, a wave of emotion building in his chest. “I wanted to tell you before. It wasn’t like I’d imagined, with Bonnie here… But everything I said was true. You’re the one, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, Tory.”
Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears by the time he finished speaking. She covered his hands with hers, letting out a shuddering breath.
“I should have believed you,” she said. “I just didn’t want to be that foolish girl, falling head over heels for someone I just met. I was so scared to get my heart broken, I pushed you away instead of listening. I’m sorry.”
Smiling at her, Pierce pulled her into a quick kiss, reveling in the taste of her.
“No need to apologize,” he said, resting his forehead against hers. “Hell, I wouldn’t have believed me either. But now you know the truth. All of it.”
She nodded as he pulled her closer, resting his hands on her back while she rested her cheek on his chest.
“I think I knew it, too,” she said quietly. “That you were it for me. But I was so scared of getting my heart broken I fought the feeling at every turn. I don’t want to be scared anymore,” she said, pulling away to look him in the eye. “I love you, too.”
Whatever else she meant to say was drowned out by the fierce kiss he pulled her into. The time for talking was done. They both knew how the other felt, and there was nothing standing in their way now.
She was his and he was hers. Always.
Epilogue
Tory
Fairy lights glittered all around the dance floor set up in the middle of Gage’s sprawling ranch, with tents and tables nearby. The air was warm, the stars bright, and Tory had her hand in Pierce’s as they started their first dance of the night.
All around them, couples joined Will and Joanne’s first waltz as a married couple, gliding onto the floor in a flurry of sweeping dresses.
“Time to see if all that practice has paid off,” Pierce grinned, placing his hand on her back.
“I’m not worried,” she shrugged. “You had a great teacher.”
“And she’s also so humble, you know?” he nodded, taking the lead as the music began to swell.
Tory couldn’t help but laugh as she followed along, noting how Pierce’s brow furrowed slightly as he counted along with the beats in his head. He might not have been the most graceful dancer in the world, but he was the only one she wanted for a partner.
They moved smoothly among the other couples, swirling around in a sea of smiling faces. In the middle of the floor, Will was dipping Joanne back to plant a kiss on her lips, and the people still seated cheered from the sidelines.
Tory couldn’t have been happier for her new friends. The ceremony had been beautiful, and with everyone in such great spirits, the party was bound to be one to remember.
“Look at those two,” Pierce shook his head, following Tory’s gaze to the newlyweds. “It’s actually ridiculous how over the moon they are.”
“I bet Joanne is thrilled everything went according to plan. This is a beautiful wedding. And Gage’s ranch is the perfect place for a bunch of shifters to celebrate,” Tory replied.
“It has all fallen into place, hasn’t it?” Pierce asked in response, but his gaze was locked onto her.
Tory had to smile.
“It has,” she agreed.
It had only been a month since Bonnie’s plans had been unraveled, but her relationship with Pierce was stronger than ever. In a way, Bonnie had actually helped Tory tear down some of her walls.
She had realized that waiting for someone to disappoint you was no way to live your life. And that her instincts were better than she had given them credit for, especially when it came to Pierce. Her soul knew his, so trusting him came easily for her, now that she was no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The only thing that mattered to her was what she knew to be true of the man she had fallen in love with.
And as far as Bonnie was concerned, a friend of a friend of Joanne’s had let it slip that the woman had moved away to be closer to her sister. Tory figured that learning she was Pierce’s mate had shaken something loose in the fantasy Bonnie had created.
Maybe being around family would do Bonnie some good. Tory only hoped she was getting the help she needed, and had moved on with her life. Other than that, she didn’t think about Pierce’s ex all that much. Her initial anger had subsided as soon as it was clear Bonnie was dealing with some serious issues, and was pretty much delusional.
Anyway, that chapter of her life was closed, and her future in Black Oak looked brighter than ever. Now that she had her steady schedule of classes, she had really hit her stride as a teacher. Nothing felt better than seeing a student’s face light up when they finally nailed that move or step they had been struggling with, whether that student was a child or an adult didn’t even matter.
It was not the life she had ever envisioned for herself, but the bitterness stemming from how her former career had ended had finally faded away. Maybe all of this was always meant to be. Looking into Pierce’s eyes, that got easier and easier to believe.
Who would have thought I would find my soul mate here, in the middle of nowhere, when I hadn’t even been looking for him?
Definitely not Tory herself. A short time ago, she hadn’t even really believed in soul mates. Yet here she was, being twirled around the dance floor by a man she could no longer live without.
The music changed, slowing down into a smooth, slow jam that had couples holding each other a little tighter. Pierce grabbed her closer, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling his warmth against her.
“You make me happy,” she whispered, resting her head below his shoulder.
“That’s the goal,” he chuckled, kissing the top of her head. “Now and always.”
As they swayed in tune with the music, Tory let out a content little sigh. It was a perfect moment, one of many she had shared with him. There were many yet to come, that she was sure of. A whole lifetime’s worth, right here, in her new home of Black Oak.
She wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Rancher Bear Excerpt
“
Your friends do know to expect us, right?” she asked, just as Reid swung his door open.
She scrambled out to follow, meeting him at the front of the car.
“That’s not entirely accurate,” he hedged.
“What?” Addison blurted out.
That was attorney speak for ‘no’. Dumbfounded, she looked out at the property, anxiously eyeing it for signs of life while her heels slowly sank into the dirt. Finally, the door to the main house creaked open, almost making her jump.
The man who appeared eyed them both, his dark brow knitting together. Freakishly tall with broad, bulging shoulders, he looked like he could have built the whole ranch singlehandedly without even breaking a sweat.
The sleeves of his flannel shirt were rolled up, exposing muscular forearms. The fronts of his jeans were dusty, with a smear of what she guessed to be motor oil near one of the pockets.
And he was handsome. Damn, was he handsome. Addison knew she had to be staring, but she couldn’t look away. His dark eyes were focused on Reid, so she was probably getting away with it, at least.
His square jaw covered in thick stubble, his dark brown hair disheveled and his cheekbones looking like they had been carved from stone, the stranger looked none too pleased to have unexpected visitors on his front lawn.
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