Forever Fated Mates: A Shifter Romance Collection

by Meg Ripley

  Perfect.

  I saw our team rush to the shore. Peter stayed close to them, circling tightly. Todd, who was an EMT, Andrew, who did search and rescue, and someone else who I didn’t recognize made their way onto the boat and set off.

  I watched as they pulled the kayakers to safety, then warmed them up. When everything was under control, I turned to head back to the Ranger station, needing to complete my paperwork on the incident. Something made me loop again, though. The crew had just reached the shore, and suddenly, I felt an urge to be down there with them. I wasn’t sure why, but I tried not to question my inner eagle when she guided me so clearly.

  I flew to the place I’d left my uniform and gear, shifted back to my human form, and dressed.

  “Hey, team, good work,” I praised as I approached.

  “You, too,” Todd replied.

  We exchanged high-fives and Andrew joined in. I looked over to the man I didn’t know, and the moment my eyes met his, there was a jump in my chest.

  The reaction was strange to me, but as I looked him over, I realized how hot he was. It must just be my inner eagle going wild, I assumed. It’d been months since I’d gotten any action, after all.

  “This is Max,” Todd said. “He’s a bear from the south side of the park.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Max smiled, and it lit my chest on fire. When I shook his hand, a burst of electricity ran through my entire body.

  I swallowed hard and played it cool. “Hey there. I’m River.”

  2

  Max

  I shoved Carson’s shoulder and shook my head. “Man, you cannot beat me in baseball scores. Stop trying.”

  Carson and I stood in the eagle Ranger station chatting with Todd, who’d become our buddy after working with him so many times on rescue missions. I leaned against the long front desk, facing out as Carson and Todd stood beside me. We’d been arguing about scores for twenty minutes now.

  “Okay, okay. Who won the World Series in 1994?” Carson asked.

  “Are you kidding me?” I groaned. “Give me a hard one. That was the year the players were on strike. The only year there wasn’t a World Series since the third World Series in 1905.”

  “You’re good,” Todd admitted. “I didn’t know that.”

  “Max just doesn’t have a life like we do.” Carson shoved me back.

  “No, I’m just smarter. And better looking.” I beamed a goofy grin.

  “You want to lose?” Carson asked. “Let’s move onto football, shall we?”

  My smile faded. I always tried to talk to Carson about baseball because it was what I watched and knew. I’d played the sport my whole life, and my family loved it. When it came to football, though, I knew little.

  “Bring it,” I challenged. “I know more about football than baseball, anyway.”

  “Since when?” Carson scoffed.

  “Since always,” I replied.

  Carson laughed. “Do you even know who won the Super Bowl last year?”

  I thought hard. I knew the Eagles and Patriots had played, but I couldn’t remember who won. I knew the Patriots had been in several Super Bowls, so that should’ve made them the better team. Right? “The Patriots, of course.”

  He and Todd both broke out laughing. I had to act fast.

  “See,” I tried to interject through their booming laughter, “I was just making sure you guys knew.”

  “Sure, sure.” Carson put his hand on my shoulder. “It was the Eagles. Their first ring ever. The Patriots have won a bunch of Super Bowls, but they’ve also lost some.”

  I plugged that info away for later—well, I would after I’d look it up to make sure Carson wasn’t just messing with me to begin with. That had happened before, too.

  Somehow, I always ended up losing to Carson. No matter what it was or how good I was at something, he always came out on top. I hated it and wanted to beat him so badly, it made me itch sometimes.

  “They need to stop having the games only on Sundays,” I objected. “I’m usually too hung over to watch.”

  “That’s what Monday Night Football is for,” Carson pointed out.

  “Meh, but Mondays? Too tired from going back to work.” I yawned and tried to play it off, but I felt like an idiot. Obviously, I’d heard of Monday Night Football. How could I have forgotten?

  It didn’t matter, though, because Todd’s radio crackled and then a voice came through, saving me from shoving my foot even further into my mouth.

  “Hey, Todd. Gotta mission.”

  Todd grabbed the radio and held up a hand for quiet. “Go ahead, Kath.”

  “We have two flipped kayakers by Margerie Glacier. River and Peter are circling.”

  “On it.”

  Todd called to Andrew, “Let’s roll out!”

  Andrew appeared from the break room, where he’d been watching TV.

  “Where’s Henry?” Todd asked.

  “Still on patrol, I guess,” Andrew replied.

  “Dan and Renee are on their way, but are going with the ground crew since we need two ambulances. We’re a little short.” Todd turned back to us. “You two care to assist? I could use one or two more guys.”

  It was a water rescue, which we bears usually didn’t get called out on unless our swimming skills could be a benefit. We left most water situations to the otter shifters. I had nothing better to do, though, and I was always up for a good mission.

  “Hell yes,” I said. I looked over my gear to make sure everything I needed was in place.

  Carson checked his watch. “I’d love to, but I have to guide a nature hike in twenty minutes, and I don’t think I’d be back in time.”

  I lightly punched his arm. “Have fun skipping through the forest while we go and do the important work.”

  Carson narrowed his eyes slightly at me before leaving the station and getting in his truck.

  Good. Let him go. I’d hoped it would be the biggest rescue of the year and that I got credit for it when Carson didn’t. Everyone would know he’d chosen a nature hike over the rescue mission; I’d make sure of it. Even if it was part of his job, you’d think something like that could be cancelled or postponed if an issue came up. Surely, rescuing kayakers was far more important than taking a group through some trails, looking at leaves and bugs.

  I felt smug as I loaded up with Todd and Andrew in their ATV while Carson drove back to the camping area near Bartlett Cove.

  3

  Max

  As soon as we pulled out from the station, I switched into rescue mode. I started reviewing protocols in my head for someone who’d been in cold water a long time. We’d have to warm them up, get them into dry clothes, and watch their temperatures until we got them to the hospital. Then, the nurses and doctors could take over and do their thing.

  The boat was already loaded with supplies, and the crew at the marina made sure it stayed that way. All boats and vehicles in the park were regularly checked and maintained by our Rangers.

  I loved the rescue boats; big, orange and fast as hell. Like a speedboat, but better because they had storage for all sorts of gear and supplies. They were like ambulances that could skid over the water.

  We pulled into the marina and jumped from the ATV, hurrying to the docks. I followed Todd and Andrew onto the boat, and we took off immediately, with Todd at the helm.

  As we surged through the water, I kept my eyes peeled. Andrew pointed out two eagles who were circling above. Must be Peter and River, as I’d heard through the radio. We neared the area and a small dot on the water came into view. Andrew pointed it out, and Todd made our direction more precise, heading right for the first man in the kayak.

  When we were close by, Todd slowed the boat until it drifted. Andrew threw a rope to the kayaker and the shivering man grabbed ahold, allowing Andrew to pull him closer to the rescue boat.

  When he reached the side of the boat, Andrew guided the man toward the ladder. Todd and I stretched our arms down to help pull him up since he likely wouldn�
�t be able to use the ladder with numb legs.

  Once he was safely on the boat, Todd steered us toward the second man while Andrew and I got to work on the first.

  Andrew started going through the list of questions to assess the man: his name, birthdate, who the president was—things like that. He seemed only partially oriented. Not the best sign, but not the worst. At least he was still talking and could form a thought.

  We wrapped mylar blankets around him and struggled to pull his wet clothing off. Once he was dry and under the blankets, I loaded him up with a few more and handed him a warm cup of tea.

  Once we reached the second kayaker, we ran through the same protocol. With both men on the boat warming up, we headed back to land to meet the ambulance crew.

  EMTs swarmed the boat the moment they could get onboard. The men were loaded onto stretchers and carried off, right into the waiting ambulances. I watched the taillights as the ambulances drove off and took a deep breath now that the intensity of the moment had passed.

  Todd turned to us. “Nice work, everyone.”

  “It was a privilege to join you,” I said.

  We chatted for a few minutes, reviewing the rescue and talking with the remaining crew members. One of the eagles soared down and landed, but I didn’t see it take to the air again.

  After a few minutes, a woman walked out of the woods, dressed in a Ranger uniform. My insides turned to mush at the sight of her, thinking I might actually collapse to my knees. She was beautiful. More than beautiful. Gorgeous. Captivating. Enchanting.

  And Carson was nowhere around. I had been slightly disappointed that the rescue wasn’t some epic event where I got to look better than him for once.

  But seeing her whisked away every scrap of disappointment.

  “Hey, team, good work,” she said. Her voice even sounded magical.

  “You, too,” Todd replied.

  Then she looked directly at me, and I couldn’t speak. I stood there, stupidly, not able to recall my own name.

  “This is Max,” Todd said. “He’s a bear from the south side of the park.”

  I’d have to thank him for that later; for rescuing me from my damn self and keeping me from looking like a freaking idiot.

  She stuck her hand out to me. “Hey there. I’m River.”

  At the thought of touching her, my face broke into a grin. I shook her delicate hand and never wanted to let go.

  “Max, but I guess Todd already said that.” I chuckled and she gave a half smile back.

  This was my chance to win her over now, before Carson was around to get in my way. I’d had enough women stolen away by his charms, and I wasn’t about to let it happen again. I wasn’t letting this hot little bird out of my grasp.

  “I guess I tend to get a little awkward around beautiful women.” I dropped my eyes and tilted my head slightly to show vulnerability. It always worked.

  “Aw, come on,” she said, chuckling now. The sound was pure joy to my ears. “Sometimes after a mission, I’m so spun, I forget my own name.”

  That made me ease up a bit. “It was intense, being in the water like that.” When I looked to Todd and Andrew to confirm, I saw they’d taken a few steps back and were leaving us to our conversation. Even better. I’d thank them for that, too.

  “I bet. How are the kayakers? I wanted to get my report filed.”

  “Both were partially oriented and are improving. We got them dry and warmed up before they were transported. I don’t think hypothermia had quite set in, but if so, it was caught early.”

  “Good, good.” She nodded. “They were already in the water when I saw them, so I wasn’t sure how long they’d been in there.”

  “I’d say you came just in time and saved their lives. A real hero.”

  “Okay, you can stop trying to win me over with cheesy lines.”

  I gulped. Oh no. This was getting off to a bad start. Come on, Max, pull out that charm of yours, man. “Uh…sorry,” I muttered. Real smooth.

  “With a handsome face like yours, it’s not necessary.”

  Now that was a turn I hadn’t foreseen. “In that case, I’ll just pour on the real charm then.”

  She laughed. “How long have you been a Ranger?”

  “Going on six years now. You?”

  “Four. Weird…I’ve never seen you before.”

  “I guess it’s just that big of a park,” I admitted. “A shame, really. Had I known you were here, I would have befriended some eagles sooner.”

  “That’s what you get for discriminating.” She crossed her arms and tilted her head in mock anger.

  “Well, you’ve shown me how amazing eagles can be, so now I know.”

  “I don’t really know any bears, actually.”

  “Oh, see,” I said, chuckling. “Now who’s the discriminating one?”

  She smiled sheepishly. “I guess we all tend to keep to our own clans. We need to throw a big Ranger party, like the Christmas party, but more often. I was at the Christmas party and didn’t see you.”

  “I was there, too.” Of course, that night I’d gotten drunk and tried to hit on several women. One of whom later went home with Carson.

  “Though, I was with my ex,” she continued, “so I was miserable that night. I hope you had fun.”

  “Honestly, I was trashed.” I shrugged.

  “Much better plan than fighting the whole time. Well, this year’s party will be better.”

  “I’m already looking forward to it,” I told her, though it was only June. Maybe this will be the first year I’ll have a date for the party…

  Thinking of the future made my mind go wild. Somehow, I could see myself with her forever, raising kids together, growing old together. I’d never experienced that before. In fact, I was usually the one saying I needed space if a relationship got too serious. I was known for having “commitment issues.” I saw it as just trying to find the one.

  Maybe, I finally had.

  “You’re picturing that spiked punch already, aren’t you?” River asked.

  “No.” I looked at her with a straight face. “I was picturing what you might look like that night, dressed in something other than your Ranger uniform.”

  “Meh, I usually just go like this.”

  “That works, too.” I nodded and she laughed. How the hell am I keeping her so amused? “Speaking of the punch…”

  She waited, then said, “Go on…”

  “I was thinking that I might head over to the bar tonight. Care to join me for a beer?”

  She took a minute to answer; so long, that I’d prepared for a ‘no.’

  “What does that have to do with the punch?” She raised an eyebrow.

  “It was spiked. Liquor. Bar. Beer.” I shrugged. “It just all went together in my mind.”

  “Well, I’d love to,” she said, “but, as I mentioned, I recently got out of a bad relationship, and I’m not looking to start anything. If you just want to have some fun, I’m all for that. But that’s it.”

  My face broke into a grin again. “Fun is my middle name, my dear. If you hang with me, you’ll have a blast. Promise.”

  “That’s quite a promise,” she said. “Are you sure you can live up to that?”

  “I guess we’ll find out tonight, won’t we? What if I keep my promise?”

  She smiled mischievously, and it made my heart turn to mush all over again. If I let my mind think about her in that way, I’d be done. Of course, I already wanted her desperately. If I kept my thoughts there, though, things would get uncomfortable real fast.

  “And if I don’t?” I asked. “Will you let me try again?”

  “Depends on how close you get tonight.”

  “Then I can’t wait.”

  4

  River

  I walked into the bar wearing my knee-high black boots, skinny jeans, and a low-cut, clingy red top. I looked smoking hot and I knew it. My gaze went immediately to Max, and he gaped back at me. When he recovered himself, he stood and came to meet
me.

  “I’d say you look amazing”—he pulled out a chair for me and I sat—“but that would be an insult.”

  “You don’t look too bad yourself.” I eyed his fitted jeans and caught a nice glimpse of his firm ass before he sat. He wore a simple t-shirt, but the sleeves stretched tight around his biceps and showed off his bare forearms. Damn, he looked good enough to eat. Levi hadn’t been bad looking, but he was a little soft in the middle. Max seemed rock-hard—everywhere—and my insides grew warm at the thought. Settle down, girl; you’re just out having fun, my human mind reminded me. Things were fun with Levi at first, too, remember? Don’t do anything stupid…

  He pushed a beer across the table to me. “I didn’t know what you drink, so I thought I’d let you try my fave first.”

  “Happens to be my fave, too.” I picked up the bottle of Glacier Ale, bottled right there in the bay, and took a long pull. It slid down my throat, crisp and refreshing.

  “So, I’m all for sitting and talking, if that’s what you like,” he said, “but I prefer to play games.”

  “Oh really?” I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. “Well, you’d better be careful then; I don’t lose often. What do you have in mind?”

  “Darts and pool?”

  “Let’s start with air hockey.”

  He raised his eyebrows at me. We both looked over to the air hockey table shoved back in the corner, covered with a thin layer of dust. Out of all the times I’d been in that bar, I’d never seen anyone play once.

  “Does it even work?” he joked.

  “Only one way to find out.” I pushed myself up and hurried over to the machine. I got to it first and touched it as if reaching the finish line. “Pfft. Beat you already.”

  Max shook his head. “This is not looking good for me. Shall we set some terms?”

  “Oh, you want to make it interesting? Okay, then.” I found the power switch and flipped it, and the machine whirled to life. “Works!”