As they ran under the tall trees of the old-growth forest, Heath felt his heart doubling and tripling with the immensity of joy he now experienced being with his mate in his animal form. All the bear had ever wanted was his mate and a home.
He could smell and sense the growing child within her. He’d known since the day he’d turned her, but now that they were together and in bear form, he could truly sense it. The scent of her body and the sound of the tiny heartbeat were there for him to sense.
He knew that Rosa knew it too. Their connection to each other was beyond space and beyond time. Being in the forest in the morning sunlight felt as if they were walking into a brand-new world. It was a world where anything was possible. They could live their lives any way they wanted.
Heath had dedicated his life to helping others, to protecting those who were not as strong as he was. And now he was doing the job of protecting other people every day. He and his bear crew helped people like Maria. They saved lives and brought families back together. It was his sacred duty to serve and protect his people, those he loved, and even strangers. All of the good hearted people who needed him, he would always be there to help them.
Rosa sent him messages through their connection, emanating gratitude for his love, honor, and strength. She was his strength and he knew it. She had given him a whole new chance at life, to be a complete man with a wife and a cub. They were a family, he, Rosa, their baby, and Maria.
Rosa would be the best mother anyone could ever ask for. Heath couldn’t wait to shower her with love and affection and watch her blossom and glow in her birthright as a mother and as his mate.
They ran up the hill to the crest of a ridge and looked out over the view of the green treetops sprawled out below them. The blue sky stretched out overhead, dotted with white clouds. A hawk flew through the expanse and swooped toward the forest, the circle of life ever evolving in its perfection.
It all played out before them in a perfect rhythm. And together with the bears inside them, guiding them ever closer to the Earth’s rhythms, they could be a part of it too.
Rosa nuzzled against Heath’s cheek, growling softly and affectionately beside him. Deep inside the mind of the man, he wanted nothing more than to take her home and make love to her. He sent the image through their link and received a giggling chorus in return. He knew she wanted him just as much.
But now the bears were in control and their desire was not for mating. Instead, they wished to be together, body to body, their heat intermingling and growing ever stronger. The two grizzlies turned towards the forest and found a shaded grove of tall grass where they laid down together. They spent the day in quiet, affectionate rest, their bears reveling in their closeness.
After several hours, Heath roused from his sleepiness and Rosa rose as well. He felt a surge of energy in his core and sent an image to Rosa of running full force through the forest. She sent back her agreement through their link and within a split second the two grizzlies were barreling through the forest at full speed. Grouse flew up into the air as they charged past bushes. By the time they made it back to their piles of clothing, they were both breathless and blissfully happy.
Heath was the first to shift back into his human form. Rosa took quite a bit longer, not quite sure how to get back to human form. For a split second, she began to panic, deep behind the mind of the bear. But all at once, she shifted back into the naked skin of her human form. Heath stepped forward and kissed her beautiful face, and she wrapped her arms around him.
“I didn’t think I could get back for a minute there,” she said.
“You did so good,” he said, holding her close.
“Everything is different now,” she said in amazement.
“It is,” he said. “But I have one more thing I want to ask you.”
He knelt down and pulled a little box out of his back pocket. He reached up for Rosa’s hand, staying down on one knee as he showed her what was inside the tiny velvet box. Rosa’s eyes filled with delight as she looked down at the diamond ring. She gasped and covered her mouth.
“Rosa? Will you do me the great honor of being my wife?”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly.
He pulled the ring out of the box and slid it on her finger. It fit her perfectly. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she lifted her hand to stare at the diamond on her finger. The ring was the only thing she was wearing. Heath couldn’t help but notice how much he liked this look on her.
“You should only wear diamonds all the time,” he said. “I’m going to cover you in diamonds.”
He stood and she fell into his arms, laughing and crying all at the same time. She looked up at him and he kissed her wet mouth. Their tongues danced hungrily and he held her wet face in his hands.
“I don’t need to be covered in diamonds,” she said. “All I need is you.
17
Rosa stood in the entry hall of the atrium at Fate Mountain Lodge, her lacy wedding gown cascading behind her. The deep scoop back and mermaid cut skirt accentuated her curves as she looked at herself in the mirror. She could barely believe what she saw looking back at her.
Never before had she seen herself glow like this. Her stomach had grown round in the last few months. The leaves had turned orange and had fallen to the ground. Now the branches had gone bare and the first snow had fallen on the mountain. Flakes where swirling gently above the dome.
Maria stood beside her in a lavender colored dress of lace and satin. It looked beautiful on her and lit up her face and shining eyes. Rosa was so happy to be with her sister on this day, the day she would officially become Heath’s wife.
“Are you ready?” Maria asked, holding Rosa’s white lily and red rose bouquet.
“I’m so ready,” Rosa said.
Rosa had made friends with all the bears on Fate Mountain. The Bear Patrol and the Rescue Bears formed a family that she and Maria were now a part of. She’d asked several of the women from the crew to be in her wedding party. Zoe Morris, Rollo’s wife, and Lola Jackson, Gauge’s wife, had both agreed to be her bridesmaids.
Zoe and Lola were both wearing the same pretty lavender dress as Maria and the three women all had smaller bouquets that matched Rosa’s. Zoe stepped forward and let her know it was time. Rosa smiled up at the tall, raven haired woman.
“Rollo is waiting,” Zoe said.
Rollo had offered to give Rosa away at the wedding, and Rosa couldn’t help being so grateful to him for adopting her as an honorary sister. Rosa gave Maria one last hug and took her bouquet. Zoe escorted her to the hallway at the entrance of the atrium where Rollo was waiting, wearing a tuxedo.
She wrapped her arm through Rollo’s. Her bridesmaids lined up with Gauge, Damien and Knox. Knox and Maria walked out first, followed by Gauge and Lola. Zoe walked with Damien last and then the wedding march started.
Rosa let out a long breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding and stepped out into the atrium. Heath stood at the podium in his smart tux, looking as gorgeous as could be. She felt weak in the knees as she swooned at the sight of him.
She and Rollo stepped down the aisle to the rhythm of the string quartet that played beside the podium. Rose petals were scattered across the aisle and the hem of her white dress brushed over them. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached her mate. When she and Rollo came to the edge of the stage, he helped her step up. Heath took her hand and she stood before him. Maria took her bouquet and she and Heath held hands, facing each other.
Time stood still and Rosa felt her heart bursting with adoration for her mate. His love radiated back toward her, creating a glowing ball of love around them.
The snowflakes fell gently outside the domed atrium. The palm trees rose up around them, high into the dome. The warm air of the tropical greenhouse, felt balmy and buttery around her arms and on her cheeks. It was the perfect moment.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.
�
�Heath Reynolds, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Heath said, beaming down at her with his sea green eyes.
“Rosa Reyes, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Rosa said, squeezing his hands.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Heath leaned in and hugged her in his arms, kissing her full on the mouth. All of the guests, the bears and humans of the Fate Mountain community, stood on their feet and cheered for the happy couple.
Rosa and Heath turned, smiling, and walked back down the aisle, the guests throwing rose petals over their heads. Rosa gasped and giggled as they trotted toward the exit. The atrium’s two resident parrots flew up into the air.
“Beautiful.”
“Love and Fate,” the parrots squawked as they flew overhead.
Heath and Rosa walked to the banquet hall around the corner from the atrium in Fate Mountain Lodge. The band started to play as they entered the hall. Tables were set for the feast and the dance floor was cleared for dancing.
Heath pulled Rosa out onto the dance floor as the guests filtered into the room. Some found their seats, others stood around the dance floor, watching the couple take their first dance. Heath wrapped his arm around Rosa’s waist and led her in a slow two-step.
He held her like she was a beautiful goddess and she could feel it coming into her from his hands. The look in his eyes, as he smiled down at her, stole her heart and melted into his. She could feel his heart beating against her chest as they danced. Camera flashes flickered around them and the band played their song.
“It’s hard to believe we came this far,” she said, her belly pressing against him as they danced.
“I have everything in the world I’ve ever wanted.”
“And more,” Rosa breathed.
Heath pulled her into his chest and danced with her across the floor. When the song came to an end, they took their seats at the banquet table. Maria was to Rosa’s right and Heath was to her left.
The bear clans and the people of Fate Mountain had brought her into their lives and their world and had given her the best life she could imagine. She had her mate, and her sister, and a beautiful baby on the way. Now Rosa also had a bear inside her too. Something she never would have even dreamed could happen when she started out on the journey to find Maria.
Her courage and intuition and had brought her to this place. Not only had she helped solve an institutional crime ring, but she’d found love, a home, and a family.
The servers brought everyone a plate and the real feast began. Soon the toasts started. Rollo got up and congratulated Heath for his marriage and baby but also commended him for his heroic work on the Bear Patrol.
Then Maria stood and lifted her glass. Rosa had told Maria she could have one glass of champagne for the celebration. Rosa couldn’t be more proud of Maria. She’d been doing so well in school and she was already advancing to the next level.
“My sister is my hero,” Maria started. “When everyone told her I had ran away, my sister never stopped fighting for me. She followed clues all the way up the coast, and against all odds came to Fate Mountain to find me here. I’m awed by my sister’s instinct and her courage. If I can be half the woman she is, I’ll have done a good job. Now my sister has a mate of her own and a baby on the way. I know that it is a dream come true for her. On this day, when she and Heath are finally making it official, I’m so happy for all of us. I know we’re going to have an awesome future and an awesome family. Thank you Heath and Rosa for never giving up on me and never giving up on love.”
Rosa felt her heart burst and her tears flow down her cheeks. She stood up to hug her sister and the two of them cried hot tears for a moment, holding each other tight. They were best friends to the end and Rosa was so grateful her sister was healing after everything she’d been through. They would have a beautiful future. She knew it in the depths of her soul.
They sat back down and Rosa took a long sip of bubbling apple cider. She couldn’t believe her dreams were coming true around her. Heath squeezed her hand and leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips. She smiled into his warm eyes, smelling the scent of his body as she leaned close.
Later, after the cake and presents, the happy couple went upstairs to the honeymoon suite on the top floor of Fate Mountain Lodge. It looked out onto the silvery waters of Lake Fate under the full moonlight.
Rosa’s bear rumbled in her mind, content and happy to be in her mate’s arms. They stood on the balcony, Heath with his arms wrapped around her waist from behind. His hands rested on her belly, and he kissed the back of her neck.
“The world is a beautiful place, babe,” he whispered. “More beautiful every day I’m in it with you.”
“Together we have a chance to do this life right, and there’s no one I’d rather do it with than you. You’ve given me everything. You fill me up to the brim. I’m overflowing.”
“I know, babe. I feel the same way.”
They held each other in the moonlight. Somewhere in the distance, a night bird sang over the lake waters far below. The stars twinkled in the night sky, brightened by the radiance of the moon.
They had everything they needed in that moment. They had the world in their hands.
They had each other.
About the Author
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Marked By The Alpha Wolf (Book One) Braving Darkness 1
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Cadet Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Bear Patrol Book 3) Page 9