“Auntie Chloe! I’m so excited that I get a new Auntie,” Calum said, and threw his arms around Chloe with no hesitation. Chloe, despite telling herself she would make it through this evening without crying, burst into tears.
“Look at that,” Neal said, walking up and seeing Calum’s little arms wrapped around Chloe’s legs. “Calum puts us all to shame. Children don’t see a clan name or history when they look at a face. They just see that individual person for whom they are. That’s exactly how we should react.”
Chloe was reintroduced to everyone as the party began. She had expected things to be strained, but overall the evening went smoothly. Now that the clan had decided to welcome her, they made an effort to truly make her feel welcome. She talked and ate and laughed until her sides hurt. No one made any rude comments about her being a Blizzard. In fact, no one asked her any questions about her past life. Chloe didn’t mind explaining her history again, but she figured tonight was for celebrating, not for dredging up the dark past.
When the clock struck midnight, and the children had long since fallen asleep in one of the cabin’s bedrooms, Seth and Chloe finally left the party. As they walked hand in hand back toward Seth’s cabin, shivering in the cold evening air, he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.
“What did you think of your first clan party?” he asked.
Chloe smiled over at him. “I loved it,” she said. “Everyone treated me really well. No one mentioned anything about my being a Blizzard.”
“That’s because you’re not a Blizzard anymore. You’re a Northern Lights bear now.”
Chloe’s heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest from happiness. Was it possible that she actually could shake the label that had been following her around for the past few years, causing people to judge her for what other shifters had done? This whole day felt like a dream come true. Seth pulled her into his arms as they walked into his cabin’s front room.
“It’s only going to get better from here. The more they get to know you, the more they’re going to love you. And with the protection of the Northern Lights Clan, you won’t have to be always looking over your shoulder, wondering if you’re about to be attacked by some rogue shifter.”
Chloe let herself melt into Seth’s embrace. “Thank you for convincing me to come back here. You were right about your clan. I thought from the first few reactions I got that I was going to be leaving Alaska for good. But they came around, and now I get to stay here.”
“I had my doubts for a few moments there, too,” Seth said. “But everything worked out, and now we’re here together. Home.”
They spent a few moments silently wrapped in each other’s embrace, and then Chloe tilted her face up toward Seth’s. She planted a long, deep kiss on his lips, and then pulled back to look into his eyes.
“I love you,” she said.
He let out a low growl. “I love you, too.”
Then he returned the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth and pulling her closer against him with his arms. Chloe breathed in his scent, that now familiar mixture of sandalwood and pine, and she let her tongue waltz with his as their kiss continued. The kiss grew more urgent, and Chloe and Seth both shrugged out of the jackets they were wearing, then kicked off their shoes. The pair collapsed on the couch in a passionate embrace, and Chloe reached down to pull Seth’s sweater up and over his head. He returned the favor, unbuttoning her blouse and tossing it aside. Then he unclasped her bra and removed it to allow his hands to cup her breasts. Chloe moaned as he massaged the nipples with his fingers, then pushed him off of her and onto his back on the couch.
“I want to taste you,” she said, and started unbuttoning his jeans. She struggled to pull off the thick denim material, and then quickly slid off his briefs, leaving him naked on the couch with his stiff erection pointing straight up at the ceiling. She slid between his legs on the couch, positioning her head right above his groin. Then she slowly licked a trail from the base of his shaft up to the tip of his penis. He let out a long, low growl of pleasure, and Chloe smiled with satisfaction. Then she moved her entire mouth over his dick, sucking in as much of him as she could while she massaged his shaft with her tongue. She felt him arching his back as she took him to the brink of ecstasy, his dick beginning to pulse with passion.
Suddenly he grabbed her shoulders and started sitting up, pushing her off of him.
“Wait,” he said, breathless and panting. “I want to finish inside of you.”
Chloe smiled and nodded. She placed her hand on his chest and pushed him firmly back down onto the couch. “Stay,” she ordered. Then she climbed off the couch for a moment to quickly remove her jeans and panties, which by now were soaked with the juices of her anticipation. She got back onto the couch, straddling Seth and giving him a mischievous smile.
“I’m in charge tonight,” she said. She lowered herself onto his dick, closing her eyes with pleasure as she felt him filling her. She thrust her hips against his, moving as fast as she could. The pressure and heat in her body built until she couldn’t contain herself anymore, and she threw back her head with a load moan as she exploded into an intense orgasm. As soon as the waves of her release started to crash over her, Seth came as well. He roared and thrust his groin upward, pushing his dick deep into her and filling her with pulses of hot passion. Chloe moaned again as she felt the heat of his orgasm filling her, and a fresh wave of tingling pleasure washed over her.
When Chloe’s breathing finally started returning to normal, she fell against Seth’s chest, enjoying the feeling of her naked skin against his. Both of them were sweaty and disheveled in the afterglow of their lovemaking, but Chloe thought she had never seen Seth looking more handsome. As she lay against him, he wrapped one arm around her, and then used his free hand to run his fingers lazily through her hair. She sighed, taking in the sweet, peaceful moment. For the first time in years, she felt truly secure and happy.
After several minutes of silence, Seth spoke.
“So, my beautiful Northern Lights bear,” he said. “What do you think of April?”
“The month of April? Um, I generally like it. Why?” Chloe asked tilting her head back to look at Seth with a questioning gaze.
“How would you feel about a having our lifemate ceremony in April?” Seth asked, grinning up at her.
Chloe returned his grin. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
“I am indeed,” Seth said. “Do you have any openings on your calendar in April?”
“I’m free as a bird all month long,” Chloe said. “Pick a date, and I’ll be there.”
“Is that a yes, then? You’ll marry me and be my lifemate?”
Chloe kissed Seth’s face. “Yes. I’ll even do the first of April if you want—April Fool’s Day. After all, I’m a fool for you.”
Seth laughed. “You’re so cheesy, but I love it. The first of April it is. The day can’t come soon enough. After all these years of searching, I’ve finally found my happily ever after.”
Chloe kissed Seth and smiled. “I agree. The day can’t come soon enough. And I’m so glad that my happily ever after was you.”
Epilogue
Twenty years later, Chloe held back tears as she watched Seth loading up the last suitcase into their daughter Mia’s car. Mia was going to make the long drive to Chicago with Jack, who was James’ cub. The two had grown up together, almost as siblings, and now they would both be starting college together as freshmen in a couple of weeks. Chloe couldn’t believe how fast Mia had gone from a tiny newborn to a grown woman, leaving to start her new life. It was hard to let her go, but Chloe took comfort in the fact that the rest of the Northern Lights cubs had moved to Chicago ahead of her. She would have family there, looking out for her.
Hope and Calum had started the migration, when they had chosen to go to Chicago together for college. Then Avery, Alyssa, and Elliot had decided to continue the trend the following year. By the time Grant went off to school, he didn’t seriously con
sider anywhere else. Now, Jack and Mia would be joining them. Hope and Calum were in graduate school by this point, but they would still look out for Jack and Mia.
Mia threw her arms around her parents one last time, hugging and kissing them both, and promising to call and write often. Chloe couldn’t believe what a beautiful young woman Mia had become. Mia had never had to know the bloodshed or violence that the Blizzards had wrought on the Arctic before she was born. She had never been anything other than a Northern Lights bear, and she had never had to run in fear from someone just because of her Blizzards’ heritage. Chloe wouldn’t have dared ask for anything more than this, and yet Mia hadn’t just had a peaceful life thus far—she’d also had a happy, fulfilled one. Her childhood had been filled with memories of life out in the beautiful wilds of Alaska. As she started her new adventure, Chloe was sad to see her go, but proud of the woman she had become.
As Mia climbed into the car to drive off with her cousin Jack, Seth put his arm around Chloe.
“You did good, Mama,” he said. “You raised a wonderful, kind daughter. You should be very proud.”
Chloe looked over at Seth, the love of her life, and smiled. His hair had softened into a salt and pepper look with age, and his face had a few more laugh lines than when they’d met. But he was handsome as ever, and he was hers. All hers, for all time. Chloe couldn’t have asked for a better life, and the fun was far from over. One chapter was ending as their daughter went off to college, but new adventures awaited in this new season of their lives. The Northern Lights clan members always found unique ways to have fun together.
Chloe reached for Seth’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“I think you mean we did good,” she said.
Seth smiled at her and kissed the top of her head. “We did good,” he repeated softly.
They stood there together for several minutes with their arms around each other, watching their daughter’s car until it was no longer visible.
Chloe wasn’t sure how she had been lucky enough to enjoy a life filled with so much love, but she thanked destiny every day for bringing her and Seth together, and giving them a place to call home.
Books by Sloane Meyers
ICE BEAR SHIFTERS
Book One: Bearing the Frozen Night (Ryker’s Story)
Book Two: Bearing the Whiteout (Eric’s Story)
Book Three: Bearing the Midnight Sun (Tyler’s Story)
Book Four: Bearing the Black Ice (Alan’s Story)
Book Five: Bearing the Late Thaw (Neal’s Story)
Book Six: Bearing the Frostbite (James’ Story)
FIRE BEAR SHIFTERS
Book One: A Blaze to Bear (Ian’s Story)
Book Two: A Spark to Bear (Hunter’s Story)
Book Three: A Burn to Bear (Luke’s Story)
Book Four: A Flame to Bear (Trevor’s Story)
Book Five: An Ember to Bear (Zach’s Story)
Thank You For Reading!
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About the Author
There are bears walking among us. Sloane Meyers is devoted to telling their stories.
Sloane thinks we could all use a little escape in our lives. And what better way to shake up the ordinary than to transport yourself to the mysterious world of those who have an animal within them, roaring to be let out. Sloane promises hot shifter males, and spunky, spirited heroines—with NO cliffhangers! Each book can be read as a standalone.
When she’s not busy crafting bear tales, Sloane enjoys a good glass of wine, preferably shared with good friends. She loves reading, baking, and pretending that she’s actually a music buff. On weekends, she spends a lot of time in the great outdoors, hiking with her own sexy alpha and adorable little cub.
You can connect with Sloane at her website, www.sloanemeyers.com, or by Friending her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorsloanemeyers.
Bearing The Long Road Home (Ice Bear Shifters 7) Page 8