“Or you could use a surrogate mom. I was one for Sophie.”
Eve had no idea. “So Sophie’s not your biological child?”
Chloe shook her head. “It’s a long story how Ash and I got to her adopt her, but I know how you feel about having a baby. I don’t know what I do without Sophie. However, do you really want to let a guy like Ian just go just like that?”
That was the problem. She wanted both things and she couldn’t. Shit, why was everything in life so complicated and such a compromise?
“Ash is working late so how about you come over for dinner and keep me and Sophie company and maybe talking some more will help you make a decision?”
****
Charlie had literally crawled to the door to let Ian inside his house. He lifted him up the best he could and heard him whizzing.
“Geez Charlie, I’m getting you to the clinic,” Ian said.
Charlie waved his hand. “My journey is drawing to a close. It’s my wish to pass in my bear form so I need you to carry me outside.”
“Charlie, let me get you to the clinic because they can help you.”
He dug his fingers into Ian’s arm. “You always were a stubborn little bear, now get me outside.”
Ian put Charlie’s arm around his shoulder and the two of them made their way outside to the yard. Charlie lay down on the ground and lifted his hand up to Ian. He took it and squeezed it
“Look after the group, especially your siblings and remember to bury me close to where we landed that night.”
Tears ran down Ian’s face as Charlie slowly transformed himself into his bear half. Ian fell to his knees and held the old bear as he took his last breath.
“No, it can’t be true, you can’t leave us, you just can’t,” Ian sobbed into Charlie’s thick, black fur.
Chapter Seventeen
Eve had only met Charlie the once, but she’d liked him straight away. She was glad that Ian had at least called her and informed her of his death and suggested she might like to come along to his burial ceremony. She wiped her eyes as Ian, his two brothers, and two other men carried the coffin down to the water’s edge and set it next to the hole they’d dug.
She looked around and it seemed like there wasn’t a dry eye. Chloe and Ash stood with her. Ash had his head bowed down and his shoulders moved up and down as he sobbed.
Ian picked up some dirt and threw it on top of Charlie’s coffin as they slowly lowered it into the ground.
“Goodbye dear Spirit Guardian,” he shouted.
Eve cried as he fell to his knees and sobbed like his heart was truly breaking.
****
Ian had waited a week to open the letter that Charlie had left for him. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to read it.
Rumor has it that you’ve broken up with your mate … no, not Joanne; I mean your real one. Remember I told you what a stubborn little bear you’d always been, well no more. I feel it in my old bear’s bones that the child you and Eve will produce will one day be the leader of the group. Change is coming, Ian, change and trouble. I sense it. So you know what you have to do. With much love, Charlie.
****
“Shit,” Eve said. The window wouldn’t shut and rain was splashing her paperwork again.
“You need some help with that?”
Eve went still. It was Ian’s voice.
She didn’t respond and he didn’t say anything but simply held her hand as she jumped down from the table. Just like before, she fell into his chest. Hi arms went around her and he pulled her in close.
“I was told something today.”
“And what was that?” she asked.
“That the child we’ll have will one day lead the Kalispell Shifters.”
“You fall off your bike or something?”
He smiled. Shit, how she loved him even more when he gave her that sexy, boyish grin that made the dimples appear in seconds. She played with the tiny bear earring, making it swing back and forth. She still wore his old one even though they’d broken up.
“No, Charlie left me a letter. He said you’re my mate, but I already knew that. He also said I’m stubborn. And yes, I did know that, but I never wanted to admit to it.”
“Imagine that.”
“So with the future of the shifters resting upon us mating, I think it means I have to be ready for a family.”
Eve closed her eyes. Was she dreaming? Was she going to get it all?
“Yeah, I’d really like to have some little bears with you,” he said.
“What if they’re all human, no bear traits at all?”
“Then we’ll have to keep trying to have babies until we get some that take after me.”
“That sounds like fun. Also sounds like I’m going to be pregnant a lot,” Eve said.
“Isn’t that what you want?”
“It’s definitely what I want.”
“Is that a yes? You want to be my mate for all eternity?”
“All eternity, I like the sound of that,” Eve said.
One of the dogs barked and they both laughed.
“So I guess this means we need to make an announcement at the next stargazing ceremony. In fact, we can tell my brother first because he’s just brought the store in the mall housing Starlight Café. So why don’t we go there and celebrate?”
****
Cade looked around the store. A big empty space that was going to be the future motorcycle shop. Charlie had left him, Ian, and Trey some money..Cade had gone ahead and purchased the building so he could finally realize his dream. He looked out of the window and saw the young woman who was opening the store next to his, getting out of her car.
He whistled. No one had told him she was that hot. An added bonus. Maybe he’d go next door right now and introduce himself. After all, they were going to be neighbors.
He went outside, locked the door, and then walked down to her place. He wasn’t quite sure what she was selling, but as he stepped inside, the smell of soaps and incense was almost too much for his senses. He sneezed and then sneezed again. He looked up to see the young woman standing by the cash register.
“Hi, I’m Cade Mallory. I’ve just purchased the store next to yours.”
“Yes, I’ve seen you about.” She didn’t seem that friendly, but maybe she was shy.
“And I didn’t catch your name,” he said.
“Probably because I didn’t tell you.”
Geez, cute but hostile.
“You do know it’s not polite not to introduce yourself when someone’s told you their name.”
“Is that a rule made by bear shifters?” she asked.
Cade stood with his mouth open. Who’d been telling her about him … them being…?
“My other two neighbors are cougar shifters. The woman who owns the café is pregnant with a half bear shifter.”
Someone had been shooting their mouth off.
“Who told you?”
“I don’t have to be told anything. I know a shifter when I see one. Know when a human’s carrying a shifter baby.”
“How?”
“Because I have secrets, too.”
The End
www.vanessadevereaux.com
Other Books by Vanessa Devereaux:
www.evernightpublishing.com/vanessa-devereaux
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Protected by April Zyon
Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
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Mending the Bear Page 11