by Zoe Jane Fox
“I told Monroe if he or any of his brothers show not to bother us because it’s girls’ night and we needed to talk,” she tells me, reading my mind.
“Thanks. Do you want to join them since we’ve already made up?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” she confesses. Drinks in hand, we head to our mates. Before I make it halfway, Damon is turning with a smile on his face. Once I reach him I sink my fingers into his hair and a kiss like I haven’t seen him in years. God, my mate tastes so good. I’m one lucky woman to call him mine. Someone clears their throat and I reluctantly step back. I see Penny giving me a huge grin as she passes me another drink. Damon places me on his lap and wraps his arms around my stomach before returning to his conversation with Jace. Penny climbs on Monroe’s as she continues to talk to me, handing me a drink whenever I finish one.
“Ah ha! Now I get why you named it Grizzy’s!” I say randomly, pointing at Rhys. Everyone bursts out laughing while he winks at me. I decide to switch the margarita for water while planning to bring Penny back when she can drink to give her a little taste of her own medicine.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Damon
A month has flown by and I couldn’t have asked fate for a better mate. She enjoys taking a run in her bear form every day with me after work. Now that she is no longer at Ted’s, if I can’t find her at the house she’s either taking pictures or in our field that we love so much. Kathy is doing well and can manage short distances with a walker. Melissa saw another bear but this time it was Ian. My parents thought it’d be best if we told Kathy and Melissa the truth since our children may accidentally shift in front of them one day and it’ll be better coming from us before that happens. Kathy had a friend in college who was a shifter and she said she knew the moment she met me I was too, she just wasn’t sure which kind until Melissa kept going on and on about bears. Telling Melissa was a bit different. At first she was scared, then excited and now she likes to have us shift to ride on our backs. Mabel is running late and I have plans tonight for the two of us. She doesn’t know what we’re doing aside from dinner. I debate going for a run until she gets here but I don’t want Mabel to join me because my plans will be ruined. I’m pacing the house when the door bursts open and slams against the wall.
“I’m sorry I’m late! Let me change and we can go.” She sets her camera bag down then heads to our room. Shaking my head at her craziness, I quickly grab it and place it in the truck before she notices it’s gone. When I return, she’s coming out and looking beautiful in a black dress. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the fact she’s all mine. I move to give her a hug and kiss, but she jumps away while putting her hand up.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, a little hurt she’s rejecting me.
“We haven’t had the chance for just the two of us to get out of the house since we mated. I want this date Damon and I know if you touch me we’ll end up on the floor in two seconds. Now let’s go,” she says marching outside. Laughing, I follow her even though she’s acting strange and I’m trying not to read too much into it. She wouldn’t touch me back at the house and I understand her reasoning because that’s definitely what would’ve happened. For most of the ride, she has had the window down and is leaning against the door, silent. I was already nervous but the way she’s acting is making it worse. I watch her reaction as the Gateway Arch comes into view and it’s like our first date all over again. She has a small smile that gives me a bit of hope nothing is wrong. I get out and get her camera bag before making my way around to see her climbing out.
“I thought you’d like to have it with you this time.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
The sun is just starting to set so it’s a wonderful background. We’re not able to go inside today, which kind of sucks but she said she’s happy with just the outside for now. I watch as she takes a few pictures, enjoying seeing her do something she loves when she looks at me, capturing me watching her. She slowly she lowers it and puts it away.
“I’m all done,” she says while finally giving me the hug I’ve been dying for since she came home. I lean down ready to kiss her mating mark, but she pulls back yet again.
“Come on, Damon. I’m hungry.” I’ve already learned when she says that to feed her before she becomes hangry. I drive back to the house instead of a restaurant. Originally, I’d planned to do a complete repeat of our first date but went with a nice romantic dinner in our field with a little help from my brothers. She tells me about her day, getting excited all over again about it. When we get there, she starts to go inside but I stop her.
“Follow me.” I head to our spot and look back to make sure she’s doing the same. My bear starts making a rumbling noise as it smells something delicious. It must be the food I had Jace pick up while we were out. Everything is in place and lit up perfectly and I notice Mabel holding her hand over her mouth staring at the gazebo with tears pouring down her cheek. I walk to her and the wind shifts. I now realize it wasn’t the food, but Mabel giving me everything I dreamed of since I first scented her in the diner parking lot and I drop to one knee.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mabel
I’d been out all day taking pictures and buying frames for ones I’d already edited when I started feeling sick. Figuring I’d go home, Penny called and asked to meet for lunch. Thinking eating something might settle my stomach, I met her at the taco truck she loves. As soon as she gave me a hug she told me I smelled different and a smile spread across her face. We ditched the food and ran to the nearest drug store for a pregnancy test. Of course it was positive since Damon and I have barely kept our hands off each other and haven’t been using protection. I knew when I walked he’d instantly know my secret and his dinner plans would be over. I didn’t want that to happen because he’s been looking forward to it. I opted to stay out until the very last minute, spraying perfume and keeping my distance as much as I could. I almost said screw it when he took me back to the arch with my camera, but held on a bit longer. Now I’m standing in our field staring at the beautiful setup he arranged for us. I hear his bear let out a huff and watch as he drop to one knee with shock and happiness in his eyes.
“Marry me,” he says while holding a pear cut diamond ring with smaller ones surrounding the band.
“Yes!” I reply, even though he didn’t ask. He slides it on my before standing and giving me a long, passionate kiss. My stomach growls loudly and we pull back laughing.
“Let’s feed you and our cub.”
He helps me into a chair before sitting in the other. I lick my lips as I watch him uncover the food and see he ordered from the same restaurant from our first date. He really did recreate it, but made it even more special. I tell him more about my day and how I found out I was pregnant. Our conversation turns to babies, both excited for what’s to come. Music starts playing from a small speaker I didn’t notice at first and Damon stands, holding a hand out. We sway to the soft melody for a while when he starts kissing my cheek then my neck. We’ve had sex out here before, but he’s obviously had some help with this so I’m worried who might be out here.
“I’d never let anyone see my mate in the throes of passion. I promise they’ve already left.”
“Well, in that case, make love to me Damon,”
With a growl, he carries me to a blanket and makes slow but sweet love to me. I hate that my mom got hurt but am thankful for the path I had to take that lead to meeting Damon and finding my forever with him.
Epilogue
Damon
Five years later
All my brothers and their mates and children, along with our parents are here to help celebrate Danielle’s fifth birthday when she decided to grace us with her bear for the first time. My poor mate couldn’t handle her little baby growing up so fast and burst into tears. Although I think it has something to do with the fact she’s eight months pregnant with our third child. Most of my brothers have boys and so far I’m the only one with all girls
and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love their tea parties and dress up dates. Sure a boy would be nice, but fate hasn’t steered me wrong yet and I’m not going to question it if she wants to give us another girl who looks like her beautiful mama.
“She’s so cute in her bear form,” Mabel says while watching Danielle roll around in the grass with her cousins.
“Just wait until she bites you,” Jace’s mate, Leigha, says.
“And you wait until your twins shift and you can’t chase them, it’s hilarious,” Penny says sticking her tongue out at Leigha, causing everyone to laugh.
“Come on, ladies. Let’s get the food ready while the guys argue over who’ll man the grill,” Ma says while heading inside.
We all watch our mates follow her while Pa shifts and joins the kids. Ma likes to joke but really we settled that a long time ago deciding with as many cookouts and birthday parties we have, whichever house were at they do the grilling. It saves us from taking on each other in bear form and ruining the day for everyone. Mabel walks out the back door carrying the plate of burgers and hot dogs and sets them on the table beside the grill before wrapping her arms around me.
“Miss me, my love?” I ask as I nuzzle her neck.
“Yes, bedtime can’t come soon enough,” she replies. As much as I love my family I can’t wait for everyone to leave and the kids to go to bed so I can show my mate just how much I’ve missed her body.
Epilogue
Mabel
Ten years later
“Please, mom,” Danielle begs
“Yeah, mom, just tell us what it felt like meeting dad. What’s the big deal?” Maddie asks as she joins us on Danielle’s bed.
“Fine! I still don’t get why you want to know since you’re all too young to even find your mate.” I say, trying to stall them some more. Not that I’m ashamed of how I met Damon, far from it actually. I just know their dad will be home soon and if hears us talking about this he’ll start panicking and try to lock the girls up until they’re thirty. We never did have any boys, but fate blessed us with six wonderful girls. Danielle is our oldest at fifteen followed by Maddie who’s thirteen and two sets of twins, Macey and Delilah, ten, and our youngest twins, Molly and Desirae.
“Okay, I was at work when Uncle Monroe came to pick up Aunt Penny. Your dad came with him and I had this feeling deep inside me that I couldn’t control. I just had to keep watching them and when he hugged Aunt Penny, I wanted to punch something, so I had to look away. I knew I was being silly but it’s how I felt. He told me the next night when he came to see me he knew if he didn’t find a way to talk to me he’d let his whole world pass him by. I didn’t get it then but now that I share my soul with my bear I do. Once you turn eighteen and find your mates you will too. Now it’s time for bed because you all have school in the morning.” I give them hugs and everyone heads to their own rooms.
“Why are our daughters wanting to know about mates?” Damon asks scaring the crap out of me as I step into ours. I must’ve been so into the story I didn’t hear him.
“They’re girls, Damon. We dream of our prince charming and our wedding when we’re little.” I say hoping he doesn’t go too protective.
“So, you were dreaming of another man coming to save you?” He asks with a growl in his voice.
“Never, you’re are the only man I have ever dreamed of.” I loop my arms around his neck and he doesn’t reply as he carries me to the bed, where he continues to make all my dreams come true.
About the Author
Zoe Jane loves spending time with her family. She enjoys reading and writing sexy and safe stories. When she’s not reading she loves to kick back and watch shows that some people consider nerdy but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank my husband for being supportive in this crazy adventure of mine. I love you more than you’ll ever know.
AB I can’t thank you enough for being a great friend, encouraging me and being my beta reader. You rock!
MK, Thank you for formatting and being a good friend helping me through this journey.
Beth, Thank you so much for editing and bouncing ideas around with me!
Jenny, you are the best beta reader I could ever ask for!
To everyone who is reading this book, thank you and I hope you enjoyed it.
Also by ZOE JANE FOX
Saving Penelope