by Kim Fox
Tyler was nothing like his brother. He was nice, calm, and had a strong, peaceful presence that made her feel like she had finally come home.
Tyler slowed his horse to an easy trot to let her catch up. “Up for a little race, cowgirl?” he asked. “First one to that tree down there.”
She thrust her chin in the air and flashed him an overconfident look. “And what do I get when I win?”
“Winner gets a full body massage,” he said with a sexy smirk on his lips.
“So it’s a win-win?” she asked, smiling back. It seemed like an unfair prize that if she lost, her punishment would be to rub his beautiful, hard muscular body all night.
“Everything is a win-win with you, Isabelle,” he said, making her heart melt.
“Now I just might lose on purpose,” she lied. There was no way. She loved to kick his butt.
They counted to three and were off, kicking up the dirt as they flew across the field to the gorgeous red and yellow tree in the distance. Savannah was fast but Venus was faster. At the halfway point she already had a healthy lead and Isabelle was laughing as she looked back at her mate over her shoulder. “Start warming up your fingers,” she yelled back to him.
She sailed past the tree, easily taking the win and slowed down, letting him catch up as they headed for the mountain. It was a perfect day.
Rhett, Nathan, and Emry had bought a little ranch about a twenty-minute drive away. Tyler had helped them find it. “Nothing too close to us,” she overheard him whispering to the real estate agent.
Isabelle hadn’t heard anything from Wallace. Her brother just disappeared after her father excommunicated him and she had no idea where he was. She didn’t fear him (especially not while living in a camp full of protective bear shifters) but she did pity him. He was an angry and broken little man. He didn’t deserve it but she wished him all the best.
“Wave to Horndog,” Tyler said, pointing at the rhinoceros in the distance.
Isabelle laughed as she threw her hand up and waved at the large animal. He just stared back at her, chewing lazily on the long grass. “Only you guys would have a pet freaking rhino,” she said with a chuckle.
Tyler just shrugged. What could he say? She was right.
After their wonderful day of horseback riding, they had a nice dinner with the squad. Stetson had cooked up some salmon fillets that he caught in the river earlier that day. He served it with a heaping mountain of barbecued veggies.
There was enough food for an army of bear shifters and of course, the wine. There was always wine. They all clinked glasses before diving in to eat.
“So, Isabelle,” Camilla said, wringing her hands together as she stared at her from across the table. “I have a few questions for you before you become an official member of the squad.”
Isabelle swallowed hard. She was getting married to Tyler on the weekend in four days and she didn’t want to do anything to mess it up.
“Camilla,” Tyler said, dropping his hands on the table. “Is this another one of your insane interrogations?”
Camilla looked at him with a blank stare. “Yes,” she said flatly.
Tyler rolled his eyes. “Well, last I checked, Thorn was the alpha of the squad. He decides who gets to become official members. Right, Thorn?”
Thorn tossed Scrappy and Izzy each a piece of fish under the table. He rubbed his chin as he thought about it. “I’m going to allow it.”
Camilla squealed in delight. “Alright,” she said, staring at Isabelle, thinking long and hard. “If you were a worm, what would your name be?”
“Male or female?” Isabelle shot back.
“Male.”
She thought about it for a second and then threw out the only name that came to her mind. “Kevin.”
Camilla tilted her head to the side as she contemplated the answer. “Short, classic. I like it,” she said, nodding.
“What else you got?” Isabelle asked.
Camilla bit her fingernail as she furrowed her brow. “If you could use a slogan for yourself, what would it be?”
Isabelle looked to Tyler and he just raised his hands and shook his head. “Don’t look at me for help.”
“Fine,” Isabelle said, thinking about it. “Finger lickin’ good.”
Tyler laughed. “I would have picked McDonald’s slogan for you,” he said to her. “I’m loving it.”
Slate grinned. “And I would have picked Volkswagen’s old slogan for you, Tyler. Think small.”
Tyler laughed as he chucked a marshmallow at him.
Isabelle went through the rest of the silly questions, making everyone laugh at the ridiculous answers. The night was fun as usual and soon the sun was set, the stars were out, and everyone was gathered around the fire telling stories and laughing at the twins’ jokes.
Isabelle wasn’t used to laughing so much and she found that early on in the night her stomach would ache and her cheeks would burn, all from smiling and laughing every two seconds.
“So, Tyler,” Slate said, the orange glow of the fire tinting his handsome face. “The wedding is in a few days and you still haven’t asked me to be your best man.”
“Keep dreaming,” Tyler said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t even have invited you if I didn’t need a token asshole who gets too drunk and makes a fool of himself on the dance floor.”
Slate pointed at Stetson. “I think he’s your man.” Isabelle had heard all about Stetson’s little striptease at Layla’s wedding to the twins.
“I wasn’t drunk,” Stetson said with a frown.
Karl reached over and patted the big guy’s knee. “That only makes it worse, Stets.”
Kylee slipped her hands around Stetson’s huge tattooed arm and nuzzled her cheek on his bicep. “I thought it was sexy,” she said proudly.
“Sexy?” Royal asked, looking shocked. “I had nightmares for days.”
Stetson raised an eyebrow at the prince. “You dreaming about me again?”
The night went on like that, the boys taking hilarious shot after shot at each other. Isabelle loved how the person getting it always laughed the hardest. That just proved that all of the insults, jeers, and sarcasm was all out of love.
One by one the couples went off to bed and soon it was just Tyler and Isabelle left, cuddling in front of the fire. Tyler reached over, grabbed a log, and tossed it into the firepit, sending an explosion of sparks flying up into the air.
“Another log?” she asked with a grin as the logs shifted in the firepit. “Are you procrastinating?”
“For what?” he asked, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of his beer.
“Did you forget our little race this afternoon?” She turned in her chair, resting her cheek against the wood so that she could stare at his sexy face. “You owe me a full body massage.”
He turned and grinned at her. “How could I forget? Would you like me to start with your feet or hands?”
She reached out and placed her hand in his lap. “Hands please.”
He took it and began rubbing her palm, making her moan. He was so good with his fingers and she couldn’t wait until it was time to massage her other places.
“Thank you,” she whispered as he gazed into the fire.
“No problem,” he said as a log broke into ashes under the weight of the others. “You were the winner.”
“Not for that,” she said, feeling her heart swell. “Thank you for coming back for me. I never realized life could be this good.”
Tyler turned to her with a loving stare. “Neither did I.”
Isabelle pulled her hand back and stood up. “I think I’m ready for the rest of my massage.”
Tyler looked her up and down slowly, that familiar look of desire giving his amber eyes a sexy glow. He smiled. “Life is about to get that much better.”
Isabelle took his hand and pulled him up. She kissed him long and slow under the stars while the fire crackled beside them. She doubted what he said.
Because her life was already
perfect.
epilogue
“Ready?” Isabelle’s father asked her as he held out his arm. He was all dressed up looking dapper in his finest suit.
“I’ve been ready for this moment since I was a kid,” she said, wrapping her arm around his.
“You look stunning,” he said, looking down at her wedding dress. The girls had driven with her into town and Isabelle had fallen in love with a beautiful strapless dress that flowed out at the waist like a princess’ gown. Tyler was going to love it.
The soft music was playing and Isabelle and her father stepped into the old barn. Layla and the twins had set it up beautifully with flowers and fall decorations everywhere. It was better than anything she could have dreamed up.
Tyler was on the raised platform at the end of the aisle in a tailored tuxedo that fit perfectly to his athletic body. Her mate was so sexy with his shining amber eyes and brown hair combed to the side. He smiled as he watched her approach. Isabelle still couldn’t believe that they were going to be together forever. It felt like those seven years apart were just a bad dream, and now everything was back to normal.
His best man Thorn was standing by his side, standing proudly beside his friend. Tyler said that he was having a rough time lately now that everyone in his squad had a mate except for him. He was so hot that he could walk into a singles bar and pick out any woman that he wanted, but Tyler had told her that Thorn wouldn’t be interested in any of them. He had a mate once and although she had died, his heart was still with her.
Isabelle’s father sniffed as they got close. She looked up at him and her heart broke when she saw a little tear in his eye.
“Take care of her,” he said when Tyler reached off the platform to help her up.
“I will, sir,” Tyler answered respectfully, shaking hands with him. “Thank you for your blessing. I won’t let you down.”
“You better not,” he answered. “Or I’ll come find you.” Isabelle giggled when she saw Tyler trying to keep a straight face as her father squeezed his hand in his iron grip.
“That’s enough, Daddy,” she said, placing her palm on his flexed forearm. “Please don’t break him. That’s my job.”
The ceremony went by in a blur. Isabelle just got lost in her mate’s mesmerizing eyes and before she knew it the minister was pronouncing them man and wife.
Tyler kissed her with a passion that took her breath away. The crowd stood up and cheered, and Isabelle smiled as she looked around all of the friendly faces. Her friends from back home had all shown up and the barn was packed. Her new neighbors the Vega brothers had come with their wives and even Rhett, Nathan, and Emry were there. She invited Rhett on the condition that all of his birds stayed outside.
They all went to the bar in the corner where the two bartenders, Stetson and Royal, were breaking a sweat while they hurried to fill up everyone’s glasses. Slate and Karl removed all of the chairs, making room for the dance floor.
Tyler stood beside her proudly as he introduced her to everyone. “So now you have two skin shifters in your squad?” Julius said, shaking his head. “That’s not fair.”
Layla popped up out of nowhere. “And we have a rhino.”
“What?” Julius asked, raising his eyebrows as he stared at her in confusion.
Layla nodded proudly. “It’s true. We have a pet rhinoceros. We named him Horndog.”
Julius rolled his eyes. “God, you guys are weird.”
Tyler pointed to Rhett and the Chevy brothers who were talking by the bar. “Those three are skin shifters if you want to try and recruit them.”
Julius looked over with interest but then frowned. “Who the bird man?” He shook his head. “No thanks. I don’t want to be ducking through falling bird shit every time I walk to my car.”
The soft music came to a squeaking halt and Isabelle turned towards the DJ booth. Hannibal was in it taking over the music.
“Hannibal!” she cried out. “Let’s get this party started! I’m married!”
The crowd cheered and clapped as she dragged Tyler to the dance floor with the wedding guests following her. “I got just the thing,” Hannibal shouted as he hit play. Rhianna and Calvin Harris’ We Found Love blasted over the speakers and Isabelle started shaking her hips, moving in close to her man.
He smelled so good and even though there was a dance floor full of people around them it felt like it was only them in the room. She gazed up into his eyes and smiled.
“It was always you, Tyler,” she whispered to him. “It was always you.”
He pulled her in and kissed her softly on the mouth, filling her stomach with butterflies. He licked his lips as he pulled away. “And it always will be,” he whispered back.
Isabelle smiled. He was right about that.
Tyler took a break from the sweaty dance floor and walked outside to get a breath of the fresh cool air. Dinner had gone well and now the strong drinks were starting to hit and everyone was having a little too much fun, including him. He needed to sober up a bit.
He walked behind the barn and Thorn caught his eye. He was leaning against the barn staring out at the dark forest.
“You okay, boss?” he asked, making his way over.
He didn’t look okay. At all.
“I can’t do it,” Thorn whispered, wiping his eye. “I want to, for everyone, but I just can’t.”
Tyler stood beside him and looked out at the forest. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “We all understand.”
“It’s not okay,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m going to let everybody down. My own squad, the Vega brothers…”
Tyler placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. “You’re not letting anyone down. We don’t want you doing anything that you don’t want to do.”
“I want to move on,” he said, staring ahead blankly. “But I can’t. Every time I try, I just see her cold still face and I get sick to my stomach.”
He was talking about his mate. Nathalie. She had died years ago, and Thorn went to jail for her murder.
“We’ll find somewhere else to live,” Tyler said. “As long as the squad stays together, we’ll be fine. It’s all we need.”
“No,” Thorn said, pushing off the barn. “I’m dragging everyone down.”
“No, you’re not,” Tyler shot back.
Thorn exhaled long and hard as he turned to his best friend. “I’m sorry to bring this shit up on your wedding night,” he said with a pained face. “But I just can’t be the alpha of a squad when my own life is in pieces.”
Tyler’s stomach dropped. “What are you saying, Thorn?”
“I have to leave,” he said, dropping his eyes to the ground. “You can be the alpha in my place. The Clawed Squad will be in good hands with you at the helm.”
Tyler shook his head. “No,” he said, starting to get panicked. The squad wouldn’t be the same without the Thornado.
“Congratulations on the wedding,” Thorn said. “You have a beautiful bride.”
Tyler opened his hands as his alpha began to walk away. “Just like that?” he asked. “You’re leaving?”
Thorn turned with pure anguish on his face. “I have to, Tyler. It’s killing me.”
Tyler had no words. He just watched with his mouth hanging open as his best friend and alpha walked away, leaving the squad in his hands.
WANT MORE TYLER AND ISABELLE FOR FREE??
Join my Mailing List to hear about new releases, specials, get a Free Book and to get an Exclusive Bonus Chapter only available to my newsletter subscribers! Subscribe for FREE HERE
Bonus Chapter 11.5: How to train a rhino: Come hangout with the Clawed Squad as they try to train Horndog!
Send me the free Bonus Chapter (and a free book)!
I love to hear from my readers. Please feel free to contact me at kim@authorkimfox.com
Connect on Facebook:
Kim Fox on FB
www.AuthorKimFox.com
The Clawed Squad Series:
Stetsonr />
Royal
The Twins
Tyler
Thorn
And Coming Soon…
Vega Brothers Series:
(Completed Series)
Julius
Khan
Alexander
Hannibal
Bare Knuckle Bears
(Completed Series)
Bare Knuckle Bear
Bare Knuckle Grizzly
Bare Knuckle Black Bear
Bare Knuckle Kodiak
Bare Knuckle Luke
Bare Knuckle Box Set
Werebears of New Hampshire
(Completed Series)
Bearly Breathing
Bearly In Control
Bearly Interested
Bearly In Time
Box Set
Smokejumpers: Werebear
(Completed Series)
Ellis and Alexi
Beckett and Amanda
Finch and Jessica
Matteo and Lani
Keane and Chloe
Quint and Lystra
Sander and Morgan
Smokejumpers Box Set (Books 1-5)
Celebrity Bears
(Completed Series)
Starstruck Shifter
Rockstar Shifter
Do you love romance books?
Sign up to the Full Hearts Romance Newsletter and get the best free and discounted romance ebooks in your inbox every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
No Commitment. No Fees. Cancel Anytime.
Sign up for free at:
www.FullHeartsRomance.com