The moment seemed to last for eternity. Finally, Buck slid his teeth from her neck and she from his. They untangled their bodies from each other, and Buck rolled over on his back, pulling her against his chest.
“I’ve been waiting so long for that,” he said, kissing her forehead.
“Me too.”
They lay together in the sunlight for a long time. Maria's head gently lying on Buck's chest. After a while he rose with the promise of bringing sandwiches back to the bedroom. When he returned a while later, Maria was wrapped in a bathrobe sitting on the bed with her hair piled up on a bun at the top of her head. Buck had made BLTs with potato chips and large glasses of sweet lemonade.
“Oh my gosh, that looks so delicious. I'm starving.”
“You eat all you need, baby. If you're still hungry, I'll make you another sandwich.”
He sat beside her in his boxer shorts and they shared their sandwiches in the afterglow of their mating. Their new mate bond ping-ponged between them like a super excited electron. Every time it came back to her, she felt a whole new level of contentment. With every passing second, the connection grew stronger.
By the time she finished her sandwich, she could barely remember what life had been like before they'd mated. She felt a deep sense of liberation and love cover her and all the wounds she'd ever suffered. It made her think about her sister Rosa and her brother-in-law Heath. They had tried so hard to be parents for her, but it had hadn't been enough to protect her from Alex Terry.
“Does Rosa know I'm safe?” she asked.
“Everyone should know by now,” he said, taking a bite of his sandwich.
“I’ll have to face them eventually.”
“No matter what comes, you won't have to face it alone,” Buck said, reaching to the drawer beside the bed.
He turned back to her with a small box in his hand. Maria's heart nearly stopped when she saw it, knowing what was inside. She could already read him like a book, and there was no way he could hide what he was about to say. His lips moved, and she had to keep herself from shouting the answer before he asked the question.
“Maria Reyes,” Buck said, opening the box to reveal a magnificent diamond ring. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she said, jumping up and wrapping her arms around his neck so hard she almost toppled over the lemonade on the tray on the bed between them. She shrieked and giggled, catching the glass before it fell.
“You make me the happiest man in the world.”
“And you've made me whole again,” she said. “I can never repay you.”
He placed his finger on her lips and looked earnestly into her eyes. “You don't owe me anything, Maria. All I need is to know you’re safe and happy. That’s all the thanks I'll ever need.”
“Oh Buck, how did I ever get so lucky?”
“Fate has brought us together, my dear love. And for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.”
15
Maria looked at herself in the mirror as the candles flickered in her bridal tent. Her body had filled out since her time in the cave. Her flowing mermaid cut dress clung to her waist and accentuated her growing curves. She smiled as her sister Rosa helped her into her veil.
“I can’t believe this day is coming so soon,” Rosa said, pulling the veil down over Maria’s face.
“Neither can I. It seems like just yesterday, we were little kids in the barrio.”
“I wish I could have been a better sister, Maria.”
“You were the best sister, Rosa. You always took care of me.”
“I did what I could,” Rosa said, moisture gathering in the corners of her eyes.
“I know you did, Rosa. Don’t cry. You’ll ruin your makeup,” Maria laughed, dabbing her sister’s eyes.
“What happened to you wasn’t fair. What you went through…”
“Those things are all in the past. I have Buck now and we have our life together.”
Maria rubbed her belly, knowing that Buck’s seed had taken hold there the day he’d claimed her. Their child was growing in her womb. Now, on their wedding day, Maria couldn’t be happier.
“I know I made mistakes,” Rosa said in a whisper.
“Don’t ever blame yourself for my struggles, Rosa.”
“It’s been so hard for you. I don’t think I’ve ever given you enough credit.”
“We’re both adults now. The past is the past. Plus, I don’t think I could have done what you did, taking care of us both after mom and dad died. You were so young.”
“I know you always felt like you came in second to me. Even before mom and dad died.”
“I don’t feel that way anymore, Rosa. I have everything I could ever want with my whole life ahead of me.”
Rosa leaned in and gave Maria a hug, trying not to wrinkle her dress. “Are you ready?” she asked.
“So ready,” Maria said with a smile.
Rosa walked to the door flaps on the bridal tent and pushed it open. Heath stood on the other side, wearing a tuxedo. His hair was brushed back, and he was freshly shaved with a gleam in his eyes.
“We’re ready,” Rosa whispered to her mate.
Heath nodded to the string quartet, giving them the signal. The bridesmaids and groomsmen began to walk in twos down the aisle to where the minister stood with Buck under an arch of flowers. Maria stood back, watching it all through the tent flap, barely able to breath.
Rollo and his mate Zoe walked out. Then Rosa walked out with Jessie. Leland walked out with Sylvia. Willow and Corey Bright joined the rest of the bears and their mates around Buck under the arch.
Maria kept herself hidden from Buck’s eyes. She knew that silly things like wedding traditions couldn’t affect the hand of fate, but she still wanted her dress to be a surprise when she walked out with her brother-in-law, Heath.
“Okay,” Heath said, holding out his elbow for Maria.
She took a deep breath as the wedding march started. Maria stepped out of the tent and started down the aisle with Heath. All the bears from Fate Mountain were gathered with their mates and cubs. The orange glow of evening sunlight filled the air with a subtle sense of peace and beauty.
The field around the wedding party was filled with wildflowers and native grasses. Seed pods danced on a breeze, translucent and mystical as the light caught them and illuminated them in a radiant glow.
The music played and she approached Buck under an arch of wildflowers and roses. Buck reached out and took her hand from Heath’s. They faced each other under the arch of flowers. The sunlight streamed behind Buck and cast a halo around his head and shoulders. He wore a tailored tuxedo, perfect for an outdoor summer wedding.
The minister started the ceremony and directed them to say their vows. Buck started, clearing his throat. His words came out in a strangled croak at first, but he soon found his voice.
“Maria Reyes, my heart, my world. When I first found you alone and scared, I could never have imagined this day would come so soon. We had a hard road, getting to this point. But I would gladly walk through fire, just to see you smile. I never gave up on you at the worst of times, and I never will give up on us in the best. Our love was fated to heal us both. And with you, I’m complete.”
Maria’s heart fluttered and her knees went weak. She held onto Buck for support, getting lost in his blue eyes.
“Buck Kincaid. My hero. What can I say about a man as loyal and brave as you are? I am at a loss for words because words can’t begin to express my gratitude for what you’ve done for me. You never gave up, no matter how hard I pushed you away. The kind of strength your actions required is beyond my comprehension. You will always be my greatest inspiration, Buck Kincaid. From the first moment your bear threw me out of my wild shift, to today as I stand here with your baby in my belly.”
The minister finally gave Buck leave to kiss the bride. Buck gathered Maria in his arms, pulling her tight against his chest. He planted a kiss on her lips, hard and solid, his arms wrapped around her. She’d nev
er felt so safe, so claimed, so protected.
When he let her up for air, everyone was on their feet, cheering and clapping for the happy new couple. Maria gasped and smiled as Buck took her hand and they led each other away as man and wife.
Chapter 14
Buck could barely contain his grizzly from the first second he saw Maria in her wedding dress. She looked like a princess, straight out of a dream, walking down the aisle on her brother-in-law Heath’s arm. The beast within growled and clawed at him throughout the ceremony, reminding him at every second how truly beautiful his mate was.
Their bond still radiated back and forth between them, giving him impressions of Maria’s heart and happiness. She glowed with the budding life inside her. Her curves already becoming softer and fuller.
They sat together at the wedding table, all his brothers except Cyrus were there on his wedding day. Leland stood over the grill, turning steaks and hamburgers from the Timber Bear Ranch. Buck held Maria’s hand under the table, feeling her slender fingers entwined with his.
A bonfire sparked in the distance and children roasted marshmallows over the flames. Buck slid his hand up Maria’s thigh and cupped her small belly, thinking of the baby who now grew inside her womb.
Music played softly as the last of the sunlight faded beyond the mountains, casting the wedding party in darkness. Torches lined the perimeter of the reception area where the guests sat at picnic tables, eating barbecue. Twinkling lights were strung in crisscrosses over the tables, illuminating the party in their delicate light.
Buck took Maria out onto the lawn that had been prepared for dancing. He held her close, feeling her heartbeat against his chest. Her small hand in his, the small of her back under his palm. Everything about this moment was so full, Buck almost felt he didn’t deserve it.
Ever since his mother died when the Kincaid brothers were just boys, they had each held a broken piece around inside their hearts. Each Kincaid brother had dealt with their mother’s death in their own way. Buck had poured himself into his work and being a dependable member of his clan and family. It wasn’t until Maria came into his life that he was able to take a step back from the constant drive he felt to prove himself as man.
Now that Maria was here, she was his priority. She and their cub. With his mate by his side, Buck knew what it meant to be a man.
The day he’d gone to find Maria on the mountain and finally bring her home, Leland and Jessie had cut his quota of logs. A week later, they all worked together to complete Jessie’s house. Ever since Jessie had moved out of Buck’s house, and Leland had started spending a few days a week on the mountain cutting timber, Buck had felt a massive weight of responsibility come off his shoulders.
Now he could focus on his mate and his cub, in the house he built with his own hands, running the business he’d created out of the mess his father left. Together, he and Maria had healed what needed to be healed inside each other.
When he guided his beautiful wife back to the wedding table, his brother Jessie stood at the other end, tapping his champagne glass with the side of a spoon.
“It’s time to embarrass Buck with wedding speeches,” Jessie teased.
The guests started laughing and clinking glasses in agreement.
“To my big brother Buck, Saw Bear. Or otherwise known as Mr. Dependable. Who knows where we Kincaids would be without you. You’ve always been our rock, Buck. Doing what you needed to do to keep the ship running. When you found your mate, you gave her the same commitment you give everything. You turned a bad situation into something good. You found a way to bring Maria off the mountain. Because that’s just the kind of man you are Buck. We are all lucky to have you in our lives. I know I don’t usually say this kind of thing, but I want you to know how much I appreciate you, brother. And you Maria, for bringing happiness into my brother’s life. To the happy couple, I hope every day is filled with all the love and joy you can stand. Congratulations!”
Everyone cheered and cried and hugged when Jessie finished speaking. Buck felt his heart ready to burst it was so full. When he didn’t think he could take any more, his brother Leland left the grill and raised his own glass.
“Buck. My brother. The best second any Alpha could ever hope for. Jessie was right. You are the family rock, the guy who kept this place going. If anyone deserves an easy love story it’s you. But that’s not how fate works is it?” Leland laughed and so did a handful of other guests. “You got the mate you needed to fill your heart. And so did Maria. No one is happier for you than I am. If you guys ever need anything, Sylvia and I are always here to help in any way we can.”
Everyone awed at Leland’s speech. Leland lifted his glass and returned to the grill to flip a few more steaks and veggies. That was right before Corey Bright stood up from his table, lifting his glass toward Maria.
“Maria Kincaid-Reyes. You were one of the first humans to be admitted to the Bright Institute for Shifters. And we were happy to have you. You were an excellent student, despite the difficulties you faced in the past. When you were bitten by a shifter I’d allowed in my school, I never thought I could forgive myself. It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened in our institute.” He looked over at Willow who smiled encouragingly back at him. “We know we can’t take back what happened to you, but we do want to give you something to make the transition into your new life a little brighter.”
Maria looked from Corey to Buck and back again. Buck could see the excitement in her eyes. Corey Bright was a genuine billionaire. There was no telling what he would consider “help.”
“You were one of our most promising students in our botany classes. Because of that, Willow and I want to build you a greenhouse to your specifications here on the Timber Bear Ranch.”
“What?” Maria squealed.
She covered her mouth and her eyes went wide.
“We’ll send the contractors out after the honeymoon to get started.”
“Corey!” Maria squealed again.
He crossed the space in his tailored tuxedo and leaned over the table to give Maria warm hug.
“Thank you both so much,” Maria gushed.
“You deserve it, Maria,” Corey said, squeezing her hand. “We are just relieved you got ahold of your shift and found your happily ever after.”
“Everything works out when fate takes you in hand,” Buck said, slapping Corey on the back.
Chapter 15
Maria walked down the aisle between rows of tiny pine trees in her greenhouse. Her baby Joy was slung across her chest, quietly sleeping. Buck walked into the greenhouse, looking at all the saplings Maria had skillfully raised for his timber business.
The planters would take the starts up onto the mountain this spring, completing the cycle of timber management Buck had worked so hard to establish. Maria’s greenhouse added another level of control to the project. But that wasn’t all she planted in her garden.
Since the Brights had built her greenhouse, Maria had taken over a two-acre area behind Buck’s house for her nursery. For now, she mostly supplied saplings for Buck, but she had numerous projects that were growing into fruition as she held her little baby Joy in her arms.
Buck crossed the space and planted a kiss on her forehead and then another on Joy’s. Her lioness purred inside her, seeking out Buck’s grizzly through the bond they shared.
Now that she and Buck had delivered their child and worked together on the ranch, their bond had only become more pronounced. They knew each other’s needs and desires without speaking. And the bond shared even extended to their little Joy.
She was a sweet, quiet child who always seemed content. She took after her mother as a lion shifter. One of the rare females born with an animal inside her. Maria couldn’t be prouder of her daughter and her family.
“Are the saplings ready to go out?” Buck asked.
“They are,” Maria said. “The planters can take them out as soon as they arrive.”
“It will be different having someon
e else do the work.”
“It’s good for you to not do it all yourself, Buck.”
“You’re right. I need more time for you and our Joy.”
“I’ll take every second I can get,” Maria said, leaning up on her tiptoes to press her lips to Buck’s.
“And I’ll give you ever second I have, Maria, for the rest of my life.”
“I know you will, Buck. You’ve always been there for me. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure I’m always there for you.”
“All we can do is try to be our best for each other,” Buck whispered, embracing his family.
“You are the best for me. I’m learning to be my best for you too.”
“You’re prefect just as you are, Maria.”
Joy giggled in her sling, waking up as her parents professed their love for each other. She stretched and wiggled, reminding them that their Joy was alive and growing, bringing them closer to each other with each passing day.
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